Episode 8 – Confrontation

*

It was a hectic morning.

In front of the academy’s main gate, a crowd of people waited anxiously for something.

After some time, a carriage approached from afar.

The carriage, pulled by a muscular white horse that was clearly a fine steed, looked luxurious at a glance.

The body, made of high-quality wood that highlighted the natural grain without flashy decorations, was inlaid with the family’s coat of arms in gold leaf.

The symbol of the ‘Boldiras Family,’ which wielded enough power to make even a flying bird fall in the Empire.

20 years ago, it was Robin’s, who defeated the Demon King and rose from commoner status to the position of Count,

It was the Hero’s crest.

The gold-leaf crest, depicting a sword cutting through the center of the rising sun, glittered in the sunlight.

The onlookers admired it, and some even applauded.

Even in this city of commerce dominated by economic logic, no one scorned his high achievements and honor.

As the carriage slowly came to a stop, Headmaster Majier walked out from the crowd and approached the carriage.

Rose and Banata stood behind the headmaster.

I stared intensely at the door of the stopped carriage.

Who is it? Who’s coming?

Is it Jennifer, or Robin?

Could it be Mela?

I had prepared to handle whoever came today, but I wasn’t sure if my composure would hold when I faced them.

A young coachman, who looked like a secretary, put down the reins, got off, opened the carriage door, and waited with his head bowed for his master to come out.

A woman emerged from the carriage, gently holding the doorframe with her white, slender fingers.

Majier bowed and greeted her.

“Aureo Academy sincerely welcomes the visit of Countess Boldiras.”

“You can call me Jennifer, Headmaster Majier.”

“I’m sorry to trouble you with this matter.”

The person who got out of the carriage was Jennifer.

That day.

She mocked me as I was dying and snatched the dagger from my hand.

Unlike Lara, Jennifer had aged with the passage of 20 years.

Her already sharp impression had been further honed by power and achievement, making her intimidating to approach.

Even in her forties, she wore a tight-fitting dress that accentuated her figure, and her red hair, braided into a single strand, cascaded over her large, puffed-up chest, symbolizing her desire to show off.

‘Jennifer…’

It’s a good thing I’m wearing a mask.

The moment I saw her face, I lost my composure and glared at her fiercely.

I clenched my teeth, blood vessels stood out in my eyes and neck, and the muscles in my face twitched angrily.

I forced myself to look away from her to hide my anger.

My lost gaze landed on Rose, who was standing next to me.

Rose was pale and trembling.

Jennifer didn’t even glance at Rose and was listening to the headmaster’s account of what had happened yesterday.

Only after Majier finished his brief explanation did Jennifer shift her gaze to glare at Rose.

“M… Mother.”

“…”

“Mother, I… I can explain,”

“Shouldn’t you greet me first? Rose.”

“Ah…”

“What’s wrong? Don’t you know how to greet someone?”

“Ah… How have you been… Mother…”

Jennifer strode towards Rose.

As Jennifer approached, Rose’s eyes trembled more and more, and her body shook as if she had a chill.

Soon, Jennifer was close enough to touch her, and even her breathing became irregular.

I was wondering why she feared her mother to this extent when.

Jennifer slapped Rose across the cheek, who couldn’t even meet her eyes.

*Ttsaak-*

The sound of the crack echoed around, and the surroundings fell silent.

In this wide space, among so many people, the only sound was the horse’s rough breathing.

Rose staggered and then collapsed.

I was so surprised that I momentarily forgot my anger and looked at Jennifer.

Headmaster Majier, Banata, and the onlookers who had gathered to see the Hero’s family were the same.

She had slapped her own daughter in front of all these people with enough force to make her stagger and fall.

It was by no means a level of discipline.

“Rose, you’ve made me realize something new.”

“Ah… Ugh…”

“That you can be greatly disappointed even in a child you don’t expect anything from.”

“Ah… Heu… Heueuk.”

Rose burst into tears as she lay on the ground.

It was a sight that left even me speechless.

I wondered if it was Jennifer’s trick to take the initiative so strongly that I couldn’t argue further.

But Jennifer’s eyes as she looked at Rose were so cold that I couldn’t be sure.

She left her daughter crying on the ground and approached me.

“Are you Baron Salvie?”

“Yes, it’s an honor to meet you, Madam.”

“I’ve heard that you provide free food for the poor and workers and that you work hard for the city and its people in many ways.”

