Chapter 7
“Yes. That’s right.”
Upon hearing those words, Briseis felt an odd sensation. In the original story, Delilah was a genius. From Briseis’s own perspective, having seen and felt it up close, Calisten was no different—he was practically a genius as well.
However, in the original, Calisten repeatedly failed to secure first place because of Delilah.
Briseis couldn’t feel pleased that two people had appeared above her. She could accept Calisten, since they had attended classes together since childhood, but now Delilah had suddenly appeared as well.
Just recalling how, in the original, Briseis had been constantly compared in every class made it feel even more dreadful.
Briseis, the villainess, was merely a device to make Delilah’s brilliance shine. Her ignorance, sharp temper, and malicious nature stood in stark contrast to Delilah.
“I prefer an obedient woman over a smart one.”
“What if she’s both smart and obedient?”
At Damian’s words, Delilah asked with her eyes gently lowered. He stroked her hair affectionately, as though she were adorable.
“That would be nice too.”
Briseis met Damian’s gaze. He let out a small chuckle.
“Still, as long as she’s beautiful, that’s enough for a woman.”
“Then I’ll have to work harder. To be both beautiful and intelligent.”
“You really do know how to say things nicely, Delie.”
Delilah smiled radiantly, looking at Damian, while Briseis deliberately pretended not to listen to their conversation and instead reviewed the third period’s lesson in advance.
An unbearably long time passed.
Eventually, it was time to leave school.
“I’ll see you at the evening triumphal procession.”
Damian was supposed to attend the procession with Briseis, but he said he would go ahead first.
“I need to buy clothes for Delie.”
“……”
“She seems to need something larger than what she’s wearing. Delie has such an elegant figure, after all.”
Having casually delivered such an insulting remark to Briseis, Damian left the classroom with Delilah.
Briseis sighed, keeping her gaze lowered. Then, when she saw Delilah glance back at her as if mocking her, wave, and leave, her heart turned cold.
“I-I still think Bri is much better.”
Ever-oblivious Saturn spoke up as soon as Damian and Delilah disappeared.
“Right, Evy?”
“Yeah. My taste leans that way too.”
Saturn and Evy were identical twins, so their voices were very similar. Aside from their personalities, they were so alike in appearance that it was hard to deny they were identical.
“Thanks… for saying that.”
With all the recent criticism, Briseis had begun to wonder if she truly was as lacking as they made her out to be, and it left her feeling strange.
“It’s not just words. Bri really is prettier.”
“What’s the point of empty flattery? I mean it sincerely, Bri.”
Hearing this, the sharp-tongued Ronald, who had been eavesdropping cautiously, chimed in. Despite being the son of a count, he was rather blunt and reckless in speech, though his grades were excellent.
“We didn’t say anything because Damian keeps her around, but what’s so great about a commoner? She looks like a country bumpkin—plain and frail at a glance.”
Briseis hadn’t paid attention due to her own circumstances, but not everyone was without resentment toward Delilah.
Above all, Wilhelm Academy was famous for having the most difficult entrance exam in the Empire. Not only that, it was considered the finest educational institution across the entire continent, to the extent that even friendly foreign nations sent their children to study there.
In fact, it was such a prestigious school that even countries in hostile relations would enroll their children there under false identities.
Because of that, no one looked kindly upon Delilah, who had been admitted without properly taking the entrance exam, merely on the merit of a single war achievement.
Moreover, the class itself was divided strictly by ranking.
Class 1 consisted of the top twenty students, from first to twentieth place. Naturally, they were highly competitive and proud individuals.
As a result, resentment toward Delilah had been growing subtly beneath the surface.
However, that resentment was suppressed by fear of Damian, the duke.
“We were looking forward to having a female student for once—why is she a courtesan?”
“Hey, a courtesan should at least have refinement. That one grew up entirely as a commoner—how can you compare?”
Someone said that, and as everyone chuckled and prepared to leave—
“So this is the kind of agitation going on here?”
Damian, who had been listening from the doorway, stepped inside. Delilah stood behind him.
“Bri.”
“…Damian.”
Briseis had said nothing, yet Damian glared at her as though she were the root of all this.
