The Price is Everything of Yours (76 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 16
The children’s eyes turned to Neris this time, locking onto her. Neris gave a faint, knowing smile.
“Of course. I was just wondering when I should bring it up.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Megara became flustered.
Diane narrowed her eyes in disbelief. Misunderstanding? Hardly—Neris’s intention was blatantly obvious.
It was true that Neris had left her seat during the basic magic lesson—but she claimed it was only to use the restroom.
Everyone had been completely absorbed in their practical exercises; who would have paid attention to what Neris was doing at that moment?
Mrs. Graham watched Neris quietly. In Mrs. Graham’s eyes, Angharad—already having caused trouble once before over theft—naturally seemed more suspicious than the ever-poised Neris.
Besides, if Neris were truly the culprit, she probably wouldn’t be able to act so calmly after being directly accused like this.
But she couldn’t just let it go unverified. An item of immense value had vanished—if nothing turned up, they might genuinely have to inspect everyone’s belongings.
Mrs. Graham first met Angharad’s gaze. Angharad, who had been staring fixedly at Neris with tear-washed eyes, blinked when her eyes met Mrs. Graham’s. Her expression was genuinely aggrieved.
Considering the social standing of the two girls, it was clear whom to question first. Mrs. Graham spoke gently to Neris.
“Bring all your belongings forward, Neris. Everyone else, close your eyes.”
Neris obeyed without hesitation. Watching her small, slender frame confidently carry everything—from her practice robes to her bag—Mrs. Graham, who rarely spoke with Neris, found herself quietly impressed.
This child possessed not only exceptional innate magical capacity and strong practical aptitude, but also remarkable theoretical understanding—surpassing even most graduating students, let alone her juniors.
Among the faculty, it was often murmured that if her humble birth ever barred her from high society, they’d gladly keep her on as an instructor.
“Here you go, Mrs. Graham.”
Mrs. Graham thoroughly inspected Neris’s belongings. Her bag contained nothing but textbooks for advanced classes and writing tools.
Having also seen Neris completely empty her desk drawer, Mrs. Graham smiled without suspicion.
“Alright, go back to your seat.”
“Yes, Mrs. Graham.”
Neris gathered her things and returned to her place. Mrs. Graham then called Angharad in a noticeably heavier tone.
“Angharad, bring all your belongings forward as well. Everyone else, keep your eyes closed.”
Even with their eyes shut, the children could grasp the situation from the sounds alone. The atmosphere grew icy.
Megara’s lips twitched slightly, but no one noticed—everyone else kept their eyes closed, and those with their eyes open paid her no mind.
Angharad tried to step forward holding only her bag. Mrs. Graham carefully softened her voice so as not to frighten the girl.
“Everything. Bring everything, even what’s in your desk drawer.”
Angharad’s wide eyes shimmered with tears. She shuffled forward listlessly and mumbled as she held out her possessions.
“I… I didn’t do it.”
Didn’t do it? It wasn’t impossible—but highly unlikely.
For one, once class ended, students couldn’t roam the corridors without a teacher’s permit. This rule was enforced because dorm supervisors patrolled each building to catch unauthorized students—so it couldn’t have been someone from another class.
Servants? Those employed by the school or by students themselves moved more freely and could indeed walk the halls, but how would they dispose of a large emerald?
During practical sessions, everyone removed their accessories—so if someone wanted to steal, taking a cheap gold ring or silver button would be far more liquid and less risky.
Moreover, even if someone desperately needed money, how would they know whose drawer held such a treasure?
“I believe you, Angharad. Whatever happened, it was just a mistake—don’t be nervous.”
“No, I… I really didn’t do it!”
Angharad began sobbing again. Mrs. Graham examined her belongings, which seemed far more disorganized compared to Neris’s neat pack.
Most items revealed that Baron Nain wasn’t particularly wealthy—but also showed how much care he’d taken sending his only daughter far from home.
Amidst those trinkets, near the bottom of the bag, a bright golden gleam caught the eye.
Mrs. Graham sighed as she pulled out the emerald bracelet Rianon had described. Angharad’s eyes widened in shock.
“N-no! I really didn’t steal it, Teacher! How did that get in there? It wasn’t me!”
To the children listening intently, those words sounded like a confession.
Before Mrs. Graham could even give the order, Rianon snapped her eyes open and ground her teeth. Mrs. Graham sighed again.
If not her, then who? It wasn’t as if Neris would steal it and plant it in Angharad’s bag.
“For now… I’ll return this to Rianon. Angharad, stay behind after this class.”
All the children had already opened their eyes. Under their cold, piercing stares, Angharad froze like a statue.
Neris narrowed her eyes as she watched Angharad.
[This is the timeline separator]News of what happened in the freshman classroom spread through the entire school in an instant. For the rest of the day, students gossiped about what Angharad Nain had done. It seemed unlikely she’d recover her reputation for years.
Neris felt a surge of exhilaration—and then shame at herself for it.
This was the petty, underhanded result of scheming against a child. Stirring others to target someone she disliked—how was she any different from them?
But this time, Angharad had started it.
Lately, Neris had been pondering—not just over Cledwin’s words, but also what to do about Angharad going forward.
In her previous life, Angharad’s actions had deeply wounded her, but there’d been no proof regarding the missing gold coins. Perhaps it had been a misunderstanding.
Maybe it was time to let it go. She was just a child, after all. In this life, her mischief had been minor—just a few spiders, and even then, she’d trembled far more than Neris while secretly hiding them in her bag.
