Chapter 33
When they came out of the small library, the atmosphere between the two of them was strange.
Violet wanted to ask Ash more about the story of Lady Rosiness.
But it would be odd to suddenly ask why he was reading a novel that wasn’t even that famous.
In any case, there was a feeling about Ash that made her think she shouldn’t ask him carelessly.
“You’re not going to apply for classes, right?”
Ash asked.
“Of course not.”
True to aspiring dropouts, neither of them had any intention of taking classes this semester.
“Let’s go straight back.”
“Yeah.”
Violet nodded.
“Violet Everdeen, right?”
At that moment, an unfamiliar student approached Violet.
“That’s right.”
“They’re urgently looking for you in the dean’s office. You should go.”
Violet exchanged a look with Ash.
My name probably came up during today’s commotion, so they must be calling me in to hear my testimony.
If it was something like that, she was willing to cooperate.
“I hope it’s good news,”
Ash said.
Violet knocked on the door to the dean’s office. When she entered, Dean Herbert was there along with one familiar professor.
Violet knew her. She was the professor in charge of Marigold. Her name was Sierra.
“Violet Everdeen, why on earth did you do such a thing?”
Sierra shouted sharply the moment she saw Violet.
“I don’t understand. What do you mean?”
Violet replied expressionlessly.
“You ruined Miss Marigold’s assignment. You even pretended that you had done the assignment in her place.”
“That’s not a lie. I’ve been doing that assignment in her place for years.”
“You’re out of your mind! How can you tell such a brazen lie!”
Sierra shouted so loudly that Violet’s ears hurt.
Violet stared at Herbert, who was sitting there, pretending to idly groom his nails and pointedly avoiding the situation.
“What do you think, Dean? Do you believe Professor Sierra’s words?”
Today, countless people had seen the magic circuits marked with Violet’s name.
They had also seen Marigold floundering helplessly, unable to handle magic circuits at all.
Anyone with eyes should have understood what the situation was.
Marin had even sat down in the classroom for fun and incited the crowd.
Herbert cleared his throat.
“Professor Sierra is right. Sisters can be jealous of one another. Still, this crossed the line. To falsely accuse Miss Marigold…”
Violet felt as though her breath was being choked out of her.
This is why I deliberately made things blow up. And even then… they’re responding like this?
Violet looked straight at Herbert and Sierra in turn.
“Do you need evidence? Then please call Marigold. Have her make the same magic circuit. I’ll do it under the same conditions. Then you’ll be able to see who the real creator of the magic circuit is.”
“Miss Marigold is currently under severe mental shock, so that would be too much for her,”
Sierra said.
“Isn’t Marigold one of the few spirit contractors in the Empire?”
Violet said, sounding puzzled.
“Well, that’s true, but…”
“Spirit contractors sometimes fight on the front lines alongside knights, don’t they? If she can’t make a magic circuit due to mere mental shock, wouldn’t that make her unqualified? That’s why the Academy has a special magic department—to train both body and mind.”
At Violet’s words, Sierra’s face turned bright red. Then she glared at Violet.
“Do you see, Dean? Just look at how she talks back. Violet Everdeen is clearly bullying her younger sister, Miss Marigold.”
“The one who has been bullied for years is me. And I’m not talking back—I’m proposing a reasonable solution. There are plenty of ways to verify the truth.”
Violet continued calmly. Since she was completely in the right, the words came naturally.
“Alternatively, you could call in an expert to examine the detailed magical properties contained within the magic circuit. I’ve heard that top-tier magic tool craftsmen are capable of that.”
At that moment, Sierra shrieked.
“Why on earth should the victim, Miss Marigold, have to prove anything?! Have you even thought about how hurt Miss Marigold must be?!”
Violet was dumbfounded.
“What are you talking about? What does an individual’s crime have to do with emotional wounds?”
“Miss Marigold is practically an angel, but look at how her sister talks.”
Sierra clicked her tongue. Violet understood less and less.
“By that logic, should prisoners be pardoned if they have emotional wounds? If a criminal is kind, does that mean they’re innocent no matter what crime they committed?”
“Y-you…!”
Sierra shrieked, but she looked completely at a loss for words.
“Ahem, quiet. As you can see, we are a group with social standing. These are people we may end up meeting in high society—or even in politics.”
Herbert cleared his throat and continued.
“Think about the difference in reputation between Miss Violet and Miss Marigold. Think about Miss Marigold’s attitude—how she has lived diligently and built up trust.”
“So reputation is a right that stands above right and wrong? Is that something you can say even with all the Academy’s students gathered here?”
Violet said, her face devoid of any hint of a smile.
No matter what, they’re openly shielding Marigold, who’s just a student, like this?
It felt as though the Academy itself was doing its utmost to cover up Marigold’s wrongdoing.
“Calling in experts for verification? We can’t waste the Academy’s precious budget on a trivial squabble born of jealousy between girls,”
Herbert said solemnly.
“It sounds like you’re trying to cover this up, as if you have some ulterior motive. Is this really a matter concerning only Marigold and the Academy?”
“Are you suggesting we’re acting under someone’s orders? Do you have any idea what kind of place the Academy is? Dean, it’s obvious that Miss Violet suffers from delusions,”
Sierra said.
Violet closed her eyes and opened them again.
There was nothing to be gained from getting worked up over people you couldn’t reason with.
That was something Lady Rosiness had said in the book.
“Then return the magic circuit board that I created. I’ll use that to independently verify the truth.”
“Verify the truth? This matter is over as it is,”
Sierra said, but Violet ignored her.
“The Academy is one of the Empire’s major institutions, so I’m sure there are people who would be very interested in this. I believe you know that better than anyone.”
Violet had struck the mark.
Tension crept into Herbert and Sierra’s eyes.
“The truth is, the magic circuit malfunctioned. You saw it earlier on the scene, didn’t you? There were signs it might ignite, so it was disposed of,”
Sierra replied.
“You even destroyed the evidence?”
“Your delusions are truly severe! Leave at once and await your punishment. This semester, instead of studying, you should take time to reflect on yourself!”
Herbert shouted.
“At the very least, she should be suspended. The victim and the perpetrator need to be separated!”
Sierra said, and Herbert nodded.
“From the start, there’s a serious problem with the system of awarding grades for free assignments during vacation. It makes it far too easy to submit proxy work.”
At that moment, Violet realized what they were afraid of.
“Enough! Are you trying to lecture people as educated as us?”
Sierra snapped.
I’m going to drop out anyway, but…
This wasn’t something she could just let slide.
I’m glad I didn’t drop out right away.
Why would she walk out on her own in such an unjust situation?
Ash’s words about dropping out together came to mind. This time, Ash was right.
“That will be all. You may leave.”
Violet looked at them once more, then quietly turned her back and walked out.
The thoughts that had been boiling with anger gradually calmed.
Because she knew Ash would be waiting for her outside.
