Ch.63Academy (2)

The incident began from a trivial dispute.

Regardless of age or gender, groups of people tend to follow similar patterns.

Adults often underestimate children’s social abilities, but this is merely a narrow-minded view. Despite their young age, as humans, children form social agreements and live together as a community.

In other words, just as adult society appears upright on the surface but has its dark sides, children’s society is the same.

When adults point fingers at others, children do the same. They often criticize others for being vulgar while ignoring their own behavior.

That is, bullying and ostracism.

At the Academy, a place for both learning and socializing, it’s common for adults’ negative traits to influence children.

Therefore, the reality of the Academy that Eshtiel witnessed was not surprising at all.

“Hey, beggar.”

A boy rudely threw out those words. And like a frog hit by a carelessly thrown stone, a girl let out a groan.

“Ugh…”

One side snickered while the other lowered her eyes, creating a stark contrast. Born into a class-based society, they were faithfully replicating the cruel underbelly of the Academy.

“How long are you going to bring cheap food from home? The ingredients obviously look low quality.”

When the boy who seemed to be the leader sneered, giggles filled the classroom from both boys and girls around him. However, the girl could only move her lips without properly fighting back.

After enduring silently, all she could say was an apology.

“I-I’m sorry…”

“If you’re sorry, then ask me for a favor. Say you have no money and ask me to buy you a meal.”

“…”

The girl pressed her lips tightly shut. She had no other choice but to do so.

Despite being looked down upon, she was still a lower-ranking noble. Though her family circumstances were worse than those of wealthy commoners, making her life difficult, the girl with a noble identity didn’t want to beg for food, even if it meant going hungry.

After all, she was just bringing lunch from home, not actually starving.

“…hic.”

Plop.

Unable to bear the sadness in her young heart, tears fell from the girl’s eyes. As if fueled by her pitiful state, the children cackled. They were living proof that even at a young age, one could harbor malice comparable to adults.

It was against this backdrop that the heroine who would overturn the situation made her appearance.

“What are you doing?”

Eshtiel.

A girl shorter than her peers with awkward pronunciation finally got up from her seat.

In fact, Eshtiel had been observing their behavior since entering the classroom. Surprisingly, no one had bullied her, but no one had approached her warmly either. Eshtiel had simply sat quietly, planning to adjust gradually over the day.

“What?”

The boy acting as the leader asked in apparent confusion.

“Tsk tsk, that’s not right. Friends should get along well with each other.”

“You… you…?”

The boy stammered with an extremely perplexed expression.

It was a perfectly natural reaction.

Whether they liked it or not, there was a reason they hadn’t approached Eshtiel. Rumors about her were well-known in social circles, and parents had repeatedly warned their children.

The sister of the Grand Duke of Elhader, who was called the Pinwheel Knight Commander, the child of the deposed, and the hero of Carnar Kingdom… and who, for some reason, had the Emperor’s trust.

Moreover, this sister wasn’t just a lady but held the proper title of Countess.

They had been earnestly instructed that if they couldn’t be friendly with her, they should at least not antagonize her.

‘Why is she suddenly acting like this…?’

The boy who had been ruling the class was bewildered.

The boy’s name was Shturn, the third son of Marquis Charne. Being from the most prestigious background in the third-grade elementary class and having a large build, it hadn’t taken him long to take control of the class.

‘I left her alone because she was quiet…’

Even to him, just a year older, Eshtiel was very pretty. That’s why he hadn’t wanted to unnecessarily assert his authority. There was something about Eshtiel that made him feel like he would automatically become trash if he picked a fight with her.

But what could he do now?

Eshtiel had stood in his way. If this short girl raised her head high while he lowered his, the hierarchy would instantly flip.

To Shturn, his position in the class was more important than any adult warnings. The Academy, where he spent most of his day, was the entire world to the young boy.

Therefore, Shturn hid his uneasiness and confidently put his hands on his hips.