That was why Neris had paid closer attention to Angharad. When everyone removed their jewelry for today’s practical session, Neris hadn’t missed how Angharad openly stared at Rianon’s bracelet.
Angharad thought she was being discreet, but to Neris—who’d dealt with all kinds of cunning adults in her past life—her gaze had been painfully obvious.
Just to be sure, after Angharad left her seat and returned, Neris excused herself to the restroom and slipped back into the classroom.
There, she discovered the emerald bracelet boldly placed inside her own bag.
This time, it couldn’t possibly be a misunderstanding or mistake. Neris shoved the bracelet deep into the bottom of Angharad’s bag—
ensuring Angharad herself, with no reason to suspect her own bag, wouldn’t notice it among her other things, but that anyone conducting a search would find it easily.
The rest unfolded exactly as expected. Megara barely concealed her displeasure, Angharad sent desperate, pleading glances her way with a pale face, and the classmates displayed open contempt—all precisely as Neris had foreseen.
Was it truly Angharad who’d planted the gold coins in Neris’s belongings in her previous life?
That would remain forever unknown, though the method was strikingly similar.
Was it simply the girl’s nature—timid, yet ultimately drawn to wrongdoing?
But this was far from over. Plenty of worse culprits still remained.
“Other kids need to suffer too, for balance. Otherwise, you’d feel unjustly treated, wouldn’t you, Angharad?”
Pondering those words, Neris returned to her dorm room utterly exhausted. In the dining hall, Len had casually remarked as he passed by that she was lucky—unaware of the truth, he likely meant it as comfort, but Neris didn’t want to hear it.
Her room, reached after climbing a long, narrow staircase, was bathed in quiet twilight. This tiny space—containing only a bed, a desk, and a wardrobe—was the sole place where Neris could safely grieve. She’d once had a secret spot, but she doubted she could ever go there again.
Setting down her bag full of books, Neris sat on the bed and hugged her knees. Silence wrapped gently around her trembling shoulders.
Len had been right. Neris truly had been lucky today. If she hadn’t deliberately checked the classroom, it would have been over.
By choosing not to return Rianon’s bracelet to its rightful owner and instead planting it in Angharad’s bag, Neris Trude—who had once died and returned to life—had crossed a line.
A line of resolve: no matter the risk, no matter how wicked the deed, she would exact revenge.
“Bitch.”
Neris murmured words meant for no one—and yet for too many: Angharad Nain, Megara Rikeandros, Rianon Berta… and above all, herself—Neris Trude.
[This is the timeline separator]In the northeast of Karten lay a vast lake.
In spring when flowers bloomed, in summer when heat scorched the land, in autumn when leaves turned crimson, and in winter when the water froze—students flocked to the lakeshore to enjoy seasonal activities.
With its clear waters and picturesque surroundings, the lake became a cherished memory long after graduation. On fair days, teachers often led students outdoors for lessons.
Today was one such day.
Students attending etiquette class by the lakeshore blushed like flower petals, wrapped in soft woolen overcoats. Bold boys had already plucked blossoms to offer to girls they fancied.
“This flower resembles your eyes.”
As always when visiting the lakeshore, Megara already held more than three flowers.
The boy who’d picked the cornflower had genuinely tried to find one matching Megara’s eye color—but when the surroundings offered no suitable blooms, he reluctantly admitted defeat.
Megara accepted the somewhat purplish-looking flower and smiled with doll-like grace.
“Thank you, Albert. Are my eyes really this lovely color?”
“Y-yeah!”
When Megara took the cornflower, Albert Risham stammered in delight.
“Actually, your eyes are even prettier than this. You’re truly… truly…”
His passionate tone drew mischievous grins from the watching children.
Megara was popular with both boys and girls, so no one showed jealousy—not even though Albert, known for his thoughtfulness and kindness, was already favored by several girls.
Beside Megara, Aidalia smiled serenely.
As daughters of marquessate families, they often spent time together. To Aidalia, Megara could be stubborn and willful—but her virtues far outweighed her flaws.
Her doll-like face lit up the world whenever she smiled, and her connections reached deep into high society. Whatever Megara chose to become, she’d succeed—perhaps even marry into a ducal family.
Suddenly, Aidalia’s expression dimmed slightly.
She cared nothing for whether Megara charmed silly boys their age. Those boys were far beneath both Megara and herself; high nobles mingled only with their equals.
But the problem was that those true peers would naturally admire Megara too.
Though House Maindlant stood foremost among the Empire of Vista’s high nobility, people actually preferred House Elantria. The Maindlants were too distant and insular—and not descendants of the Three Heroes.
Thus, aside from the somewhat intimidating Crown Prince Abelus, the noble of highest status and charm fitting Megara’s age was Nelusion Elantria.
Aidalia feared—terrified—that Nelusion might come to like Megara.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
The male lead being so proud of his wife is honestly adorable, even when he gets jealous.
And the female lead is so elegant and beautiful—I can’t wait to see this scene illustrated
Haha, did the ML really just say that to the FL? He’s so cute when he gets a little jealous.
Can’t wait for next chapter
The ML is so considerate of his wife. He treats her with so much care and gentleness, even when she doesn’t say a word—he just understands her. He’s honestly so perfect, I can’t 😭
I really hope the FL can overcome these painful feelings soon. I can’t bear to watch her suffer this much. 💔