For Your Failed Unrequited Love

Chapter 38

When she thought back on her trip to the capital, she was reminded of the boy she met in the garden of Marquis Everen.

How are you doing? Dont tell me youve been crouching by the lake again.

Her memory of the boy crouching alone and scratching his skin until he bled was something hard to forget.

Grandmother, do you know how to make medicine for Maram vines allergy? Lucy asked her grandmother, who had been drying herbs.

Maram vines allergy? Why are you suddenly asking me that?

Well, Im just curious,

Thats easy. Her grandmother smiled and stroked Lucys head with her rough hands. Its just an allergy medicine. Grandma knows everything!

Lucys face brightened at her grandmothers boast. Thus, she began to make allergy medicine with the help of her grandmother. She didnt know why, but her hands moved by themselves.

I guess its because I felt sorry seeing him crouching down that it never left my mind.

Lucy thought so.

Yeah, it was annoying, but somehow it bothered me. Its like seeing a dog getting wet in the rain, and it makes me want to help it. But how can I get this to him?

She agonized over the finished medicine.

Could I mail it to the Duke of Berg?

However, she realized they were all useless worries.

He was the Prince of Berg. It was clear that the leading doctors of the Empire were checking the health of the dukes family day and night.

A beggar was worried about the rich. Even if it wasnt her own medicine, the boy must have been receiving the best treatment and care.

Eventually, Lucy sighed lightly and put the medicine bottle deep in the display case.

It was a waste of time and effort to make it, but whats done is done.

Still, Lucy decided to be satisfied with the fact that she made the medicine for someone who was in pain.

As time passed, the days of thinking about the boy became fewer, and the regret of not being able to send the medicine faded.

Lucy, the allergy medicine I made the other day was still in the cabinet. Didnt you make it for someone? Lucys grandmother asked.

I just tried making it. It would be useful to know how to make any medicine, Lucy replied with a firm smile.

Upon hearing Lucys answer, her grandmother smiled happily.

Well, Ill tell you everything I know about medicine, so dont worry! You will take over this pharmacy one day.

Lucys smile faded slightly at her grandmothers words, but soon she smiled broadly. Yes, of course.

Lucy, pretending to be calm, had another dream in the corner of her heart. A dream she couldnt tell anyone about.

It was to go to the capital again.

Of course, she loved Brom, the place where she was born and raised, but in Lucys mind, the lively and magnificent sight of the capital rarely left her.

It was her secret that she could never reveal to her grandmother. She was sure her grandmother would be disappointed if she found out about it.

With the secret hidden in her heart, Lucy again lived a peaceful and insignificant life as a country girl on the outskirts of the empire.

* * *

However, the seeds planted in the little girls heart did not rot over the years and were only taking root.

Then, when Lucy turned 16, it finally began to sprout when she learned of a place called Xenomium Academy.

Xenomium Academy? Once again, Colins pride in the academy piqued Lucys curiosity.

Yes, the prestigious academy near the capital.

Youre going there?

If I pass! Colin shrugged as if he had already passed despite his words.

Wow! Lucy looked at Colin with eyes full of envy.

Colin had strong support as a son of a baron. She heard that he was going to enter a good academy, but Lucy never imagined it would be an academy in the capital.

Lucy recalled her trip to the capital six years ago with Lady Triana. The scenery she saw at that time had faded a little over the years, but the excitement and emotion she felt in her heart were still vivid.

Lucys heart swelled with strange emotions.

Are you going that far?

If Colin went to the Xenomium Academy or something, she wouldnt be able to see him again until he graduated. The capital was indeed a long way away.

Lucys eyebrows dropped as she was disappointed that her best friend would move to a city and she wouldnt get to see him as often.

Colin became sullen when he saw Lucys sad expression and quickly tried to soothe her. Im not staying there forever. Its just three years!

Three years is a long time!

Lucy cried inwardly.

Without you, I have no one to play with.

No matter how much Colin comforted her, Lucy didnt feel better. Even when she got home and had dinner with her family or when she was in bed after finishing her days work. She felt somewhat dejected and disappointed and couldnt sleep until late at night.

