Chapter 11
“It’s okay.”
As Ayla swiftly took out a handkerchief and wiped my face, hair, and clothes, I looked up at where the water had come from.
Readmoor, bold as ever, hadn’t run away. He was poking his head out between the open window shutters.
When our eyes met, he gave a sly grin and childishly pulled down one of his lower eyelids with his finger, stuck out his tongue, then disappeared inside.
That bastard.
More than the soaking itself, what irritated me was that I let myself be even slightly shaken by such a petty provocation.
“Enough. Go away.”
I avoided Ayla’s hand as she wrung out the now-soaked handkerchief and tried to wipe me again.
“Miss…”
Ayla hesitated, then spoke.
“Forgive me for saying this, but I really think you shouldn’t let this go on any longer. This isn’t the first time the young master has acted like this. You need to tell the Duke or Sir Obed so they can put a stop to it.”
“It’s just childish games. Don’t worry about it.”
“Sometimes, you talk like you’re the adult here, Miss. But the young master is older than you, isn’t he?”
She asked, clearly confused.
Of course. I was going to be an adult tomorrow.
I swallowed those words and waved my hand dismissively.
“Enough. Just get me some dry clothes.”
“If you won’t say anything, then I will.”
“What?”
As I turned to go inside, flapping the wet clothes clinging to me, I heard words behind me that I couldn’t ignore.
Ayla stood rooted to the spot, holding the damp handkerchief like a soldier grasping a sword, clearly resolute.
“I said I’m fine. Why don’t you understand?”
“But last time, he threw stones at you! It’s clearly getting worse! Are we just supposed to stand by and watch?”
“Exactly. Just stand by and watch. Thank you.”
“But—!”
“I’ll be going back to the Academy in just a few days anyway. He won’t be able to act so freely there. I just have to endure for a bit longer—why make a fuss?”
“There’s no need to endure when telling the adults could stop it right now! Why should we stay quiet? I don’t get it!”
“Did I ask you to understand?!”
Her persistence was starting to grate on me.
Whether it was the Duke or Sir Obed, I didn’t want them to think I couldn’t handle one bratty boy.
I’d rather die again than go crying to them, seriously.
Besides, from my perspective—after seven years in a baron’s household—his threats really were just childish antics.
It was such a trivial matter. So why was she making such a big deal of it?
“…You’re always on edge about everything!”
“What?”
I stepped toward her, intending to intimidate her like last time, but her unexpected counter stopped me.
Though nervous, Ayla stood her ground and spoke calmly.
“I’ve been watching you for a while now, and… well, even back then when you scared me… it’s like you’re deliberately rough with people. Like you’re covering yourself in thorns to keep everyone away, constantly watching and guarding every second of every day.”
She looked at me with an expression that was both genuinely curious and completely baffled.
“Why do you do that? Can’t you just be kind to others and accept their goodwill like a normal person?”
Why?
She asked why?
I… stood there dumbfounded, mouth agape, like an idiot, just staring at her.
“Of course, I haven’t known you for long, and honestly… I was scared of you at first.”
She started nervously, then spoke more freely, caught up in her own thoughts.
“I’m sorry. I avoided you because of that. But… you’re not like the rumors say! Most of the teachers tried to ignore you or make your life harder, but you never complained and quietly attended every class. And even when the young master harassed you, you didn’t get revenge—you just endured…”
“Ayla…”
“I don’t think you’re anything like the terrible person people say you are. And you’re actually kind of—”
“You.”
I cut her off.
“Y-Yes?”
She looked startled, her eyes wide with a mixture of confusion and fragile hope. I stared blankly at her and muttered:
“Before I really kill you… shut up.”
If words could become blades—
Right now, I desperately wished they would.
Let every word I spoke pierce her heart, or may the ones she uttered crawl back into her mouth and choke her lungs and throat. I’d offer up my own heart if that would make it happen.
“Wh-What…?”
