Chapter 14

Seldienne Elconja.

As the eldest daughter of the esteemed Elconja family, she’s the closest female to the throne of the next generation.

In the Academy, she ranks third, known as the ‘Golden Crystal,’ and is a top-tier powerhouse wielding three swords and the family’s signature crystal magic.

Her pride as a noble is exceedingly high, believing firmly that commoners and nobles are fundamentally different beings—she’s a bonafide snob.

Among the nobles, she receives absolute support and envy, but in the eyes of commoners, she’s quite the notorious figure.

Of course, in the Academy, not all nobles aggressively assert their authority, nor do all commoners hate nobles for no reason.

After all, the renowned Tirisia seamlessly mixes with students as just another ordinary student, regardless of her noble background.

But Seldienne was one of those who didn’t care about such vibes at all, belonging to the “certain” clique.

She’s the type to blatantly spout extreme remarks, flaunt her discrimination and authority, and rally other strong nobles who share her views—she was the pack leader of this group.

That was the well-known Seldienne Elconja.

Naturally, my perception of her was no different from the other students’.

Who would like someone who sneers carelessly at you, calling you a commoner or a peasant every time they see your face?

Especially since she seemed to particularly resent the fact that her fellow noble, Tirisia, was mingling with commoners. She would dog me around and torment me incessantly.

The letter I received yesterday was no different.

She said she’d be waiting in the garden.

It was an explicit invitation to come running.

Given that both of us hadn’t shown our faces in the garden for a while due to Tirisia’s absence, it’s understandable for Seldienne to be curious about our whereabouts.

Our favorite punching bag had vanished, after all, so naturally, she’d miss her target.

However, thinking someone was purposely ignoring her simply because we hadn’t gone to the garden is a remarkably creative notion.

It wasn’t that I was disregarding her; I simply hadn’t been considering her at all.

In any case, since she went through the trouble of sending me a letter, I couldn’t avoid responding. I saw no reason to do so.

If I met her once and let her vent her frustrations, she might quiet down for a while.

“Ugh—what the heck am I doing?”

Thanks to that, here I was stuck crafting Seldienne’s lunch that was never in my plans.

Plus, factoring in Miu and Jury’s contributions from either side, I had to make it more generous than usual.

If she was calling me out with a letter, this surely wasn’t going to be a short conversation.

But since it was lunchtime, they wouldn’t be dedicating all their time to make my life miserable.

This is how my strategy unfolded.

After all, we all needed to eat. Since it was lunchtime, why not sit down together, share a meal, and unwind, right?

It was uncertain whether those high-and-mighty nobles would actually eat my food, but if they did, they wouldn’t be able to afford to say harsh words to someone who provided them with a meal.

A truly peaceful and humane breakthrough.

Plus, it’d mean sharing the real taste of the common food they’ve been looking down on.

“Those noble folks have probably never tasted such spicy flavors… heh heh…”

As I piled seasonings and spices into the dish, I couldn’t help but smile wickedly.

*

Thus began lunchtime.

Having informed Rusika and Haidiera in advance, I stood alone in front of the nobles’ garden.

Usually, when I wandered alone, I didn’t draw any attention, but today felt a little different.

Whispers, murmurs.

Just standing idly at the entrance had nobles heading to the garden looking my way.

Moreover, those gathering here were daily witnesses to the cheap theatrics at the garden entrance.

Standing here alone without Tirisia made them uneasy enough to notice something amiss.

Feeling the stares as they passed by was quite uncomfortable…

While I awkwardly glanced at the girls’ dormitory for a while,

“Oh—ho ho ho! How bold of the commoner to lecherously eye the blossoms on the cliff!”

“Honestly, it’s lowering the garden’s dignity.”

“How dare they, completely oblivious to their place?”

Sure enough, the golden-haired lady appeared, flanked by nobles sporting high ponytails and bob cuts.

“Oh, you made it.”

I waved my hand nonchalantly to greet her.

“Daring to set foot in a noble’s garden as a commoner…oh dear?”

“…?”

Seldienne stepped closer, tilting her head with her cheek against her black fan.

“What is with that dazed expression standing there alone?”

“You told me to come here.”

“I meant where’s the noble kid you’re always trailing around!”

“Tirisia isn’t here. It’s just me.”

“What do you mean…?”

I simply shrugged and delivered the plain truth.

“I’ve been eating lunch separately for a while. She’s been a bit busy.”

