Chapter 40
One could have sent another child to fill the basket and just leave it.
It was hard for her to accept the fact that the single basket she had promised on her own had become her entire world.
“…Huh?”
A sudden surge of sorrow made her kick the basket, but she felt a heavy weight under her foot. Something rolled out from inside.
“…There it is!”
Inside were several buns stuffed with minced meat and vegetables.
Noah’s eyes went wide, and she quickly grabbed the buns, blew on them to remove the stray leaves, and put them back in the basket.
This was enough for one meal, maybe even two, to eat her fill.
It had been so long since she had seen bread, and just smelling it made her happy.
After devouring it absentmindedly, she noticed a small note at the very bottom of the basket.
It was written in tiny, wobbly handwriting:
“Goodness, we really don’t match. The times we’ve come here just keep missing each other. You weren’t around all this time, were you? Listen, I have a favor to ask: could you come to the tree’s shade tomorrow evening at 8? I need a partner for my magic practice!”
“Her handwriting is awful.”
Noah muttered, yet she read the note over and over.
“Who’s waiting… anyway…”
She grumbled, but then curiosity brightened her eyes.
“Magic, you say? Even maids can use magic?”
She chattered on, examining the note.
“Judging by the bread still being warm, she must’ve come today, so the appointment is tomorrow evening, right?”
She kept reading, turning the corners of the note until they were worn out.
“Alright, today marks the start of the new semester for heir training.”
Irina gave a brief announcement to the children gathered in the hall, then stepped down.
It seemed that the seating assignments and proper lessons would begin in the next class.
The heir students in the grand hall were grouped in threes and fives.
Lilia sat alone in the back row, awkwardly wearing a white bag.
There were roughly forty or more children.
Among them, Lilia recognized only a few, apart from the direct lineage children and the children of Viscount Jade.
But even if Lilia didn’t know them, the others seemed to recognize her.
“That’s Lilia, right?”
“She was supposedly the one with the least magical talent among the direct heirs… how did she manage to manifest magic?”
“…They say she has a private chamber just like Conrad’s.”
If they were going to gossip loudly, they might as well just come and say it directly.
In any case, the other children’s gazes weren’t kind.
Curiosity seemed scarce; instead, there was more indifference, jealousy, and ridicule.
Lilia hadn’t come here to make friends, so she didn’t care.
Then it happened.
When Conrad appeared, a group of children hurriedly followed him.
“Look! It’s Conrad!”
“Conrad is really, really cool.”
‘Ugh, all the handsome people are gone from the world.’
Lilia muttered bitterly in her mind.
Conrad spotted her and furrowed his brows.
Then he strode over with measured steps.
‘What… why is he coming this way?’
Lilia pretended to look elsewhere.
For a moment, it seemed Conrad would pass by, but he didn’t.
He stopped and spoke low, almost as a warning:
“Move.”
“…What? Is there even a name on this seat?”
Lilia retorted, and the children behind her jumped in.
“Don’t you know the back row is reserved for Conrad?”
“If you want to sit here, either get his permission or win a magic duel. Got it, little one?”
A small boy with glasses, Conrad’s little follower, sneered.
What the—
Just as Lilia rolled her eyes, someone tugged at her collar.
“It’s dangerous if you get noticed.”
A shy girl approached and warned her.
“You should move to another seat for now.”
Lilia, being pulled along, was flustered.
Only then did the girl let go of her hand.
“S-sorry. I just worried that you might get hurt.”
Lilia looked up at her.
A small girl with glasses, green hair, and freckles.
A simple brown dress, unassuming.
‘She seems timid, usually not stepping up in situations like this… why is she helping me?’
“Who are you? Why did you help me? I’m not scared at all.”
The girl’s expression darkened slightly.
“You don’t understand, that’s why you’re saying that. I was once targeted and bullied for a year. I sat in that seat just like you…”
“What? That’s horrible.”
“Conrad reigns like a king among the heirs… and his followers are terrifying.”
“What if you get targeted again for helping me?”
Lilia tilted her head.
“Well… you’re smaller and younger than me, and you don’t know much. I wanted to tell you.”
Seeing the girl take care of her over the direct heir Conrad, Lilia felt a genuine fondness.
“Can I call you Rona? I know the Persche Viscount family too!”
“…R-really? I’d be happy if you called me by name.”
“Great! And let’s speak casually too. Honestly, I hardly had anyone close at Roberk.”
Rona smiled.
“You may speak casually with me.”
“Oh, right. But you should also speak casually. I’ve seen Persche on the map. Famous for peaches! Must be delicious.”
“Not many know Persche is famous for peaches… but you do?”
Rona was surprised and looked at Lilia with a faint affection and a shy blush on her cheeks.
In Roberk, it was rare to see girls so genuine.
This elder sister was cute.
“By the way, my name is Lilia.”
“Oh, I know Lilia already. She’s a direct heir at Roberk, recognized by the Duke, and has a private chamber just like Conrad. People praise her a lot.”
Though the other children spoke of her praise lightly… Rona seemed genuinely kind.
Sitting apart from Conrad’s seat, the arrogant group didn’t bother her further and just cast sidelong glances.
Then…
A group of girls in fancy princess dresses appeared.
Each carried a bright-colored bag strung with pearls, the kind that would catch any child’s eye in a luxury boutique.
But Lilia had the bear bag Marit gave her, so she didn’t envy them at all.
At the forefront were Clara and another prim-looking girl.
“Look, the princesses have arrived—Clara and Evnis.”
The children whispered. Unlike when Lilia appeared, these girls inspired awe and envy.
Clara was a direct heir, so that was expected, but Evnis…
Ah, she remembered who she was.
