The Price is Everything of Yours (76 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 6
It was an absurd accusation.
Neris had excellent grades even as a “true” first-year student. Since childhood, she had loved books, enabling her to recite numerous biblical passages fluently in both Sacred Tongue and the common language, and she knew far more than most.
Though she hadn’t ranked first then—still unfamiliar with noble customs—she had nevertheless placed far higher than Rianon.
Neris folded her arms calmly.
Her ice-clear eyes captivated several onlookers. Even those unaffected found themselves awed: despite hailing from an obscure, unnamed house, this impeccably mannered girl radiated such high-born dignity—perhaps even imperial grace—that it was impossible not to admire her.
“My family isn’t wealthy enough to afford a private tutor. My father passed away when I was very young, and even my school tuition is paid for by relatives on my behalf—how could I possibly hire a tutor? Unlike you, granddaughter of a count.”
Hearing this logical reply, Rianon sneered and pressed further, clearly irritated that Neris remained unfazed despite knowing Rianon’s “superior” status.
“Then how did you score so well on the exam? Surely not through your own ability? If what you say is true, you’ve never even received proper education—right?”
“The priest in my village owned many books, and from him I even learned basic Sacred Tongue.”
Since most nations on the continent, including the Empire of Vista, used languages derived from the Sacred Tongue, knowing it made learning foreign languages much easier. Those who understood this fact nodded in acceptance.
Though Rianon’s academic performance was poor, she was shrewder than Neris at reading the room. As Rianon fell silent and stepped back, Megara’s eyes narrowed.
This time, Megara delivered a brief assessment.
“With just that? Then you’re even more impressive.”
Though her words sounded complimentary, everyone present noticed the sudden chill in Megara’s lovely face.
In truth, Megara had disliked Neris Trude since the opening ceremony—and the children gathered around this celebrated heiress, eager to curry favor, knew it well.
“Now, everyone, please return to your seats.”
Sir Sheridan, the etiquette instructor, entered the auditorium. The students obediently dispersed, sitting together in newly formed cliques.
Yet many eyes remained fixed on Neris—most with goodwill, though a few brimmed with contempt.
Sir Sheridan held a schedule in hand. He called out each student’s name in alphabetical order, and the named child stepped forward to collect their timetable.
With his energetic and tidy demeanor, he cheerfully chatted with every student who approached, meeting each one’s eyes warmly.
“Rianon Berta—you’re quite clever. How is your grandfather? If you already knew everything, there’d be no need to attend school. Among my former students was one who scored the lowest on placement exams yet graduated with honors—just stay diligent.”
“Alecto Islani—your writing is excellent. I read it with great enjoyment. Your spelling is outstanding; with a bit more study, you might join classes with older students by next year. Keep that as your goal.”
“Aidalia Kendal—your overall performance is superb. I duly received the letter of recommendation your father sent from Lord Cloeder. Mr. Lailan from the Music Department is eager to speak with you.”
“Megara Rikeandros! The party your family hosted last social season left a deep impression. I have no doubt you’ll excel in my class. Your exam results were truly outstanding—since you’ve been advanced in several subjects, be sure to review your schedule carefully.”
The students already aligned with Megara broke into applause instantly, as if awaiting that exact cue. Megara accepted her timetable with a dignified smile and returned to her seat.
Neris pitied how many in the classroom had joined in that clapping. Then again, it didn’t matter—none among them were truly pure of heart.
Well… perhaps one was.
Diane approached next to receive her schedule, then spoke to Neris with a disappointed expression.
“I was hoping we’d share many classes—but it seems unlikely. I wasn’t advanced in anything.”
“We’ll definitely take etiquette, dance, and basic magic together. Those three subjects don’t allow advancement.”
“Really?”
Diane’s face brightened slightly. Neris added indifferently,
“And whether I’ve been advanced won’t be clear until I see my own schedule.”
Ironically, Neris ended up being advanced in every subject except those three she’d named.
Sir Sheridan effused at length over how flawless Neris’s responses had been and expressed high expectations for her future performance. Neris felt Megara’s and Rianon’s gazes grow increasingly hostile.
‘So that’s why they’re angry with me.’
Because someone so insignificant received praise. Now she finally understood—their old taunts about her showing off had stemmed not from her arrogance, but from their own deep-seated inferiority.
People rarely directed hostility toward those clearly superior to them. Instead, their resentment flared at those they believed should be beneath them—but weren’t. And once born, that hostility never faded.
[This is the timeline separator]After etiquette class, the freshmen headed off to other first-year lessons.
Neris had no remaining first-year classes scheduled for the day—all of hers had been advanced. Since advanced courses, as usual, were scheduled at entirely different times from lower-year classes, she now had free time.
Her next lecture would take place at the very heart of the Kartak One campus. Calculating her itinerary and available time, Neris decided she could visit the library.
So she did.
The academy housed several historic libraries, and the Zacharia Library she sought was among the oldest.
Saint Zacharia, who long ago performed miracles that saved countless lives, had profoundly influenced imperial medicine, leading many cities and buildings to be named after her. True to its name, the academy’s Zacharia Library specialized in medical texts.
Few people used Zacharia Library, however—because the study of “technical” disciplines like medicine held little appeal for nobles.
At most, only senior theology students or particularly service-minded instructors ever visited. On the topmost floor, visitors could be counted on one hand—excluding librarians.
Neris ascended to the highest floor of the building. In the deserted reading room, aged books and scrolls tucked in boxes rested quietly beneath layers of time.
From the entrance, Neris counted the mahogany bookshelves: one, two, three, four.
Behind the pillar beside the fourth shelf—
‘Here it is.’
She smiled faintly with her small lips.
Between the pillar and the wall lay a hidden space large enough for two people to sit. No other pillar offered such a niche—it existed only here.
