The door slammed open.
"Father."
Irene's voice was agitated as her eyes instantly locked on to her father.
He was sitting behind his desk and doing some kind of paperwork.
Vulcan didn't acknowledge her at first, finishing up his paperwork, before he raised his head and greeted Irene.
"Irene," he said, his voice calm. "You're back early."
"We have two days until classes start, but forget that. I have a question."
Vulcan leaned back in his chair slightly, lifting the cup of coffee on his table and taking a sip.
"Then ask."
Irene didn't waste any time.
"Did you interfere with Ronan's exam?"
There was no hesitation in her words. No warmth, either.
It was straight to the point.
Silence filled the office, and the air grew heavier.
A tense atmosphere settled between the father-daughter duo.
But Irene held her gaze, showing how serious she was about this topic.
"…Why do you ask?"
Irene frowned.
"Because it makes no sense," Irene said. "He passed. That alone is beyond his capabilities, but he also placed in B class. I'm sorry for being suspicious, but that is clearly beyond his capabilities."
There was no immediate response from Vulcan.
Instead, he tapped his armrest as he thought about what to say.
After some silence, he replied.
"Yes."
Irene's body went rigid as her eyes widened.
Yes, she had suspicions, but…
"I had intended to, at least," Vulcan said. "I sent a request to the Ravencrest family."
"The Ravencrests?"
Irene's brows furrowed in confusion.
"One of the four great families," Vulcan said. Irene already knew that, but he continued. "They hold great influence within the Academy's selection process. Enough to… adjust the outcomes."
"So then…"
" asked them to allow Ronan to pass. The Ashbourne family and the Ravencrest family are strong allies, a request like that was easy to arrange."
Irene's lips parted slightly, but she didn't speak.
So she was right.
Of course she was right.
There was only one logical outcome, and it was obvious that Father hadn't wanted Ronan disowned from the family.
A small sense of satisfaction rose in her chest–
"However," Vulcan said, his voice cutting her thoughts off halfway. "That proved to be unnecessary."
Irene went silent.
"What?"
Vulcan folded his hands, looking at his daughter.
"This morning I received a response from the Ravencrest family. Do you know what it said?"
Irene just looked at her father with confusion.
Vulcan continued.
"The response said that interference wasn't required, and Ronan passed the exam through his own ability."
Irene didn't speak.
She didn't even move.
Vulcan spoke again, quoting the response from the Ravencrest family.
"While his combat abilities and mana arts are lacking," he said. "Ronan Ashbourne has shown great potential in the entrance examination."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Positioning, timing, decision-making – everything Ronan Ashbourne demonstrated besides his raw combat prowess was far above the level of his peers."
"He exploited the structure of the exam, and secured his place in the Academy on his own. For this reason, we cannot comply with your request, as it is not required."
Irene's fingers curled at her sides.
That didn't make sense.
"No…" she muttered under her breath. "That isn't possible. I know him."
Vulcan did not argue, nor did he correct her.
This reaction was normal.
"He has never shown anything they described. Positioning, timing, decision-making – am I supposed to believe that?"
"You are correct, he has never shown any of that."
"Then how–?"
"I am not sure either," Vulcan said. "But I have been alive for a long time, daughter. And something I learned is that people do change."
"Not that fast."
"Who knows," he replied.
Irene gritted her teeth. As if she would accept something as simple as 'people change.'
With a click of her tongue, Irene looked away, hiding the annoyed look on her face.
She was annoyed, frustrated.
It didn't make any sense. She couldn't think of any reason–
Knock. Knock.
Before she could continue, someone knocked on the door.
Irene's head turned towards the door, and Vulcan's voice rang out.
"You may enter."
A man stepped in.
He was dressed in formal attire, and the insignia on his chest was unmistakable.
The Lockhart Family.
"Lord Ashbourne," the man greeted. "And Young Lady Irene. I apologize, am I interrupting something?"
"No, you are fine. What brings you here?" Vulcan questioned.
"I am here to inform you–" The man pulled out a letter from his back pocket. "The engagement between Ronan Ashbourne and Iris Lockhart has been nullified."
Irene's eyes widened.
Nullified?
Irene's surprise didn't last long before she sighed.
That wasn't surprising. Her father probably knew about this as well.
There were two people who could sign the nullification of the engagement, the Lord of the Ashbourne family, Vulcan Ashbourne.
And Ronan Ashbourne himself.
So Father decided to nullify the engagement? Irene thought.
But the next words that came out of the man's mouth broke those thoughts.
"The request," the messenger continued. "Was initiated by Ronan Ashbourne himself."
Irene's expression froze.
"What?" She asked out loud.
The messenger didn't falter.
"The documents have already been signed and processed. Take a look."
The messenger walked right past her and towards the desk where her father sat. He slid the envelope to Vulcan Ashbourne.
Vulcan opened the envelope with an unreadable expression.
"He signed it."
There was no emotion when he said those words – no reaction.
It was just a fact.
The last gears in Irene's head came to a halt.
Ronan had… initiated the contract?
None of it aligned.
Ronan was obsessed with Iris.
He embarrassed himself for her.
So why–?
"Is that all?" Vulcan asked.
"Yes, Lord Ashbourne."
The man turned and left after the short response, leaving Irene and her father alone in the room once again.
Silence returned, but the shock didn't leave Irene's face.
This was all too unexpected.
None of this matched the Ronan she knew.
"Father…" Irene muttered.
Her voice was soft, but she was certain her father had heard it.
Vulcan didn't respond. He simply looked at her.
Irene turned to him.
"…What is he doing?"
There was a brief moment of silence as Vulcan looked at her.
Vulcan thought for a bit before giving his daughter an answer.
"That…" Vulcan said calmly. "Is what I intend on finding out."