A white flower bloomed at the tip of a tall grass that reached a child's waist, reflecting the sunlight dazzlingly.
Neris walked slowly, taking in the subtle scent of the flowers. The path was lined with old stone walls, and the nearest building was still a long way off, even for a child's pace. Her short figure, with the building's shadow cast on her skirt and her struggling to push through the underbrush, looked adorable from a distance.
She was heading to her secret spot. She hadn't been able to visit for a while due to an unexpected disturbance, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized she had no reason to avoid it.
It wasn't the only place she enjoyed spending time alone during her eight years at school. However, other places had already accumulated bad memories, making her not want to go there.
"I don't want to lose like this."
In her previous life, she had tried to fit in with everyone, but in reality, Neris hated losing. She had a strong sense of self-respect, just like her intelligence.
She just hadn't had the opportunity to use it.
Finally, Neris arrived at her destination, the top floor of the Zacharia Library. She listened carefully to her surroundings and, not hearing any noise from the bookshelves or footsteps, felt at ease and approached the pillar.
"You're here again."
Neris's eyes widened as she heard the sudden voice behind her, and she stopped near the pillar.
The voice was cool and firm, like a gemstone, and seemed to be coming from the bookshelf next to the pillar. Although Neris couldn't see anyone from the entrance, it was a good spot to hide and notice her approach.
"Why do you keep coming here?"
Neris's voice was cold and angry, sensing that someone had been hiding. Kledwin Maindlandt's voice was light and casual, but it still conveyed power and confidence.
It was the voice of a ruler. Perhaps, no, definitely better than Abellus.
"This is my spot. You must have known that, Neris Truede."
Kledwin knew Neris's name, which didn't surprise her. There were only two students with purple eyes, Megara and Neris, and they looked and spoke differently. It wouldn't have taken him long to find her.
"This is my spot, no matter what you think, senior."
However, Neris's expression was slightly annoyed by Kledwin's claim that this was his spot.
It seemed clear that he had discovered this place before her. Otherwise, he wouldn't have approached her so confidently from behind the pillar, where there was nothing else around.
But what reason could he have for using this narrow space? He must have a luxurious dorm room.
"That chair was brought here by me."
Neris was taken aback. The chair... looked expensive, fitting for the son of the Maindlandt Grand Duke.
But imagining Kledwin lounging in the library, taking a nap, felt strange. Neris asked suspiciously.
"Really?"
"When you need to hide, you have to be quick, like when you switched that child's ribbon."
"Did you see me?"
"I know a lot of things."
Neris was both surprised and slightly impressed.
As a high-ranking noble, it was natural for Kledwin to have people following him, but he was still young and hadn't officially succeeded to the title of Grand Duke.
The Academy's principal, who was like the Emperor's eye, kept a close watch on all the students, and yet Kledwin seemed to have his own secret agents. Even Abellus didn't have his own agents until he became an adult.
"It's nice to know a lot of things."
"You're not afraid."
A light, airy laughter floated in, and Neris responded nonchalantly.
"If you were going to tell someone, you wouldn't have come here and mentioned it so kindly. What do you want to say, Kledwin Maindlandt?"
"No."
Kledwin laughed again, just as lightly.
"Tell me what you want."
"I'm not a spy watching you, senior. If that's what you're wondering."
"Then?"
"I'm just a normal twelve-year-old freshman."
"A normal twelve-year-old freshman who isn't afraid of blades, didn't receive early education, yet got the highest score since the Academy's founding, knows words used by frontline diplomats, and manipulated public opinion about her friends as a child?"
Neris frowned, and a slight wrinkle appeared on the bridge of her narrow nose.
"Isn't that the kind of thing a knight would do, not a lady? You must have received early education, so you should know that."
"Are your actions those of a lady? I seem to have misunderstood the virtues of ladies these days."
But Kledwin responded immediately, his voice unwavering. Neris retorted sharply, feeling a bit annoyed.
"Maybe you're just old and don't know, senior. You should have paid more attention in etiquette class."
Suddenly, a soft, sigh-like sound came from the other side of the bookshelf. Was Kledwin laughing?
"I must have misheard."
In diplomacy, it was essential to wait and accurately gauge the other person's emotions. Neris waited for Kledwin to speak again.
"It's clean."
"What do you mean?"
"Your record. There's no sign of you being taught separately by the Elantria Duchy or any noble family in the capital. It seems that, as you claimed, you've been living in a rural village since birth. But the priest in your parish can't speak the sacred language as well as you do."
"Our priest is quite good at the sacred language."
Neris just retorted, not knowing what to say. She wanted to see Kledwin's face. Honestly, it was already difficult to respond to him, and not being able to see his expression made it even harder.
Maybe she shouldn't have come.
"If you want, come this way. Let's talk face to face."
Neris hesitated at his words, then made a decision. She walked a few steps and leaned against the bookshelf, looking up at Kledwin, who was standing diagonally across from her.
He was leaning against the bookshelf, his arms crossed, looking down at her. From Neris's perspective, his head seemed to be touching the ceiling.
"Did you call me over here to make it easier to kill me?"