“Huh…?”

Her crimson eyes narrowed amidst the golden curls.

“So you’ve been eating separately from Bruerd?”

“Is this the first time you’re hearing about it…?”

The guards flanking her covered their mouths, whispering to Seldienne.

“So, that’s why you haven’t been around here these past few days…?”

“Of course! I’ve been off elsewhere. Did you think I was intentionally ignoring you? Seldienne.”

“I-ignore you?! Who would think something so trivial?!”

With her pride pricked, Seldienne covered her mouth with the fan.

Immediately, her support on either side rushed to back her up.

“You shouldn’t refer to Elconja so casually!”

“Honestly, such beasts have no sense of decorum!”

“I’m just standing here, why are you guys acting like this?”

“Y-you guys?!”

“How rude!”

As I apathetically took in the fiery gazes of her guards, Seldienne clapped her fan in her palm and said.

“Ah, um, Miu, Jury? I need to hear out this commoner’s story for a moment. Just let them refer to me however they wish; it’s not like they’ll speak sweetly to begin with. Do you understand?”

“Y-yes! Elconja!”

“We’ll remain silent until granted permission!”

After silencing the two, Seldienne looked at me suspiciously and asked.

“So, you mean you haven’t shown your face in the garden these past few days, which has nothing to do with this Elconja, is that correct?”

“Of course not. Do you thought I’d be avoiding you? Why would I?”

Seldienne, raising an eyebrow in surprise, propped her chin against her fan and laughed.

“Hmph! How unfortunate! I thought I wouldn’t have to see the face of some lowly commoner in this garden anymore! Oh—ho ho ho!”

“Ah, I could make that happen right now. Since Tirisia isn’t here, it’s not like it matters where I eat.”

“Huh?”

“Anyway, if the misunderstanding’s all cleared up, I’ll just be on my way now, okay? We’re done talking, right?”

As I turned to leave the garden, a panicked voice called from behind.

“Y-you can’t just leave! You haven’t been granted permission yet!”

“I don’t think permission’s really necessary, right?”

As I stepped forward, suddenly, bam!

A huge golden wall fell in front of me.

Elconja family’s vision. Crystal magic.

“Ugh…”

Blocked physically by the bully, I sighed and turned back around.

There, Seldienne was pointing at me with an animated expression, her fan raised.

“What’s the meaning of this?”

As I tapped the crystal wall lightly, Seldienne cleared her throat awkwardly.

“Ah, ahem! Excuse me! It’s not about permission; I still have things I want to hear from you!”

“Like what?”

“…Just wait a moment. Miu, Jury? Over here.”

Seldienne turned her back to me and huddled her subordinates together, whispering something.

“Wha—really?!”

“I-I suppose if that’s what Elconja desires…”

Going by their reactions, it seemed she had proposed something shocking.

After the brief meeting, the trio arranged themselves and stood before me once again.

“Well.”

Seldienne cleared her throat and pointed with her fan at me.

“You mentioned that since Bruerd isn’t around, you’d be having to eat alone? Commoner?”

“Yeah. I’ve been eating with someone else lately, though.”

“Huh? What do you mean… no, that’s not it! Today, you definitely aren’t alone, are you?”

“Right, today, I’m really going to eat alone.”

Seeing my single status seemed to delight Seldienne, erupting in villainous laughter.

“Oh—ho ho ho! Great! Then specially for today, to satisfy my curiosity, I’ll permit myself to join you at your table!”

“Huh? Is that really okay?”

Since this was within my expectations, I didn’t hesitate to bite the bait.

Revealing a hopeful look had Seldienne’s smile stretching wide.

“Of course, of course! Think of it as an honor to dine face-to-face with this Elconja! I’m bowing down to your graciousness! Oh—ho ho ho!”

“Thanks! Let’s head in then!”

Cheerfully making my way into the garden, Seldienne followed behind me smiling, along with her subordinates.

“Are you that excited to be seated with me? Such greed from a commoner! Ho ho! How unbecoming!”

For some reason, Seldienne was oddly cheerful, but I felt bad because my expectations lay in a completely different area.

She wouldn’t see it from behind, but a wicked grin was plastered on my face.

So far, everything was going smoothly as planned.

Now it was time to repay all the ridicule I’d endured before.

Brace yourselves. Seldienne, Miu, Jury.

In front of everyone, I’ll make sure to leave you all in tears.

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