Chapter 36

“Huhu, it seems many have attended this year as well.”

The interior of the lavishly decorated ballroom.

Academy executives seated at one of the tables looked on with satisfaction at the attendees mingling over the prepared feast.

Students as well as invited celebrities had all dressed to the nines.

Such a scene spread throughout the ballroom, making it impossible to be bored no matter where one looked.

“With support from the royal family, it’s only fitting that the venue be this grand. It’s truly fortunate that our efforts have paid off.”

“Speaking of which, I heard Mayor Herta Shi has also visited. Shouldn’t we go greet her?”

“If we go now, the crowd will be too thick to properly exchange greetings. Let’s wait until things settle down and stay here for now.”

The academy executives sipped their drinks with pride and composure.

Among them, a new executive savoring the meat served by waiters looked around the ballroom with anticipation.

“The heirs of the great families, descendants of heroes, disciples of legendary white mages… Seeing such rare faces, I can’t help but feel a bit excited.”

“What kind of excitement are you referring to?”

“The kind where I wonder if members of those rare families might show up. For example, if an Anderson heir were to come, wouldn’t it be great to establish a good relationship?”

The new executive glanced at the others, seeking agreement.

However, the reactions he received were far from what he expected.

“If it’s the Andersons… it’s better not to get your hopes up.”

“Not get my hopes up? Why is that?”

“Well, you only became an executive a month ago, so it’s understandable you wouldn’t know. About a year ago, something happened…”

He took a sip of his sweet wine before continuing, his expression bitter.

The new executive was visibly shocked by the unexpected turn of events.

“So, to summarize, the Anderson heiress led a bullying campaign and was expelled?”

“Yes, it was severe enough to warrant expulsion, something unprecedented in the academy’s history.”

“She bribed those around her, ordered her followers to use violence, and sometimes the threats escalated to life-threatening levels. Some teachers who noticed the bullying were too intimidated by her family to intervene…”

“My, that’s quite something.”

The new executive sighed in disbelief, his face now filled with the same unease as the others.

“Indeed, the academy couldn’t easily intervene with the Andersons. To decide on expulsion… it was practically the academy leaving a stain on the Anderson name. It’s surprising they made such a decision.”

“Well, it wasn’t an easy decision for us either. If it weren’t for Prince Walter’s strong stance…”

“Prince Walter? You mean the first heir of the Karia family?”

“Yes. When even the teachers were cowed by her tyranny, he stood firm and exposed her crimes in detail.”

The executives recounted the events of that time.

Prince Walter had submitted detailed evidence of all the heinous acts committed by the Anderson heiress and, with the support of his family, had her brought to trial.

Considering they were practically engaged, his actions could have had a devastating impact on his family. Yet, he chose to stand against injustice, even at the cost of his own interests. Truly a role model for all students.

“Well, what can I say?”

The new executive wore a regretful expression, prompting the others to smile wryly and sip their drinks.

The once tumultuous event had now become mere gossip.

“Anyway, it’s better not to expect the Andersons to attend this ball. From their perspective, they probably have no fondness left for our academy.”

“If anyone from their family were to come, it would likely be another heir. Surely the expelled heiress wouldn’t have the audacity to show up here?”

“If she did, it would be quite troublesome for us. The royal family’s support for this ball would be tarnished.”

Even if she was once a student here, someone expelled in disgrace shouldn’t be allowed back.

As they wrapped up their conversation and continued drinking, the executives’ attention shifted to the ballroom entrance.

-Commotion.

A crowd had gathered at the entrance.

Their behavior suggested something extraordinary was happening.

“Something’s causing a stir over there. Could it be a royal family member visiting?”

“I did hear they were scheduled to visit…”

The executives, now on edge, turned their attention to the commotion.

What they saw was a mix of confusion and chaos, hardly positive emotions.

The reason became clear as a woman emerged from the crowd.

“The Anderson heiress…?”

Yes, it was Jeremiah Anderson.

The woman who had caused an unforgettable incident at the academy and was ultimately expelled.

Against all expectations, she was now boldly striding through the center of the ballroom.

“Oh my, what on earth is the Anderson heiress doing here…?”

“Shouldn’t we take action? An expelled student returning to the academy’s ball…”

“Today, invited guests can bring external attendees, so it’s not entirely impossible. At least it doesn’t violate any rules.”

