“How did it go?”

When the questioning that wasn’t really questioning ended, the first-year students were in etiquette class. Diane asked Neris with a worried expression as she joined just before the end of class.

Neris glanced at Alecto sitting down next to Idalia and whispered quietly so others couldn’t hear:

“Three days of writing reflection papers in the reflection room after school.”

Since even Nelrysion had come, it seemed everyone knew the news that Angarad Nine’s father had come and pointed out Alecto and Neris as the bullies.

Neris wasn’t happy about receiving Nelrysion’s help, but she knew that without him, the situation would never have ended this easily.

“What about Angarad?”

“Don’t know. Looked like she was going somewhere with her father.”

With that, class time ended. The children got up, chattering among themselves as they moved to the dining hall for dinner.

It was a scene no different from usual, and there was no reason to feel particularly empty just because Angarad was missing. Especially as Alecto’s voice echoed through the hallway, and the children pretended not to listen.

“It’s really ridiculous, would I say anything out of fear? It’s her own fault for acting like that! When I mentioned the ribbon, she insisted to the end that she knew nothing about it.”

“That’s too much.”

A boy listening to Alecto’s denunciation agreed theatrically. Idalia was in the same group but kept her mouth shut, seemingly uncomfortable with the attention, though the faint disgust on her face made it clear who she sided with.

Neris took the opportunity to briefly explain to Diane what had happened. Diane nodded as if it were obvious when Nelrysion’s appearance was mentioned.

“Of course he should come, being a relative. Still, he’s a good elder brother.”

But in her previous life, Nelrysion had shown no interest when Neris had to visit the counseling office a few times for unfortunate incidents. However, there was no need to point that out now, so Neris decided to let it pass.

“…Anyway, that’s how it turned out, so I have to go to the reflection room after dinner.”

“Do you have to be with Alecto?”

“Separately.”

Experienced teachers had set up multiple reflection rooms. So students could ‘focus’ on writing reflection papers in small rooms with nothing interesting.

It was a good thing, as Neris had no desire to spend time with Alecto. It was a shame to have to write about being sorry for bullying Angarad when she could be reading books and planning for the future, but that couldn’t be helped. Diane also nodded solemnly.

“That’s good. It would be so noisy if you were together.”

Neris smiled slightly at those merciless words.

Even after arriving at the dining hall, Alecto continued grumbling about the same thing. Neris and Diane, who had gotten their food not far behind that group, sat at the table next to them.

There were several student dining halls, but the Portzhamer Building that the children had just entered was the most convenient for lower grade students. It used to be a chapel, so the ceiling was quite high, and normally it was a place to show off its beautiful vault even to outsiders.

Due to this structure, the children’s voices echoed unless they lowered them particularly. Neris ate her soup and potatoes she had bought with a meal ticket little by little while quietly discussing the next class with Diane.

“So, who would dare say a word out of fear! I just called a thief a thief, how is that my fault? Huh? Is it my fault she has no friends? Kids who get bullied honestly all have reasons!”

Alecto continued, indignant at her own words. Diane glanced sideways at that table. She clearly seemed to think it was unfortunate to have sat in this spot. Neris didn’t even look in that direction but quietly listened to the voice.

A faint bitter smile that no one could notice appeared on her lips.

‘It’s the same.’

Consistency is usually a praised virtue. But could it be a good evaluation for the exasperating people in this class?

“Kids who get bullied all have reasons. Do you really not know what you did wrong?”

Unlike Rhiannon who was good at reading the room, Alecto wanted to stand out from her first year.

Certainly, there were reasons she might want to. Alecto had fairly good grades at school and was proud of herself.

As the middle child among the children of Count Islani, sandwiched between a pretty and affectionate younger sister and a clever elder sister, she knew that to survive anywhere, she had to make an effort to shout.

And probably for the same reason, she always reacted aggressively to children who were better than her.

Perhaps before entering school, Alecto herself dreamed of purely standing out by using some of her own excellent qualities.

However, in a school where there were already classmates who were pretty, good at studying, and of high status, the daughter of a count without much power would only be buried if left alone.

It can’t be said that Alecto wasn’t clever. She volunteered to quickly read the thoughts of the children and represent them in the most witty way. Because she was good with words, she performed that role quite well.

And as always, wit in a society ruled by barbarism was accompanied by violence.

“Look! I put a teacup of rotten milk on Trude’s head! Anyone want to bet who can knock it off by throwing stones! It’s Mrs. Alix’s teacup, so you absolutely must not let it fall from your head, Neris! Got it! Oh no, it broke! You know it’s all your fault, right? Ah, the smell! This is why kids hate you!”

“I’ve seen her smile before. It’s really ugly. If you’re going to be like that, it’s better not to smile. Look at this! Imitating Trude! Yuna, are you going to laugh that loud?”

