“Filin Solst, these are all complaints about your harassment of female classmates.”
The last rays of the sunset streamed through the office window, casting a warm glow over the desk piled high with envelopes.
Filin’s hand unconsciously rubbed his frayed cuffs, where the fabric had seen better days.
“Can you please have some self-restraint? It’s fine if you like Miss Viloti Sirafel, but you’re seriously tarnishing her reputation now.”
Filin’s gaze swept over the Grade Director, who was busy wiping her glasses, and landed on a true beauty sitting beside her.
“Miss Viloti has been admitted to the Royal Capital Academy, and you know the standing of the Sirafel family. Do you really think you’d cross paths in the future?”
Filin looked down at the loose threads on his clothes, silent.
“I will not allow you to ruin the reputation of our school’s once-in-a-century genius. If this continues, I’ll have to call the guards, and you might end up in jail.”
Filin nodded, his voice hoarse.
“I’ll remember that. Thank you for the reminder, teacher.”
“Now, get out.”
Filin turned and walked out of the office, glancing back at the motionless Viloti, softly closing the door behind him.
In the sunset, his shadow stretched long and far.
Everywhere he looked, the sky was painted red by the setting sun.
As Filin slowly walked away from the Grade Director’s window, his hunched back gradually straightened.
He pulled out a notebook from his pocket and flipped through it rapidly.
“Next up, there’s another performance. Let’s see, the prop is eye drops, and the key point is to portray a feeling of sadness while having to leave…”
Filin wasn’t an actor; he was a professional simp.
His employer was none other than Viloti’s father, Lord Sirafel.
Three years ago, Viloti was humiliated by a scoundrel at a banquet and spent six months in seclusion.
Filin’s job was to boost Viloti’s confidence and self-esteem, turning her into the shining star she was meant to be.
And he succeeded, providing just enough emotional support to help Viloti come out of her shell and even gain admission to the Royal Capital Academy.
The door to the Grade Director’s office creaked open, emitting a high-pitched sound.
Her pink hair framed her delicate skin, reminiscent of winter’s dawn blanketing the first snowfall.
A gentle breeze rustled the bangs that brushed her forehead.
She delicately teasing a stray hair away from her rosy lips with her pinky, tucking it behind her ear, revealing her fair ear.
Even after countless encounters, Filin couldn’t help but acknowledge that Viloti’s beauty was a blessing from the heavens.
With such an adorable appearance, her amber eyes always wore a frosty expression.
Filin pinched his thigh, holding his breath.
“Viloti…”
At that moment, tears shimmered in Filin’s eyes, and his face felt warm as he slowly reached out, aiming to touch a star just out of reach, his figure slightly hunched.
Viloti stood at the doorway, her expression inscrutable.
“Mr. Filin, I truly appreciate your help. However…”
“I absolutely promise I won’t disturb you again!”
Filin bent forward, sincerely apologizing.
It was the first time he’d said such things to Viloti.
The setting sun made it difficult for her to keep her eyes open; she swayed slightly.
“Really?”
Her voice was so soft it almost got swept away by the wind.
“The graduation party at Silver Moon Valley on Sunday…”
“I swear I won’t bother you at all! You’re bound to meet someone better there.”
Filin looked up and saw the sunset casting its glow on her face.
In the shifting light, he could only make out her exquisite facial features, unable to decipher her expression.
Her amber eyes seemed to merge with the sunset, telling a story of their own.
“Got it.”
The impassive beauty nodded and turned to leave.
“Viloti, how can I live without you! Viloti, you must be happy!”
As he watched Viloti turn the corner and head downstairs, Filin turned and pulled out a tissue to wipe away the eye drops that had just dripped from his eyes.
Acting was indeed a labor-intensive endeavor.
To achieve that expression of unrequited love he assumed while having to let go, he even tossed fifty crowns into the river.
“Buzz, buzz.”
The communications spell relayed a rhythmic vibration.
“Hey, kid. Is it all over?” It was Lord Sirafel, Viloti’s father.
“Yup, yup. Since we’re ending the contract, I have successfully and beautifully severed ties with Viloti.”
