Neris couldn’t resist Idalia. Idalia, who smiled once more at Neris, who didn’t speak for fear that Idalia might be uncomfortable hearing her voice and simply nodded, quickly returned to her friends.

Riding in the unfamiliar carriage of the Elendria family and leaving the Noble Academy forever, Neris opened Idalia’s letter.

[To Neris. Smart Neris, during school, I actually wanted to get closer to you. But Megara hated it so much that I couldn’t. I heard you were adopted by the Elendria Ducal House. Congratulations. Let’s say hello with a smile next time we meet. Idalia.]

So, Neris knew she wasn’t good at judging people. She was also aware that she was inexperienced in reading the intentions behind people’s words.

It was natural. Such knowledge is gained through various experiences. However, even such Neris could understand that Idalia’s words were strange.

She couldn’t get close to Neris because Megara hated it?

It was only natural that no one could resist Megara’s words. But even in places where Megara couldn’t see, the children were cruel to Neris.

Idalia also behaved as if Neris wasn’t visible even in places where no one else was. So, if she had decided to continue acting like Neris was invisible, wouldn’t that be enough?

Why reveal such circumstances in a letter?

It would have been better if Megara’s name hadn’t been mentioned. But at that time, Neris felt like she had seen Idalia’s true face, worried that everyone was too kind to her.

Lady Kendall was so obsessed with her kindness that she explained even to a child who had turned away from herself, claiming that the reason for her turning away was someone else. It was embarrassing, but the letter didn’t make Neris harbor such intense resentment toward Idalia. It only made her think that Idalia might not be as pure and kind as her reputation suggests.
The reason Neris truly came to dislike Idalia was an incident that occurred shortly after entering the social circle.

Natasha Grennehals was Abelus’s lover until her mid-20s. They had been dating for a long time, and as the cherished daughter of a duke, everyone thought they would soon hear news of their marriage.

However, unexpectedly, secret talks began between the Elendria family and the royal family, and Natasha noticed the existence of Neris Elendria, this tiny and unattractive junior, for the first time.

Neris was not unaware of such circumstances. Since the Natasha and Abelus couple were famous from school, Neris thought she could never replace Natasha, with her stunning ginger hair.

However, if the Elendria family, or rather, Nellusion, needed her, who had nowhere else to go, she had to do anything. Neris blamed her shameless self hundreds of times but still complied with the secret talks.

It was around that time that Idalia called Neris.

[Natasha unnie wants to talk to you. I don’t dare to interfere, but if you want, please come with me. I’ll be there too, so don’t worry.]

Now, looking back, that letter was suspicious from the beginning. However, at that time, Neris was extremely tired. Even if Natasha cursed her, she thought there was nothing she could do.

The promised place was an old mansion in a remote location. It wasn’t a place that high-ranking nobles would choose as a meeting place, but Neris entered the mansion as the guide directed, without any suspicion.

And she was kidnapped in a place that seemed like a reception room.

The culprit was Yustas Grennehals, who revered his one and only sister.

The next duke Grennehals, who was no more personal resentment to Neris than anyone else, quickly took action when he judged that the girl, who he believed would someday rise to a higher position than anyone else, had been hurt by a girl who had come rolling in from somewhere.

Unlike his pretty face and sophisticated behavior, Natasha had a cruel disposition. In the plan to feed Neris the venom that Yustas couldn’t tell her and sell her as a slave, Natasha’s taste was probably quite involved.

Fortunately, Neris, using her wit, managed to escape from the situation, but the Duke of Elendria criticized his daughter for her lack of caution regarding the failed plan.

After learning that the plan had failed, Idalia continued to send letters, saying that there seemed to be some misunderstanding with Neris. Although Neris did not reply to the letters, she had to meet this popular viscount’s daughter somewhere.

Finally, at a party, Idalia grabbed Neris’s hand tightly and apologized with moist eyes in a place without people.

“I really didn’t know, Neris. I don’t know how surprised I was later. Natasha unnie, doing that… How was it resolved back then? Did Nellusion oppa come?”

Looking at Idalia’s eyes that sparkled at the last question, Neris felt like she had finally grasped her true self.

Idalia knew everything. About Neris being deeply involved with Nellusion.

And Nellusion also occasionally showed favor to her, to the extent that she could at least be mistaken for a fool.

Natasha didn’t know that? Did she really not know?

Among high-ranking nobles who frequently interacted within the family, it was very difficult to not know each other’s true personalities. Perhaps even Natasha, who was older, might have guessed Idalia’s hypocritical nature.

So, Idalia chose her as the one to call upon, revealing the prey but choosing Idalia as the silent accomplice.
Now that she had a new opportunity, Neris planned to not forget to greet Idalia about that incident.

The method used for Angalad, Lianon, and Alekto was of no use. And it wasn’t necessary to go that far. Just,

“I haven’t forgotten. That’s all.”

Anyway, it was difficult for the viscount’s daughter to suddenly face an awkward situation at school, no matter what reputation she made. At least, for the current Neris with no power, there was no such option.

However,

“It doesn’t mean others are powerless.”