Home/I Became the Emergency Food Supply of the Bear Family/ch57

Chapter 57

Taking Theodor's hand, she slowly descended from the carriage.

The moment her shoe touched the ground, she released the hem of her dress she'd been holding. The dress rustled softly above her shoes.

The students watched Ber breathlessly, captivated by her graceful bearing.

With her back straight and posture poised, Ber walked forward. On either side of her, Nuke, Alexei, and Theodor followed as if escorting her. The students' gazes remained fixed on her.

Ber let out a small sigh of relief and smiled. Her polished walk finally shone. She'd worked so hard for this day.

Two years ago, accompanying Ferdinand to his entrance ceremony had taught her something:

Life at the Imperial Academy begins not at the ceremony, but the moment you arrive at the main gate.

Ferdinand had drawn attention the moment he stepped out of the carriage—appearing with the head of the Grizzly family, with his naturally upright posture, neat attire, and handsome features.

Louis, on the other hand, had drawn attention precisely because he didn't care about others' gazes—confident and free-spirited.

Ferdinand had won the faculty's favor, and Louis had won the favor of male students who loved swordsmanship and sports—both leading smooth Academy lives.

To carry out her plans step by step, it was best to remove unnecessary obstacles.

Unlike her two strong bear brothers, Ber was a frail rabbit beast-person. If she made enemies among the students, she might face harassment. Image management was essential.

Not as handsome as Ferdinand, nor as cheerful as Louis, her weapon was "lack of information."

The fact that the Grizzly family had adopted a child was barely known throughout the Empire. Theodor had never let his adopted daughter outside the estate, and he himself had stayed secluded in the North with little interaction with other nobles.

So the students would begin to speculate: what kind of person was the Grizzly family's youngest daughter? What was her position within the family?

All she had to do was drop the right hints to fuel their guesses.

The first impression she wanted to plant was that of a well-educated young lady.

A dignified demeanor, and a quiet, reticent concept—saying no more than necessary.

The Imperial Academy uniforms differed by gender. Male students wore gray-based jackets and trousers; female students wore white-based jackets and skirts.

Gold-threaded seams, gold epaulets swaying on the shoulders. Blue sapphires on the blouse collar representing the Imperial Court—and a black ribbon beneath.

The day has come when I can wear a school uniform!

Excited, she involuntarily clenched her fist.

After neatly adjusting her appearance, Ber headed to the hall where the entrance ceremony would be held.

Walking in line down the corridor, she kept feeling gazes. A female student beside her greeted her first, asking bluntly if she was connected to the Grizzly family.

"Yes. I'm the youngest, Verdiana Grizzly."

At her brief reply, the girl's eyes went wide.

First greeting, then identity check. She was clearly a gossip-lover.

The news that I'm the Grizzly family's youngest daughter will spread by the end of the day.

If you want a rumor to spread, use a well-connected person—one of the survival rules of noble society that Heinz had taught her.

Once it was known she was a member of the Grizzly family, no matter how frail she looked, the number of people who'd treat her lightly would drop sharply.

And so, after the entrance ceremony, Ber successfully received her dormitory assignment.

Her room was a double, and her roommate was a quiet, reticent girl—more precisely, one with a detached expression as if everything was a bother.

Slowly raising her hand in a brief greeting, the roommate climbed to the upper bunk. Then she said one thing:

"I prefer being up in the trees."

"...Ah, okay."

Ber answered blankly, tilting her head.

Trees? Well, the bunk bed was made of wood, so I suppose it's up in a tree...

At any rate, she was glad her roommate wasn't the gossipy type. Sharing a room increased the chance of exposing weaknesses—so someone who seemed so unconcerned was actually reassuring. She didn't even smell like a predator.

After the room assignment came lunchtime.

Before heading to the cafeteria, Ber went to the main gate. To say goodbye to everyone. She saw Theodor boarding the carriage.

"Count!"

Ber ran to the carriage. It was a bit far from dignified behavior—but she had to say what she needed to say.

"Ber. The uniform suits you."

Ber scratched the back of her head sheepishly. Theodor had never used to give compliments. He seemed to be softening with age.

"I'll come back during breaks. I'll definitely write letters."

"...Yes."

Stroking her white hair, Theodor said something surprising:

"I'll send letters too."

"The young lady is so cute—I mean, so good-natured, she'll do well anywhere!"

Following Theodor's gruff voice, Nuke said with a completely melted, doting expression. Meanwhile, Alexei beside him wore a strangely serious look.

"Young lady, if anything troubles you, please tell me anytime."

"Anytime?"

Ber laughed as if to say don't joke—but Alexei nodded gravely.

"I'll come running right away."

"I'll be fine. So Alexei, you focus on guarding Grizzly Castle, okay?"

"...Yes."

For some reason, even though she'd spoken cheerfully, Alexei's expression looked a little sad.

Meanwhile, at the cafeteria entrance, she met Ferdinand and Louis.

They returned to the castle every break, so she hadn't been apart from them long—but in their uniforms, they looked more mature.

"Ber finally entered the Academy!"

"The uniform is pretty. It really suits your white hair."

Louis grinned like a puppy, and Ferdinand casually said something smooth. At school, neither of them had changed.

"You two look great too. The clothes really make the man."

"Ber, that's not a compliment."

"Anyway, we're eating lunch together, right?"

Their easy back-and-forth drew the attention of not only new students but most others as well.

And so rumors about the mysterious youngest daughter of the Grizzly family spread among all the students within half a day.

---

The Imperial Academy had three major departments.

Swordsmanship. Magic. General Studies.

Not only were the curricula divided, but each department had its own campus.

Louis was in Swordsmanship; Ferdinand was in Magic.

As a former romance fantasy reader, Ber was also interested in Magic—but she chose General Studies. Because of spring's power.

"Choosing General Studies would be safer. Of course, even an Academy professor couldn't perceive your power directly."

Saying that, Pallas patted Ber's shoulder, puffed out his chest, and smiled.

"There isn't a great mage like me anywhere in the world. So rest assured."

She knew well that Pallas was an outstanding mage. His words were true, so it was fine—but—

Every time he does that, his expression changes oddly—it's a bit overwhelming.

It was the kind of atmosphere that made her feel like she should applaud and say Wow, amazing! It was true, and he always answered her concerns seriously, so she had actually clapped for him.

Yes. For a smooth Academy life and the peaceful future of the Grizzly family, Ber had to hide two things.

First—that she was Eostre's incarnation.

Second—that she was an Arctic hare beast-person.

Of course, she knew she couldn't hide them forever.

And she was living a life almost like a terminal patient—having to use spring's power just to survive.

I'll inevitably be found out someday. But—

Not yet.

Not until she'd twisted the original plot at least a little.

She hadn't read the ending, so she didn't know exactly what the Imperial Court wanted. So she wanted to prepare for the worst.

Even if she, as Eostre's incarnation, quietly went to the Imperial Court, there was still a possibility that the problem wouldn't be resolved.

And so, the first week at the Imperial Academy passed.

The first weekend in the capital. Ber left the Academy and walked through the capital's central streets. Freely, without any escort.

This was one of the reasons she'd wanted to enter the Academy.

On days without classes, she could freely roam the capital.

Ruaalbero, the capital directly ruled by the Emperor. And under his jurisdiction, the Imperial Academy—a talent-training institution.

No one could harm the Empire's future. Especially under the watchful eye of Emperor Cieldor, a wise ruler supported by the entire Empire.

So Ber, wearing her Academy uniform, went out—heading toward her destination.

Her destination was Einja's clinic.

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