The Villainess' Son is Innocent - Chapter 33
Chapter 17.1
Shortly after, Emil shook off Grandel and infiltrated Rilford. However, locating Vel’s room proved almost impossible.
As he searched for the window to her room, he quickly gave up when he realized the state of his own appearance.
‘The stench of blood won’t go away.’
The academy was still, its halls filled with sleeping students.
If I had lived a normal life, would I have come here with you?
The thought crossed his mind. Perhaps it could have happened. But a wish was just a wish, and a dream was just a dream.
Now, he was nothing more than a killer that reeked of blood. In just four years, he had turned into this. It was as if each life he had taken felt as clung to his clothes, dried and heavy.
It all began four years ago, when he punched Rastain and was dragged back to the Calixt domain by the duke.
Or perhaps the true turning point was when he met the emperor.
Maybe, if Grandel hadn’t been blackmailed into becoming the emperor’s pawn, things would have turned out differently.
Or maybe not. His life had gone astray the moment he stopped being “Emil, who harmed no one,” and became “the villainess’s son, who kills people.”
He had once been innocent, unfairly burdened with the sins of his mother. But that innocence was gone now. He had become the very criminal they always accused him of.
‘Do I even deserve to see you? Someone like me?’
Paralyzed by a flood of guilt, Emil halted in his tracks. He could still smell the pungent, metallic scent on him.
In this state, looking like this?
He couldn’t. She might recoil at the sight of him. Or even worse…
“She’ll be disappointed.”
Despair rose in his chest, and he buried his face in his hands, when suddenly, another voice challenged his hesitation.
‘No, what if she just continues to pity you…?’
Emil lowered his hands from his face.
* * *
Ever since I asked about the cure for madness, the professor’s gaze had changed. He must have pieced together my connection to Roveline Castone, or rather, the child she left behind, Emil.
‘It’s not exactly a secret. If he simply asked a few students from Castone, they’d tell him.’
Even though I wanted to avoid the professor, who was subtly probing me just like I had suspected, I had duties as his assistant.
While I fretted over still not having found a real cure, graduation loomed closer.
“My lady, have you chosen a dress for the graduation party yet?”
“Oh, right. It totally slipped my mind.”
Elena’s question snapped me out of my thoughts as she helped me prepare for the day.
After graduation, every student pursues a different path. Some entered the imperial court with letters of recommendation and trained to become state officials. Others became apprentices under renowned scholars or returned to their home countries to learn their family’s trade.
The graduation party was more than just a celebration of our hard work. It was a farewell, a moment of encouragement for the future that awaited us all.
No wonder the packages from home have been piling up. Glancing at the newly arrived parcels, I realized I’d completely forgotten about preparing for the party.
“Thanks to the madam and His Lordship, you won’t have to worry.”
“They must have anticipated that the boutiques here would be fully booked.”
“With the number of students, it’s likely. And if everyone orders from the same local boutiques, the designs wouldn’t feel unique anyway.”
I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing I wouldn’t waste precious time getting a dress tailored.
I should at least see what dress I’ll be wearing. I’m sure my parents sent matching sets of jewelry as well, but as the one who would wear it, I wanted to see for myself.
Before leaving, I opened the first box within reach.
“Oh my, the madam has such impeccable taste as always!” Elena exclaimed in awe, admiring the rare fabric.
The dress featured an off-the-shoulder design, and thanks to the layers of sheer fabric, the light gray dress looked ethereal, as if it might float away with the faintest breeze.
Perhaps to balance out the exposed shoulders, the dress was complete with a delicate overlay of gossamer fabric, a similar material to a skirt’s hem.
For some reason… it felt like they had pestered a designer notorious for rarely accepting commissions.
“It looks like something a debutante would wear.”
“Indeed.”
“Let me open the other boxes.”
With delicate precision, Elena untied another package. This time, the box revealed an elegant teal dress.
“This one is just as beautiful.”
“Mom and Dad must have spent so much time picking these out.”
For now though, my favorite was still the light gray dress. Paired with a necklace of clear topaz or diamonds, it would be perfect.
However, since class was starting soon, I decided to review the rest of the accessories later in the afternoon and left my dorm.
With the semester nearing its end, the atmosphere in the lecture hall had lost its former liveliness and maintained a calm stillness. There were no passionate debates or presentations.
After a quiet morning and a light lunch, I made my way to Professor Rostad’s office.
“What’s this? Did you drop by for some tea? I was just about to brew a fresh pot.”
Professor Rostad was very particular about his tea, never letting anyone else brew it for him.
Today was no exception, so I had the privilege of tasting the tea he had brewed with expert precision.
“So, you’re here to follow up on that question you asked me, aren’t you?”
Cough. I choked, startled by how quickly the professor had deduced the reason I showed up at his office, even at this time of year.
“Tsk, how frivolous. Do you take me for a fool?”
“No, of course not… I just needed time to prepare myself.”
I spent days debating whether I should talk to the professor about Emil. I was so afraid of what could go wrong that it kept me awake at night.
But in the end, I chose to trust Amon Rostad’s reputation and his integrity as a royal court pharmacist, as well as in his character as the teacher I deeply respected.
“Professor, you know about Princess Roveline Castone, don’t you?”
He snorted, clearly unsurprised. “Of course. How could I not?”
“Well, Princess Roveline had a son… and that child is my friend.”
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