“Huh? Are you talking to me? Ugh, why did you do that. My ears are rotting! Right, Benny?”

“You’re sorry for answering earlier? No, I told you not to talk to me but you keep talking. You should die instead. Ashley was embarrassed because she couldn’t answer thanks to your showing off, right?”

Malicious mockery and violence, excessively low-quality gestures. Alecto’s strategy was successful.

In her previous life, the children roared with laughter the more scathing words Alecto said to Neris, and the overall level of bullying worsened in proportion.

In a manner of speaking, Alecto was the vanguard. Moreover, one who knew the strategic strongholds of this side well.

The young Neris believed Alecto’s words. How could Alecto’s opinions, which all the class children ‘agreed’ were right, be wrong? She barely knew that words like ‘ears rotting’ were exaggerations, but that was all.

Neris accepted that what she said and did to Alecto were ‘justifiable’ reasons for bullying. And she avoided the behaviors pointed out from then on.

She tried not to smile as much as possible. She tried not to speak to the children as much as possible. Even if she saw someone drop something, she didn’t pick it up.

She didn’t hold the door for the person behind her when passing through. She made no sound while eating. When called on during class, she didn’t say she knew the answer even if she did…

But it was strange. When she ‘improved her problematic behavior’ as Alecto instructed, the children disliked Neris even more.

Alecto herself continued to make contradictory criticisms.

Why do you look so gloomy? Why don’t you say a word when everyone else is laughing? Why don’t you pick up dropped items? Why do you let go of the door right away when someone is passing? You’re really weird. This is why kids hate you.

The young Neris was confused. So she tried doing the opposite of what Alecto pointed out, and also tried doing exactly as instructed. For a while, she even tried imitating Alecto.

But even when using the same words, the children said Alecto’s words were right while recoiling from Neris’s words.

That’s why Neris felt relieved by the time of graduation. At least now she didn’t have to worry every morning when entering the classroom about what interesting issue Alecto would find with her every move today.

But the biggest shock came after Neris became the Crown Princess.

“Wow, it really is you. Neris! Do you remember me?”

It was at some small gathering, she doesn’t remember which party it was after becoming Crown Princess.

It was when Neris, tired of people’s whispers, went to find a dark place for a moment. Alecto, who had grown up with almost the same face as when she was young but looked very different with adult makeup, approached her. As if they had always been on familiar terms, in the same tone as during their academy days.

How could she forget her? Neris endured the childhood fear that washed over her. And thinking of the dignity of House Elandria and the Imperial Family, she greeted her stiffly and elegantly.

Then Alecto, with sparkling eyes, continued speaking familiarly.

“It’s been so long. Have you been well? I was a bit worried about you.”

Worried? Worried, she said? Neris hesitated at the word she never imagined would come from Alecto.

Perhaps she foolishly held some hope. After all, thinking about it, Alecto was about the only one who even ‘spoke’ to her, so maybe she thought of her a little fondly…

Such stupid thoughts were shattered by Alecto’s next words, spoken with a smile.

“The kids really hated you back then. But it’s good to see you’ve grown up well. It’s amazing that the Crown Princess came from among my friends, right?”

Since then, Neris has sometimes wondered. Did Alecto change her attitude because she wanted to get along well with the Crown Princess?

Or did she actually think she was friends with Neris and was worried because other kids disliked her?

Probably both. Because perpetrators easily forget. And victims tremble even more because of that oblivion.

Then.

‘I should make her unable to forget.’

Neris remembered well the news that would be urgently delivered tonight. It was news that didn’t bring big changes to Neris in her previous life, but was often talked about among classmates. Some saying how lucky.

Screech. The sound of a chair being pulled back came from a nearby table.

Neris remained still with her eyes lowered. Light footsteps of a child came closer.

“If kids hate you, hey! You should think about what you did wrong and try to fix it. Kids never hate without reason! Look at her running to tell her dad because she has no friends. What are we supposed to do, be nice to her because her dad is scary?”

Haha. Alecto’s remarks, her pride hurt, grew louder and the surrounding children laughed along appropriately. Diane started glaring at Alecto, annoyed by the noise.

And suddenly she widened her eyes at the small back blocking her view.

The next moment.

Crash. Dishes fell to the floor. Chunks of mushroom cream soup, pieces of butter-roasted chicken, steamed egg pudding mixed and spilled on the floor.

No, not just the floor. Alecto’s bright red hair, round glasses, freckled cheeks, yellow rabbit fur scarf were smeared with food.

The children gasped. Even those who hadn’t been paying attention to Alecto’s story until now couldn’t help but tense at the sudden silence.

Alecto, who had closed her eyes because of the food, took off her glasses and rubbed her eyelids clean. Then she looked up at Rhiannon who had dumped the leftovers on her.

“…Hey, Nona. Are you crazy?””