[Chapter 38] Who Knows the Truth About Neris Truede?

"Winter break is too short. Come visit us in the summer too. Let's float a boat on the lake together. We can also go to the beach together."

The Countess continued, smiling. Neris smiled back.

"Thank you for the warm words, Count and Countess. I think I'll visit my mother in the summer, but I appreciate your kindness."

"How can you be so mature at such a young age?"

The Countess bowed her head and affectionately kissed Neris's forehead.

It had been a long time since Neris had received such a warm and familiar treatment from an adult woman. It was almost as if it was from a distant past, from her "real" childhood in her previous life.

Of course, she had hugged her mother tightly when she was twelve again, but she had to leave for the academy soon after.

Neris felt a mix of emotions as she felt the warm and soft touch of the Countess's lips. She was afraid to show her feelings, so she quickly composed herself.

"Hurry up and get on the carriage. You'll be late for school."

The Count said, his face showing that he didn't want to let her go. He had delayed their departure until the last minute, hoping to spend more time with his precious daughter.

As the parents and child said their goodbyes, Diane got into the carriage, laughing and waving. Joyce rushed over to help his sister and then assisted Neris as well.

"Be careful on your way, little one."

"Don't call me that!"

Diane scolded, but her eyes were full of affection. Neris sat down in the soft seat of the carriage, which was bigger and better than the one they had taken on the way here. The McKinnon Earl and his wife had provided it to make their journey more comfortable.

"Goodbye! Dad, Mom, see you next break! Brother, goodbye! Take care! Fiona! John! Don't cry!"

Diane continued to shout and wave at the people in the mansion until the carriage door closed.

The McKinnon family's knights, about a dozen of them, surrounded the carriage, and the coachman slowly started to move. This was a special escort that the Earl and his wife had arranged, as they couldn't feel at ease until the girls arrived at school.

Neris looked out the carriage window at the mansion, which was getting farther and farther away. She caught a glimpse of Myriel on the terrace.

"Is Myriel going to the temple?"

Diane asked, sitting up straight when they were out of earshot of the people in the mansion. Neris nodded in response to Diane's question.

"Yes. Myriel says she doesn't know anything, but it's weird that our parents are taking care of her. Our other relatives don't like her."

It seemed that with serious criminals around, Myriel's existence was almost forgotten, and she was only remembered for her mischievous words. Diane snorted.

"Really, she didn't know anything? But it's also weird that they're pushing her so hard."

"Yeah, anyway, Myriel isn't someone worth worrying about."

Neris agreed. She genuinely thought so.

Myriel was even more spoiled than Heather, and even more so than Diane. Neris didn't remember anyone mentioning the "McKinnon Countess" when she was the crown princess.

Perhaps after the plan succeeded, they would marry her off or send her far away, fearing that she might reveal their secrets.

If she entered the temple, she wouldn't be able to leave unless she got married, but that also meant she wouldn't get entangled in any other conspiracies.

Considering the McKinnon Earl and his wife's personalities, they would probably provide her with a decent dowry even if they sent her to the temple. That was a much better treatment than Myriel deserved, considering how she had tormented Diane.

If Myriel had really known the truth about this incident, it wouldn't have ended like this...

"Really, she didn't know. What her brother and father's real plan was."

If she had known, she wouldn't have acted so brazenly, as if the McKinnon mansion was hers. Maybe Myriel had only guessed that Diane and her family would leave the mansion.

Diane, who had been feeling the carriage's vibrations, suddenly sparkled her eyes.

"Want to come sleep over at our dorm sometimes?"

"No, thanks. I'm old enough to sleep alone."

Neris had endured Diane's tossing and turning and kicking in her sleep. Diane giggled at Neris's firm and rare expression of emotion.

The girls' laughter filled the air as the carriage rode on.

After the short winter break, Noble Academy resumed its busy daily life.

The upperclassmen didn't make much of the winter break, and many students stayed in the dorms, enjoying their last days of freedom. However, most of the lowerclassmen had gone home and were now showing off the new things they had brought back.

Many first-year students had realized for the first time in their lives that they weren't the richest and most refined kids in the world.

Those who had cried to their parents or guardians about this during the winter break were now being teased by their classmates, who came from wealthy families and had received expensive clothes and toys.

"Oh my, Idalia. That pearl necklace looks new."

"My grandmother gave it to me as a gift. She said she'll give me one pearl every year on my birthday, so I'll have a lot by the time I'm an adult."***

The toys of noble children were mostly related to jewels. Necklaces, rings, jewel-encrusted knives, and pens with gemstones.

Idalia Kendal, who had received precious pearls from the previous Duchess of Kendal and was subtly showing them off from the beginning of the semester, replied humbly.

Alektor Israni, who had pointed out the necklace, smiled slightly, teasing Idalia for not mentioning his own ruby ring. However, Idalia Kendal was not someone Alektor could easily mock.

Well, maybe she was a bit pretentious. But Idalia was a gentle and unobjectionable companion.