“Even so, for the academy to send her an invitation… We might need to hold the responsible parties accountable…”

From their perspective, her visit was anything but welcome.

As they watched her with discontent, their initial hostility began to fade.

She was undoubtedly a stain on the academy’s reputation, someone who could ruin the ball’s atmosphere…

But they found themselves momentarily forgetting that fact, captivated by her charm.

“…She’s beautiful.”

“Yes, incredibly…”

Entranced, their unfiltered thoughts slipped out.

Her understated yet refined makeup and hairstyle, paired with a white dress, exuded a pure charm that made it hard to believe she was the villainess behind such heinous acts.

Yes, if one didn’t know she was Jeremiah, anyone would think…

She was the purest and most beautiful person in the room, someone who deserved to be loved by all.

“Really, I just can’t understand it.”

As such thoughts began to overshadow her true nature, one executive finally snapped out of it and voiced his frustration.

Another executive, clearing his throat to shake off the spell, chimed in.

“Well, she might have put effort into her appearance, but it’s still hard to fathom. How does she have the nerve to show up here…?”

“No, not that.”

The executive quickly corrected himself, voicing a different concern.

“Rumors say she did all those things to keep a student away from her fiancé, Prince Karia.”

“…To keep a student away from her fiancé?”

“Yes, apparently it was a student admitted through a special scholarship program…”

The special scholarship was a system designed to support talented students, often from commoner backgrounds.

Though treated as valuable talents by the academy, students from noble families often looked down on scholarship recipients.

Naturally, if a commoner student showed interest in her fiancé, it would be expected for her to take action.

Yet, her fiancé, Prince Karia, sided with the commoner student and ultimately exposed her crimes.

“Even if she committed injustices, to break off an engagement with such a charming lady…”

“Well, it just shows how much Prince Karia couldn’t tolerate injustice.”

“But still, couldn’t there have been a better way than exposing her…?”

Perhaps it was because the notorious figure had shown up with unexpected charm, but the executives’ gazes began to reflect their doubts about the incident.

However, even those doubts were swept away by a sudden commotion nearby.

“Something seems to be troubling you.”

“P-Prince Walter!?”

Interrupting their conversation was Walter Karia, a student at the academy but someone they had to show respect to.

Seeing his furrowed brow, the executives realized their mistake and began to stammer, trying to gauge his mood.

“W-well, you see, Prince Walter. We were just discussing…”

“By the way, I just heard that members of the royal family have arrived at the ball. Shouldn’t the board go greet them?”

“Ah, yes. Th-thank you for letting us know.”

“W-we should go greet them. Let’s get going.”

Hurriedly covering up their previous conversation, the executives quickly stood and left.

Meanwhile, Walter watched their retreating figures with disdain before turning his gaze to a certain spot in the ballroom.

‘Jeremiah Anderson…’

To him, she was the most despicable existence imaginable.

Though everyone else was captivated by her appearance, all Walter felt was intense disgust and revulsion.

To him, she was the enemy who had tried to destroy the hope he had painstakingly found.

“Prince Walter!!”

And that hope had just arrived.

Hearing the voice, Walter turned to face the woman approaching him.

A woman as noble and pure as the clothes she wore, a beacon of hope in his otherwise bleak life.

“Here you are, Prince Walter! I wore what you asked!”

Nenya Silvestain.

Calling her name, Walter greeted her with a warm smile.

“That’s right, Nenya. You wore it just as I asked.”

“Hehe, of course I’d wear the dress you gave me~”

Her smile was as innocent as a child’s.

To Walter, the word ‘purity’ must have been created just for her.

Not for that vile woman in white who had tried to tarnish everything.

“But it’s noisy over there. Did someone famous arrive?”

As her attention started to drift toward the commotion, Walter placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

“…Prince Walter?”

“Don’t worry about that. Let’s go this way. There are many people I want to introduce you to.”

Guiding her in a different direction, Walter led her away.

Nenya, looking at him with slight confusion, nodded and followed his lead.

“Yes, let’s go that way.”

Yes, she was pure.

And to protect that purity, he couldn’t let her near that woman.

With that resolve, Walter walked away with his chosen future companion.

‘Did I just see Mr. Sebastian…?’

Unaware that the woman he wanted to protect from corruption…

Was now thinking of the follower of the very woman he despised.