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Chapter 07
“That’s enough. I don’t need to hear your last name.”
“Why?”
At Hailey’s question, Camilla turned her head briefly.
Judging by Rosé’s striking looks, Camilla thought, If she’s a noble, she must at least be from a count’s family.
“Her palms are rough.”
“What? You mean she has calluses?”
“She’s the type that looks perfect on the outside but isn’t. See? Just as I said, she’s a low-ranking noble.”
With looks like that, her identity would surely have been noticed. But since other nobles treat her like a stranger, it confirmed Camilla’s suspicion—she was from a minor noble family.
“Really?”
Seeing Vanessa’s displeasure, Camilla felt reassured that her assessment was correct. Her voice grew louder.
“At least someone from a count’s family would be acceptable to walk around with.”
Vanessa’s group only included nobles of count rank or higher.
And Rosé was below that!
It was truly unimaginable.
Camilla dismissed Rosé entirely, convinced it was natural reasoning. She thought it was over.
But then, Rosé, who had been quietly listening to every word of Camilla’s group, spoke.
“Orode Academy pursues equality.”
Even a freshman would know this—it was the line everyone recited during the entrance ceremony oath.
Rosé bit her lip in discomfort.
“…What?”
Camilla’s expression froze for a moment before she reacted.
“The reason I didn’t say my family name is because I respect the ideology of the academy,” Rosé explained.
“……”
“Although, in practice, it’s hard to achieve, like now.”
Rosé let out a small sigh. Then, she met Camilla’s gaze squarely, unafraid.
“Shouldn’t you at least refrain from blatantly defying that ideology, like you’re doing?”
Rosé recalled memories from her past.
When she was still Pale, the noble students she met all exhibited a sense of superiority.
Even among nobles, how they treated each other depended heavily on their family name and power, with clear discrimination.
Commoners were treated like insects—not even worthy of attention.
[“She’s the type that looks perfect on the outside. See? I told you she’s a low-ranking noble.”]
[“At least someone from a count’s family would be acceptable to walk around with.”]
Just as expected. In that short time, nothing had changed.
Nothing about how nobles behaved since her days as Pale had changed.
“Orode Academy pursues equality.”
Words she couldn’t speak back then. Words no one else thought of or followed.
“Shouldn’t you at least refrain from blatantly defying that ideology, like you’re doing?”
It was almost laughable that she could say this while carrying the Bleang family name.
Seeing Rosé’s confident smile, Camilla’s face flushed with humiliation.
“…What?”
“That’s just what I think.”
Camilla let out a hollow laugh. Does she really have no sense of decency?
Not only had she humiliated Camilla, but she was also mocking her in front of everyone.
Camilla could not tolerate such an insult from anyone.
“Rosé sure has an interesting way of speaking,” she said, trying to sound calm while hiding her trembling hands.
Getting angry now would only make her look worse. Yet, the quiver in her voice betrayed her fury.
“But Rosé, there are truths in this world that never change.”
Yes. No matter how much one preaches equality, the difference in social status is absolute.
No one here could deny it.
Hence, factions divided by titles were obeyed without question.
“Listen carefully. Preaching equality is just a way for those below to pull those above down to their level.”
“……”
“Who do you think wants equality the most at this academy?”
Camilla looked around the classroom proudly.
Everyone meeting her gaze confidently came from families just like hers—high-ranking nobles.
She glanced back to see Vanessa resting her chin on her hand, observing the scene with amusement.
“See? Everyone’s just like you. Rosé, in times like this, equality isn’t about preaching—it’s about quietly staying out of it.”
“……”
“You probably didn’t learn these things because you were sick or something.”
Confident in her words, Camilla no longer trembled.
She felt victorious seeing Rosé unable to reply and the other students laughing quietly at her.
“So, I’ll just let your rudeness slide.”
Camilla turned to leave, making one last jab.
“But I’m curious. What’s your family name, Rosé? You’re a noble, right?”
Rosé had withheld her surname to respect the academy’s ideology. Camilla’s curiosity flared.
She’s either a baroness or a viscountess… maybe even a commoner? Heh.
But Rosé’s eyes suddenly flicked toward the classroom door.
Then, in an instant, they returned to Camilla. No one noticed the subtle movement.
“I am—”
Just as Rosé opened her mouth, expecting her modest family name to be spoken, the classroom door slid open.
A young man and woman entered, peeking in curiously, looking for someone.
Murmurs spread quickly.
Everyone immediately recognized them—famous figures of the academy, needing no introduction.
“Senior Mikel and Senior Ebony!”
“Wow… what are they doing here?”
Mikel Solio Michel Schmidt from Naidel and Solia Ebony Bleang from Latula.
A small gasp passed among the freshmen.
All eyes turned to them.
Vanessa, observing from the sidelines, and Hailey, fascinated, were no exception. Even Cecilia, who seemed indifferent, turned her gaze.
No way…
Camilla, who had been criticizing Rosé, couldn’t take her eyes off Ebony.
Seeing such famous academy figures in the same classroom, up close, was unbelievable.
Senior Ebony…!
Solia of Latula, giving a charismatic speech on the stage during the entrance ceremony—the idol of every girl. That alone was enough.
“Ah, there they are.”
Even more surprising, Ebony looked at Camilla and smiled, as if recognizing her, despite no prior connection.
Camilla’s unfounded hope surged—imagining a storybook-like scenario happening to her made her heart race.
“Rosé!”
But Camilla’s excitement quickly crashed.
The pleasant wind vanished, the curtains that fluttered like fairy wings fell heavily.
What? Rosé?
Her mouth went dry. She couldn’t even turn to look at Rosé.
“Hic.”
A faint sob escaped.
Rosé, who had seemed fine just moments ago, now had transparent tears streaming down her face.
She was fine just a moment ago… what happened all of a sudden…!
Her small shoulders began to tremble. Rosé tried to hold back her sobs, but the sight was heart-wrenching.
“Rosé?”
Ebony noticed something was wrong and called out.
Her usually stern face softened as she hurried toward Rosé. Her trademark red hair flowed wildly as she approached.
“Ah, um… this is—!”
“Move.”
Camilla tried to explain, but Ebony’s grim presence and warning left her no choice but to step aside.
“Rosé, what’s wrong? Look at me for a moment.”
“…Huff.”
“I said, look at me. Stop crying, Rosé Bleang.”
At Ebony calling her full name, those who had doubted her widened their eyes in shock.
By calling her Rosé Bleang, her identity as the daughter of the Bleang family had been revealed.
“Wait, let’s step outside for a moment.”
Sensing the tense atmosphere, Mikel approached Rosé and Ebony.
“Let’s step outside for a bit. Come on.”
“Okay.”
“Sorry for startling you by coming in suddenly.”
Murmurs rose again as the classroom door closed.
Camilla, thoroughly sidelined, could only stand there, face flushed with humiliation.
