Valentin momentarily didn’t recognize the impertinent, bold blonde girl who dared to address her older brother’s name familiarly as she approached. With a pale platinum blonde, she resembled the portrait in the mansion gallery, and from her physical features, Valentin could identify her, but the Neris Trude in Valentin’s mind shouldn’t look ‘like that’—not so dignified and elegant.

Last spring, the Neris Valentin had seen was truly despicable. Ignorant of refined manners, pathetically thin, and shabbily dressed. Well, what could one expect from the child of a lower-ranking knight, probably rolled in from somewhere.

However, what had changed beyond recognition in a year?

Did she learn manners at school? Ha, infiltrating a school where nobles attend, did she also learn to mimic nobility? Strictly speaking, Neris was a noble, and the dignity evident in her behavior was certainly not something she could learn in the lower-grade classes of the academy.

But Valentin wasn’t someone who deeply contemplated, and she didn’t need a reason to be harsh on someone she didn’t like.

Therefore, Valentin could easily realize the fact that she really, truly hated Neris Trude.

“Neris Trude?”

Valentin squinted her eyes, looking at Neris, who was standing next to Nellucian, bowing to Abelus and Nellucian before responding to Valentin.

“At school, we call seniors ‘senpai’; it’s a rule, Miss Elendria.”

Elendria.

In Neris’s words, there was no hint of the awe that people usually felt when pronouncing ‘Elendria.’

Valentin blushed bright red.

“How dare you…”

Who dared to dictate rules?

Just as Valentin was about to lose her temper, Nellucian, with a smile, intercepted her sister’s indiscretion.

“What Neris said is right, Valen. What’s wrong with calling her senior? Rules are meant to be followed by everyone, isn’t that right, brother? Shall I make it difficult for you, brother?”

The rules were set by the student council. So, if Valentin ignored the rules in front of the prince, even Nellucian’s position could become awkward.

And, under these countless noble boys, what good would it do for Valentin to give the impression of being unruly? Especially to Abelus.

Calculating all this in a moment, Valentin closed her mouth after quickly glancing at Nellucian, who spoke promptly. With an appropriate innocent expression on her face, she said,

“I’ve met Neris senpai already last year, so I unintentionally called her by name. Do you remember, senpai? You visited our house to borrow money, right?” It meant, ‘Remember, you came to our house to borrow money?’ Only Nellucian siblings and Neris in this place could understand the meaning.
This time, Valentin seemed to know her own topic. With that thought, Valentin winked at Neris, smiling broadly. To those who were unaware of the situation, it appeared as an innocent gesture.

Nellucian felt awkward. He hoped that Neris wouldn’t hold any grudges against his family. However, despite clearly explaining it before the start of the semester, her naive attitude was unexpected. Valentin had a premonition that she would be a headache because of Valentin.

Neris responded to Valentin’s energetic gaze with an indifferent look and then offered a soft, mature smile, as if from a painting.

“Yeah, that’s right. Miss Elendria is still adorable.”

Although it was a simple compliment, Valentin, who heard those words, was still irritated.

Even though Valentin didn’t hear the praise of being clever, it was because there were too many smart people around her.

She was the owner of ordinary intuition and reasoning, so she could at least sense when someone was ignoring her.

And the ‘beggar girl’ in front of her was undoubtedly ignoring her.

Valentin herself couldn’t understand why she felt this way. The look? Posture? Tone?

Externally, Neris’s response had no flaws. But why did it feel so unpleasant? And…

If such an expression were possible, ‘creepy.’

Nellucian, who was concerned that Valentin might make another slip of the tongue in this corridor, decided to fill the silence with a conversation with Neris. He spoke in a gentle tone.

“Neris, you also call me brother. Call Valen by her name too. Valen always wanted to have an older sister like you. I think having a sister like you would be a good influence.”

Sister? Valentin, who had just been thinking, forgot everything. However, behind Valentin, who was about to object, Delma whispered.

“Really, it’s just as he says, Miss.”

“What?”

Valentin, who was about to say something, looked at Nellucian’s face as he spoke to Neris. And the faces of the upperclassmen who were gathered around, watching this side with amusement.

Valentin trusted Delma. To what extent? In fact, more than her own blood relatives.

Family members sometimes said things like ‘follow the etiquette,’ as Nellucian did a while ago, but Delma’s hope was always Valentin’s priority.

‘As Lord says.’

After calming her stirred emotions for a moment, Valentin had one plan in her mind.

Right! Delma’s words were definitely correct. It was better to do as Nellucian instructed for now.