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Chapter 92
Jaeyllin rarely used the private workshop. So of course, she wouldn’t have had any idea what was happening with her own locker.
Even now, when the entire academy was in an uproar after the concentration enhancers Rozia had hidden inside Jaeyllin’s locker were discovered. Pathetic.
It was only later than Rozia had expected. She thought the evidence she planted would be discovered as soon as finals began.
She had left Jaeyllin’s locker slightly open so that anyone coming and going from the workshop might stumble upon it. But apparently, it wasn’t conspicuous enough, since nothing happened for quite some time.
If it hadn’t been discovered at all, she had planned to step in herself. Luckily, it hadn’t come to that.
Rozia was already indirectly tied to the disciplinary committee and the academy’s weekly paper incident, so she didn’t want to draw attention to herself again.
Either way, things had gone just as she wanted. Jaeyllin was finished now. She would never be able to set foot in the academy again. All Rozia had to do was stand back and watch her downfall.
Just imagining that naive, clueless face twisting in utter despair sent a shiver of delight down to her toes.
Of course, Rozia already knew exactly what had happened, but she feigned ignorance and asked again,
“What on earth is going on?”
The magic design student hesitated, as if about to answer, then pulled back, refusing to give Rozia the confirmation she sought.
“…It’s probably better if you go and check yourself.”
‘Why won’t they just say it?’
Strange. There was no reason to hide the fact that concentration enhancers had been found in Jaeyllin’s locker.
‘Fine. I’ll see for myself.’
But the moment she entered the workshop, Rozia sensed things weren’t going the way she had planned.
Every gaze in the room turned toward her.
With each step she took, the students parted like the Red Sea, whispering as they pulled back. At the end of that path stood her workbench—
—and on it, the department chair Ines, one of her usual magic design classmates, and Lionel. A bizarre combination.
And there, stacked on her very own workbench, were the bundles of money and concentration enhancers that should have been found in Jaeyllin’s locker.
‘What is this?’
She had definitely planted the enhancers in Jaeyllin’s locker. So why were they sitting on her desk?
Rozia’s eyes flicked up to Lionel, standing right beside her bench.
‘No way… did he meddle?’
“Rozia, you’re here. Care to explain what’s going on?”
Professor Ines’s sharp words cut at her like a whip, the tone unmistakably that of an authority scolding a troublemaker.
“I—I don’t know anything about this.”
Rozia bit back a curse and denied everything.
“Then how do you explain so many concentration enhancers being found in your desk?”
“I have no idea. They’re not mine! I’ve only heard rumors about them, but I’ve never seen one until today. Someone must have planted them to frame me!”
Then, for the first time, her classmate—who had been silently standing by Lionel—stepped forward.
‘Don’t tell me…’
Rozia’s eyes narrowed as she scanned her from head to toe. Her classmate hesitated, then spoke nervously:
“No, those enhancers belong to Rozia. I know because I went to buy medicine when I had stomach pain and happened to see her coming out of the apothecary downtown.”
“So? Are you saying I bought that ridiculous amount?”
There was no proof. Even if someone claimed to have seen her, without concrete evidence, they couldn’t corner her.
“Yes.”
“It wasn’t me. You must be mistaken.”
“No, it was you. I’m certain.”
“Do you have proof? Any proof that I bought enhancers?”
“I’m the proof. The apothecary owner complained to me that academy students had been buying enhancers in bulk. When I asked who, he said the student who had just left had been sweeping up all his stock for weeks. That was you.”
“No!! That’s a lie! She’s framing me! Why are you all listening to this nonsense?!”
Rozia screamed her innocence.
“Rozia! Quiet down. We’ll hear this student out first.”
Professor Ines’s rebuke cut her short. Her classmate pressed on.
“From then on, I saw Rozia take enhancers out before starting her assignments. At first, I thought maybe it wasn’t a big deal. I’d heard of students using them during exam periods. But the sheer quantity in her drawer was too much for one person. It didn’t sit right with me. So I told Lionel. He said it seemed suspicious too and encouraged me to speak up. Even if she’s my friend, breaking school rules is wrong.”
She kept glancing at Lionel as she spoke, and he nodded back approvingly.
That infuriated Rozia. How dare she exchange looks with him like that?
“You—you… shut your mouth!”
Rozia finally snapped, revealing her true nature.
“She’s lying! She’s just jealous of me!”
“I’m not. I really saw it.”
“Jealous, aren’t you? Of my grades, of how close I am with Lionel. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”
Rozia lunged at her, grabbing a fistful of her hair.
“Ah! It hurts, Rozia!”
Lionel quickly rushed between them, pulling Rozia off her classmate, looking at the other girl with concern.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine… Lionel.”
He gently smoothed down her tangled hair. Seeing that, Rozia’s eyes blazed with fury.
He should have been on her side. Not that girl’s.
Shaking with rage, Rozia tried to lunge again, but Lionel pulled her classmate behind his back, holding Rozia off.
Her whole body trembled. How could he shield another woman right in front of her?
There was a contract between her and Lionel.
This man was fickle. If she took her eyes off him for a moment, he would scatter fake kindness like cheap flirtation to every girl he met.
And sure enough—there was her classmate, cheeks flushed, hair in disarray, tears running down her face. Pathetic.
Rozia already knew what kind of man Lionel was, but to do this in front of her! The last time she had caught his weakness, he had promised never to repeat it.
She had made him swear off any private contact or flattering words with other women, and to meet her regularly to report his daily activities.
But even that hadn’t been enough. She had tolerated it for his sake, but he still hadn’t kept his promise.
She would have to tighten her grip and control him even more. Once she survived this crisis, she would make sure Lionel never pulled such stunts again.
First, she had to break free from his hold and tear that girl away from him.
Rozia shook off his grip and clawed toward her rival’s hair again.
“Stop! Enough!”
Professor Ines’s shout brought nearby students running to restrain Rozia, dragging her back.
She struggled desperately to get to Lionel again, but the wall of students held firm.
The tide had turned. No one who valued reputation and principle would take Rozia’s side now.
And clearly, in everyone’s eyes, she was the aggressor. But Lionel wasn’t done—he wanted this tied off neatly.
“Professor, since the two stories conflict, why don’t we summon the apothecary owner to testify? He’s an outsider and wouldn’t be swayed by academy politics. He’ll tell the truth.”
“You’re right, Lionel. The apothecary owner can confirm what really happened. Rozia, what do you think?”
At that, Rozia froze. The apothecary definitely knew her face. If they summoned him, she was finished. But refusing would only make her look more suspicious.
Still, there was a chance. Calling him would take time. If she could reach him first, she could handle it.
Money or whatever he wanted—he’d say what she needed him to say. That was human nature. So Rozia straightened up and declared confidently:
“Fine. Let’s ask the apothecary. He’ll prove just how wrongly accused I am.”
And at that very moment, she clearly saw Lionel’s lips curl into a smirk.
