Lilith wanted to stop Athena but lacked the ability. The original owner of this body had no friends here and very little money, making it difficult to get by. She didn't know who Athena had sent to investigate her or what they would find; this feeling of waiting for judgment was quite new to her.
However, from Athena's perspective, Lilith could guess where that person went. The original owner had filled out a registration form with her basic information. Thanks to the school's policy of treating nobles and commoners equally, there was no mandatory requirement to specify identity and address. The original owner had written vaguely, only noting "the coastal area of the North Sea."
Even if that person went to the North Sea, there were so many cities and villages along the coast that finding the fishing village would be unlikely. Besides, everyone in the village was killed by pirates, and the village was burned down; she was the only one who escaped. What could they do if they found it? There would be no witnesses.
Her only worry now was the knights who had saved and sponsored her education; they were the only ones who knew her true identity.
As class was about to end, Phil assigned homework: using these spices, students were to concoct a fragrance to submit next class. Lilith found it absurd—using culinary spices to make fragrances—wasn't he afraid they'd end up marinated?
But none of the other students objected, so she suppressed her doubts, packed up the spices, and left the classroom.
"Rose, how do you plan to mix these spices?" On the way out, students walked in small groups, discussing how to complete the assignment. Lilith eavesdropped.
"Me? I plan to grind black pepper and sage into powder, then mix in some tobacco and make snuff."
Snuff with pepper? Unimaginable.
"Oh, making snuff takes too much time. I'll make incense instead. Jack, what about you?"
"Hehe, this is the first time I've seen so many spices. I'm going to put them all in a pot and boil them into a thick paste to smear on myself every day!"
"Oh! Professor Phil won't allow that. You'd better think of another way."
"Yes, Jack, you'd better change your plan unless you want to end up in a coffin."
Their conversation faded away, but Lilith stopped in her tracks. She suddenly remembered that the earliest use of spices was not for cooking but for religious offerings and funerary rites. Over three thousand years ago, ancient Egyptians used spices to embalm bodies, creating mummies with fragrances lasting millennia.
Europeans learned to use spices for cooking much later than the Chinese. This realization left Lilith feeling complicated. No wonder everyone reacted so strangely when she called the spices seasoning.
Using embalming spices for food—it was indeed odd.
It all boiled down to historical and cultural differences. This world, while resembling late medieval Europe, was only superficially similar. At least medieval Europeans knew to use spices to preserve meat.
This reminder made her cautious about considering the cultural context before speaking or acting, to avoid being seen as a heretic.
Just as she was about to leave, a haughty voice called out from behind her. "Commoner, stop right there!"
It was Athena's lackey. Sensing trouble, Lilith quickened her pace.
"Lilith!" The girl couldn't believe she was being ignored and angrily ran in front of her. "I told you to stop. Didn't you hear me?"
Lilith was forced to stop, looking up at her face. "What do you want, Vina?"
Vina, arrogant and proud, said, "Hmph, do you think you've fooled everyone? Eating spices, how ridiculous!"
Lilith was tired of explaining that she used spices for flavoring, not eating them directly. "So, you came just to say these boring things?"
"Boring?" Vina raised her voice. "You dare speak to me like that? Aren't you afraid I'll expose you?"
Lilith remained calm. "Expose what?"
"Hah, still pretending," Vina stepped back dramatically, eyes wide with anger. "You despicable liar, I don't know how you recognized those spices, but you can't fool me!"
"I've known from the start that you're no noble."
"Stupid commoner, that dirty woolen undershirt you're wearing is something only commoners wear!"
"Are you done?" Lilith asked calmly. "Then it's my turn to speak, isn't it?"
Under Vina's stunned gaze, Lilith approached step by step, her eyes cold and intimidating. "In my eyes, your words are crude, your actions vulgar, and you lack the manners of a noble."
"Your conduct is disgraceful, your jealousy and pettiness written all over your face, and your soul is filthy and repulsive!"
"You are not a qualified lady, Vina. You should go home and study noble etiquette!"
"Ah!" Vina screamed, stomping her foot and pointing at Lilith. "You lowly—"
"Mind your manners!" Lilith interrupted sharply. "A lady doesn't shout. Hide your ugly face; you're disgusting me."
"You, you...waaa!" Vina broke down, crying as she ran away, covering her face.
For a noble girl of this era, Lilith's words were vicious. But she didn't feel guilty. In the original owner's memory, Vina visited her during those seven days of humiliation, saying things a thousand times more cruel.
She called the original owner a lowly whore, claiming she pretended to be a noble to seduce noblemen, and spread rumors that she sold herself for her fine clothes. She even brought men to strip her.
Though the original owner pretended to be a noble, she didn't deserve death or such insults. She gained nothing from her fake identity, nor did she harm anyone, but those people cursed her worse than a criminal.
Even murderers have the right to defend themselves, yet she was sentenced to death directly.
Remembering the original owner's tragic fate, Lilith's eyes darkened.
"The Wesley family is notorious for protecting their own. Aren't you afraid of their revenge for humiliating Vina?"
From the columns emerged a blonde, blue-eyed girl—Athena, the noble lady.
The name "Wesley" triggered the original owner's memory, and Lilith recalled Vina's details. Vina Wesley, the youngest daughter of Count Wesley of Bolen.
If the Count's daughter was only a lackey, who was this girl disguised as "Athena"?
Suppressing her suspicion, Lilith turned calmly. "Aren't you afraid Vina will complain to Count Wesley for using her?"
Athena smiled. "Of course not. Besides, she's too dumb for that."
Lilith nodded. "Then why would I be afraid?"
"Looks like I overestimated you," Athena laughed softly, then changed the subject. "By the way, we have a magic rune class tomorrow. The commoners might make a fool of themselves again."
"I heard commoners can't do math, don't even know multiplication and division. How will they handle geometry?"
Lilith found it strange. She understood magic rune class but why teach geometry there? Isn't that for math class?
Her puzzled look seemed like incomprehension to Athena. "Luckily, the library has books on arithmetic. Even those ignorant commoners can catch up."
"Don't you think, Lilith?"
"Maybe," Lilith replied perfunctorily, but her mind was stirred. The original owner's memories were chaotic, and she urgently needed some history books to learn about this world.
Thanks to Athena, she remembered the school library, though it might be another test.
"Sorry, I have something to do. Excuse me."
Lilith ended the conversation and left with the spices.
"Such a rude person."
Watching her back, Athena's beautiful blue eyes narrowed. She then turned to the noble boys reciting poetry on the lawn, inviting them to the library.
The noble boys saw her expression and knew this invitation wasn't simple. "Who has our noble princess set her sights on this time?"
Athena frowned. "Don't call me princess. I don't want to expose my identity."
"Okay, Athena," the boys corrected smoothly. "Who offended you?"
"That commoner pretending to be a noble. Her look offended me. Go teach her a lesson."
The noble boys exchanged glances. "Are you sure she's a commoner? What if she's really a noble?"
"She can't be a noble," Athena said firmly. "When I mentioned arithmetic books in the library, she immediately wanted to go."
"Only poor commoners haven't learned arithmetic."