When I arrived at the lecture hall, it was very noisy.

It’s usually noisy, but today the atmosphere was different from usual, which was strange. Hilla, who spotted Riley, waved.

“Over here, over here.”

Riley, sitting next to Hilla, tilted her head.

“Why is everyone like that?”

“You know? That famous Rivne Lianster. The twin sister of the Horizon Mage Tower Lord.”

“I know.”

How could I not know.

“She’ll be coming here soon. That’s why everyone’s noisy.”

“Why?”

“Why? Because she’s attending this lecture.”

“…She attends here?”

“You didn’t know? She’s a Horizon student and will be a future council member. They say the council seat is practically reserved for her. She also owns a considerable share of Horizon Academy stock. Her brother the Mage Tower, her sister the Academy.”

“…I didn’t know.”

“They say that Rivne Lianster failed only the theory and practice of basic magic among the common subjects. But it seems she kept putting off retaking it. It looks like she’s finally retaking it this time.”

“…Failed? Why?”

“Seems she didn’t meet the attendance requirements. I don’t know the details either. There must have been some circumstances. Anyway, she’s an early admission student, and she’s been on leave until now and just returned this semester. It was quite a commotion for a while. People were saying even the disciple of Grand Magician Yung can fail.”

“Isn’t the current Mage Tower Lord the only disciple of the former Mage Tower Lord?”

“He’s the chief disciple, but the former Mage Tower Lord had several disciples. Most of them are probably in important positions at Horizon now. That’s why it was so noisy. Why, among all the disciples, did he hand over the Mage Tower management rights to Givnen Lianster, the youngest and least experienced?”

How does Hilla know all this so thoroughly when we’re both new students?

“Where do you hear all this information?”

Hilla gestured with her eyes to the students in the lecture hall.

“They were talking about it excitedly, weren’t they?”

The source seemed to be the people already gathering in groups, that is, the central nobles of Blestage.

Well, I guess they would be different even if they’re new students like us. Their information exchange, having debuted in high society early on, must be beyond imagination.

“I heard that former Mage Tower Lord Yung passed on knowledge and magical power to the Lianster siblings.”

“Passed on?”

“It’s like a magic that only magicians can do, where they can pass on their magical power and knowledge to others.”

“I didn’t know that was possible, how amazing.”

“This is why everyone is desperate to find a good master. They say if you just have a good master, your future is guaranteed on a silver platter.”

It seems Givnen and Rivne were far more extraordinary people than they appeared.

“Those siblings are said to be incredibly popular. Everyone wants to bring them into their family or have them as masters.”

Riley felt nervous for no reason.

Rivne didn’t seem to like her very much, and in any case, sisters-in-law are an uncomfortable relationship, aren’t they? Just as she was needlessly worrying, the door opened and everyone’s gaze turned to one spot.

Rivne, as famous as Givnen, entered the lecture hall leisurely.

“Wow, she’s really pretty.”

Hilla marveled beside her, and Riley nodded in agreement.

She was truly beautiful. With noble blood, ability, and looks – she didn’t need to have all that. Her existence was as conscienceless as Givnen’s.

Receiving everyone’s attention, she looked around for a place to sit, completely ignoring the people staring at her. At that moment, a group of Blestage central nobles approached.

“Elder sister Rivne. My father said he saw your family in Ingracia recently, is it true that you had a meeting of the families?”

Riley choked.

She was startled and barely managed to stifle a hiccup that was about to come out.

“I heard it was a meeting of the families, are you getting married?”

“…”

“They say the other family was completely unfamiliar? If they were from Blestage, it’s impossible not to know their faces, so which family are you connected with? I’m curious. Or is it not your side, but Sir Givnen’s?”

“You’re always so curious about other people’s family affairs. How consistent.”

“Aren’t we more than just ordinary acquaintances?”

The one who seemed to be the leader of the group laughed and linked arms with Rivne.

“Sit with us, elder sister.”

It was surprising that someone who reigned like a queen in the lecture hall could be so friendly. However, Rivne didn’t seem to like her affectionate attitude.

