Chapter 75

Yeu-ju's first love was taken away - Chapter 75

At my words, his eyebrows twitched.

Robert, who had been silent as if lost in thought, shook his head.

"That's absurd. Alison is... Alison is an excellent researcher. She is intelligent and has considerable resistance to magic. There’s no way she could have been affected by someone who hasn’t even properly mastered magic."

His firm tone and expression made him seem angry.

"I know that mind manipulation magic is very difficult. But the Grand Duchess has a special artifact."

"I have never heard of such an artifact. Besides, if it existed, it would have already been reported to the academy and everyone would know about it."

Robert seemed to have an even greater aversion to mind manipulation magic than I thought.

After all, mind manipulation was truly a high-level magic.

Even the famous Raymond could only temporarily amplify someone's emotions.

And most of those were primitive emotions.

"Loyalty is not a feeling that can be easily created. Even experimental mice find it hard to develop such feelings."

Then, as if he no longer wanted to talk about it, he clamped his mouth shut.

It seemed he wouldn’t believe me unless I showed him evidence.

'The only evidence is the bracelet that only Tatyana and I can see.'

The only remaining option was for Alison to realize something was wrong and tell Robert the truth.

It didn’t seem easy.

I decided to change the subject and stop talking about Alison.

"Are you still unwilling to help me? Professor Foreman said he would help me."

"Eric?"

"Yes. He said he wants to honor the late Professor Gregory’s wishes."

"That friend of mine can do it well, even without me."

He’s really a difficult person.

What is he lacking?

I squeezed out one last thing to provoke Robert.

"Mr. Robert, don’t you want to take revenge on Tatyana?"

At my words, Robert roughly set down his teacup and burst into laughter.

"What are you going to take revenge with? My reputation as a researcher was ruined during the tax investigation. Besides, the core data of my research is gone."

A deep sense of defeat and pain appeared on Robert’s face, which was twisted in self-mockery.

He... Robert was different from Nivea.

Nivea’s business became difficult when her reputation was taken away, but her recipes were not stolen.

However, Robert was different.

He lost both his research achievements and his reputation.

It would be much harder for him to make a comeback.

"Let me ask you one thing. Have you really never embezzled?"

At my words, Robert let out a sigh.

"Absolutely not. I didn’t even manage the research funds. That was... Alison’s job."

* * *

On the way back in the carriage, Pio said he didn’t feel any distorted mana from Robert.

I looked out the window, lost in thought for a moment.

[What do you plan to do next?]

"First, we need to clear Robert’s name."

[That might lead to Alison being caught.]

"Maybe she didn’t embezzle."

[A dream plan.]

The short, mocking voice made me want to punch him.

I held back.

I really need to think this through when I get back.

But I couldn’t help sighing.

* * *

As soon as I got home, I called the butler.

"Is there any approval-related paperwork among the documents I brought back from the academy?"

"Yes, there should be. Do you need something specific?"

I nodded at the butler’s words.

"As you know, Mr. Robert was investigated for embezzlement. Although the investigation was halted midway, he was expelled from the academy because of it."

"You seem curious about whether he really embezzled."

"Exactly. Can you check it for me?"

"Of course, Miss. It shouldn’t take long."

"Thank you, butler. You’re the only one I can rely on."

I jumped up from my seat to express my gratitude to the butler.

He had been supporting the dukedom since I was young and was my strongest ally after my parents.

"I took a rough look at it last time. I only checked the large sums spent on in vivo experiments and equipment..."

To embezzle a large amount, it was better to manipulate the larger sums.

Embezzlement often occurred when conducting tests with external agencies or purchasing expensive equipment.

"We should start by checking those areas."

"Yes. I’ll get estimates from each company and compare them."

Soon, the butler brought estimates from various companies, and we began to compare them one by one.

Fortunately, Alison had meticulously recorded everything, making the comparison process easier.

But we lacked the absolute time.

I enlisted the help of Lily and Sasha to review the documents.

"There’s no record of large sums being embezzled."

The butler muttered as he organized the last document.

He sighed deeply and continued.

"Perhaps the problem occurred with smaller items."

"Smaller items?"

"For example, experimental equipment and reagents are easy to dispose of and the costs can vary depending on the raw materials, making them easier to manipulate."

I nodded at the butler’s words.

Indeed, that would be easier.

"We need to check the items in person, so let’s go to the academy. The lab is said to be completely sealed, so it should be possible to check."

I immediately contacted the academy’s chancellor, requesting to review Professor Gregory’s lab again.

The chancellor readily agreed.

We headed straight for the academy.

When we arrived at the academy, an even more elaborate welcoming ceremony awaited me.

"What... What is this..."

As we passed through the academy’s entrance, the brass band on either side of the central road began to play.

Flower petals also flew along the path of the carriage.

'Who came up with this crazy plan?'

The carriage stopped, but I couldn’t easily get out.

The situation was too overwhelming.

Memories of the past made me feel like I was panicking. My breath caught in my throat, and my vision blurred.

Was it because of the academy and the gazes of people who knew my past?

The difficult times came flooding back, making it hard to bear.

'All of this is your own doing. The person who didn’t believe in me was you.'

Andrew’s words and the mocking gazes of people beside him resurfaced.

The butler patted my back.

"Miss, if you don’t get out soon, it will cause a stir."

"Y-Yes."

He reminded me of what I needed to do.

If I showed any weakness, everyone would pounce on me.

Encouraged by his support, I got up.

As I stepped out of the carriage, countless gazes immediately fixed on me.

Students who had been studying in the labs were all outside, and the chancellor held a flower garland.

I was speechless for a moment.

"Welcome, Lady Pioneer."

My vision blurred.

I wanted to punch that stupid man’s face, but I forced a smile because of the gazes on me.

"You didn’t have to go to such lengths to welcome me."

"There’s no way! I prepared this specially because you didn’t seem satisfied last time."

I took the flower garland he lifted and handed it to the butler, smiling slightly.

"The welcome is too grand; it makes me uncomfortable."

The chancellor flinched at my words.

Glancing behind me, I spotted familiar faces.

They were people who had once called me a friend but had led the charge in tearing me down during my academy days.

I felt dizzy for a moment.

'No, I can’t.'

I couldn’t show any weakness.

I tightened my grip on my hand and slowly looked away.

Then, I smiled as if nothing was wrong and entered the building where the lab was located.

"Shall we have some tea, Lady?"

Turning around, I saw the chancellor’s eyes, which looked somewhat pitiful.

I paused my breathing for a moment.

"Didn’t I say that to you once? If you give me time for a cup of tea, I can explain everything."

But he refused.

I had fled the academy like this, and the memory of that time would never be forgotten.

"I’m sorry, but I don’t have the time for that."

Leaving him behind, I entered the lab.

As I stumbled, the butler, who had been waiting inside, came to support me.

"Miss!"

"I’m... I’m fine."

He looked at me with concern.

"Would you like to go outside for some fresh air?"

"I should."

I could usually hold it together, but not now.

The phenomenon that had tormented me for a long time resurfaced.

"I’ll be right back."

I rushed out of the lab as if fleeing.

But even in the hallway, there were eyes watching me.

Their gazes were sharp and persistent.

'I feel like I’m going to vomit.'

Covering my mouth, I hurried outside.

I hadn’t felt this bad in a long time.

I walked down a hidden path behind a sycamore tree that was split in half, located in the middle of a walkway at the back of the building.

"I’m fine."

I touched the tree and held my breath.

It’s all in the past.

"There’s no need to be afraid."

Those gazes, those painful moments, are all in the past.