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Chapter 09
Michel instinctively moved to hold back Ebony.
Seeing this, a sense of relief slowly spread across Rose’s face.
“Let go, Michel!”
“Ebony, calm down first and listen to what Rose has to say.”
“I am calm. I just want to check who was bothering Rose, that’s all.”
“I know. I understand your feelings, but Rose is uncomfortable.”
At Michel’s words, Ebony finally looked at Rose.
Her expression was full of anxiety. Just as Michel had said.
Ebony held Rose’s small shoulders and, calming herself a little, asked:
“…Then why did you fight with him?”
“Well, when I introduced myself, I didn’t say my last name, and he picked a fight. I think he assumed I was a baron or a viscount or something.”
“What? Wait, wait a second. Rose, you didn’t say your last name during introductions?”
“Yes. The Orode Academy ideology is equality, right? So I purposely didn’t say it. It was clearly written in the academy handbook.”
“Oh… Rose…”
Ebony touched her forehead at Rose’s naive words.
Which student wouldn’t reveal they were noble? If you don’t say your last name, of course people ignore you.
“…Was it my mistake?”
“Technically, Rose, it wasn’t your mistake. But in practice, the ideology isn’t really upheld at the academy nowadays.”
“Isn’t it right to uphold the ideology? After all, it was set by the first Duke Grandium when he founded the academy.”
Rose was overly idealistic.
Cut off from the outside world and peers, she viewed the world strictly through theoretical ideals.
Who knew that would get her into trouble.
“Anyway, Rose. That freshman didn’t lay a hand on you, right?”
“No! Absolutely not.”
“Good. Then that’s fine. We’ll just have to let this slide…”
Michel had a rough idea of how the situation had gone.
Of course, the student who made Rose cry was still aggravating.
But thinking about how Rose had started espousing her idealistic, long-forgotten ideology, he could understand it to some extent.
“Since I went looking for you, the fact that Rose is a Blein is probably already known.”
The students who had been whispering earlier had heard the name.
It was completely different from what they expected, but perhaps that made the impact even greater.
Not only was the girl they assumed to be common born actually noble, she was even from their own family.
“Rose. From now on at the academy, don’t hide that you’re noble, and avoid associating with lower-ranking nobles as much as possible.”
“…Do you mean not even as friends?”
“Yes.”
Michel was firm.
“Why?”
“Each noble has their own value.”
“…Value. Then what about commoners?”
“Hahaha.”
Michel laughed at her question as if it were utterly absurd.
“Commoners aren’t worth dealing with. Never keep them close.”
That was new.
It wasn’t Ebony who said it this time, but Michel.
Previously, it had been the Blein viscount couple and Ebony who openly scorned commoners.
‘Right. You’re also Ebony’s fiancé. And you gave her the poison.’
Michel didn’t even want to speak to commoners.
It seemed everyone around her shared the same attitude.
“If you get involved with those lowly people, only you will suffer. Got it?”
“…Yes. I understand.”
Rose nodded. For now, she had to remain careful.
She had to be the obedient little sister.
Michel and Ebony escorted Rose back to the classroom.
Apparently, it was to make a lasting impression or something like that.
“Pay attention in class, Rose.”
With that final remark, they scanned the classroom like a warning.
Then they paused for a few seconds, staring at Camilla, before leaving.
Click-clack-
“Phew,”
Ebony let out a deep sigh as she walked with Michel after closing the door.
“Are you that worried about Rose?”
Michel comforted his fiancée, who seemed subdued.
“Of course! Michel, you saw it too.”
Ebony snapped at him and quickly walked ahead.
Michel, suddenly feeling awkward with empty hands, clenched them a couple of times before following her.
“Rose may have grown up in the mansion, but I didn’t expect her to act like that. If I hadn’t gone today… I really don’t want to imagine it.”
“Don’t worry too much, Ebony. Rose is already twenty. Still—”
“Rose is too pure and naïve. We can’t just leave her like this.”
Click-clack, click-clack-
Ebony strode confidently, her dark green and white checkered skirt swaying.
Michel stopped for a moment, watching her.
‘Ebony…’
He knew her fearless nature well, and once envied it.
He had endured harsh training from his father to become more manly and had learned swordsmanship.
“Work harder, Michel. That’s not enough. You can do more, right?”
But those weren’t the words he had wanted from her.
At least he had hoped to be recognized and relied upon by his fiancée.
He felt sad that, beside the radiant Ebony, he couldn’t be that support.
“Such a wonderful fiancé. I’m really envious.”
‘Michel, big brother. Help me.’
Somehow, he couldn’t shake Rose’s earlier words from his mind.
Michel forced the thought away and followed Ebony again.
“Hello?”
In front of Rose, silvery-gray hair swayed gently.
She looked up, revealing pale sky-blue eyes. Her overall complexion was light.
“I’m Sesia Estevan.”
A voice faint with little energy, and a slow way of speaking.
Sesia’s hands were partly hidden by oversized sleeves as she smiled, looking shy and innocent.
‘…She’s definitely…’
She was the student who had sat next to Camilla.
Even when Camilla had argued with her, she hadn’t seemed particularly interested.
Despite all the commotion, she hadn’t even glanced once.
“Yes. Hello. I’m Rose.”
“I know. Rose Blein.”
It was no surprise she knew after all the chaos.
Sesia’s narrow, curved smile was charming. She subtly moved closer to Rose and spoke in a friendly manner, very different from how Camilla approached her.
“Hey, why don’t you move seats?”
“Move seats?”
Rose tilted her head in confusion.
Sesia didn’t answer but instead pointed with her fingertips toward a spot.
It was Camilla’s seat.
Well, technically, the seat Camilla had been in.
“My friends are very curious about you.”
Looking closely, two people were visible at the slightly trembling tip of her finger.
Vanessa and Hailey.
Vanessa was smiling sweetly, and Hailey waved cheerfully.
“So? What do you think?”
Sesia asked again.
Rose glanced at Mei, who was sitting beside her.
Mei, startled by the attention, twitched her shoulders like a frightened squirrel.
“Ah, um…”
“Hmm? Are you worried about the seat next to you?”
Sesia noticed Rose’s intention and spoke gently—but her word choice wasn’t gentle at all.
Referring to Mei as merely “next to you” and barely acknowledging her, Sesia made Rose click her tongue internally.
“Yes. She’s the first friend who’s spoken to me here.”
“Oh~ a friend? Hmm… Rose, you’re so kind.”
Sesia laughed, clapped her hands lightly, then tilted her head slightly to Mei.
“Is it uncomfortable for you if Rose moves seats?”
“Uh? Me?”
“….”
“I-I’m fine, really fine. Ro-Ro-Rose, you can move seats.”
Mei stammered, repeating herself, still flustered.
The sharp gaze that always followed her had returned. Although Sesia was smiling, the coldness she felt kept her from meeting her eyes.
‘I can’t add more pressure.’
Rose grabbed her book, still unopened.
Then, blocking Mei from Sesia’s intense gaze, she said:
“Mei says it’s fine, so I’ll move seats.”
Do it moderately.
As Rose stood, Sesia straightened herself and walked toward the indicated seat.
“Follow me.”
Sesia didn’t seem interested in anything else but bringing her there.
Rose followed, moving to a seat next to Vanessa.