She quickly looked for an empty seat as if annoyed, then paused.

Riley also paused. Their gazes met in mid-air. Rivne, who had been looking at Riley with surprise, grinned and approached her. Then she plopped down in the seat next to Riley.

“Elder sister, why are you sitting there?”

“I like it here.”

“Is that so?”

The woman who had been friendly to Rivne came up to Riley and tapped on her desk.

“Hey, can you move?”

The same situation from the first day was repeating itself.

Of course, she wasn’t the person who had picked a fight on the first day, but her contemptuous gaze and tone were surprisingly the same.

Riley hesitated for a moment.

She didn’t want to be marked by them unnecessarily. If she created a situation where she blushed for no reason, her future academy life might become tiresome.

Her master had said it too. To endure or ignore as much as possible. Not to get involved… There was no use in arguing, it would only be to her disadvantage, and… Rivne made her a bit uncomfortable.

It was a very burdensome thing to attend a lecture next to her sister-in-law, especially next to someone called a genius.

Just as Riley was about to stand up after exchanging glances with Hilla, Rivne grabbed Riley’s hand and pulled her back into her seat.

“Sit here, why are you giving up your seat?”

Because I don’t want to get involved in unnecessary trouble…

As Riley couldn’t answer, the woman who had been acting friendly with Rivne said,

“Elder sister, why are you protecting this outsider?”

“Outsider?”

“Can’t you tell at a glance? She’s not from Blestage.”

“So?”

“What do you mean ‘so’? Is it appropriate for someone from Blestage to mix with outsiders?”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“It lowers our standards.”

Rivne narrowed her eyes and looked at the woman. Then she leaned back with her arms crossed and smirked.

“Are you of a level to talk about standards in front of me?”

“…What?”

“And you match my level?”

The woman’s face turned bright red at Rivne’s words.

“E-elder sister! How can you say such things!”

“Well, according to your logic, your family is at the same level as our family, right?”

“We’re both Blestage nobles.”

“The same? You and me?”

“…”

“I don’t lower myself like you do.”

Rivne smiled brightly and elegantly gave the woman the finger.

“Horizon is a place where everyone receives equal education regardless of status. Of course, there should be no discrimination based on status. As Blestage nobles, we should be setting an example, but where did you learn such bad manners to talk about standards to someone’s face?”

“Th-that’s not…”

“What do you mean it’s not? You just greatly disrespected this person. You’ve tarnished the honor of Blestage nobles in the process. I don’t know what you’re doing when we should be setting an example. It’s so lowbrow that I’m embarrassed.”

The woman couldn’t reply. She just flushed red like a volcano about to erupt. She looked extremely angry, but she forcefully pulled up the corners of her stiff mouth and said,

“My thinking was shallow, elder sister. I’ll be more careful in the future.”

“Alright, then go back to your seat. I intend to attend the lecture next to this person.”

As the woman returned to her seat, the lecture hall became quiet as a mouse.

Just a few minutes ago it had been noisy enough to hurt your ears, how could it be this quiet now? If someone saw, they might think the professor had already started the lecture.

As Riley just blinked blankly, Rivne turned to her and said,

“Is it okay if I sit here for the lecture?”

“Ah? Oh, yes, of course.”

“Let’s sit together every time for this lecture.”

“…”

“You don’t like it?”

“No, it’s not that… Don’t you dislike me?”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Well…”

Because you caused such a commotion and turned the door into a rag when we first met at the mansion.

“Ah, that time.”

“…”

“What I said then wasn’t because I disliked you, you know? That was sincere advice with my concern for you. But it’s meaningless now. I dislike my brother, not you. You seem to have misunderstood, if you were uncomfortable about that incident, I’ll apologize.”

“Ah, no. It’s fine.”

Hilla looked back and forth between the two as if wondering what was going on. Regardless, Rivne opened her textbook and sat up straight, waiting for the professor to arrive, and Riley did the same.

Just before the professor entered, Riley belatedly said,

“Um, thank you for helping me.”

“What did I help with?”

“Just now.”

