CHAPTER 63

The Country Girl and the Noble Delinquent

The “black market” sounded fancy, but it was really just a table set up in a corner of the cafeteria.

The students of Notos Dorm had taken over the south side of the cafeteria. One of their tables had been turned into a market stall, where they sold things.

Now that the official school store was open, people thought the black market would disappear—but the store’s prices were so high that the black market still had customers.

Even now, at lunchtime, the area was packed with students trying to survive the bad cafeteria food by buying extras from the black market.

“This is amazing.”

Marie was honestly impressed by how clever and determined the Notos students were.

People from the Empire often said, “Southerners will sell their souls for money.” But as someone from a poor farming village, Marie saw their effort and quick thinking as talent—almost like a city merchant’s.

Now, too.

“They’re trading Aca Coins?”

Marie looked at the market sign and asked Lorenzo, who smiled and replied:

“Yes. The school store has a really bad exchange rate for Aca Coins. We buy them from students at a higher rate and sell them to others for cheaper than the store.”

Basically, the school store had an unfair exchange rate. Lorenzo and the other Notos students took advantage of that. They bought leftover Aca Coins or ones students got from Magram, then sold them cheaper than the store and made a profit.

It was a smart system. And it amazed Marie even more.

“Southerners really think in amazing ways. So creative and clever.”

“Haha. Some people say we’re just obsessed with money. Like, Count Oxbach’s son Karl—he thinks Southerners are shameless money-hungry people.”

“That’s not fair at all.”

Marie shook her head. Coming from a poor farming family, she knew just how important money was.

A bad harvest or freezing winter could kill people over a few coins. She had seen parents sell their children to survive. For people like her, money meant more than just silver coins—it could mean life or death.

“I’d be grateful if more people thought like you, Marie.”
Lorenzo smiled kindly.

Just then, some Euros Dorm students nearby started chatting.

They didn’t mean to be loud… but Marie and Lorenzo overheard everything.

“Lady Idnia is amazing, right?”
“So beautiful and noble. A real highborn lady.”
“My parents told me to stay away from her, though.”
“Mine too! They said the Betelgeuse Dukedom is basically finished, so don’t get close.”
“Wow, everyone was told the same thing.”

The Euros students were kind of talking behind Idnia’s back, but not really in a mean way. They all respected her so much they couldn’t say anything bad.

She was flawless: beautiful, smart, powerful, and generous—even though her family wasn’t rich anymore, she still took care of everyone in the dorm.

“Even if the Betelgeuse Dukedom is in trouble, Idnia alone can bring it back.”

They all agreed.

Their parents had warned them to stay away from a declining family, but none of them could ignore Idnia’s talent and leadership. Anyone who saw her in person believed she could lead her family—and the future.

“Isn’t Idnia a Saintess candidate?”
“Yeah. Who’s the other one again?”
“Marie of Astraea.”
“Oh, that farmer girl? You can’t even compare them.”
“She’s like a lizard in front of a dragon.”
“Haha! Seriously, can she even graduate? Her magic’s terrible.”
“I mean, she did earn some merit points, right? She’s got holy power at least.”
“Yeah, but without that, she wouldn’t have made it into the academy. With the lowest test scores too. Can she even read and write properly? They should call her a ‘holy magic cannon’ instead of a Saintess.”
“Haha! That’s perfect!”

They were all making fun of Marie, comparing her to Idnia.

Unlike the tall, elegant, noble-looking Idnia, Marie was small, shy, and looked weak. She was quiet and came from a rural background.

In the original game story, Idnia was the “villainess” noble girl, so normal students avoided her and she stayed in her own high-class bubble. That made comparisons to Marie rare.

But now, both of them were Saintess candidates and even roommates.

So of course people compared them.

And nobles love gossip. Especially mean gossip.

Marie’s face darkened as she listened.

She already knew people didn’t like her much.

Being at the bottom of the class made others look down on her. If she had been the only Saintess candidate, maybe people would respect her for her holy powers. But now that Idnia was one too—and even more impressive—no one believed in her anymore.

‘Everyone really doesn’t like me… The only one who’s kind to me is Lady Idnia, but… she’s kind to everyone. And being seen as her rival might just be causing her trouble…’

Even Idnia’s kindness made Marie feel smaller and more ashamed.

Just then, Lorenzo leaned toward her, his voice sweet and warm.

“Are you alright, Lady Marie?”

His voice was so gentle that just hearing it almost brought tears to her eyes.

Marie tried hard to look okay.

“Ah… yes. I’m fine. It’s just my own fault.”

“Fault? No, not at all. You are the true Saintess. I, Lorenzo Medici of Mazdari, believe in that.”

“What?”

Marie was shocked.

Lorenzo—a noble from such a high-ranking family—was speaking to her so kindly, as if she was truly worthy of it.

“But… what about Lady Idnia? She’s a Saintess candidate too.”

“True. But she’s more like a Hero, don’t you think?”
Lorenzo gave a bitter smile.

“Anyway… if you don’t mind, would you consider coming to the Mazdari Duchy after graduation?”

“Huh?”

Marie was stunned.

‘Everyone else mocks me… But this noble prince… values me? Is… is this what it feels like to be recognized by someone?’

It felt too good to be true.

But just then, someone interrupted, throwing cold water on the warm moment.

“Marie of Astraea. You must not accept that offer.”

It was Isolde Polchen, top student of the Zephyros Dorm, who had entered the school with the best scores.

Isolde had been watching from a distance.

She had followed Lorenzo and Marie to the cafeteria and overheard the Euros students mocking Marie.

She had already noticed that Marie was being left out, even though her holy power was very real.

‘Marie shouldn’t be underestimated. But these nobles are so small-minded, they can’t see past their own noses. They gossip like they’ll grow thorns in their tongues if they don’t.’

Then Isolde noticed something strange.

Marie and Lorenzo were sitting where most students wouldn’t notice them. And Lorenzo was blocking Marie from the others’ view—on purpose.

‘He made sure she’d hear those insults… and then swooped in to comfort her. How sneaky.’

Isolde clicked her tongue. She saw right through Lorenzo’s act. He wanted Marie, the Saintess candidate, for his own plans.

She found it so shameless that she had to step in.

“Marie of Astraea. You must not accept that offer.”

Meanwhile…

Idnia finished talking with Rudolf and walked toward the cafeteria.

“Whew. Teenage nobles are hard to deal with.”

In the game, things had been easier. But now people got jealous, and things didn’t follow the story. Even Rudolf’s curse had shown up early.

‘It must be hard for him… born to be loved by all, yet rejected by his father. I’ve met people like that. They couldn’t give up on their family, even when they weren’t loved back.’

Idnia sighed at the memory.

‘I just hope Rudolf can overcome this pain. But… wait. What’s going on over there?’

While she had been focused on Rudolf, now trouble had moved to Marie.

Lorenzo was aggressively talking to her.

‘This feels familiar. Just like the game… Lorenzo wants Marie, the Saintess, for his ambitions. But in the game, Marie noticed his strange behavior and was careful around him. I hope she’s still cautious…’

But something felt off.

‘Marie looks emotionally worn out… Is he taking advantage of that? Should I step in?’

As Idnia watched, Isolde appeared and confronted Lorenzo and Marie.