Sincerely, Vanessa [EN]: Chapter 51

To the Teacher, From Vanessa (51/146)

He was right in front of her, making her heart feel like it would leap out of her throat.

She wanted to see him, yet she didn’t. She was afraid she would have to face the emotions she had been avoiding head-on again.

The King awarded Chebatti first, then read the name engraved on the medal for the valedictorian award as he presented it to Vanessa.

“Vanessa ‘Rose.’ I look forward to your future bloom.”

“T-Thank you.”

Vanessa bowed deeply and prayed she could get down quickly.

As soon as the ceremony ended, Vanessa fled the stage as if running away, unlike the hesitant students. The King tilted his head.

“Was I that scary? Why is she trembling so much? A cute student.”

“Please fix your hair.”

The aide next to him whispered sadly, but King Bina Dom Friva scratched his cheek, unconcerned.

“It’s refreshing to see students after so long. I was getting tired of meeting only with old men… All they say is, ‘No, Your Majesty.’ ‘This is my land,’ ‘This is mine,’ ‘This is yours,’ ‘No, no….’”

“The Duke next to you is barely in his twenties, Your Majesty.”

Count Alban said with a grimace, but the King scoffed.

“Even if his appearance is, his insides are already old and more indifferent than me. Looking at those fresh students with that kind of expression.”

Gideon finally turned his gaze, which had been following Vanessa’s retreating figure, back to the King. The King was frowning, but somehow looked worried about him.

It was understandable. For about a year, Gideon had looked depressed, as if half-dead to anyone who saw him.

“If my expression was not good….”

“Ah, whatever. Are you perhaps going to apologize? Then smile!”

Gideon immediately turned his gaze away and ignored him. The King clicked his tongue.

“Hearing that the only Duke in the country has some defect.”

Count Alban coughed urgently, but the King did not stop.

“Are you kidding me? When are you going to get married? You’re in your mid-twenties now! I still hear the echoes of people saying that putting you in the Special Forces has turned you into this! The workaholic Duke and His Majesty, blah blah blah!”

“If you tell me who dared to say such a thing, I will take care of it myself.”

Watching the Duke answer in a nonchalant tone, the King rubbed his forehead. Of course, in the process, his hair became even more disheveled, now looking completely curly.

“Idiot.”

“Thank you.”

Bina Dom Friva beat his chest. He would have to visit the monument of the previous Valder Duke to relieve this frustration.

You were quite sly, but why did you raise your son like that!

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

The King and his retinue of nobles were guided away and disappeared, and the students began to gather and take pictures.

Cameras were quite expensive, but there were many precious children from good families, so the sound of cameras flashing echoed from everywhere.

“Vanessa, Lina! Over here!”

Chebatti dragged Lina and Vanessa to his parents.

Chebatti’s parents, whom they hadn’t seen in a while, still greeted Vanessa and Lina with warm smiles. Soon, Lina’s parents also approached and exchanged greetings.

They took individual photos and group photos. Lina and Chebatti’s families had also prepared flowers separately for Vanessa, so Vanessa was holding numerous flowers in her arms. Evan briefly approached and gave her a large yellow flower before disappearing.

No one excluded her, but Vanessa somehow felt like she should step aside to allow them to have their family time. There wasn’t a photo that Vanessa wasn’t in.

“I have somewhere to go.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

Lina exclaimed in disbelief, but Vanessa just smiled. It was such great luck to share a room with Lina and sit next to Chebatti in class.

“Vanessa, don’t worry about it. Cesar will be here soon too. Let’s have dinner together!”

“Okay, thank you. I’ll come back down later. I have some things I didn’t pack. I’ll be right back.”

Both Lina and Chebatti tried to stop Vanessa again, but Vanessa shook her head. And she left the banquet hall. The flowers in her arms were truly fragrant.

Vanessa returned to the dormitory and scanned the inside once. The luggage was already perfectly packed, and there was nothing more to pack.

