Chapter 3
“Wait, just a moment!”
Ria hurriedly stopped the Duke, who looked as though he might storm out at any second. It seemed he cherished his youngest daughter even more than she had thought.
“That’s not it!”
“What do you mean, not it?”
“No one’s bullying me or anything like that.”
“Then why on earth do you want to quit school?”
Ria’s eyes trembled slightly. She had expected this question and even prepared an answer, but now that she had to say it aloud, she worried whether such a flimsy excuse would really do.
The Duke, who was staring at her lips twitching but no words coming out, suddenly rose from his seat.
“So, it’s hard for your kind heart to tattletale on whoever it is. Fine, I’ll go to the school myself—”
“I’m sick of it!”
Ria squeezed her eyes shut and shouted.
“…Sick of it?”
“Yes. I’m just… just tired of it! I must’ve gone there too long.”
Dropping out of a school simply because she was “tired of it”? To the Duke, whose daughter had never once missed a single day of perfect attendance, it was completely incomprehensible.
But Ria is that kind of child, after all.
Ria forced a brazen expression, just as the original Ria would whenever she threw tantrums or acted spoiled.
The Duke narrowed his eyes, studying her intentions.
“Is that really true?”
“Y-yes, it is!”
The Duke still looked doubtful.
“Could it be… you don’t like the eldest son of the Slanders family?”
“…What?”
He meant Darren, of course. Everyone knew Ria had enrolled in the Royal Academy just because she liked him—even the Duke himself, and really, the entire noble society.
“That’s not it! Well… I mean, it’s true, but that’s not the reason. Anyway, please just let me quit.”
The Duke scratched his head awkwardly, then finally nodded.
“Well, if that’s how it is, there’s no helping it. The paperwork will probably take a few days.”
“…What?”
That easily?
Ria hadn’t expected him to accept so readily and blinked in confusion.
“What, have you changed your mind already?”
“No, no. I’ll quit. I just… didn’t think you’d agree so easily. Thank you.”
The Duke let out a small, hearty laugh at her awkward thanks.
“When has this father ever managed to break your stubborn will?”
His eyes were filled with love for his daughter. That made Ria feel guilty—because she was stealing the real Ria’s place.
That guilt only strengthened her resolve: she would protect Siklaen no matter what. If only Siklaen could be happy, then maybe everything else would return to the way it was supposed to be.
I just have to stick to the original story. If I disappear, then Jen won’t say strange things, and the plot will flow as it should.
Ria nodded to herself, as though trying to reassure her own heart. She chose to ignore the uneasy feeling quietly creeping up from deep within her.
The Royal Academy’s uniform was a short red dress, the color symbolizing the Imperial family. Though “short,” it was nothing like the clothes of her previous world.
Originally, the uniform had been full-length down to the feet, but a few years ago, after many complaints about it being too difficult to move in, it had been modified to knee length.
Beside her, Isabel helped her dress, sighing in admiration.
“It’s so sad that I won’t get to see you in a red dress again, my lady.”
“What? Why?”
“Well, because only members of the Imperial family are allowed to wear red, of course.”
Oh, right, that was part of the setting.
In the Baisen Empire, the backdrop of Heart-Pounding Royal Academy, red symbolized the Imperial family. No one but royalty was permitted to wear it—except for the Academy uniform, which was the sole exception. Conversely, royal students at the Academy wore black uniforms.
And right now, there’s only one royal attending the school…
Ria recalled the black uniform Jen had worn yesterday, outlined with vivid red trim that made him stand out wherever he went.
“It looks so good on you, though…” Isabel’s eyes grew teary.
The red uniform truly did suit Ria’s jet-black hair. The gold embellishments made her seem even more elegant.
Ria flipped her shimmering hair back and walked with confidence.
It may suit me, but I don’t care about some red dress.
She had something important to do today.
“Shall we go?”
To withdraw from school!
The procedure ended quickly, with just a signature in front of the headmaster. It seemed the Duke had already arranged everything.
Feeling relieved, Ria stopped by the student dining hall—it was lunchtime, and she hoped she might catch a glimpse of Siklaen.
Ah, there she is.