“No wonder I’m drawn to Delie. It’s because of your filthy façade.”
“Th-That’s a bit too much…”
“Yes, Bri, you are beautiful—that much is true. But so what, if your heart is in the gutter?”
“…Damian.”
Briseis clenched her fists, feeling both shocked and humiliated by his insult.
“Today, I will be attending the procession with Delie. You may find another partner or not attend at all.”
In reality, it was customary for married couples to attend such events together. Yet Damian was now saying he would take his mistress to an imperial event instead of his wife.
“Let’s go, Delie.”
“Sob… Dami—…”
“Don’t cry.”
Delilah sniffled and took Damian’s hand, letting herself be led out of the room. As she left, she glanced back at Briseis with a faint, mocking smile.
In the ruined classroom, one by one, the others sighed, patted Briseis on the shoulder as if apologizing, and left.
❖ ❖ ❖
Briseis had no desire to attend the procession anyway.
Today was July 7th.
It was also the anniversary of her younger brother, Gael Philia’s death.
The Philia Marquis family originally had four sons and one daughter. The three older brothers above Briseis each had unpleasant personalities and were spaced far apart in age.
The marchioness had grown tired of bearing sons one after another and had longed deeply for a daughter. With her timid nature, she had been exhausted by her sons’ crude behavior, which made her desire even stronger.
The long-awaited daughter she prayed for was Briseis—and Gael.
The two were fraternal twins, with Briseis born first and Gael as the younger brother.
“Big sister, they say I have to go to war if I want to enter the Academy.”
“It’s not necessary to attend Wilhelm Academy specifically. You’re more suited to administration than the sword.”
“But I want to handle a sword too. Anyone can become an administrator.”
“Gael…”
“And with my abilities, Wilhelm Academy is out of reach anyway. Rather than study half-heartedly, I’d rather pursue what I want.”
Gael had talent in academics, but not as a knight. That was why he had taken up the sword under the pretext of entering Wilhelm Academy.
Since the Philia family already had three robust adult sons, Gael’s rebellious behavior was allowed.
In fact, they even approved of his plan to earn military achievements to compensate for his 부족 entrance score.
Every member of the Philia family had graduated from Wilhelm Academy, after all.
They all assumed Gael was simply taking a detour because he was slightly lacking.
“Please prepare lilies.”
“Ah, yes. It’s been a while, Your Highness.”
“Yes.”
Briseis forced a smile to keep herself from sinking into her thoughts. Still wearing her white academy uniform, she had come to purchase flowers.
She received the flowers as if by habit and said,
“Charge it to the Philia Marquis family.”
“Yes, understood. Have a pleasant day.”
“Yes.”
With that, she smiled faintly and made her way toward her brother’s grave.
Gael had died on July 7th of the previous year. Had he returned from that war, he would have safely entered Wilhelm Academy.
But he died with exactly one remaining opportunity—the final war achievement he needed to qualify.
Briseis had carried a lingering guilt for an entire year, wondering if she could have done more to prevent her brother’s death.
In the original story, Gael had been one of the supporting male leads.
Yet he died without ever meeting Delilah.
Perhaps it was her fault for changing the original plot. That thought made Briseis quietly take care of Gael’s memorial every year.
The Philia family considered Gael, who had died on the battlefield, to be a disgrace, and never once visited his memorial on his death anniversary.
Even his funeral had been treated as something shameful.
Briseis shook off her thoughts and walked quickly toward her brother’s gravestone.
Beside the stone engraved with Gael’s name, a bouquet of lilies had already been placed.
“Sniff…”
Someone was already crying.
Briseis couldn’t tell who it was, but it seemed they had come to visit the same person. Without a word, she placed her own lilies atop the gravestone.
Then she stood there quietly.
Suddenly, she felt as though she had seen a description of the man crying beside her somewhere before.
Bright silver hair, gray eyes.
A knight’s attire, as though he had come straight from the battlefield. His armor was worn, dented in several places, with dried blood clinging here and there.
At that moment, she realized who he was.
“Are… you perhaps Lady Gael’s sister?”
He was Cassias Rosfell.
One of the original story’s supporting male leads—a man who rebuilt his family for Delilah… and even sacrificed his life for her in the end.