First, she decided to put down the heavy flowers.

The bouquets prepared with care by Lina and Chebatti’s families were really large.

The flower that the teacher sent was of an appropriate size, but the other families brought even larger ones as if competing, so, to exaggerate a little, they were as big as her body.

Lina’s family made a bouquet with deep pink flowers, and Chebatti’s family mixed white small flowers with blue wildflowers.

They were really grateful people. It wouldn’t be easy to keep taking care of someone who was alone.

Because they weren’t family.

Vanessa sat on the dormitory bed and stared blankly out the window before looking down at the dahlia bouquet.

She carefully touched the petals. They were so soft that they seemed like they would tear if she applied any force, but at the same time, the core was firm.

Soon, round droplets fell one by one onto the dahlia petals. Some bounced off and flowed down, while others delicately decorated the petals.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Vanessa decided to leave the bouquets in the dormitory and return to Lina and Chebatti.

Before that, she needed to cool her wet eyes and flushed cheeks. She didn’t want to cause unnecessary worry.

Vanessa wanted to imprint every place in her eyes before leaving.

There wouldn’t be a place she wouldn’t miss when she left this place. The desk by the window in the library where she studied every day, the shade of the tree by the lake where she chatted with friends, the huge trail they all ran together, the fragrant forest.

However, the place Vanessa loved the most was the empty space at the top of the clock tower.

It was the first place Vanessa found in the academy as her own space, and the place where she wrote the most letters to her teacher.

Looking at the sunset over the academy walls from there, anyone would have no choice but to love the academy itself.

Vanessa walked up the spiral staircase very slowly. The students’ excited shouts echoed from outside, but somehow felt distant.

Finally, the moment she stepped on the last step, someone was already standing in front of the square window at the top of the clock tower.

It was a very large person. She could recognize who it was with just his back.

The man was looking at the scenery of the academy. And he turned around at the sudden appearance of someone. The two made eye contact.

Vanessa didn’t know what to do and just clasped her fingers tightly. And she quickly lowered her gaze.

She was worried that he would hear her heart beating. She couldn’t control the pounding that was thumping so intensely.

Neither Vanessa nor Gideon moved. Vanessa didn’t know what kind of look he was giving her because she was looking down.

He would probably think she was rude and shameless. Because she had ignored all the letters from him who had tried to protect Vanessa and fallen into the cave together, and hadn’t even contacted him.

So she wanted to turn around and run away.

The man walked over. Vanessa stubbornly didn’t look up even though they were only a step apart.

So Gideon could only see her flowing hair, unable to see the blue eyes hidden between them.

After a silence that felt like fainting, the man slowly placed something on her head with a slow touch.

Vanessa held her breath and gritted her teeth.

“Congratulations on your graduation.”

It was a low, somehow tired voice.

“Vanessa.”

Vanessa couldn’t answer because she was gasping for breath.

The man, looking down at the stiff Vanessa, slowly lowered his touch as if he was about to touch her.

Looking at Vanessa, who didn’t make eye contact, he passed her and went down the stairs. Vanessa finally came to her senses at the sound of him getting farther away.

Her faltering steps hurriedly followed him down the stairs before slowly stopping.

What are you going to do if you chase after him?

She just wanted to say thank you, even just that one word. She knew when she met him. The emotion wasn’t just a small sprout, but already a huge tree with roots.

What could she do when it had already grown like that even though she hadn’t given it a drop of water? So she decided to give the thirsty tree a sip of water.

The tall man walked fast and had a wide stride, but Vanessa ran even harder.

Even though the sound of her footsteps echoed on the floor, he didn’t look back.

Eventually, Vanessa grabbed his arm urgently to stop him. The man wasn’t very surprised.

“Thank you, Gideon.”

The golden eyes stared intently at the teary blue eyes.

Ah, right. He always had eyes like that. Eyes with beautiful colors as if something was blooming. But somehow today.

“Vanessa.”