She looked like she wanted to say more, but when she saw my expression, she turned pale and stopped.
“M-Miss…”
Tears welled in her lovely brown eyes. They trembled, then spilled over, carving shiny streaks down her cheeks.
“Miss, I didn’t mean it like that, I was just trying to—”
She stammered, reaching toward me with both hands.
I stepped back.
“You don’t need to be my personal maid anymore.”
“Miss…”
“I’ll tell Sir Obed. Go back to your original duties.”
“That’s not it—just once, please listen to me. I didn’t mean anything bad, I just—”
“Miss Blainy. This is for your sake.”
With that, I slowly turned and walked away, leaving Ayla frozen there. I took the back path and returned to the Duke’s estate through the rear gate.
***
“Take care, young master, young lady.”
It was the morning we left for the Academy.
The Duke had already said his brief farewells the night before and left the mansion early due to urgent matters.
For someone who claimed he’d keep a close watch on me, he sure left me alone a lot.
Maybe he was getting reports behind the scenes, but either way, it worked in my favor.
Sir Obed bowed deeply to Readmoor and me, with the estate staff lined up behind him doing the same.
Readmoor and I glanced at each other, then got into separate carriages.
As I looked out the window, I saw Ayla among the maids, looking desperately in my direction.
“Please remove Ayla from the role of personal maid. I don’t need one anymore.”
I had told Sir Obed this the same day the incident occurred. He listened quietly and only asked once:
“Are you sure about this?”
When I nodded, the matter was resolved immediately.
Honestly, I was used to waking up, dressing myself, and packing on my own. I didn’t need a maid. I could handle everything myself.
Inside the carriage was only me and a small bag of personal belongings. That was it.
Most of my things had been sent to the dorms days ago and would already be in my new room.
The road to Valentina Academy was lined with carriages bearing the emblems of various noble houses, just like mine.
The sky was absurdly blue. Finally, the majestic archway of the Academy came into view.
As the front wheels of the carriage crossed the Academy grounds, the marking on my neck grew hot and stung sharply.
“Valentina Academy welcomes you.”
The magical message shimmered before me, almost mockingly, before vanishing.
Bastards.
This was how the Valentin royal family made sure that every noble remembered they held their lives in the palm of their hand—every single semester.
I got out and headed toward the grand hall where the entrance ceremony would be held.
As soon as I entered, murmurs spread among the students who recognized me. The whispers grew louder like ripples in water.
Wherever I walked, the crowd parted on its own.
It happened every year, but it felt worse this time.
The reason was obvious.
In the line for the fourth-years, a girl with red hair was surrounded by others, all staring in my direction.
Our eyes met.
Helena.
The ruined Baron’s family had somehow found a small townhouse in the capital to live in.
Some former servants from the Count’s household had reportedly been rehired, but Ashley’s name wasn’t among them.
Helena smiled faintly and lifted her fingers in a slight wave.
“What the…!”
“The audacity…!”
The surrounding noise grew louder. Helena, for her part, glared at me over her fan before turning away.
I went to the second-year line and stood in place. The familiar stares scanning me from head to toe reminded me of a sensation I’d almost forgotten.
My whole body felt like it was buzzing, filled with a strange mix of excitement and revulsion.
That creeping feeling had started from the moment I stepped through the Academy’s gate and the mark on my neck began to burn.
“Eh… dear students, both returning and new… welcome to Valentina Academy…”
The elderly headmaster stepped onto the platform and began his speech. His magically amplified voice echoed throughout the hall.
In that moment, madness took hold of me.
My reason dulled, and a violent impulse seized me.
Readmoor’s provocation, the fight with Ayla, the self-inflicted decision to return to this prison… seeing Helena again, surrounded by those who whispered and sneered at me.
All of it—the frustrations I had buried—exploded at the opening speech that signaled the start of another long, grueling six years.
I wanted to spit.
To curse everyone gathered here.
To do something.
Madness overtook my body and stole my control.
UNLOCK SOON~