Shouldnt I be happy and support my best friend if he can enter a prestigious academy?

Lucy reprimanded herself, scolding her vile heart.

Colin is smart, so Im sure hell get in. Dont be disappointed. Colin deserves a good education at the best academy and deserves to be a good lord.

She constantly urged and encouraged him. But after a long night, even after the next day or many days after that, Lucys mood didnt improve.

Am I really doing this because I dont want Colin to go far away? Or

Lucy agonized over the days and didnt notice that someone was looking at her meaningfully.

Lucys grandmother looked carefully at her granddaughter, becoming more and more enraptured by the day.

Perhaps shes upset at the thought of parting with Colin.

Theyve been together since childhood.

Her grandmother shook her head quietly at Lucys parents guesses. They were having dinner at the table. Thats not it. Her eyes shone sharply. In a few months, Colin will officially go to the academy in the capital for the entrance examination.

Lucy, biting her fork with a blank face, looked up quickly.

Well, thats good, isnt it? Colin is smart, and hell definitely get in. Lucys mother said, looking pleased.

Lucy nodded with an awkward smile and muttered, Yes, I think so too.

This was followed by a conversation about Colins upright mind and their expectations as the next lord of Brom. Despite Lucys nodding agreement, she seemed to be staring in a daze at the tables empty corner.

Lucy, why dont you take the exam with him? her grandmother said, peering at her.

Clank!

Lucys fork fell to the floor and made a loud noise. It bounced a few times and stopped moving after a while. Then a long silence came over the table.

The whole family looked surprised at her grandmothers unexpected remark.

Lucy stared blankly at her grandmothers face without even thinking about picking up the fork she had dropped.

the academy entrance exam? Me?

No matter how much she thought about it, she felt as if she had been hallucinating. However, her grandmother smiled at her as if telling Lucy that she was not mistaken.

The first person to break the silence was her father.

Mother Are you serious? he asked cautiously, and his face contorted in disbelief. Im afraid we will have to pay a lot of school expenses.

Xenomium Academy was the most prestigious academy in the empire. Its tuition fees were also incomparable to those of ordinary schools. A slight frown formed on her fathers forehead as he began thinking about it.

I was thinking of sending Lucy to school. Even if its not Xenomium There are good schools in the east. It should be enough for Lucy.

How do you know if its enough? Lucys grandmother cut off her fathers words firmly. Lucy doesnt express herself very much. So, no one knows exactly what this child wants. Even if you are her father, dont simply make your own judgement.

Lucys grandmother crossed her arms and continued, Ive taught Lucy many things on my own since she was a child. Even the children of noble families who receive a high level of education would find it difficult to do so. I think a school of the right level for this kid is definitely Xenomium.

I know Lucy is a smart girl. But, Mother, Xenomium is impossible with our standing.

When I said I was sending you to a medical school, the villagers said the same thing. They told me not to give you false hope and just teach you how to farm.

Lucys father, who was about to argue further, went quiet. There was another deep silence at the table. After a while, he sighed shallowly and said calmly, Mother, you know that it doesnt make sense to compare the tuition fees of a local medical center with the Capital Academy, do you?

Dont worry. I have an idea. Thats why I brought it up.

Her dad could no longer refute her grandmothers firm attitude.

Lucy, who should be most pleased at that moment, was sitting restlessly on her seat despite her grandmothers words showing infinite faith in her.

Her grandmother said she had an idea, but she didnt really believe it. To Lucys eyes, sending her to the Xenomium Academy was a bad decision for the family.

I just have to say I dont want to go. Its for the better good. That way, Grandma and Dad wont have to argue about this, and Grandma wont have to be sorry for me.

Grandmother, Im Lucy, who had been hesitating, finally spoke.

I dont particularly want to go to Xenomium.

That sentence was enough.

But

Suddenly she jumped up from her seat and ran to her grandmother. Lucy hugged her grandmothers neck and burst into tears.

Thank you, Grandma! she said, choking back her sobs.