The man whispered softly, almost inaudibly. But before he could continue, someone popped out of the hallway next to them.

“Duke Valder, His Majesty….”

Count Alban’s eyes widened. He was puzzled by the combination of Vanessa and Gideon.

Vanessa quickly took her hand off Gideon’s arm.

As silence flowed between the three, Count Alban composed himself and opened his mouth with a friendly smile.

“Oh my, Duke. You’ve already picked out another talent! If my daughter saw this, she would be stomping her feet.”

Even at Count Alban’s words, Gideon only looked down at Vanessa. But her gaze had already returned to the Count.

“You’re Vanessa Rose. I saw you on stage earlier.”

The middle-aged man, who seemed to have a good impression, couldn’t stand the strange silence and spoke to her gently.

“My daughter has talked about you several times. She speaks very highly of you. If you ever need help in the future, come to Alban Castle. It’s a place that’s always open to talent.”

“Thank you….”

Vanessa took a step back from the Duke and the Count. At the further distance again, Gideon wiped his face with his large hand.

“Duke.”

“I’ll go.”

Count Alban turned around first, and Gideon briefly wiped Vanessa’s wet eyelashes with his hand.

Leaving a small whisper not to cry, Gideon walked away.

How can I not cry when the teacher isn’t here and he’s so kind.

Vanessa stared resentfully at the hallway next to her where he had disappeared.

Now she won’t even be able to cut down the tree. The tree that greedily drank the water she gave it for a moment has firmly taken its place.

Vanessa raised her hand to check what was stuck in her hair.

What he had put in her hair was a hair ornament. The end was shaped like a small flower, as if it were a substitute for the flowers given at the graduation ceremony.

Teacher, I’m really ruined. What should I do?

But now it’s time to say goodbye to the teacher too.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

To the Teacher.

The graduation ceremony went well. I’m enclosing my final transcript and photo.

Thank you for the flowers. The dahlia bouquet was really beautiful. I’m sorry I have nothing to give back to you.

I will never forget the grace I received from you.

Stay healthy, Teacher.

Sincerely, Vanessa Rose.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

To Vanessa Rose.

Vanessa Rose is the first protégé I ‘directly’ selected. Please remember that it is also of great significance to me.

The sponsorship was conditional on graduating from the academy, but since you have achieved excellent results, I would like to help Vanessa settle down.

I am preparing to support a house of a suitable size, although not large. It will be helpful as it is difficult to rent a house near Fydom.

From the Teacher.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

To the Teacher.

Thank you so much for your consideration until the end. But it’s okay. The first start is difficult for everyone.

I am currently in Fydom and staying in a decent rented accommodation.

I am scheduled to have an interview with the Royal Magic Department. The salary isn’t high, but I can afford the first month’s rent. I can also borrow from the bank.

You have already sponsored me enough. There was really nothing lacking.

I hope another protégé can receive your help instead of me now.

If you have any intention of revealing your name, please tell me at any time.

I would be glad if I could repay the tuition you sent me later. I will also fully express my gratitude to you in many places.

It would be even better if there was something I could do. I can do anything.

The weather is really nice these days. But it’s a bit chilly at night, so take good care of your health.

I will miss you very much.

Sincerely, Vanessa Rose.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

To Vanessa Rose.

Vanessa, the monthly rent in Fydom is really expensive. If you go out to the suburbs, which are a bit cheaper, there are quite a few dangerous places.

I want to support the house. I think a woman without a guardian should live in the best, safest place.

From the Teacher.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

To my Sponsor Teacher.

Teacher. I have already received too much. Thank you so much.

Emotionally and materially, I have always only received. It’s not enough to convey how grateful I am with just this one piece of paper.

You helped an orphan with nothing to build their own life and were like my only family.

But you want to maintain your distance from me.

Then this is enough. Don’t let me rely on you any more. I have to build my own life now.

Thank you.

Please accept occasional letters.

Sincerely, Vanessa Rose.