“That wasn’t helping, you know? I just got annoyed seeing an unpleasant sight and said something.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Don’t go around getting discouraged. Say you don’t like it confidently. What are you afraid of, cowering before kids like that?”

It wasn’t cowering. I just didn’t want to get involved in troublesome things. Because it’s tiring. Because I don’t like commotion.

“I’ll begin the lecture.”

The professor had arrived.

The conversation was cut off. Riley fixed her gaze on the textbook and thought.

She had wanted to attend the academy as quietly and inconspicuously as possible, but it seemed she had properly caught attention with this incident.

The occasional gazes that reached her were burdensome. Gazes full of curiosity, wondering who she was.

…It seems it will be difficult to stay quiet after all.

·

·

·

“Then I’ll see you at the next lecture.”

After the lecture ended, Rivne left her seat without looking back, saying only that she’d see Riley at the next lecture. As soon as she left, Hilla’s eyes sparkled.

“Do you know each other?”

“…Yeah, somehow.”

“Wow, that’s amazing! And she seems even more impressive than the rumors. Did you see earlier? Wow, that’s a noble. That’s the example of a noble that everyone admires. As expected, people of noble blood have a different class from the start. How could she put someone in their place so elegantly? She’s really cool!”

I agree that Rivne is a very cool woman.

In fact, just now was really touching. Wow, there are such amazing people in the world!

As expected of Givnen’s sister, the siblings are a matching pair of impressive people.

Riley, who had been smiling broadly, paused.

The woman who had been humiliated by Rivne was glaring at her with burning eyes. Riley looked around and was surprised to realize that she was the target of that gaze.

‘Why is she looking at me like she wants to kill me?’

As Riley tilted her head, the woman gritted her teeth and left.

Seeing this, Hilla snorted.

“Leave it. She’s properly embarrassed but can’t take it out on Rivne Lianster, so she’s just doing that to you. Your crime is being an easy target as an outsider. Tsk, it’s clear she didn’t take even half of what Rivne Lianster said to heart!”

Riley felt somehow wronged.

She felt bad, as if she had been disliked without doing anything.

·

·

·

The last lecture ended around 4 PM.

Riley packed her things and immediately left the lecture hall to sit in the park. She had thought about going straight to the mansion, but she didn’t understand today’s lecture content and was planning to go ask Arpeggio.

He grumbles and gets annoyed, but he explains things well when you’re curious.

She planned to kill some time in the park and then go to the Mage Tower. The Academy and Mage Tower were close enough to reach in about 30 minutes on foot.

As she was sitting on a park bench enjoying some leisure time,

“Excuse me.”

It was a man carrying two boxes that looked heavy even at a glance.

“I’m sorry, but could you help me?”

“?”

“These are too heavy, so I was wondering if you could carry one box with me. They’re magical tools for practical magic class.”

He looked very struggling just at a glance.

It was hard to refuse when he was openly asking for help. And originally, it’s right to help people who need help. The people at Eadallyn Mansion always laughed or ignored her when she asked for help, and it was really upsetting every time.

“Give it to me.”

“Thank you.”

Riley received one box from the man and followed behind him as he led the way.

The box that looked heavy on the outside wasn’t as heavy as expected. After following for a while, a building standing alone in a secluded area came into view.

Strangely, there was not a single person around. The building somehow looked like it had been abandoned for a long time. Although he said it was a warehouse for storing magical tools, the exterior walls were covered in vines as if they weren’t being maintained.

Moreover, there were many trees around and little sunlight, giving it a somewhat eerie feeling.

“Is this the place?”

“Yes, that’s right. Thank you for your help.”

The man put down the box, and Riley also put down her box. At that moment, the man grinned.

“I brought her.”

He spoke to someone. Is there someone else here? Just as she was wondering,

Several people poured out from inside the warehouse. They were all unfamiliar faces, but among them Riley spotted a familiar one.

‘It’s the person who was humiliated by Rivne this morning. The one who was glaring at me like they wanted to kill me…’

They’re still glaring intently now.

What’s going on? As Riley stared blankly at her, the woman shouted to the people around her.

“It’s that girl! The one who insulted me!”

What is she saying now?