Chapter 16: Strong mental strength

I entered the classroom, already filled with students. I was late again.

Everyone looked serious. Had a massive assignment been given?

The usual chatter was absent, replaced by hushed whispers and anxious glances.

I sat next to Linne, my usual spot.

Curious, I eavesdropped on the whispers, and the content was shocking.

Apparently, Linne had beaten up several students yesterday.

And several witnesses saw her carrying them away, presumably to…dispose of them.

She was more dangerous than I thought.

Though I was used to her now,
when I first met her, she looked capable of burying someone alive.

I instinctively straightened my posture and clasped my hands respectfully.

As a Duke’s daughter, I should maintain proper decorum.

It had nothing to do with being intimidated, of course.

I also overheard rumors of her training and keeping small, cute girls as pets…
I’d chosen the wrong “friend.”

…Wait, small and cute?

A shiver ran down my spine.

I’d stumbled upon something I shouldn’t know.

So that’s why she’d been so clingy…

The image of the seemingly brainwashed wolf beastkin flashed through my mind. I’d wondered why she was so devoted to Linne. Perhaps ignorance was bliss.

Was she planning to do the same to me?

Turning me into a cuddly, affectionate pet, begging for attention and food?

The thought of snuggling in Linne’s arms, acting cute and begging for pats, made me blush.

I would never let Linne train me like a pet.

I shook my head, dispelling the disturbing images.

Linne, who’d been staring at me intently, remained nonchalant, as if such criminal behavior was normal.

I had no one to rely on in this vast academy, except my rarely-seen sister. I worried about surviving this place with my sanity intact.

“Um…Elena?”

A familiar voice interrupted my thoughts. I felt a surge of irritation.

I turned and saw the blue-haired noble lady who’d provoked me into violence yesterday.

“Ugh… what do you want?”

“I’m not here to bother you today. I just wanted to apologize for yesterday.”

She seemed sincere.
But I couldn’t trust my judgment in this place.

Besides, an apology wouldn’t change anything.

“Ellie, your friend seems remorseful. Why don’t you forgive her?”

Linne spoke up as I remained silent.

Had she already been won over?
I trusted her even less now.

I responded sharply, expressing my distrust.

“Why should I? Because of you, I had to resort to violence yesterday.”

Look at that. My words cracked her apologetic facade.

A little more prodding, and her true colors would show.

“You were rolling around on the ground like a worm, without a shred of noble dignity yesterday. I must commend your audacity.”

“Wh…what?! I lack dignity? I’m a worm? You were the one who made me like that…!”

My taunts worked. Her true nature revealed itself instantly.

“Ahem, let’s stop the insults. I sincerely apologize for yesterday, Elena.”

She regained her composure quickly. A formidable opponent.
She wasn’t giving up easily.

I decided to accept her apology for now.

I could just avoid her in the future.

“Fine. But I won’t be so forgiving next time.”

“Really? Thank you, Elena!”

Foolish girl.
She was so happy, completely oblivious to my true intentions. Let her enjoy her victory while it lasts.

I smirked internally and lay down on my desk, succumbing to exhaustion.

I congratulated myself for my unwavering resolve against these perverts.

My reward was a well-deserved nap.

****

Poke, poke—

“Hmm…ngh…”

My senses returned, accompanied by a relentless poking in my side.

And my cheek tickled. Someone was definitely touching it.

“Hngh…! Stop!”

“Oh, you’re awake?”

Gasp…!

I yelled at Linne, then remembered the rumors I’d overheard.

I quickly assessed her expression. Was she upset? Thankfully, she seemed oblivious, as usual.

I used to think she was plotting my demise whenever she stared blankly, but

now she just seemed like a pervert obsessed with my side.

“Elena, you’re awake! It’s lunchtime.”

Why was she here?

The blue-haired noble lady stood next to Linne, acting friendly.

She must have been the one stroking my cheek. She apologized earlier, and now she’s back? Talk about thick-skinned.

