She stopped in her tracks and pressed her back against the wall, catching her breath. Her eyes still remained watery, and her vision was still murky and blurred.
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She closed her eyes. Her heart pounded so fast inside her ribcage. She placed a hand over her chest, feeling each loud thump hard. Her chest rose and fell with the big, short breaths she quickly took to fill her lungs with oxygen.
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What just happened? Why did I even cry? Melissa wondered, puzzled at what had made her break down like that.
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She had always wanted to join the academy, to explore the world and become an adventurer. But she knew it was a futile dream. Why? Because the academy was expensive. Outrageously expensive.
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Even if commoners somehow managed to pass the entrance exam and receive the scholarships offered to those from poor backgrounds, it did not solve all their problems. There were still expenses like food, clothes, artifacts, and weapons—everything had to be purchased with their own money.
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Soon enough, they would find themselves buried in debt just to buy the things the academy required. If they lacked artifacts and treasures, there would always be someone richer who owned them, gaining a huge advantage over those who could not afford such things from the start.
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Her brother, who had barely managed to get into the academy, had to drop out even after getting a scholarship because he could not afford all the other expenses. Even though she always told her parents she wanted to attend the academy, she knew they could never afford it. It was partly a whim, partly an excuse to avoid marriage by claiming she had a dream and a purpose. She had once hoped her brother would sponsor her studies, but he rarely visited since becoming an adventurer, and he did not seem to be doing well himself. She did not have the courage to ask him for help with the academy.
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All she did was occasionally mention the academy to her parents, hoping they might have some hidden wealth or something that would allow her to get admitted. Deep down, she knew her wishes would remain just that—wishes that would never come true.
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So, when Lucien told her he would get her admitted to the academy, the first question that came to her mind was about the timing. The academy entrance started on the second day of every new year and ended on the fourth, with classes beginning on the sixth. Today was the sixth day of the three-thousandth year after the death of the Hero King. Entrance was already over, and classes had already started. That led her to ask Lucien how she could possibly get in when admissions were already closed.
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How did she know all this? Everyone in her village knew about the academy. Some rich villagers had spent their entire life’s savings to send their children there.
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But Lucien told her that he had his ways, and her newly awakened powers would let her gain admission to the academy easily. She wanted to doubt it, but she could tell Lucien was telling the truth. She had known from the start that he was being honest, but still wanted to ask how and whether her ability to sense truth or lies could ever be faked.
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She was so overjoyed, but when she thought about expenses, her worry quickly returned. She feared the golden opportunity would slip away from her, but thankfully Lucien promised to sponsor her for two full years at the academy. Everything she needed—he was going to take care of it.
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Then joy overwhelmed her, and her eyes soon filled with tears as she began to cry. No one had ever done so much for her. She knew how expensive the academy could be—her brother had to drop out, and even some rich villagers had sold their land and homes so their children could attend the academy.
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"Haah, why am I crying again? I've already cried enough," Melissa muttered to herself as she opened her eyes. She clenched her handkerchief tightly in her right hand and wiped away any tears left on her face.
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When she turned to the side, the maid from before—the one who had helped her cut meat into small pieces and guided her to the guest house, Maria, as Melissa had learned by asking—was standing to the side, her expression unreadable and her head slightly lowered, as if she did not want to see Melissa's tear-streaked face.
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Melissa abruptly jolted backward. "What are you doing here? And how long have you been standing there?" she cried out, embarrassment flooding her. So many thoughts rushed through her mind.
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How long had she been standing by? Did she see me crying? Did she see me place my hand over my chest to check my pounding heart?
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So many questions screamed through her mind, one after another, until the maid finally spoke.
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"My lady, I have been searching for you in your room. I just arrived here a few seconds ago and did not dare to interrupt you. The Duke and Duchess have invited you for tea." Maria lifted her slightly bowed head. Melissa could tell the maid was telling the truth—she could always sense it.
"You didn't see anything strange, did you?" Melissa asked, still skeptical that Maria might have witnessed her embarrassing actions.
"My lady, I did not see anything. I only arrived as you were cleaning your face with your handkerchief," Maria replied, her eyes sincere and free of any deception.
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Melissa let out a huge sigh of relief, grateful her most embarrassing moment had not been fully witnessed. Still, the maid had seen her cleaning her face, and that alone made her cheeks burn with embarrassment. Maria stood there, her expression unreadable, waiting for a reply. Melissa forced herself to shove these thoughts to the back of her mind.
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Now that she focused on what Maria had said, Melissa asked, "Sure, but why?" Her voice grew anxious, worried that perhaps the Duchess's illness had returned. If that were true, she might lose the academy sponsorship and all the rewards Lucien had promised her. Her chest tightened at the very thought of losing her chance to attend the academy.
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"My lady, I am sorry if I sound rude, but I am a maid. I do not question my lords' reasons. Also, your face is messy—your foundation is smudged and there is mascara around your eyes. Forgive my impertinence, but I recommend you wash your face properly before I show you the way to the tea house," the maid replied, matter-of-factly.
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"Yes, show me the way to the guest room." Melissa tried to hide her face with both hands and darted her eyes around the hallway, afraid someone else might see her like this.
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"There is no need to go to the guest room. There are plenty of other rooms where you can clean your face, and if you wish, reapply some light makeup. I recommend it, since you will be visiting the Duke and Duchess," the maid said respectfully, a slight smile on her face as if she found Melissa’s embarrassing action to cover her face funny.
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That only made Melissa more embarrassed.
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Melissa nodded her head, and the maid led the way.