The complaint letters piled in the office were all penned by him.
“That’s good. Just make sure my daughter doesn’t find out; if she does, she might just hate me to death.”
“Don’t worry, I’m a professional.”
Once Viloti regained her confidence, emerged from her room, and got into the Royal Capital Academy, his usefulness to her was done.
So, the contract termination was expected.
“I only agreed to pay you this much because of your father’s standing.”
“Thank you, Lord Sirafel.”
Filin himself was once of noble blood.
To be precise, the former owner of this body was also nobility.
Back then, the Filin family, known as the “Light of Seiva,” was the most powerful family in Seiva City.
But three years ago, for reasons unknown, the Filin family was completely destroyed overnight, and all nobility kept silent about it.
The original owner then took poison and committed suicide, while Filin arrived in that very moment.
He woke to find his parents vanished, leaving behind an unfathomable amount of debt.
And besides being handsome, he had nothing else to his name.
An alcoholic father, a remarried mother, a sick sister, and a wrecked life.
Thus began his descent into darkness, hoping his sister would take care of him.
Making money isn’t shameful!
“Just one more question, what do you think of my daughter?”
Filin raised an eyebrow and casually replied, “Miss Viloti will surely become a significant figure in the church; a small fry like me could never reach that height.”
“Ha ha ha.”
With Lord Sirafel’s hearty laughter, the call ended.
This old man was worried that Filin might actually develop feelings for Viloti, but Filin could hardly wait to finish this gig.
Not only did he have to deliver three meals on time every day, he had to come up with various declarations of love.
While enduring the gossip from classmates, he also had to monitor Viloti’s emotional fluctuations closely.
Don’t underestimate the role of a simp; it’s not an easy job!
“This gig is done. I’m treating myself to something lavish tonight, let’s add two eggs!”
At the moment Filin turned, he caught a glimpse of Viloti’s figure downstairs.
She stood in the glow of the setting sun, her petite silhouette stretching long and thin.
Her pink locks cascaded down her fair shoulders as she turned slowly, her skirt fluttering gently.
Her amber eyes sparkled with flecks of light, gradually fixing their gaze on Filin’s floor, her expression still calm.
Filin’s heart raced, and he instinctively stepped back, leaning against the wall, trying his best to blend into the shadows.
“What are you doing? Not leaving yet? Waiting for Viloti?” A familiar voice from the Grade Director interrupted him.
“Director, I, um, I wasn’t…”
The Grade Director poked her head out and glanced outside.
“Viloti has already left. You should go home; don’t forget what I told you today.”
“Understood, Director. I’m leaving now.”
Watching Filin’s departing figure, even the Director couldn’t help but sigh.
Viloti was already a well-known beauty at school, highly regarded.
And Filin’s relationship with her was quite unique.
It was rumored that before the downfall of the Filin family, Sirafel had proposed marriage to connect their families.
But back then, Filin had rejected the offer.
Now, it had transformed into a light novel script titled “Regret of Rejecting Now That His Family is Ruined.”
Who wouldn’t want to be the protagonist in a “Three-Year Contract” novel? Everyone would feel fabulous, right?
This kind of feel-good story about a heroine spread like wildfire among students, and soon the whole school was in the know.
Even Filin couldn’t help but overhear other female teachers animatedly narrating stories about him in the office.
Though it violated the ethics of their profession, it wouldn’t be human to be unaffected.
Wherever Filin was, there would always be a bunch of whispers behind his back.
Thank goodness the school was well-behaved; there was no physical bullying happening.
Filin now sat under a tree, marveling at the balance in his account.
Lord Sirafel had deposited a whopping five hundred thousand crowns, which was essentially his living expenses for a year.
Complimentary care is worth far less than a big chunk of cash.
Absolutely bananas!
Once he had money, he vowed to buy a mansion in a remote area, away from any customers.
He’d hire a hundred maids, all wearing black stockings on odd numbers and white stockings on even numbers.
Buzz~ Buzz~
Another bout of vibrating from the communications spell.
[Join me for Viloti’s graduation party on Sunday, consider it overtime, one thousand crowns.]
—