“No, how can I say that I’m working hard in front of a member of the legendary Hero party who has built a legendary achievement for the Empire. I’m ashamed that you would say that.”

“I heard you were attacked when you were considering a large donation to the academy.”

She stopped talking and looked at my face intently.

Don’t be nervous, there’s no way I’ll be found out.

I’ve put a lot of effort into hiding my identity.

I changed my accent to match the setting of being a foreigner,

I dyed my blue-gray hair black, and I’m wearing a burn scar and a mask on my face.

I also hid the thief’s characteristic quiet footsteps and posture.

I didn’t even bring Lily today, in case she might remember.

I forcibly calmed the tension that had spread throughout my body and looked at her confidently.

Jennifer stared at me,

And said with a slight bow.

“My foolish daughter has caused you harm.”

“… Ah, yes.”

“I apologize on behalf of her as a parent, Baron.”

“Please raise your head, Madam.”

“I hope you’ll let go of your anger for my sake. And, I hope you’ll decide on the academy sponsorship regardless of this incident.”

I’m flustered. The Jennifer I know would never apologize?

I couldn’t think that time had dulled her.

Rose, who is lying there crying, proves it.

I hid my doubts and spoke to Jennifer.

“It seems there’s a deep conflict between Rose-yang and Banata-yang here,”

“Eh… Y-yes! M-me?”

I grabbed Banata’s hand, who had been slightly retreating, and pulled her next to me.

Banata was flustered by the sudden call, but she was weakly dragged by my hand.

Jennifer raised her head and looked down at Banata.

Banata’s spirit was completely broken by the gaze alone, and her two ears were completely hidden in her hair.

“You seem to be doing well, Banata.”

“I… It’s been a while. Madam Anjuin…”

“Yes, I heard you were involved, and I could roughly guess what happened.”

“I… I’m s-sorry…”

“You don’t have to apologize.”

Banata carefully looked up at Jennifer.

Jennifer’s face was completely expressionless.

Banata couldn’t even scream, and her face was turning blue.

I was able to roughly grasp the past of Banata and Rose by combining the letter I obtained from Banata, the information I found in Rose’s room last night, and Lara’s story.

Banata is the daughter Robin had with a maid.

Jennifer, who didn’t like Banata, sent her to an orphanage.

Although she was a daughter born out of wedlock, Robin, as a father, helped the orphanage in many ways and provided her with support,

Rose, who was oppressed under her parents’ names and ignored by Jennifer, hated Banata very much and constantly harassed her.

Rose’s high level of criticism and insults hid this story.

And, of course, Jennifer couldn’t have liked Banata, who had created the current situation.

I held Banata’s frightened hand tightly.

Banata felt the grip on her hand and hid behind me, clinging to my arm.

“I believe you’ve heard, but I’m Banata-yang’s patron.”

“… I know you became her patron after the incident. I will apologize for the injuries, but I’m a little uncomfortable with further intervention.”

“If I hadn’t intervened, Banata-yang would have been seriously injured.”

“Hmm…”

Jennifer cleared her throat and looked at Banata behind me.

Banata didn’t make eye contact, but she felt the gaze and trembled, pressing her body against my back.

Jennifer sighed once and put her hand between her breasts.

There was an “Ooh” sound from the onlookers.

Jennifer pulled a cane from between her breasts and waved it at Rose.

Rose, who had been lying on the floor, was forcibly raised like a doll on a string.

“Apologize to Banata. Rose.”

*

Contrary to the high tension, the incident was resolved quite smoothly.

Banata said that she didn’t need to suffer humiliation in front of so many people because of a student dispute, and suggested that she apologize separately later.

The suggestion was a consideration unrelated to Banata’s feelings.

It was because Rose was not in her right mind right now.

Jennifer agreed and said that she would deliver an apology later with a small gift, and then took Rose into the school with the guidance of an employee.

I paid the headmaster, who promised proper punishment, a donation that was twice the amount I had originally thought.

I was also responsible for the carriage fee, which I had hurriedly paid last night for the reception, as an apology for making the matter bigger.

The punishment Rose received was a one-semester suspension.

Jennifer said that she would stay in Plavis for a month while she was at the academy to do research, and then take Rose back to the capital.

I smiled at the news and repeated.

‘One month.’

I vowed to make Jennifer’s month a living hell.

.