“Winter break is too short. Come visit in the summer too. Let’s go boating on the lake together. We could all go to the beach as well.”

The Countess also spoke cheerfully. Neris smiled.

“I think I’ll be visiting my mother in the summer. But thank you sincerely for your kind words, Count and Countess.”

“How can she be so mature?”

The Countess leaned down and affectionately kissed Neris on the forehead.

It had been a very long time since she had received such warm treatment from an adult woman. Almost so long ago that it barely remained in her memory, back in her ‘real’ childhood in her previous life.

Of course, she had hugged her mother tightly right after returning to age twelve, but they had to part ways soon after as she left for the academy.

Feeling the warmth and softness of those lips for a long time, Neris felt unable to cry or laugh. All she could do was hastily compose her expression, lest such emotions show on her face.

“Hurry and get in the carriage. You’ll be late for school.”

The Count spoke with an expression full of reluctance to let her go. It was purely out of wanting to see his precious daughter for even one day longer that he had delayed their departure until the very last minute when they’d have to rush at full speed to reach Katen before the semester began.

The hearts of parents sending off their children and children leaving are not the same, so Diane cheerfully got into the carriage. Joyce quickly ran over to hold her sister’s hand. Then she helped Neris board the carriage as well.

“Travel safely, darling.”

“I told you not to call me that!”

Though she reflexively snapped in irritation, Diane’s eyes were full of affection. Neris sank deep into the plush seat of the carriage, which was larger and nicer than the one they had come in, specially provided by Count and Lady McKinnon to ensure the two girls had a comfortable journey.

“Goodbye! Dad, Mom, see you next break! Goodbye brother! Take care! Peony! John! Don’t cry!”

Even after the carriage door closed, Diane shouted greetings to the people at the mansion.

Soon, about a dozen knights of the McKinnon family surrounded the carriage and the driver slowly set off. It was a special escort that the Count and Countess had arranged, saying they “couldn’t be at ease until the girls reached the school” after what had happened.

Neris gazed at the gradually receding mansion through the carriage window. She caught a glimpse of Muriel on the terrace.

“Is elder sister Muriel entering the temple?”

Diane only sat up straight once her voice could no longer reach the people at the mansion. She nodded at Neris’s question.

“Yes. She says she didn’t know anything, but it would still be strange for our parents to take care of her. Other relatives dislike it even more.”

With such serious criminals involved, Muriel’s existence, who had only said a few spiteful words in the midst of it all, was almost forgotten by people. Diane snorted as she spoke.

“Did she really not know anything? But it felt a bit much to push too hard.”

“Yes, Muriel isn’t worth worrying about anyway.”

Neris agreed. She sincerely thought so.

Muriel couldn’t control her temper even more than Heather, who was younger than her, let alone Diane. Neris couldn’t remember ever hearing people mention the ‘McKinnon Count’s daughter’ when she was the Crown Prince’s fiancée.

Probably after the plan succeeded, they either married her off since she was of little use in the family, or Nualan sent her far away fearing she might reveal secrets.

Entering the temple meant she wouldn’t come out unless a particularly good marriage prospect arose, but that also meant she wouldn’t get caught up in other conspiracies.

Given the nature of Count and Lady McKinnon, even if they sent her to the temple, they would surely provide an appropriate donation. That was far better treatment than Muriel, who had constantly tormented Diane, could have originally expected.

If Muriel really knew all the details of this incident, it certainly shouldn’t end there…

‘She really must not have known. What her brother and father’s true plans were.’

If she had known, she wouldn’t have acted so blatantly as if the McKinnon mansion was already hers. Muriel probably only guessed that Diane and her family would be leaving this mansion.

Feeling the vibrations of the carriage, Diane suddenly brightened.

“Even when we’re at school, will you sometimes come sleep in our dorm?”

“I’ll pass. I’m grown up now, I’ll sleep alone.”

Neris had endured enough of Diane’s tossing and turning and kicking in her sleep. She flatly refused, and Diane cackled at this unusually firm expression of emotion.

The carriage rumbled on its long journey, scattering the laughter of the young ladies.

After the short winter break ended, Noble Academy once again began its busy daily routine.

The upper-class students didn’t place much importance on winter break, and many remained in the dormitories to enjoy their last days of freedom among themselves. But most of the lower-class students had gone home and were now showing off new items they had brought back.

A considerable number of first-years had learned for the first time last semester that they weren’t the wealthiest and most sophisticated children in the world.

Children who had tearfully confided this situation to their parents or other guardians during winter break were sent back with expensive clothes and toys by well-off families who had expected as much, laughing it off.

“My, Idalia. That pearl necklace looks new.”

“My grandmother gave it to me as a gift. She said she’ll give me one pearl every birthday. By the time I’m grown up, it will be quite splendid.”

Noble children’s toys were mostly related to jewels. Necklaces, rings, jewel-encrusted swords, jewel-inlaid pens, and such.

Idalia, who had received precious pearls from the previous Kendal Viscountess and was subtly displaying them outside her collar from the first day of the semester, responded with feigned modesty.

Alecto, who had pointed out the necklace’s existence, smiled a bit sarcastically when Idalia didn’t comment on her ruby ring. However, Idalia Kendal was not someone Alecto Islani could easily mock.

Well, what did it matter if she was a bit pretentious? The well-behaved Idalia was not an embarrassing companion to be seen with.

The school corridors, decorated with delicate high vaults and slender stone pillars, were cold enough to turn noses red in midwinter. Having run into each other, the two walked together, chattering about what had happened during the break.

“We went to Huberon during the break.”

