Chapter 51
Salin has an ordinary appearance and a slightly chubby figure. She likes to wear colorful clothes. Therefore, even though she didn't have time to change into her private clothes just after school, she tried her best to dress herself up, making her look like an animated Christmas tree. On top of that, she sported an exaggerated hairstyle, resembling a giant golden mushroom on her head.
After Daphne complained to Salin, she didn't intend to involve her in the matter, making things more complicated. However, she disliked being the subject of people's ridicule and, even more so, being treated rudely. Observing this commoner student, who seemed reluctant even to apologize, only fueled Daphne's already irritated mood, and she wasn't willing to easily forgive Irene. Did Irene think that Daphne was an easy target?
"It was your fault in the first place. Apologizing so reluctantly now, what are you complaining about?"
Daphne persistently pursued, refusing to let Irene leave easily. This made Irene finally realize the seriousness of the situation, and her desire to quickly escape from here was destined to shatter.
Compared to Daphne's anger, Salin wore a haughty expression, making Irene even more wary. Irene no longer pinned her hopes on Ifia. Her face revealed fear, her eyes became redder, and she quickly said, "I feel guilty. I'm truly sorry for causing you harm. I'm willing to compensate for your losses."
The situation prevailed over individuals. Even if she was the female lead, she had to apologize obediently!
Ifia continued to silently observe, still holding her tray. When Irene stopped her, she thought she would be implicated in the plot. However, to her surprise, this Daphne unexpectedly acted reasonably! She had assumed that supporting characters in such scenarios were typically arrogant and unreasonable.
This time, escaping the crisis, Ifia didn't want to leave so quickly.
After all, Irene had just tried to drag her into trouble, and now Ifia wanted to forcefully observe the subsequent developments!
Then, she mocked in her heart!
The vengeful Ifia was unwilling to leave immediately, and Lucy was also a gossip enthusiast. Therefore, she didn't interrupt Ifia's observation but silently joined in.
Just couldn't immediately taste the new dishes in the cafeteria.
"Humph, compensation? You, a poor commoner, have money?"
After hearing Irene's words, before Daphne could speak, Salin, standing beside her, sneered and immediately showed a look of disdain, scanning Irene up and down with her small eyes.
These poor commoners in the academy were like pests, polluting the air here.
Really!
She spent money to study at Pulis Academy to make connections with other nobles. Why were there so many commoners, like annoying bugs? It was truly frustrating.
"I can compensate at the original price."
The Pulis Academy uniform was not cheap, buying a set required five gold coins. However, new students who had just enrolled didn't need to spend money, the academy provided a free set of uniforms.
But buying a second set required payment.
Generally, only nobles cared about it, not wanting to wear the same outfit every day. They usually purchased a few sets of uniforms for daily wear.
For commoners, paying the one gold coin required for the academy fee was already a lot, and they couldn't afford to buy a second set of uniforms.
Besides, they didn't always wear the uniform, there was always time to wash and dry it, and they could wear it again the next day.
Each class has its own way of living.
Just like how Irene needs the collective effort of her entire family to come up with a single gold coin. Her parents work even harder to save enough, all with the hope that Irene can graduate from Pulis Academy and secure a well-paying job.
Therefore, compensating for the school uniform, which costs five gold coins, is something Irene knows she can't afford no matter what.
She can only focus her gaze on Ifia, hoping that Ifia can lend her money first and she'll pay it back later when she graduates and starts working. Anyway, the nobles she's friends with are very wealthy. The money that slips through their fingers is more than five gold coins.
The value of the glassware from the Carlin family is worth over a hundred gold coins, and the result is just a container that Ifia uses to hold pudding.
"Humph, just five gold coins, commoners are just commoners… Thinking of settling the compensation for the school uniform? Haha, what are you thinking, my friend Daphne was scared by you. Don't think it'll be so easy to get away with this."
"At least compensate twenty gold coins, otherwise, you can forget about staying at Pulis Academy."
Salin, who strongly dislikes commoner students, sneered. She opened her fan and made a pretentious gesture, then stubbornly made her demands to Irene.
The victim, Daphne, looked somewhat helpless as she glanced at Salin. Demanding twenty gold coins as compensation was unreasonable, even for noble daughters like them. Only children highly favored within the family could have a large living allowance for expenses.
Salin's demand was excessive.
And impractical.
However, due to Irene's initial rude refusal to apologize, Daphne did not stop Salin's threats. Instead, she silently watched, even if there was no compensation, to give the other party an unforgettable lesson.
"Twenty gold coins… that's too much. I can't come up with such compensation."
"Hehe, then drop out of Pulis Academy. Don't continue to be a nuisance to us at the academy."
Salin was not as reasonable as Daphne, and her sharp and sarcastic words made it difficult for Irene to respond.
Upon hearing the threat of dropping out, Irene's tears finally fell. Knowing that crying now wouldn't help, she could only wipe away her tears with force, then turned her hopeful gaze towards Ifia, who was enthusiastically watching the scene.
Seeing this, Ifia had countless question marks floating above her head: ??? Is it not over yet?
Why is she looking at me again?
Just as Ifia attempted to move a few steps to hide behind someone else, Salin also noticed Irene's gaze. She thought Irene was seeking reinforcements? Hmph, a commoner's friend is also a commoner. How could she possibly come up with twenty gold coins?
Disdainfully, Salin looked over and, to her surprise, saw Ifia's adorable face.
In an instant, the anger towards beautiful girls, which she hated even more than poor commoners, surged. Salin gripped her fan so tightly that it made a creaking sound.
Compared to impoverished commoners, she detested beautiful girls even more.
Every time she saw their pretty faces, Sarina would think of her parents sighing and lamenting about her face. They would say that even with proposals for arranged marriages, they couldn't find suitable matches. Nobles of equal rank rejected the marriage proposals and chose the more attractive noble daughters.
Some nobles even married commoners just because they were pretty!
If Sarina were beautiful, her family would benefit from the arranged marriages, rather than facing the current worries.
"Ifia, please lend me twenty gold coins. I'll definitely pay you back later. Please, I can't drop out of the academy."
"???"
Ifia was very confused.
Did she emit an aura of wealth all over her body? Otherwise, why would Irene ask her, a poor person, for money… asking for a loan of twenty gold coins, what is she thinking?
Just lie down and sleep for a while, and there's everything in the dream.
"Hmph, is she your friend? How could a mere commoner have so much money? Don't tell me she's involved in some unsavory business."
Now, Salin's attention had shifted. She was no longer targeting Irene but aimed her firepower at Ifia.
This made Daphne, who was beside her, frowned. She felt Salin shouldn't casually implicate a stranger.
Just as Daphne was about to persuade Salin not to involve an innocent person, the surroundings suddenly quieted down. This made her raise her eyebrows in confusion, and then she actually saw Prince Carloy walking into the cafeteria.
The prince was walking quickly towards this direction, and beside him was the Duke's daughter, Amelia Barlen.