[Chapter 30] With My Status

As soon as Nellis and the others left, Heather and Diane were alone on the bench. Diane didn't want to be left alone with Heather, but she couldn't tell her not to go to the restroom, so she just stayed quietly.

"Lady Diane, the mansion felt empty without you."

Heather spoke kindly, but Diane scowled.

"Did you visit our house often while I was away?"

"Yes, a few times. My father owes a lot to the count."

Heather's voice was genuinely humble and gentle. Diane looked at Heather, then turned away.

When Diane didn't respond, Heather spoke up again.

"Lady Diane, how's life at the Academy? Have you made many friends?"

"I've seen my friend."

"Besides Lady Nellis, have you made other friends?"

"I'm closest to Liz."

Maybe. Diane smiled slightly, remembering how Nellis had introduced herself as her friend yesterday. Heather looked uncomfortable and stuttered.

"I-I mean, Lady Diane, when the count sent you to the Academy, didn't he mean for you to make many friends from good families? Lady Nellis is very smart, but... um..."

"What?"

Diane turned to Heather, her eyes flashing with anger.

Heather's delicate face trembled with fear, looking pitiful enough to evoke sympathy from anyone. But Diane didn't back down. Just then, three noblewomen passing by noticed the scene and approached.

"What's going on here? Ah, isn't that Railing's daughter? Why are you upsetting Diane?"

The noblewomen's fuss attracted more attention, and Diane felt embarrassed. Heather explained, looking ashamed.

"I-I was talking about Lady Diane's friend, and she got angry. It's my fault."

The noblewoman who had first asked what was wrong chuckled.

"Heather has known Diane since they were young, so it's natural to worry."

"Diane is still young and doesn't understand, but one must be careful when choosing friends."

Diane's eyes widened in confusion. She couldn't understand why Nellis had to hear such words. What did they know about Nellis?

After blinking a few times, Diane's anger got the better of her, and she retorted, her lips trembling.

"My friend is the smartest and most dignified person in school. I've chosen my friends carefully."

"Oh my, really...?"

The noblewomen exchanged glances and smiled wryly. Diane tried to defend her point again, but Nellis returned just in time.

"Diane."

"Liz!"

Although Diane was happy to see Nellis, she first checked Nellis's expression. Had she overheard their conversation?

Nellis's face was as calm as ever. The noblewomen whispered to each other, eyeing Nellis, and Nellis curtsied politely.

"Good day, ladies."

That greeting was not something one could use naturally after just a few etiquette lessons at the Academy.

Just now, these noblewomen had heard rumors that Nellis, a low-born girl, was trying to swindle Diane, a naive noble, out of her money. But the atmosphere didn't seem to match that rumor?

"What's wrong? Diane, you look like you're in a worse mood than before I left."

"No, nothing."

Diane didn't want to explain, as it would only hurt Nellis's feelings. The noblewomen soon left, and only the three girls remained.

"Are you okay? You didn't hurt yourself when you fell?"

"I'm fine."

Diane hadn't fallen that hard. Heather looked concerned and asked.

"Lady Diane, doesn't the Academy have dance lessons? How do you participate? I worry about you falling like that today."

Diane just grumbled and looked away. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.

Heather had always been like this since they were young. She would say something hurtful, then look pitiful and innocent, making the adults take her side.

After downplaying the issue and adding a phrase like "I'm sorry if I offended you," Diane would end up looking like the bad guy.

Why did the adults always believe Heather? Didn't she say hurtful things in front of others?

While Diane was lost in thought, Heather approached Nellis with a friendly demeanor.

"Lady Nellis, does our Lady Diane participate a lot in class?"

"Yes, she does."

Nellis smiled slightly. Heather blinked several times under Nellis's piercing gaze and smiled back.

"Lady Nellis, you seem very capable. Lady Diane has been praising you, saying you're smart and dignified."

"Really? Diane always sees the best in me. I've heard about you too, Heather. You've known Diane since you were young, right? How old are you?"

"I'm sixteen, the same age as Lady Muriel."

"I see why you and Muriel are always together. You're close in age and have a lot of opportunities to meet, so you must be friends."

"Ha! Friends? With my status, I wouldn't dare pretend to be friends with Lady Diane."

"Really? You know that well?"

Nellis's eyes sparkled with amusement, and Heather's smile faltered.

Nellis's last words flowed out calmly, just like her previous words. Heather blinked, unsure if she had heard correctly.

"Huh?"

"I mean, I'm impressed. I've also heard that you're smart. It seems Diane knows how to judge people."

Nellis said, smiling and covering her mouth.

Heather's face turned red. Diane looked back and forth between Nellis and Heather, then Heather started crying.

"I-I'm sorry, Lady Diane... I don't know what I did wrong, but..."

"What's wrong with you? I was just complimenting you."

Not many people at the party didn't know Heather. Even if they hadn't known her before, since she was always with Muriel, the host family's cousin, everyone recognized her now.