“Don’t give me that look.”

“Cut the crap and tell me why you’re here.”

I had neither the energy nor the desire to deal with her.
But she persisted, pushing her agenda.

“I’m here as Linea’s friend. As Linea’s friend, you’re practically my friend too, right?”

Who said we were friends?
I had no intention of accepting her, yet she kept talking.

“That’s ridiculous…”

“As a friend, let me formally introduce myself. I’m Sara Drayce, from House Drayce. Pleased to meet you, Elena.”

I had no idea who she was.

Well, there was one thing I knew.

“Of course, Sara. I know all about your family. Your house and mine are sworn enemies, aren’t they?”

Not exactly in a good way.

Forgive me for resorting to such petty tactics, Sara, but I have no choice.

One perverted “friend” was enough.

“That’s ancient history from our fathers’ generation. I’m surprised anyone still talks about it. Our families are on good terms now.”

…I wasn’t falling for it. I wouldn’t even write to Father for a while.

****

“It’s okay, Ellie. These things happen.”

“…”

Sara, the clingy, fake-smiling girl, was now calling me by a nickname.

I was currently face-down on Linne’s back, being carried to the dining hall.

I’d collapsed during my conversation with Sara, and Linne decided to carry me.

I pretended to be asleep.

Why was Sara talking to someone who was clearly unconscious?

“If you keep ignoring me…hee hee…”

Sara started playing with my cheek, pulling and stretching it.

But she wouldn’t break through my deeply rooted self-loathing with such petty tactics.

I kept my face buried in Linne’s back, enjoying her scent, until we reached the dining hall.

The beastkin gave me a pitying look, but
I ignored her.

Munch, munch—

Linne started feeding me again.
This was surprisingly convenient. I might become unable to feed myself.

“Want to try this?”

“Sure…munch, munch…”

Hmm, the explosion of flavors in my mouth was exquisite.
Like fireworks, a festival of fire in my mouth.

“Ugh…! Spicy! Water! Waa…!”

“Here, Ellie!”

Glug, glug—

“Huff… pant…”

Why did the academy dining hall have such dangerous weapons?
And why was one in my mouth?

I looked up, tears streaming down my face, and saw Sara laughing gleefully.

“Hee…haa… I never get tired of this.”

“Sara, you…”

Seeing Sara, also teary-eyed and gasping for breath, made my fists clench.

But with great power comes great responsibility.
I wouldn’t use violence today.

I suppressed my anger and let Linne continue feeding me.

On the way back from the dining hall,

our group had grown to three humans and one animal, with the addition of Sara.

I wasn’t thrilled.
More people meant more potential threats to my safety.

Like walking around with ticking time bombs.

But I couldn’t bring myself to push them away.

I initially wanted to keep everyone at arm’s length.

They were all potential perverts, after all. That’s how I viewed the academy students.

But these girls were…different.

“Your chubby cheeks are the best, Ellie.”

I didn’t understand why.
Perhaps their energy was a refreshing change.

“Sara, you haven’t touched Ellie’s waist before. Her soft sides are the best.”

I ignored their weird discussion about their favorite parts of my body.

“…Ellie?”

A voice I longed to hear called my name from behind.

Sister.

Her voice sounded colder than I remembered.

“Sister!”

Linne tried to stop me again, but
I pushed her hand away and hugged Sister.

She usually hugged me back tightly, but today was different.

“You should be nice to your friends.”

She pushed me away gently, a smile on her face.

“S…Sister?”

This had never happened before.

Why?

Had she grown tired of me?

Did she not love me like she used to?

“I’ll be going now. Have fun with your…friends, Ellie.”

I finally understood.

Sister thought I was happy with my friends.

But it wasn’t true.
I was struggling to survive in this place.

She was letting me go because I seemed to have friends now.

This was all their fault.

They kept getting between me and Sister, pushing me further away.

No matter how much I craved their company, they weren’t Sister.

I sat down, watching Sister walk away, my fists clenched.