Valentin laughed quietly, revealing the relaxation befitting a high noble.

“Brother always treats me like a child. Anyway, after hearing it, brother is right. Call me comfortably, Senpai Neris. Since we’re relatives. Come to our dorm often and have dinner.”
If Valentin’s attitude seemed childish and arrogant just a moment ago, the current words she spoke changed the perception of the upperclassmen about her.

Admitting mistakes quickly and even saying cute things, she appeared as a likable, still very young girl.

Nellucian felt satisfied, sensitively detecting the change in her gaze. Neris, despite Valentin’s friendly tone, responded calmly without changing her expression.

“Yeah, thanks. You can call me ‘unni’ too.”

Abelus wasn’t interested in the etiquette education of the Elendria family. Moreover, he had no interest in the issue of addressing between Neris and Valentin. When the conversation got long, he showed a bored expression and said,

“Sorry, but I have something to attend to now. Valentin, have a good time with my brother. Listen well in class and study hard.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Thank you for your kind words!”

Valentin responded warmly and cheerfully to Abelus. Abelus left for the next class, showing a hint of boredom as the others dispersed.

In fact, it was time for everyone to disband to move to the next class. Realizing this fact, Nellucian, who had noticed it, quickly spoke to Neris.

“Neris, there was something I wanted to tell you. Of course, I should have gotten your agreement first, but I did something on my own because I thought you might feel sorry for no reason.”

“What is it, Nell Oppa?”

Neris blinked as if surprised. Nellucian, comparing her calm and quiet attitude that seemed even more admirable than his troublesome younger sister, felt a bit regretful.

If Valentin were this kind, how nice would it be? Of course, in terms of true value, the two were incomparable, but…

“You’re still young, and it seems difficult for you to live alone at school. I’m thinking of sending a maid to help you with your daily life.”

“A maid?”

Neris made a bewildered expression. She hesitated, unsure of how to convey this.

“I… In my room… there’s no space for a maid. My room is very small, and there’s only one bed.”

He had already thought about that part. Nellucian reassured her with a smile.

“Don’t worry if that’s the issue. Isabelle will come to our dormitory to sleep at night and take care of your life between morning and evening.”

Nellucian even considered changing Neris’s dormitory room. However, there was no need to start off with a negative impression of her habits, so that plan was rejected.

Living according to her own position most of the time, experiencing the luxurious life of a high noble only through him occasionally, how much sweeter would that be for that young girl?

Valentin, who had been listening, stepped forward.

“It’s a good suggestion. Don’t refuse, Unni. If people hear that someone from the Elendria family is living without a maid, what would they say?”

In Valentin’s last sentence, a subtle disdain was evident, felt only by those standing nearby.
Nellucian didn’t scold his younger sister since he knew she had, in her own way, provided some support. In the end, Neris smiled and greeted him.

“Thank you, Nell Oppa.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Isabel.

Nellucian’s suggestion was transparent. In aristocratic society, subtly inserting one’s own person under the guise of caring for others was not an uncommon method.

Neris, who had initially intended to refuse, changed her plans upon hearing the name. She couldn’t miss this opportunity.

It was about the time when Neris had been adopted into the Elendria family in her past life. Despite being named a daughter, everyone knew her treatment was worse than that of some maids.

Some believed that observing the master’s wishes and fulfilling them in advance was a clever thing to do. Initially, it was just bringing cold water after everyone else had finished using warm water in the morning.

Due to the long-time bullying, Neris didn’t know how to demand the treatment she deserved from others.

After she fetched water from the well and washed herself once, water never came again.

Meals that used to be served late became meals that never came.

Clothes with holes that weren’t patched disappeared as they were.

The fireplace with dwindling firewood turned into an extinguished fireplace.

Neris’s living conditions deteriorated gradually. If Nellucian, who happened to visit her room one day, hadn’t said anything, Neris would have either starved or frozen to death.

Behind the insolent behavior of the servants were, of course, Valentin and the Duchess. However, among the servants, especially one who took the lead in mistreating Neris, was Isabel, Neris’s personal maid.

Isabel’s father, like Neris’s father, was a low-ranking knight, but due to financial reasons, she couldn’t attend the academy. However, Isabel was an ambitious woman.

Considering herself unlucky to become a duke’s daughter, she couldn’t bear the fact that Neris, who was the daughter of a lower-ranking knight like her, had become a Duchess.

Partly to please Valentin and partly due to her personal feelings, whenever she had the chance, Isabel spared no effort to make Neris miserable.

“Tea? What tea are you talking about, Miss? Do you even know how to drink it? Just fetch your own water. Stop bothering people.”

“Holes in your clothes? I can’t see any. Stop talking nonsense and just wear them. They’re much better than the clothes you were wearing on the day you first came to this house anyway.”

“I heard the Miss is smart, but is everything just a lie? If you’re cold, you should say so. How about protesting in front of Master Nellucian that there’s no firewood? Do that if you like.”

“Do you know what people like us are called in such situations? Stupid. They call us stupid. Don’t get mad. Did I say the Miss is stupid?”
Contempt for her origins, mockery, and gossip. Isabel had worked so hard that Valentin soon noticed her efforts.

“Well, perhaps…”

Since the day the Duchess’s jewelry was found in Neris’s room.

Given her reputation as a long-time thief at school, nobody believed Neris’s claim that she didn’t know why those items were in her room.

The Duchess decided to correct Neris’s deeply ingrained habits and brought scissors to cut Neris’s hair.

Similar to the gold coin incident in her first year, Neris didn’t exactly know who had placed the jewelry in her room. However, she was aware that it happened around the time Isabel began to receive Valentin’s favor.

On the first day when Neris, with her messy hair, didn’t know what to do, it was another maid who brought her a comb. Soon, sightings of Isabel accompanying Valentin became a common occurrence.

Isabel had to learn how to properly serve her mistress. Even Valentin, who had enjoyed Isabel’s favors, didn’t acknowledge Neris’s loyalty? He had called her a “raised dog” until the end.

So, what harm would it do if Neris taught a little about how to serve a mistress?