The school corridor, decorated with delicate and high arches and slender pillars, was cold enough to make one's nose red in the middle of winter. The two of them walked together, chatting about their winter break.

"We went to Huberon during the break."

"Huberon? You must have had a great time with the hot springs. I'm jealous. We were busy entertaining guests for the celebration, and I asked if I could go on a trip, but they said it was a family tradition."

When Alektor mentioned the famous resort town, Idalia's eyes sparkled with envy.

She pretended to be jealous, but in reality, it was a way to boast about her family's prestige and popularity in the noble society. Alektor restrained himself from teasing her again.

Idalia, wrapped in a pinkish-ivory coat, breathed out white mist from her small mouth. Alektor, who was walking with his cheek on a yellow-dyed rabbit fur scarf, saw a familiar figure in front of him.

"Isn't that 'Nona'?"

Originally, Rianon only allowed those close to her to call her "Nona" as a nickname.

Many students remembered Rianon's attitude, proudly explaining that only her family could call her that. However, after she became a target of bullying at school, the nickname became a derogatory term.

The black-haired girl walking alone in front of them, with her shoulders slumped, flinched. Alektor, who was sure, called out to her with a smirk.

"Hey, Nona! Are you going to class?"

Rianon didn't turn around, but lowered her head. Alektor's voice was cold as ice.

"Hey! Nona! Not answering? I can hear you!"

Idalia frowned at the echo of Alektor's voice in the stone corridor, but didn't stop him.

If Alektor had been calling out to a different child, she would have stopped him, she hastily added to herself.

Of course, she wouldn't have. Idalia knew she was a weak person. She couldn't even kill a fly.

But Rianon's behavior had crossed the line. Although Alektor's actions were unbecoming of a noble and mischievous, it was not Idalia's fault that everyone disliked Rianon.

It was inexplicable why Rianon had acted so "strangely". Who would have thought that the granddaughter of a count, with her status, would dare to send a love letter to Nellurys Elantria?

There were other students in the corridor. It was natural, since they were all on their way to the basic history class that the entire first year attended.

However, no one stopped Alektor. On the contrary, some people enjoyed his behavior.

"Can't you hear? Alektor, go hit her!"

"Throw a book at her!"

The history textbook was heavy, filled with all sorts of materials. Even if Alektor threw it from his position, it wouldn't reach Rianon, but she flinched and quickened her pace.

Alektor was pleased with himself.

"Hey! Nona! Are you deaf? You're ignoring me!"

The rough tone would have been annoying if someone else had used it, but Alektor was considered a fun and entertaining student in the first year, so it was somewhat acceptable.

In fact, some boys laughed at his exaggeratedly threatening attitude.

"Hey, stop there! I'm not going to hit you! Who do you think I am?"

The students chimed in with their own comments, and the corridor was filled with the sound of their teasing.

Rianon finally stopped, and Alektor approached her with a haughty expression.

"Are you going to class? Why are you ignoring me and making me ask again?"

When Alektor finished speaking, the distance between them was only about three steps.

Rianon flinched and then looked up. Her face, which had improved during the winter break, was calm.

"...Why ask when you already know?"

"What? 'Why ask'? Are you crazy?"

Alektor stood in front of Rianon, laughing mockingly.

The students were delighted that a more primal form of entertainment had emerged at the start of the semester, and they quietly gathered around. Idalia caught up to Alektor and glanced at Rianon's face with a scornful gaze.

Alektor's question, "Are you crazy?", was justified in the eyes of the students. Did Rianon Berta, or "Nona", have the right to argue with her "normal" classmates? She should be grateful to be spoken to quietly.

"Hey, hey, hey."

Alektor's fingers poked through Rianon's black hair. His action of poking her with his fingers did not cause physical pain, but it was humiliating, and sparks flew in Rianon's eyes.

"I said I wouldn't hit you!"

"You said you wouldn't hit me."

The laughter among the students grew louder. Idalia quickly scanned the area to see if a teacher was approaching. That's when she noticed a tall figure turning the corner of the corridor.

The figure also caught Megara's attention. Megara, who had been watching the scene unfold, calmly intervened with a soft voice.

"Alright, kids, let's get to class."

"I don't like it when you do this," Alektor muttered, but he didn't resist Megara's subtle order to disperse.

The students scattered quickly, chatting and heading towards the classroom. That's when the adult who had turned the corner noticed the students and raised an eyebrow.

The adult was a middle-aged man with hair that was close to brown. He looked at the students, who were about waist-high to him, and then grabbed Alektor as he passed by.

"What year are you kids in?"

"We're in the first year," Alektor replied, using polite language since the man was a noble and had spoken to him informally.

The man frowned.

"Do you know where Alektor Israni is?"

"Uh, that's me," Alektor said, surprised that the man knew his name.

The students looked at the man strangely, and Idalia quickly left, intimidated by the stranger. Alektor looked at the man's nose and suddenly realized something.

His nose looked just like Anagard's.

"Good, I have something to discuss with you regarding what you did to my daughter. Follow me. And if you know anything about Neris Truede's past, tell her to come see Lady Hoffmann."