I Broke Off My Engagement and Got a Job at the Academy

17 – Paths of Each

After that, I started working as an assistant professor at the academy.

The duties of an assistant professor were far more extensive than I had anticipated.

Apart from simply taking over classes when other professors couldn’t, various administrative tasks became solely mine.

Before I arrived, I even asked Professor Cordelia if the youngest professor had handled such tasks in a similar manner,

‘Oh, that. It’s only until the assistant professor escapes from the administrative workload. Once you become a full professor, you all share the responsibilities.’

I heard such words, but nothing changed.

‘Actually, normally, newbies shouldn’t handle administrative tasks to cut them some slack, but since you handle it well on your own, it’s convenient for us.’

I heard words like that.

…Well, in truth, that wasn’t the most uncomfortable aspect.

The most uncomfortable thing for me was… hearing students and juniors whispering and gossiping as they looked at me.

It was not an easy experience being regarded with pity and mockery by juniors who tried to impress me.

But somehow, I endured it, and changing their perception became my responsibility.

Those who worked at the academy were not judged by connections.

The environment of a secluded island in the middle of the Mediterranean provided the academy with extreme insularity.

Therefore, the reputation within the academy was not influenced by external opinions.

All that mattered was skill.

And, after Ariel withdrew, I became the overwhelming top student in the academy. I had confidence in my abilities.

Eventually, even those who doubted me began to trust me when they realized I had the skill to teach them.

Thus, my life as an assistant professor was passing reasonably well.

…

Ariel sighed inwardly.

Ideally, she just wanted to lock herself in her room, but reality didn’t unfold as she wished.

The place she was in right now was a party hall. Moreover, it was a party celebrating the Emperor’s birthday.

Ariel had no positive feelings towards the imperial family.

When her father died, she couldn’t help but shudder at the memory of the nobles who followed the imperial family attacking her.

Of course, thanks to the intervention of a saint during her official coronation, she managed to ward off the attack unharmed, but she still despised it.

However, Ariel’s physical presence was now at the party celebrating the Emperor’s birthday.

Yes, she knew she wasn’t in a position to complain about such things.

She knew that, as the head of a noble family, she had to endure politics even if it didn’t please her.

But even though Ariel smiled outwardly, she couldn’t help but feel a growing darkness inside her.

It hadn’t been long since the engagement with Eden ended. They had been engaged for almost eight years, and she had to break off the relationship overnight.

Of course, it was her choice. Above all else, her family was the top priority, so she chose to break off the engagement.

But that didn’t mean she had no feelings about it. No, in fact, even though she tried to control her emotions, her heart was in turmoil.

So, Ariel wanted to somehow calm her restless heart, but ironically, it seemed like an opportunity for others to occupy the vacant position of her ex-fiancé.

Many people approached Ariel, but the voices of the suitors who kept bothering her only annoyed her.

Of course, Ariel knew. Someday, she too should get married.

However, no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t envision a future of marrying someone else.

Perhaps it was because she had only envisioned a future of marrying Eden. When the future she had taken for granted shattered, Ariel hadn’t thought much about other possibilities.

… Now, she knew that she could no longer envision a future with Eden.

Since the news that Eden Keynes was living in the Count Derin’s mansion, there had been no further updates.

Therefore, Ariel could only vaguely assume that Eden was still doing well in Derin’s mansion.

Maybe he had married Seris Derin, or was going to get married.

Just thinking about it made her feel uncomfortable.

With that in mind, Ariel looked around.

… Somehow, she wanted to find a way to clear her head.

Escaping from the buzzing crowd, Ariel went to the balcony, holding a glass of wine.

A conspicuously large moon hung in the sky.

Yet, even as Ariel gazed at the full moon, the heavens seemed unusually dark.

“Damn it.”

When no one else was in sight, Ariel took a sip of champagne from her glass and comfortably let out a curse.

Suddenly, memories of the past surfaced.

Back then, with Idun, she would put on airs in front of others but let loose when they were alone.

…Why is that time coming back to me now?

She chuckled wryly.

“…What the hell is a divorce? Why did it end up like this?”

The engagement had begun as a political calculation.

Though they had built up a semblance of human affection, the relationship fundamentally existed for mutual gain.

So, when the situation demanded a divorce, Ariel dismissed Idun.

Perhaps Idun would have done the same if he were in her shoes.

At least, that’s what she thought.

…If that weren’t the case…

No, it wasn’t crucial to dwell on such thoughts.

It was more important for her to believe that and focus on the future.

She took another sip of champagne. As the glass emptied, she placed it on the balcony railing and leaned against it.

Then, at that moment, someone entered the balcony.

“Who…”

It couldn’t be someone trying to intrude against the will of one of the Empire’s Four Great Nobles, especially her, the Duchess. It must be a mistake.

Ariel thought so as she scrutinized the face that had entered the balcony.

And the moment she recognized who it was that entered the balcony, her eyes narrowed.

“Irkalli, Duke…?”

Duke Irkalli. He held the position of Chancellor in the Empire and was one of the Four Great Nobles.

Ariel couldn’t help but be flustered by his appearance.

Though they were on equal footing, the age difference between him and herself brought a stark contrast in experiences, making the situation unavoidably uncomfortable.

The girl with green hair accompanying him… she was probably his daughter.

As Ariel tried to grasp the situation, Duke Ircalli spoke.

“Hello, Duke Ceylaine. Excuse the intrusion.”

Ariel nodded slightly in greeting and asked, “Hello, Duke Ircalli. What brings you here?”

“Oh, it’s nothing much. Just… a matter to attend to briefly.”

“A matter? What does that mean?”

When Ariel inquired, Duke Ircalli chuckled and said, “Well…”

…

Jezel Ircalli, who would enter the academy the following year, clenched her fist.

Quite the nuisance, dealing with clueless culprits. It felt like dealing with beetles buzzing around.

After all, once she entered the academy, she didn’t care much about things that wouldn’t be worth her attention.

The most important thing for the current Jezel Ircalli was solely one thing: to cultivate her abilities.

She needed to hone her skills so that, even when she got close to others with abilities, there would be no inadequacy.

Rather than trying to socialize with others from the start, it was better to go through the process of selecting the right candidates.

With that mindset, she consistently maintained a reserved attitude towards those approaching her while her father, Duke Ircalli, and Duke Ceylaine met.

She didn’t even bother being curious about the conversations between her father and Duke Ceylaine.

It was meaningless, considering they wouldn’t reveal anything crucial to her.

“Come to think of it, my father never explained in detail when the Kainus family fell.”

But she knew the result. Allegedly accused of rebellion by the Imperial faction, aiming for an alliance with the Ciellaine family.

Though she wasn’t sure about the details of what transpired, the crucial point was that even Ciellaine, who had been engaged to the heir, abandoned Kainus.

In the end, no matter how many good relationships one built, they would be torn apart if a vulnerability was exposed. That was the natural order.

So, to avoid any chance of letting her guard down, her sole focus was on building her own skills and achievements.

“I wonder who the professor will be to teach me at the academy. It would be great if they were skilled.”

Thinking that to herself, Jiselle spent her time.