Some students had already achieved at least minimal academic accomplishments before entering the academy, while others had not. Some were dissatisfied with their grades, while others were not. Of course, there were also students who had no complaints about their grades. Students from families where graduating alone brought honor did not care much about their rank.

And even the top-ranking student had no particular thoughts about their grades.

“Dalli, there’s your name over there. You worried, but your grades are good.”

“I feel embarrassed hearing that from you, Megi. You’re the 1st place.”

Idalia responded modestly to Megara’s gentle comment. This time, the result was attached to a trivial quiz, but it was better than having bad grades.

“You were just lucky this time.”

Megara also replied quietly. Idalia was impressed by her gentle and refined response. How could she keep such a calm face? Anyway, everyone knew who the top student in the entire grade was.

The academy liked to foster competition among students. According to the regulations, all teachers always made students’ grades and ranks public.
And in the past first semester, the person who took the first place in both the grades for the mandatory subjects that all first-year students must take and the overall average was Nerys Trude.

Idalia had received considerable education from her family tutor even before entering the academy. And as she attended school classes, she secretly gained confidence in her already acquired knowledge.

However, even if the evaluation test immediately after admission was understandable, there were still students who consistently outperformed her afterward, which was somewhat discouraging.

She couldn’t admit it to herself, but such thoughts kept popping up in her mind. Shouldn’t there be a distinction between herself, who had read assigned books until the day before the admission, and the kids who played with sheep and goats in the fields before entering?

Megara’s grades being better didn’t matter as she was exceptionally talented. But what about Nerys?

She probably had a similar thought, even if she didn’t say it.

The more Idalia thought about it, the more she realized that something was ‘unfair.’ Nerys had mentioned that she didn’t have a family tutor right after admission. Wasn’t that strange?

Considering it was something she learned from a small village priest, there should have been limits. But in reality, did she learn some tricks from someone else?

If such a thing really happened, it was not right. All students were paying the same tuition and attending the school.

Sociology teacher Kyung, who openly favored Nerys, and according to Megara’s testimony, Professor Voltaire, a famous diplomat, seemed to be the same.

Otherwise, how could such an –

Idalia didn’t deeply ponder what ‘such’ meant – Idalia didn’t think about it.

Especially what Idalia was concerned about was the relationship between Nerys and Nellusion.

She knew that the two were cousins. But being cousins to the extent of having different last names was practically the same as being strangers in noble society. After all, if most traced their lineage, they would end up being relatives.

Still, Nerys approaching Nellusion and striking up a conversation was occasionally caught by Idalia’s eyes.

Honestly, Nerys didn’t look bad. Idalia knew that there were kids who said she was quite pretty.

Her calm demeanor and platinum blonde hair, despite her poor background, helped her enter the upper-class social circles, and even though her clothes were simple, they were neat. Although her temperament was cool, some boys who took it as a challenge had occasionally talked about Nerys.

Nellusion would naturally consider conditions before marrying, being the only legitimate heir of a duke.

Mature Idalia knew that fact well. After a few notable noble youths had checked and rejected marriage proposals with the Elendria family, it was her turn to come up. But she believed that there was something she could do to raise her rank at her turn, and she had no doubt about that.
Beauty, refinement, and the ability to take care of subordinates as the mistress of a vast duke’s estate. Where would a husband who doesn’t desire such things in his fiancée be found?

Although she was too embarrassed to tell anyone, Idalia sometimes indulged in fantasies.

It was mainly about Nellusion recognizing herself, who had grown dazzlingly like the present Natasha Gruenwald after a few more years. Honestly, there was no reason why that wouldn’t happen.

“At least I should be able to do better than Nerys.”

No matter how intelligent she was, to become the mistress who manages large estates, real experience was needed. Experience of watching parents govern numerous territories, tenants, and castles from an early age.

Idalia didn’t dislike Nerys. She just thought it was unfair if Nerys received more than she rightfully deserved.

Megara smiled when she saw Idalia lost in thought. That cute smile was so lovely that Idalia thought it should be preserved in a painting. Smiling back at the kind girl who had subtly revealed that she had no intention of competing with her for friends and guys, Idalia let her thoughts out.

Who cares about being first? A kind person doesn’t obsess over rankings.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spring, which had shed the traces of winter, was a time when the buds were in full bloom.

Sheldon decorated the social studies classroom brightly with spring flowers. Delicate flowers such as daffodils, snowdrops, primroses, and windflowers were tied together in a precisely pleasing form, emitting a sweet fragrance like a sigh.

“It’s not necessary for only big flowers carefully grown by gardeners to become centerpieces.”

Sheldon proudly stated. The first-year students looked curiously at the beautiful bouquets made of flowers that had bloomed haphazardly on the street.

“In winter, you only see a few types of flowers grown in the greenhouse, so adding uniqueness to your table with wildflowers during this season is also nice.”

Listening to Sheldon’s words, Nerys realized without seeing any malicious expressions from the other students at the same table. The warm glances and sharp gazes were so familiar to her, like the air.

At another table, Lianon, sitting at this table, sneered, knowing that they wouldn’t be accepted at other tables.

“Did you win it?”

Despite being one of the officially established systems by the academy, nobility students considered the labor scholarship system, which helped teachers and earned a small amount of money, vulgar. What was different if they earned money by physical labor? After all, nobles had to live with their lands and taxes.

Moreover, even though Nerys Trude was taking a lot of advanced classes, no 1st-year student was unaware that she was also working as a labor scholarship student.
The comment that the flowers were undoubtedly picked by you and the sarcastic remark that there would be no difference between you and a farmhand working in an orchard, enjoying menial labor like you, were anything but refined. Nerys didn’t pretend to care in the first place, and Lianon was furious.

“Do you ignore what people say? You’re really something. Are you not ashamed?”

“Well, you only see what you want to see.”

Diane, who hadn’t heard, tossed out cynically.

Diane was well aware that Nerys had refused the proposal to fully cover her living expenses and allowance until she graduated, even suggesting to send a maid, let alone a housekeeper.

Although it was disappointing, honestly, the fact that Nerys didn’t boast about her actions, according to the expression of the noblebrother, was somewhat prideful.

But to spout childish nonsense without knowing anything.

Diane’s attitude felt oppressively unbearable to Lianon. A girl from a baseless family! When fire sparked in Lianon’s eyes, Alekto spoke sharply.

“Quiet down, Nona. It’s because of your behavior that even Nerys Trude is being ignored.”