Becoming Number One with Confession Attacks - Chapter 51
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
#51
There was still no news from Aiden. The newspapers carried no stories about Meriden at all. That day too, Sonnet went to the library to look for books related to the Royal Ancient Research Institute.
Since she was scheduled to go to the Royal Ancient Research Institute soon, there was much to research. It was while Sonnet was looking around here and there searching for books.
“Is your brother okay?”
When Sonnet looked up, two people were standing at the bookshelf right in front of her.
Sonnet didn’t want to face them directly for no reason, so she stepped aside and pretended to select books.
“He said he was fine in his letter.”
“Is he really okay? There’s been hardly any news about Meriden in the newspapers.”
At the mention of Meriden, Sonnet momentarily froze and looked ahead.
As she stood there in a daze, voices echoed.
“Aiden came and dramatically improved the situation. They almost lost everything.”
“He seems to write you letters quite often.”
“I only know because I heard from my parents. And my brother isn’t the type to write letters one by one anyway.”
“That’s true, but I didn’t know he wouldn’t write me letters to this extent.”
Gradually their voices grew distant.
Sonnet stood there in place, staring blankly at the books. At least the fortunate thing was that Meriden wasn’t as serious as all that.
On the other hand, Sonnet felt a little dejected. Seeing there was no reply, the situation seemed quite difficult so she was worried, and she felt excluded by the fact that only those people knew the news.
He had said in advance that he wouldn’t be able to reply for a while, but she didn’t know there would be no news to this extent.
Sonnet checked out books with a bitter heart and left the library. Still, just in case, she planned to send another letter this time. To the address Aiden had sent.
But no answer came. Not the next day, nor the day after that. Her letter was even returned to sender.
Sonnet waited for Aiden all the way until graduation. At least the newspapers began to carry stories about Meriden little by little.
Unprecedented perfect victory, tactics never seen before, thanks to new weapon supplies. Aiden’s face was always there among them.
His appearance in perfect uniform looked like a pre-taken photograph.
Around her, Aiden’s popularity soared even higher. There were even people who cut out Aiden’s photo from the newspaper and carried it around.
The rumor that Sonnet was his lover couldn’t stop Aiden’s soaring popularity either.
Rather, people around her gossiped about Sonnet, saying she was a girl he would break up with someday.
“She’s a commoner. Her family background is nothing special too.”
Every time she heard such words, Sonnet would approach them defiantly and snap back.
“I may be a commoner with an unremarkable family, but my grades aren’t low enough for you to gossip about behind my back.”
The one thing Sonnet could boast about was her first-place grades. This time, Sonnet gained the honor of being the first commoner to graduate as valedictorian from Rosefield Academy.
She had finally achieved the dream her grandmother had yearned for. That fact alone was gratifying, but her heart wasn’t very at ease.
It was because of the judgments people around her made about her.
Now that Aiden wasn’t at this school, they were subtly busy putting Sonnet down.
Every time that happened, Sonnet would defiantly overwhelm them with her grades. Calling them nobles who couldn’t even surpass a commoner.
Actually, even saying that didn’t make Sonnet feel completely satisfied.
‘Just when is a reply going to come?’
Sonnet was disappointed again today looking at her empty mailbox. Today was even graduation day.
The day she would graduate as valedictorian, the first commoner to do so.
‘I wished Aiden would come, at least today.’
Now the newspapers were even saying the Meriden war was almost over.
The specific schedule for the welcome ceremony held by the Royal Palace hadn’t come out, but from what people around were saying, it was around today.
It was clearly a situation where he could send word, but not a single letter came from Aiden.
Previously, Sonnet had been so worried about Aiden’s situation that she even went to find the butler at his manor.
The butler received Sonnet kindly, but said he hadn’t heard news of his young master either. That not even a letter had come.
Sonnet rummaged through her pocket and pulled out a worn piece of paper. It was a letter Aiden had sent before.
She had looked at it so many times that the edges had frayed. So she had patched it with additional paper, but from looking at it continuously, the patched paper had also become quite worn.
