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Chapter 06
The classroom had a warm atmosphere, with pale beige walls and brown desks.
The students stared at Rose, who stood beside the teaching assistant, their gazes filled with mixed emotions. The tension in the room was thick—enough to make anyone nervous.
“Ahem.”
Inside the tiered lecture hall, sharp eyes filled every seat.
“Hello.”
Her voluminous pink hair shimmered with the gloss of expensive care.
Clear light-green eyes sparkled like emeralds.
Her skin was as pale and flawless as fresh snow, without a single blemish, and her delicate features were perfectly arranged.
She looked so pure that one might imagine a sweet cotton-candy scent following her wherever she walked.
No one could help but focus on her.
“My name is Rose.”
She introduced herself in a clear, gentle voice.
“I was admitted a little late because my health isn’t very strong. I hope we can all get along well.”
“Is there anything else you’d like to say?”
“No.”
Because I’m very shy.
She said it brazenly—without even blushing.
“…Very well, that concludes the introduction.”
Rose finished with a polite bow, and the assistant naturally continued.
“You all heard her. Please help Rose adjust to the Academy.”
“Yes~”
“Rose, you may take the empty seat over there.”
She walked lightly to the indicated seat.
Watching her small figure—slightly smaller than her peers—the assistant sighed inwardly.
Will she be able to endure this place?
After years of working at the Academy, the assistant was certain of one thing.
Life here would not be smooth for that girl.
I heard she has no experience in the Academy or even in high society.
Most students had come up from affiliated upper academies. Cliques were already firmly established.
Would that newcomer be able to blend in?
Click—clack—
Ignoring the sticky gazes clinging to her, Rose took her seat without making eye contact.
It felt as if she were trapped inside a cage.
Like an animal on display.
“Now, I’ll take attendance.”
The assistant’s roll call briefly broke the suffocating atmosphere.
For a moment, the piercing stares shifted away.
The arrival of a stranger had cast a silence over the room.
But soon, students began sneaking glances at Rose and whispering among themselves.
“She’s pretty.”
It was a thought most of them shared.
Objectively speaking, Rose was beautiful.
“Do you know who she is?”
“No. Never seen her before.”
“She’s a noble, so why didn’t she say her surname?”
“Right?”
“Maybe her family’s so low-ranked she’s too embarrassed to say it.”
Giggles.
Gazes stuck to her from every direction.
“…Um. Hi.”
Someone spoke cautiously.
Rose, flipping through a book, turned toward the voice.
A girl with dark brown hair braided into pigtails and round glasses met her eyes.
“Hi.”
“You said your name is Rose? I’m May Graun.”
“Nice to meet you, May.”
“Mm!”
May relaxed at Rose’s gentle response.
Looking at Rose’s smiling face, she thought:
Maybe she’s from a low-ranking noble family?
Sometimes nobles from insignificant houses deliberately left out their surnames.
Could that be it?
She’s so pretty, though.
Rose’s smile was dazzlingly pure.
She looked like a treasured only daughter who had never known hardship.
If she were high nobility, she probably wouldn’t even talk to me. She must be a baron’s or viscount’s daughter like me.
May nodded to herself, too shy to ask outright.
But several others were watching them.
The most influential clique in the classroom.
Vanessa Muniel, Cesia Esteban, Hailey Trevi, and Camilla Loren.
“She looks decent.”
“At least not embarrassing to walk with. What do you think, Cesia?”
“Hmm… not bad.”
Blunt assessments were exchanged within the group.
Their eyes were fixed on Rose talking to May.
“Do we know her family?”
“No. She didn’t say her surname.”
“But she’s talking to Baron Graun’s daughter… probably similar rank? Then I don’t even want to bother.”
“Hm. What should we do?”
Vanessa, with her purple hair held back by a black headband, scanned Rose from head to toe.
She was clearly well cared for.
At first glance, Rose looked like a high noble’s daughter.
“So no one knows her?”
The others shook their heads.
“I’ve never seen her. Cesia, you attend lots of parties. Don’t you remember?”
“No. She’s not in my memory.”
“And you, Camilla?”
“Same. Let’s just ignore her. Maybe her family’s so low they don’t even get party invitations.”
Camilla’s words made Vanessa scoff inwardly.
Foolish.
That’s a low noble?
Commoners and nobles are different.
And low nobles and high nobles are different too.
From birth, everything they encounter differs—food, clothing, education.
Even posture, aura, speech.
The difference was like heaven and earth.
Yet for a “low noble,” she looks far too confident.
Vanessa smiled.
“I’m curious.”
An unspoken authority radiated from her.
Cesia and Hailey nodded immediately.
“Me too.”
“Agreed.”
“…Uh? M-me too, I guess.”
Camilla belatedly agreed.
She wasn’t actually curious—but Vanessa was the highest-ranking here.
Camilla, though a count’s daughter, held the lowest title in this group.
“Right? I knew you’d all feel that way.”
Vanessa clapped her hands lightly, then looked at Camilla.
“If you’re curious, you find out. Right, Camilla?”
“Uh? Y-yes.”
“Then go.”
“Huh?”
Camilla blinked in confusion.
Vanessa’s smile vanished instantly.
“Was I unclear?”
Cesia shoved Camilla lightly and whispered quickly in her ear:
“She’s telling you to go ask Rose. Hurry.”
Understanding at last, Camilla stood.
Vanessa’s smile returned.
Camilla exhaled inwardly in relief and walked toward Rose.
Click—clack—
Her heels rang sharply across the room.
Everyone looked up.
Camilla stopped confidently in front of Rose.
“Hi. Your name is Rose, right?”
“Hmm?”
Rose turned at the clear voice.
Ignoring May entirely, Camilla smiled brightly at her.
“I’m Camilla Loren.”
Rose stared at the unblemished white hand extended toward her.
After a brief hesitation, she took it.
“Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
But the moment their hands touched, a sneer flickered across Camilla’s face.
She didn’t even bother to hide it.
…What?
Before Rose could fully process it, Camilla quickly withdrew her hand—like she’d touched trash.
She hadn’t exactly shoved her away, but it felt close.
Ah. My hand?
To recover her body as quickly as possible, Rose had trained relentlessly.
Once soft and marshmallow-like, her palms now had faint calluses.
They were barely noticeable, softened by servants’ care.
But still—
Different.
Camilla’s hand had been smooth as whipped cream.
The typical hand of a noble lady.
“Well then, adjust well!”
Camilla kept her tone sweet.
Without continuing the conversation, she turned and walked back to her group, shaking her head.
Sitting beside Cesia, she leaned back toward Vanessa and Hailey.
“That’s enough. No need to hear her surname.”
Callused hands.
She must be from a low-ranking family.