“Huberon? You must have enjoyed the hot springs then? How nice. Our house was busy entertaining guests for the holiday. I begged to go on a trip somewhere, but they said it was a family tradition, so there was nothing to be done.”

When Alecto mentioned the name of the famous resort town, Idalia’s eyes sparkled as she made a regretful expression.

Though her words pretended to be envious, in noble society this was tantamount to boasting about how long-established and popular her family was. Once again, Alecto had to restrain herself from nearly sneering.

Buried in her ivory-colored coat with a pink tinge, Idalia exhaled white breath from her small mouth. Alecto, burying her cheeks in a yellow-dyed rabbit fur scarf to ward off the cold, walked until she spotted a familiar figure ahead.

“Isn’t that ‘Nona’?”

Originally, Rhiannon only allowed those close to her to use the nickname Nona, as if bestowing a favor.

Several children remembered how Rhiannon used to brag that only her family members could call her that. However, after she became a laughingstock at school, that nickname turned into an insult.

The shoulders of the black-haired girl walking alone ahead, already slumped, flinched. Assured, Alecto grinned and called out to her loudly.

“Hey, Nona! Going to class?”

Rhiannon didn’t turn around but bowed her head deeply. A frosty coldness crept into Alecto’s voice.

“Hey! Nona! Not going to answer? I know you can hear me!”

Idalia frowned at the echoes buzzing and reverberating in the stone corridor, but she didn’t stop Alecto.

If Alecto had been calling out to another child, she would have stopped her, Idalia hastily added a footnote to her own behavior.

Of course she wouldn’t have, would she? Idalia knew well that she was a soft-hearted person. She truly couldn’t hurt a fly.

But Rhiannon’s actions had crossed a line. Although Alecto’s behavior was unnoble and spiteful, there was nothing Idalia could do about everyone disliking Rhiannon.

Why on earth did she act so ‘strangely’? To dare send a love letter to Nelrysion Elandria, with her status as merely a count’s granddaughter.

There were other children in the corridor too. This was natural, as most first-years, with a few exceptions, were on their way to the basic history class.

However, not a single child tried to stop Alecto. Rather, some seemed to enjoy Alecto’s actions.

“Seems like she can’t hear. Alecto, go hit her once!”

“Throw a book at her!”

The history textbook was heavy, filled with all sorts of materials. Even if thrown from Alecto’s position, it wouldn’t reach Rhiannon, but Rhiannon flinched and quickened her pace.

Alecto became smug.

“Hey! Nona! Are you ignoring someone calling you?”

The rough language might have made others frown if used by another child, but Alecto was so well-received as an entertaining child even among the first-years that it sounded passable.

Rather, her exaggeratedly threatening attitude was so funny that several boys held their stomachs laughing.

“Stop right there, I won’t hit you! Do you think I’d beat someone up?”

Of course not, right, who do you think I am, the children chimed in haphazardly, each adding a word.

At the small, mischievous echoes filling the corridor, Rhiannon finally stopped. Alecto spoke arrogantly as she strode towards Rhiannon.

“I asked if you’re going to class, huh? Someone’s asking you a question. Why don’t you answer and make things difficult?”

By the time Alecto finished speaking, the distance between the two was only about three child-sized steps.

Rhiannon flinched, then raised her head. Her face looked better than during the semester, as if she had rested well during winter break.

“…Why ask when you can see?”

“What? ‘Why ask?’ Are you crazy?”

Alecto stood in front of Rhiannon, laughing scornfully.

The children were delighted that a more primal spectacle had occurred as soon as the semester started, and they subtly gathered around. Idalia only caught up with Alecto a moment later and glanced at Rhiannon’s face with contemptuous eyes.

Alecto’s question about whether Rhiannon was crazy seemed justified to the children. How dare Rhiannon Berta, a mere ‘Nona’, have the right to talk back to her ‘normal’ classmates? It would be barely enough for her to quietly answer the question asked.

“Hey, hey, hey.”

Alecto’s fingers worked their way into Rhiannon’s black hair. Alecto’s action of poking with her fingers didn’t cause physical pain. However, it was so insulting that sparks flew in Rhiannon’s eyes.

“You said you wouldn’t hit!”

“I said I wouldn’t hit a person.”

Laughter louder than before erupted among the children. Idalia quickly looked around to see if any teachers were coming. That’s when she caught sight of a long shadow turning the corner of the corridor.

That shadow also caught Megara’s eye. Megara wasn’t openly watching, but at the right moment, she calmed the situation with a gentle voice.

“Children, class is about to start.”

“Maggie doesn’t like this kind of thing.”

Alecto grumbled, having been in the midst of enjoying herself, but she didn’t disobey Megara’s subtle order to disperse.

The children scattered much faster than they had gathered, heading towards the classroom while chatting as usual. Just then, the adult who had turned the corner of the corridor raised an eyebrow at the sight of the children.

The adult was a middle-aged man with golden hair closer to brown. He scrutinized the children whose eye level was at his waist, and as Alecto happened to pass by him, he grabbed her and asked.

“What year are you?”

“Us? We’re first-years.”

The man had spoken informally from the start, and judging by his attire, he was undoubtedly a nobleman. Alecto answered as politely as she could manage. The man frowned.

“Do you know where Alecto Islani might be?”

“What? That’s me.”

The children looked at him strangely as he specifically asked for Alecto’s name. Idalia, scared of the stranger, left Alecto behind and went ahead. Alecto was looking at the man’s nose when she suddenly realized.

His nose was exactly like Angarad’s.

“Good. I have something to discuss with you regarding what you did to my daughter. Come with me. And if anyone knows Neris Trude’s whereabouts, tell them to come to Mrs. Hoffman.”