"Why would I do that?"
"If you've decided to kill me, I wouldn't be able to escape even if I tried."
Kledwin's lips curled up slightly.
"You're asking a question you already know the answer to, just to see my reaction. Well done."
Neris's purple eyes sparkled coldly.
"Are you trying to read my mind or something?"
She had met many difficult people in her diplomatic work, but Kledwin seemed to be one of the most exceptional.
Was she being too confident because of her memories as an adult? Neris thought that might be the case and made sure to control her expression.
"So, what if I am?"
Kledwin was still smiling. He didn't give Neris any time to relax and immediately brought up the main topic.
"What do you want to achieve in this school?"
"Huh?"
Neris looked at Kledwin suspiciously, frowning. Unbeknownst to her, her face looked amusing and cute, like a child trying to imitate an adult worrying about human affairs.
Kledwin gazed at her face for a while, his diamond-like gray eyes gleaming.
"There are several things. Academics are important, of course."
After a moment, Neris replied vaguely.
Kledwin's gaze had an unyielding dignity that was hard to resist. Even Abellus and Princess Kaymill didn't have eyes like that. It was strange that the young heir to the Grand Duke's family had more dignity than the imperial family.
"Really?"
His black eyebrows rose, like the night sky.
"I'll hire Henri Voltaire as your teacher."
"Lord Voltaire is already teaching me."
"No, I mean as your personal teacher. You understand, don't you?"
Neris's eyes widened in surprise. While flustered, she tried to read the underlying intentions behind Kledwin's words.
"Why?"
"Because you want it."
"No, why are you trying to do this for me?"
"I need talented people."
Yes, that was satisfaction. Neris was certain. Kledwin's smooth smile revealed his pleasure.
"Talented people? You think a twelve-year-old like me is a talented person you need for your future as Grand Duke?"
"Or why would I have come here to meet you?"
Neris's mind was racing. She acknowledged it clearly.
She needed protection. At the very least, she needed something to guarantee her own safety and, if possible, her mother's safety as well.
But could she trust Kledwin?
If she was wrong, she would end up like she did before, working herself to death for others and eventually being discarded and killed. She didn't have the ability to control the future Grand Duke.
At least, not yet.
"Think about it."
Kledwin stepped away from the bookshelf and bowed his head. Suddenly, he was at the same height as Neris, and their eyes met.
His long, black eyelashes cast a shadow on his crystal-clear irises and ivory-like cheeks.
"Neris Truede, a ruler always needs people. If you ever need something desperately, come find me. I'll give you the treatment you deserve."
***
If you asked the freshmen who they wanted to befriend the most in their grade, the answer would be unanimous, with a few exceptions.
The Lycanthros Marquis family was wealthy and had a long history. They had great ancestors and incredible treasures that were scattered everywhere. Freshman Megara Lycanthros was the epitome of that Marquis family.
For Angrad Nain, this beautiful child of the same age was an object of admiration. The highest-quality purple silk dress and the hair tie with frills were like treasures from heaven, something that couldn't even be imagined in the Nain baron's territory.
How wonderful it would be to be friends with this child.
That was the thought Angrad had been harboring since she first entered school.
Of course, Megara had no reason to be friends with Angrad. But who knows? Maybe Megara, being such a wonderful child, already had many wealthy and high-status friends around her, and she might need a friend with a lower status who was more obedient.
However, at that moment, Angrad couldn't feel happy even though she was having tea with Megara alone.
"I, I... can't do it."
"Why?"
In Megara's luxurious dormitory living room, there was only Megara and Angrad, excluding the maid and butler. Megara tilted her head, looking genuinely puzzled.
Angrad's fingertips turned cold.
Previously, she had followed the instructions to put a spider in Neris's bag. She was told that if Neris had upset Megara, putting a spider in her bag and startling her would be a sufficient punishment.
Maybe it would even help Angrad adjust to school life more easily in the future.
But at that time, Neris had clearly touched the spider and yet acted as if nothing was wrong. Anyone else would have turned their bag upside down and caused a scene, losing their usual calm demeanor.
Didn't she find bugs disgusting? To Angrad, Neris was disgusting.
She was a strange child.
Many children admired Neris, but Angrad didn't have those feelings because she had known Neris since childhood.
Rather, she found Neris to be truly strange. Angrad knew better than anyone that the Truede mother and daughter, from the small village of Rohez, didn't even have enough money to invite a theology student to study with them.
But as soon as she entered school, Neris surpassed everyone.
To Angrad, that was not only strange but also uncomfortably, even disturbingly, wrong.
If Megara, who was from a higher social class, had become the top student among all freshmen, that would have been understandable. Everyone would have expected it and congratulated her. But a daughter of a lower-ranking knight?
Angrad could vaguely remember Neris from her childhood. There weren't many children of the same age in the Nain baron's territory, so when Neris became her playmate, Angrad was happy. Although it was a childhood memory, only a faint image remained.
So, Angrad tried to endure her discomfort and get along with Neris.
But Neris had coldly rejected Angrad's outstretched hand. What a bad girl.