“If she’s so smart to memorize all the questions overnight, she probably just studied for the test. Do you two think the student council looks foolish? Did you think senior students would believe your words just because you dressed them up in any way? I guess I’ll have to take you two to reflect sincerely, Your Highness!”

Idalia, caught in panic, tried to say that she wasn’t the culprit, but Megara tightly held her hand, stopping her. Saying it now would be a complete confession.

Abelus had had enough of this.

Unlike Neris, Megara was not a figure who could be easily threatened. Although the situation was outlined vaguely, without evidence… Let it be.

“Nellusyon, where the hell are the test papers then?”

Ignoring the people in front of him as if they didn’t exist, Abelus asked out of curiosity. Normally, if there was something he didn’t know, he would ask Nellusyon for an answer, following his habit.

Nellusyon politely answered the question, not revealing any signs that he had already guessed there would be no test papers.

In fact, Nellusyon’s thoughts were not very objective. Nobles were, in any case, either distant or close relatives when traced through family lines.

Even if they claimed to respect Neris as a member of the Elendria family, everyone would burst into laughter. It was a fact that Nellusyon himself knew well.

However, he felt good when thinking of Neris as a member of the Elendria family. So, unconsciously, he pushed that aspect of aristocratic society aside.

“How about first checking Lord Lycantheiros and Lord Kendall’s dormitories, Your Excellency?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

As soon as Abelus nodded, the attendant who had searched Neris’s room earlier left the student council room.

Idalia wasn’t more surprised than she already was because she knew that there would be no test papers in her or Megara’s dormitory. However, the fact of being treated disrespectfully was everything.

“Meg…”

Megara was annoyed by Idalia’s eye signal, which seemed to say, ‘Do something.’ Like Abelus, Megara was completely fed up with the current situation. She had expected to see an interesting scene for once, but what in the world was happening now?
Earlier, Neris had said to Idalia, “Thanks to your concern, everything has been resolved.”

Idalia, this foolishness, I don’t know what scheme it got involved in… Well, if that’s what she wants. At this point, borrowing the time to say goodbye, even I could anticipate the outcome.

Megara’s face, looking at Idalia, suddenly calmed.

Idalia blinked her large pupils, staring intently at Megara’s face. A face that had become suddenly unfamiliar, soft, and unreadable like that of a stranger.

After a moment, Megara spoke.

“No need to search, Your Excellency. It can’t be anywhere… Actually, there’s something I need to confess.”

As the atmosphere gradually eased, the student council members, who were whispering to each other about how to handle the aftermath of this incident, fell silent. All eyes focused on Megara once again.

Megara looked at Abelus with a pitiful gaze that would make anyone’s heart ache.

Abelus, confused by her innocent and pitiful appearance, suddenly felt conflicted. How could such an apparently well-raised child like her do such a thing?

“What’s going on?”

Even his voice naturally softened. Natasha lit up a cigarette, and Nellusyon bit his tongue quietly. Nellusyon knew Natasha’s temperament very well.

‘It’s complicated.’

If he couldn’t leave this place now, Megara’s reputation would not be the only problem. But he couldn’t let that happen.

“Actually… last night, Idalia and I being together wasn’t a coincidence. Dallie was too scared, so I stayed with her.”

What?

Even the timid Idalia couldn’t utter those words as she had thought. While she was still struggling to speak, Megara confessed shamelessly.

“I didn’t need time to guess that the missing item was the test paper. Yes, it’s my fault. Dallie studies really hard, but her grades don’t come out as she wishes… So, she was upset. When Sheridon mentioned that you were going straight to the guard post last night, I saw her sending a messenger.”

Where does this woman dare to lie so shamelessly? Natasha wore an expression that revealed her suspicions. Megara, with tears in her eyes, looked up at Abelus.

In her pitiful appearance, the student council members felt sympathy. Her natural and pitiable attitude made it difficult to doubt her.

After all, she’s just a first-year student. But how could such a well-raised child do such a thing?

“When?”

Even Abelus’s voice naturally softened. Natasha lit up a cigarette, and Nellusyon bit his tongue quietly. Nellusyon knew Natasha’s temperament very well.

‘It’s complicated.’

If he couldn’t leave this place now, Megara’s reputation would not be the only problem. But he couldn’t let that happen.

“I never!”
“Tell me in detail what happened last night.”

“I, absolutely…! The truth is, it was Megara!”

Idalia, who felt as if those words were the last straw, opened her mouth, her tears streaming down. At that moment, Megara tightly held Idalia’s hand, just like before. To the extent that it surprised Idalia with pain.

Megara smiled at Idalia, who turned around. That smile, which seemed like a kind encouragement to others, conveyed a different meaning, but in this room, it was meant for Idalia alone.

Speaking recklessly might lead to consequences.

Even if he wasn’t as influential as Marquis Ricciandro, Viscount Kendall was still a member of the aristocracy. Regardless of how it turns out.

Idalia hesitated for a moment but ultimately asserted her innocence without yielding.

“It wasn’t me! It’s true! Yesterday, Megi asked me to lend her my servant, and she told me to find out about Neris’s dormitory! Megara said that! Megara had her place the test papers in Neris’s dormitory!”

Some people with impulsive personalities squinted their eyes, while those more cautious sighed inwardly. It didn’t look good for children from prestigious families to accuse each other, and judging by their attitudes, it seemed like Idalia had a stronger case.

Seeing the attention gathering around her, Idalia teared up.