Heather, who was crying and sniffling in front of Diane, drew attention again. In fact, even more people were staring now.

"Why are you crying?"

Diane asked, exasperated. Nellis quickly signaled her to stop talking.

Just then, a man appeared, pushing through the crowd. He was a middle-aged man with a shiny bald head and stylishly tied hair, wearing expensive clothes.

He approached Heather and wrapped her hands in his.

"Aga, why are you crying? What's wrong?"

Nellis recognized him as Angelo Railing, whose real name was Angelo Rairini. He had changed his name to the Vistian style when he started his business in Vistia.

Angelo was a man who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, betraying others without hesitation.

In his mind, there was no room for loyalty or fairness, only cunning. He would exploit those who had helped him with good intentions and those he had built trust with.

If Angelo wanted to maintain a close relationship with the McKinney family at this time, there was only one reason.

His next target was the McKinney trading company.

Nellis had expected Angelo to appear if she pushed Heather like this. He loved his only daughter dearly. Nellis watched with interest as Heather responded to her father.

"Father, it's nothing... I just..."

Heather trembled, but quickly wiped away her tears and smiled bravely.

Diane's eyes widened in shock, and Nellis smiled, observing Heather.

As Nellis had suspected, Heather looked down on her. She had already established an image of being a kind and innocent girl who was always taken advantage of, and Nellis was seen as a bad influence on Diane.

It seemed that Angelo thought that if he just pushed Heather a little, he could prevent Nellis from setting foot in the McKinney household again.

Unfortunately for him, Nellis had a long history of dealing with people who were similar to Heather but much more skilled at acting. Compared to the adult Megara, who had manipulated the prince, Heather was still an inexperienced amateur.

"I was just complimenting her, and she suddenly started crying. Maybe she got something in her eye? Instead of just holding her hand, why don't you take a closer look?"

People who had just arrived and only saw Heather smiling and saying she was fine lost interest in the situation after hearing Nellis's words.

Heather glanced at Nellis's calm face and reluctantly agreed.

If Nellis or Diane had escalated the situation, saying "What are you talking about?", Heather could have become the victim right there. But now that the situation had been defused, if she complained, her image as a kind and innocent girl would be ruined.

She was quite displeased and signaled to her father with a glance, wiping away her tears.

Angelo, who had been flustered, quickly asked in a loud voice after catching his daughter's sharp gaze.

"No, Aga, who made you cry like this? If something's bothering you, tell me, and I'll take care of it!"

As the partygoers' attention focused on them, the McKinney count and countess finally pushed through the crowd and approached. The countess looked surprised to see her daughter at the center of attention and asked.

"Di, what's going on? Did you fight with Heather?"

If the McKinney count's daughter and the daughter of a foreign merchant had "fought", the power imbalance was clear. Nellis noticed the strange looks people were giving Diane and clicked her tongue in annoyance. She also caught a glimpse of Joan Morier lurking behind them.

"No, Nellis was complimenting Heather, and she suddenly started crying. Maybe her eyes hurt."

Diane didn't fully understand her friend's behavior, but she trusted her. When Diane repeated what Nellis had said earlier, the McKinney count and countess looked relieved, completely believing their daughter.

They thought their daughter wouldn't lie about something like this. And in fact, it wasn't a lie.

Angelo also quickly picked up on the count and countess's reaction.

He knew his child too. Heather wouldn't have been treated unfairly to the point of crying in front of someone as simple as Diane.

"Heather is a kind person who even told Diane to stop dancing and rest when she fell earlier, so it's pitiful."

"Di, did you fall?"

The countess's eyes widened in surprise at Nellis's words, and she looked at Diane with concern. Diane lifted her chin.

"It was just a brief mistake. I'm not hurt."

"She was dancing with Nuallan and fell when she turned. But Diane didn't cry, so she's being very adult about it."

Everyone's attention suddenly shifted to Diane.

Heather's face turned bright red with anger and shock. No one had ever so blatantly ruined her plans like this before.

Dust in her eye? She knew that wasn't true, and Nellis had said it so smoothly!

The McKinney count and countess decided to take Diane inside to check if her knee was hurt. Nellis stood up from the bench, saying she would follow them.

And with a parting shot, she left Heather with a cryptic message.

"We'll talk about this later."

It was clear to both Heather and Angelo that Nellis wasn't referring to checking her eyes.

As Nellis disappeared from view, Angelo asked his daughter in a low voice.

"What happened?"

Since the people around them had dispersed, Heather revealed her angry face and seethed.

"That girl is so annoying. She's not even a real noble, but she's acting like she's better than us! She's saying that I'm not good enough to be friends with Muriel because of my status, and it's just infuriating."

"Shh, lower your voice."

Angelo cautioned Heather, surprised by her outburst. Heather was tolerated at social gatherings in this region because of the good image she had built with the McKinney family. If she lost that, she would face many difficulties in the future.

Heather closed her mouth and glared at the spot where Nellis had disappeared. Joan Morier was watching from a distance.