Too shy to approach, Ria hid behind a column and watched Siklaen eat. Though it was called a dining hall, the large space connected to an outdoor terrace looked more like a luxury hotel restaurant.
Siklaen was seated outside, eating with a group of noble ladies.
Ria smiled at her puffed-up cheeks. Just seeing Siklaen made her happy. If there was one good thing about being transported into this world, it was getting to see her in person.
“My lady, aren’t you going to eat?”
Isabel, who had followed her, asked curiously. “Shh—” Ria pressed a finger to her lips.
For a week she had constantly picked on Siklaen, and even tried to slap her.
If Jen hadn’t stopped me, I probably really would have hit her.
Of course Siklaen wouldn’t want to eat with her now. All Ria planned to do was watch quietly for a moment before leaving.
Just then, a red-haired girl at Siklaen’s table shoved her chair back with a screech and stood up. Everyone turned to look at her.
“Erni?”
“How can you all eat so comfortably? You must have strong stomachs.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I don’t eat with people below my level.”
Everyone stared in confusion, except for Siklaen, who lowered her gaze, avoiding eye contact.
Erni looked straight at her, deliberately, and said:
“What would you think if a maid sat next to you and demanded to eat together?”
A few students noticed her gaze and turned toward Siklaen.
“A maid? What are you saying…?”
“Ah, maybe it’s an insult to compare. Of course, I mean the maid’s side.”
What the hell?
From her hiding spot, Ria’s face turned cold.
Does she know about Siklaen’s past?
Siklaen kept her eyes fixed on her food. Some students, sensing the strange atmosphere, rose quietly and stood beside Erni.
Erni, looking triumphant, opened her mouth again—
But before she could speak, Ria strode toward the table without thinking.
“My lady!” Isabel called in alarm, but Ria ignored her. She hadn’t wanted to get involved, but if she didn’t, Siklaen’s past would be exposed to everyone. She already knew what Erni was about to say.
[So what if she looks like a marquis’s daughter? Her blood is filthy.]
That line belonged to Ria herself in the original story.
“Looks like…”
As Erni began to speak, Ria grabbed her chair with a thud. Every eye turned to her at once.
Ria knew well what people said about her: the foul-tempered youngest daughter of the mighty Kavelik family, second in power only to the Imperial house; the only girl who dared speak informally to the Crown Prince.
In other words, there was no one here of higher status than her.
As expected, one noble girl quickly stood and bowed.
“L-Lady Kavelik! I am Ti—of Baron Petshu’s house—”
“Enough.”
Ria cut her off with a wave.
All the girls, except for Siklaen, stood nervously, glancing between each other and Ria. But Ria’s eyes were locked only on Erni.
The spotlight shifted. Erni swallowed hard and introduced herself.
“…Lady Kavelik. I am Erni, second daughter of Count Evon.”
She bowed deeply.
Ria feigned boredom and asked:
“From where?”
“…Pardon?”
“From which count’s house, you said?”
Her tone was openly condescending. The other girls, sensing trouble, edged away from Erni.
“A-… Count Evon’s… Erni…”
Her face reddened, her voice shrinking.
“I can’t hear you when you mumble.”
Erni cleared her throat and tried again, louder.
“From Count Evon’s—”
But Ria interrupted again.
“Oh, is that it? Maybe I don’t talk to people below my level, so I couldn’t hear.”
Her words echoed Erni’s own from earlier. Everyone fell silent, holding their breath.
Ria glared at Erni and dragged her chair forward. Erni stumbled backward, nearly losing her balance.
Expressionless, Ria said:
“Move. I’m eating here.”
Erni’s face flushed crimson.
“L-Lady Kavelik! But if you knew the truth about her—”
Before Erni could bring up Siklaen again, Ria shoved the food on the table roughly aside.
Clang—Crash!
Dishes shattered loudly, drawing the entire dining hall’s attention.
Ria sat down heavily in the chair and shouted:
“Isabel!”
The maid, who had been standing nervously in the distance, scurried over at once. Ria crossed her legs haughtily and commanded:
“Bring me my meal.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“And not this…”
She glanced at the dishes she had pushed away.
“Not this low-class stuff. Something that matches my level.”
