Chapter 84
For a moment, I felt suffocated by a reality I didn’t want to accept.
I couldn’t even close my eyes because I couldn’t believe what was in front of me.
In the end, I had no choice but to ask him in a small, trembling voice.
“Are you saying that they found out Estelle isn’t a noble…?”
“Yes.”
Haaa…
Why do ominous premonitions never fail?
A sigh that felt like the earth itself was collapsing escaped me.
When I first heard that Estelle was being mistaken for a noble, I was genuinely happy.
She wouldn’t be ignored by real nobles, she wouldn’t be bullied.
And now, with her marks appearing and the need to be careful, I had thought she would be safe from threats.
‘I can’t believe it.’
Am I dreaming?
Maybe all of this is just a dream?
‘…Please, let it be a dream.’
But Claude, sitting across from me, was telling me otherwise with his face.
This is not a dream.
I buried my face in my hands.
“…How?”
I didn’t want to ask, but I had to.
Because this wasn’t a dream.
With my face hidden, I murmured in a small voice.
“Do you remember meeting someone the last time you went to the academy with Cain?”
“The last time I went to the academy?”
I slowly retraced my memories.
Cain coming to pick me up. The carriage that felt so slow. The academy that was so complicated.
And the one student I asked for directions.
“Yes. I met her. I asked for directions to the infirmary.”
I nodded.
“Was she a brown-haired girl?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
There was certainty in Claude’s voice.
Seeing that, I widened my eyes and nodded.
‘In this world, if someone’s talented, can they actually read people’s memories or thoughts?’
Even knowing how serious this was, such a ridiculous thought crossed my mind for a moment.
I had only remembered her as a slightly unpleasant student.
Yet he had known her hair color without even seeing her properly.
Thanks to that, I recalled that the student had brown hair.
I looked at Claude in astonishment.
But only for a moment.
“That girl is Marinef.”
Hearing those words from him, I felt my blood turn cold.
Marinef Carlosd.
The noble-born student Claude had warned me about.
‘How did she find out Estelle’s true identity…? Could it be because I blurted out Estelle’s name back then?’
No wonder.
The letter had said that Marinef was the one who revealed Estelle’s identity in front of others!
It was clear she had realized Estelle’s status when we met.
At the time, I had been dressed normally.
A plain white shirt, a long skirt, and neat brown shoes—completely ordinary.
Nothing unusual for a commoner.
‘But not to a noble’s eyes.’
Nobles, when buying uniforms, would purposely tailor them tightly for themselves, even if they could never wear them again.
Using only the finest fabric. Paying the tailor an unimaginable amount compared to what a commoner could.
So, to her eyes, how shabby must my outfit have looked?
It wouldn’t even qualify as a garment suitable for fitting.
‘And yet, wearing such clothes and calling out Estelle’s name… no wonder it was noticed.’
Even though I had heard that Estelle was ill, I should have kept my wits about me.
I must have lost my mind for a moment.
If I had been thinking clearly, I would have at least only asked for the location of the infirmary and not spoken Estelle’s name.
‘No, I should have just quietly followed Cain. That would have been faster and more efficient.’
But I insisted on going first on my own, and as a result, Estelle’s lack of noble status was revealed.
And to the worst possible person.
“…It’s my fault.”
My head fell naturally.
I had hoped that Estelle would have a smooth, trouble-free path.
But I ruined it myself.
“The water’s spilled. No use blaming yourself.”
“…I know.”
Is this supposed to be… consolation? It must be.
But why does my chest feel like it’s been stabbed and torn apart?
I groaned, clutching my wounded heart.
“Do not despair. I know the efforts you’ve made for Estelle. Continue to do just that, and it will be enough.”
“….”
“And I, too, intend to protect her in my own way.”
Protect Estelle? In his way?
I lifted my bowed head slightly.
And I looked at Claude sitting across from me.
The moment my gaze met his, I flinched.
Since when had he been watching?
Because his eyes were fixed on me.
The moment we made eye contact, he gave a faint smile and said:
“I, too, have a duty to protect Estelle.”
Claude had said this even before Estelle’s marks appeared.
And he said it again after they appeared.
‘Now that I think about it, it has two meanings.’
One, as another protector of Estelle.
And two, as a loyal retainer to the princess herself.
Maybe because I understood the meaning behind his words, my anxious heart was instantly relieved.
“Not much, but the name Xenofesia carries some influence in the academy. If rumors spread that it’s a child I support, at least their safety within will be guaranteed.”
“Thank you. For lending your family’s name.”
“No need to thank me. It’s the truth.”
Claude lightly brushed off my thanks.
Instead, he leaned closer to me.
“I do my best where I stand. So you should do your best where you stand.”
Meeting my gaze, Claude watched me quietly.
In his eyes was trust.
Deep and endless, like a vast blue ocean, like a sky without end.
Eyes filled with profound trust.
“Isn’t it true that Estelle relies on you the most emotionally?”
Meeting his blue gaze, I nodded slightly.
And then I followed his lead, offering a faint smile.
Feeling warmth spreading through me.
Perhaps it was thanks to the solid support role Claude described?
Or maybe because of the rumors that Estelle had Xenofesia’s backing?
From the season that naturally made one curl up to the season when life begins to sprout, Estelle’s life at the academy had been relatively smooth.
Thanks to Marinef and her group being unusually quiet.
‘I thought they’d keep picking on her using her status as an excuse…’
Were they scared? Or hiding for some ulterior motive?
I couldn’t know their thoughts.
But just because things were smooth didn’t mean Estelle had completely escaped their attention.
Even by chance, if their eyes met, they glared. If they saw her nearby, they subtly cursed.
And when others forgot about Estelle, they would slyly gossip about her.
Even as nobles, their behavior was vile and cowardly.
So childish it was almost pitiful.
[Name: Estelle (14)]
Birthday: September 15
Stamina: 194
Intelligence: 207
Grace: 132
Morality: 101
Fame: 98
Attack: 64
Defense: 59
Magic: 70
Magic Resistance: 62
Charm: 71
Etiquette: 39
Arts: 13
Oratory: 11
Sensitivity: 54
Faith: 83
Divine Power: 99
Farming Skills: 39
Stress: 52
In general, people get more annoyed by subtle provocations than by open fights.
Looking at her stress stats, it seemed that Estelle was somewhat bothered by their actions.
‘Hmm. It’s a bit high, isn’t it?’
As with anything, if you consistently work on something, eventually you succeed.
It would be the same for Marinef and her group, and for her stress level.
Thus, her stress had gradually accumulated day by day, reaching the 50s.
Not immediately dangerous, but if left unchecked, it might suddenly spike.
So lowering it as soon as possible would be best for Estelle.
Otherwise, she might fall ill.
“…Me!”
But how could I lower her stress?
Should I go to the lake again?
“…No!”
No. The lake would still be cold.
Even though the weather had warmed, water areas remain colder.
“Rei…!”
Ah, it’s nice that Estelle wants to go, but…
Every time she says it’s fine, it gets tricky.
“Reina!”
“Oh my! You startled me!”