[…I love you.]
Sonnet stared blankly at the part written in Aiden’s neat handwriting. Actually, only the words “I love you” were visible.
‘He said he loved me.’
Why was there no news at all? If he had just said he was safe, Sonnet wouldn’t have waited for Aiden to this extent.
Sonnet sighed and put Aiden’s letter in her pocket. She was already wearing her graduation gown.
Outside the dormitory, banners congratulating graduation were already hung, and there were many people who came with their parents or friends.
“Sonnet!”
At the familiar voice, she turned her head to see Tester running toward her urgently. Sonnet smiled, feeling glad for no reason.
She had something to ask Tester about anyway.
“Did you happen to hear news about Aiden?”
During this time, she hadn’t been able to talk properly with Tester because she was busy writing documents related to the Royal Ancient Research Institute. Besides, Tester was busy playing with other friends since it was graduation.
Tester adjusted his graduation cap and caught his breath.
“He’s back now. Didn’t you know?”
Sonnet wondered if she was dreaming for a moment and asked again.
“He’s back?”
“I actually came to show you this.”
Tester held out a newspaper to Sonnet.
Looking at the date, it was today’s newspaper. In the newspaper, Aiden with his sharp jawline was holding a gun and smiling brightly.
It was similar to the photo he had enclosed with his letter before, but strangely different. His face in the newspaper looked much more manly and rougher.
Sonnet couldn’t take her eyes off the photo. Seeing Aiden after so long felt as if he were truly alive.
“He was injured in battle and is currently rehabilitating at his manor.”
Sonnet felt her heart grow cold. When she stared blankly at the newspaper, Tester frowned.
“You didn’t know?”
“…I didn’t know.”
“Well, it was a classified situation all this time. Now that the war is over, they’re reporting on Aiden’s condition too, but people around must be asking about Aiden’s well-being like crazy. It’s the first time I’ve seen the newspaper report on it so extensively.”
Tester looked at Sonnet and spoke with a hardened expression.
“I came thinking maybe you were in contact with Aiden, but why didn’t he even tell you what condition he’s in?”
When Sonnet remained in a daze, Tester frowned.
“Didn’t you say you cleared up the misunderstanding with him?”
“….”
“From what I can roughly see, it doesn’t seem like he’s injured to the point where he can’t use his hands, so no matter what, he would have a servant write a letter for him.”
“….”
“How obsessed was Aiden with you? I couldn’t even walk around properly next to you for no reason. Honestly, hearing that you didn’t know Aiden’s condition all this time….”
Tester said more, but Sonnet could no longer hear it. Today should clearly be a joyful graduation day, but something kept welling up inside her.
Tester paused for a moment, then looked at Sonnet and said one thing.
“Still, go visit him once. He’ll at least make excuses when he sees you.”
Sonnet nodded. From what she saw in the newspaper, he was rehabilitating at his manor, so it seemed she could go to the manor.
When Sonnet immediately turned around, Tester quickly stopped her.
“You have to give your graduation speech before you go. You’re the valedictorian.”
For a moment, Sonnet was conflicted. It was the valedictorian graduation from Rosefield Academy that her late grandmother had so yearned for.
A commoner beating nobles was no small feat either.
Sonnet’s heart was heavy, but thinking of her grandmother who had helped her all along, she had no choice but to pull herself together.
Tester walked alongside her.
He looked around at the people wearing graduation gowns here and there. Everyone seemed quite happy, having come with their parents or friends.
Tester looked at them and brought up a topic.
“Aren’t your parents coming?”
“No.”
“My parents aren’t coming either because they’re busy.”
“What about your friends?”
“They’ll take pictures among themselves.”
“Shouldn’t you take pictures with them too?”
“Even when I talk and hang out with them, they don’t really include me that much. When it comes to taking pictures, I guess they only want to do it among themselves.”
Sonnet didn’t say anything more. She knew better than anyone how big the gap between nobles and commoners was.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————