Unless one knew of it beforehand, the space remained invisible from outside. Inside, there was nothing but a small square skylight and a single chair, oddly antique and oddly out of place in the reading room.
The skylight matched her memory exactly, though the chair was slightly cleaner than she recalled—likely because she’d found this place earlier in this life than in her previous one.
Neris settled comfortably into the chair and leaned back. Before her stretched a clear, azure sky—just as it had long ago.
Until graduation, this small, book-scented hideaway served as Neris Trude’s refuge from bullying. And very likely, it remained her private sanctuary alone.
The spot was hard to notice unless deliberately sought, and even upperclassmen rarely—if ever—bothered to explore the top floor of a medical library.
Except, of course, her past self, who’d once scoured every corner seeking solitude.
Back then, whenever children chased her for amusement—hitting or hurling stones—she’d dash off to some secret spot and hide for hours. Once discovered, she’d seek another, wandering endlessly through the school.
This place held cherished memories: found years from now in her timeline, and faithfully used until graduation.
“It existed even back then.”
She’d never seen anyone else here during her visits. Yet someone must have arrived before her—someone who’d rested comfortably in this very chair.
Proof lay in how the chair was positioned: angled perfectly to enjoy the view outside while catching just the right amount of shade.
Perhaps a librarian once stationed it here? Or maybe a student, lost among the books on this top floor, had quietly arranged a hidden nook for naps, unbeknownst to the staff.
Neris gazed at the sky, then slowly closed her eyes.
A quiet sense of peace—feeling utterly detached from the world, yet free from anyone’s hostility—rippled gently through her small chest. It was serene.
If only time could stop here forever, as if nothing… had ever happened.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed. Someone had entered the reading room.
Neris frowned, disturbed from her tranquility. Why did someone have to come now, to a place no one usually visited?
She briefly considered leaving—but saw no reason to. They’d probably just browse books and pass by if she stayed quiet.
Yet the footsteps grew sharper and quicker than expected, advancing straight toward her. When they halted right before her, she opened one eye and glared at the intruder.
First into view was a chest positioned higher than anticipated. Her gaze slid upward to reveal a striking face.
Beneath raven-black hair—darker than midnight—bright gray eyes shimmered with startling intensity.
A delicate face, slender limbs, flawless beauty: lips so exquisitely shaped that any portrait artist would praise them as ideal.
Perhaps this was how fairies from legend truly looked.
A boy clad lightly, with a sword at his waist, stood silhouetted against the window, looking down at Neris. Recognizing him, she finally opened both eyes.
From the boy’s lips fell a frosty question.
“Who are you?”
“And who are you, senior?”
Though she knew exactly who he was, Neris replied coolly.
Cledwin Maindlant.
The sole member of the empire’s only Grand Ducal House, he would inherit rule over the northern territories immediately upon graduating from the academy.
Neris had heard rumors of the massacre that followed: after the previous Grand Duke’s death, Cledwin slaughtered every elder who’d opposed his immediate succession.
Given that the former Grand Duke had died shortly after Cledwin enrolled at the academy, it meant his rightful claim had long gone unfulfilled.
Maindlant in the empire’s north encompassed vast lands—from barren tundra to coastal hot springs—and its ancient, proud culture was said to be uniquely refined and haughty.
In truth, even as Crown Princess, Neris had rarely spoken with Cledwin—he seldom left his domain.
Yet she remembered him clearly: exceptionally capable, and undeniably beautiful.
“You answer first.”
Cledwin’s perfect lips curled faintly at the corners. Neris replied calmly,
“I’m a freshman. I was resting here until you disturbed me.”
Abelus despised Cledwin—calling him a cruel monster incapable of compassion, mocking his androgynous looks, claiming his poor social skills proved his stupidity.
He hurled every imaginable insult, yet to Neris, Cledwin was a hundred times more talented than Abelus.
After all, no one dared encroach upon Maindlant once Cledwin became Grand Duke. Abelus would sneer, refusing even to speak of that “frozen land ruled by a hideous beast.”
“This isn’t a place for freshmen to know.”
She’d heard those words once before. Neris looked up at Cledwin with a strange feeling.
The truth was, Neris had attended the academy longer than Cledwin. He’d graduated early through rapid advancement before even reaching the proper age, while she’d remained for the standard duration alongside her peers.
When she didn’t answer, Cledwin’s eyes hardened with strict authority.
“Speak.”
Before she knew it, a sharp blade tip hovered before her face—drawn with such swift, silent precision she hadn’t even seen him move.
When yandere male lead believes she loves him — but she never did
“How dare you!”
“How dare you make me love you, only to cast me aside as nothing more than a friend?!?
“I will never accept that.”
“I will never let you return to him.”
“Even if I have to burn myself to ashes.”
“Even if I must shatter my purity, my dignity, my very soul.”
“I will never let you escape me!”
This was the first novel that introduced me to the matriarchal genre. I’ve read it three times already!
At first, the male lead despised the female lead. Later, he misunderstood that she liked him, so he condescendingly and reluctantly reciprocated her feelings.
Then, he suddenly discovered that she was kind to everyone in the same way, and there was already someone she cherished in her heart, and that person was not him.
The male lead couldn’t believe it, he became angry and crazy. He was determined to capture her body and heart by any means necessary.
Synopsis:
Want to see how a green tea bitch male lead falls in love with the female lead?
Want to see how he flirtatiously pursues the female lead?
Want to see how he gets slapped in the face repeatedly?
The male lead is a green tea bitch, a poisonous lotus, jealous, ruthless, unscrupulous, with a venomous heart, and he’s also a delusional maniac.
The female lead is righteous, positive energy-filled, kind, a holy mother.
Let’s see how two people with extreme personalities come together~
_____
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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. 💔