Chapter 66
Marineff seemed to realize it too.
She suddenly became excited and began inhaling sharply, her breath rough.
“Yes. Showing excitement while speaking with such a lowly person is a disgrace to a noble.”
Marineff muttered under her breath.
The whispering tone made Estelle let out a short laugh.
How can someone be so simple and stupid?
Because she didn’t know who Estelle was, she assumed Estelle was of lower status than her.
Pathetic.
Judging people by status, trapped inside her own narrow worldview.
And even worse, acting solely on her own beliefs despite not knowing the basics of anything.
Estelle found her truly pitiful.
Soon, after taking a deep breath to calm herself, Marineff forced a smile onto her lips.
Unfortunately, the trembling at the corners of her mouth gave away how hard she was trying.
“Hoho. You know it too, don’t you? The claim that the rules of the outside world don’t apply here—just a fancy lie. Everyone says it, but you know that’s not how it actually works.”
Estelle shrugged lightly and replied in a voice completely devoid of sincerity.
“Is that so?”
Maybe because of Estelle’s indifferent tone, the corners of Marineff’s smile twitched violently.
“Exactly. So, could you move aside? I have business with the person behind you.”
Marineff pointed at Sial.
Her meaning was clear—I won’t pursue this if you step aside now.
But Estelle did not move.
“But your explanation still isn’t clear enough.”
“…What?”
“Why you’re getting so angry at me.”
“I told you. I am the daughter of a Marquess. And you blocked my path. That is a clear violation of hierarchy!”
“That’s what I mean. I still don’t see what your being a Marquess’ daughter has to do with me standing in front of you.”
Estelle took one full step closer to Marineff.
“Whether there’s a hidden hierarchy in the academy or not… you’re just a Marquess’ daughter. Not royalty.”
She grinned slyly and continued.
“The only ones you can’t block are members of the imperial family. Isn’t that right?”
Marineff began to sputter in fury.
“H–How dare you…! Do you even know who I am—!”
She shouted now, no longer caring about dignity or manners.
She raised her hand high.
As if she would slap Estelle any moment.
But Estelle didn’t avoid it.
If anything, she stood even more confidently, staring straight into Marineff’s eyes.
As if to say, Go on. Try it.
“You little…!”
Marineff clenched her teeth at the provocative look in Estelle’s eyes.
She swung her raised hand downward—
And then—
Slap!
A sharp sound echoed as Marineff’s hand stopped midair.
It wasn’t Estelle who blocked it.
Someone else stopped the hit before Estelle even moved.
“L-Lady Marineff, please wait!”
“Why are you stopping me, Lady Lovell?!”
“T-That is because…”
Estelle didn’t show it outwardly, but she was genuinely surprised.
The one who stopped Marineff was Lovell, who had been standing at her side.
Lovell swallowed hard and whispered to Marineff in a small voice:
“She’s the one. The one rumored to have entered as the top scorer on entrance day.”
Lovell glanced nervously at Estelle, her whisper loud enough for everyone to hear.
“So what? Being top means she took an exam, doesn’t it? Working so desperately just to enter a place meant for nobles!”
“Yes, that’s true, but…”
Lovell winced as Marineff raised her voice for the entire hallway to hear.
She looked like she wanted to argue back but couldn’t, swallowing her anger.
Meanwhile, Estelle was confused as she watched the two.
Why is she suddenly stopping her?
Lovell always acted just like Marineff — judging people by status.
Yet she suddenly seemed scared of Estelle, stopping Marineff as if to protect her.
Estelle stared at her suspiciously.
“Yes, yes, you’re right. But you know… sometimes even nobles take the exam. The reason the rumor spread wasn’t simply because she was top…”
And then Estelle understood why.
“…but because the top student was seen speaking comfortably with Prince Aris Xenopesia.”
Lovell was heavily misunderstanding.
A misunderstanding of impressive size.
“W-What? Is that true?!”
Marineff asked in shock, voice suddenly shrill — her elegant noble tone nowhere to be found.
Lovell glanced once at Marineff, once at Estelle, and nodded.
“Y-Yes…”
Marineff clenched her fists and glared at Estelle.
Her gaze was complicated:
Could she actually be a noble I don’t know?
So that’s why she was so confident?
She’s someone who can speak casually with Aris?!
Suspicion, realization, jealousy, and anger — all mixed in her eyes.
How amusing.
Estelle found it entertaining.
She never said she was a noble.
She had just spoken with Aris—though not as comfortably as they assumed—and blocked their way.
Yet they twisted reality however they pleased, believed it, and acted on it.
It was laughable.
And Estelle had no intention of correcting them.
If I can use it, I will.
Especially against people obsessed with status.
Even if Estelle told the truth, they wouldn’t dare look down on her the same way they did Sial.
To them, Estelle was now “someone close to Aris.”
Marineff’s eyes darted around.
She noticed how many people were watching.
Her face reddened.
Not because of her behavior, but because she was being humiliated.
And everyone watching would gossip.
Tomorrow morning, every student in the academy would know.
If she hadn’t made a scene, I wouldn’t have bothered stepping in.
Estelle smirked and looked at Marineff.
Marineff’s face flushed red and pale, over and over.
She could do nothing but fume.
She knew if she caused more trouble, she’d only humiliate herself further.
“…Ha. Forget it. Let’s go. I don’t see any value in dealing with them anymore.”
In the end, she backed down.
It was all she could do.
Marineff snapped her head away, covered her face with a fan, and stormed off.
“W-Wait for us, Lady Marineff!”
“Oh, for goodness’ sake!”
Rovel and Baritas hurried after her, faces also covered in embarrassment.
“Tsk.”
Watching the three retreat, Estelle clicked her tongue.
They enjoy humiliating others, yet run the moment they’re the ones embarrassed.
Pathetic.
Estelle stared at the disappearing trio, expression cold.
“T-Thank you…”
A small voice came from behind her.
Choked with held-back tears, soft and trembling.