“Why don’t you stay out of it if it doesn’t concern you? You’re just a transfer student.”

“Tsk tsk.”

Despite the clear provocation, Eshtiel remained composed. She even wagged her index finger with both hands as if giving advice.

“Let me explain since you don’t seem to know. From today, I’m a student in this class. So I’m related to everyone here.”

“What is this…”

“And you shouldn’t bully friends. If you like someone, you should treat them kindly. That’s how people show they like each other. Lying while having lots of ‘like’ feelings is bad.”

“You… what… are you… saying?!”

At that moment, Eshtiel’s statement began to spread like ink in water with tremendous impact.

“Like her? Shturn likes her?”

“No way. He couldn’t possibly like someone so poor and shabby…”

“What if he really does like her?”

“If it’s true…”

Following Eshtiel’s pointed remark, the children collectively nodded as if entranced. Now they had stepped back from being participants and were watching from the position of interested observers.

As public opinion formed strangely, Shturn shouted loudly.

“I don’t!!”

“But you do.”

“I said I don’t!!!”

“My big sister Serin says strong denial is strong affirmation.”

“Argh!”

Bang! Bang!

Shturn pounded his chest roughly as if anger was rising up to his solar plexus. Regarding this, Eshtiel merely offered a leisurely observation.

“Wow, like a gorilla.”

“Hey!!!”

Shturn, who had been screeching, glared at Eshtiel with a face flushed red. Then, as if showing off, he stomped toward Eshtiel.

“You… come here.”

“Hmm?”

While Eshtiel tilted her head in confusion, Shturn grabbed her hand. He tried to drag her away, but…

She didn’t budge!

Eshtiel didn’t move an inch. The girl who had seemed so fragile was standing firmly like a pillar. It felt like trying to pull a tree with deep roots.

The image that flashed through Shturn’s mind was being ridiculed in front of everyone.

They would say he couldn’t even overpower one girl despite acting so tough. The future of being mocked as a boy weaker than a girl made his mind go blank.

“You… won’t you come here?!”

“I don’t want to.”

Whoosh!

Eshtiel suddenly pulled her arm. Shturn, who had been gripping her wrist tightly, tilted toward Eshtiel as if drawn by a magnet.

It would have been better if he had just been pulled off balance.

Unfortunately, one chair leg obstructed Shturn’s path, and his foot caught on it, causing him to fall with a loud thud.

Boom!

The sound of his fall was truly magnificent.

For five seconds afterward, the classroom was silent.

Shturn felt the peak of shame, thinking everyone was quiet because they were watching his embarrassing state. It was clear that the longer he stayed on the floor, the more his honor would fall. Therefore, Shturn forgot his pain and jumped up, glaring intensely.

“You…”

He clenched his fist in front of the innocent-looking girl. He felt that he needed to slap her and make her cry to fully restore his position.

Just one hit.

One hit would be enough.

With that one strike, everyone in the class would look up to him again.

“You…!”

Just as he was about to raise his hand…

A strand of reason that hadn’t yet been severed reminded him of his strict father’s warning.

[You can cause most kinds of trouble. Even if you spill coffee on a professor’s hair, I can clean it up. But remember just one thing. The Grand Duke of Elhader who’s being appointed as an Academy teacher this time, and that little Countess Elenot—they’re off-limits.]

He had seen his father’s stern and resolute side many times before, but at that moment, his father had been more serious than ever.

[Not only does His Majesty trust him deeply, but Carnar’s Second Prince calls him a friend. Moreover, the Princess of the kingdom even praised him as her benefactor. And it’s well-known that the Grand Duke treats that little Countess like his own sister. If you accidentally offend them, it could lead straight to our family’s ruin. Do you understand?]

Do you understand?

Those final words instantly repaired his fraying reason.

Whoosh…

As he came to his senses, a chill ran down his spine. Shturn hesitated for a long time, unable to either extend or withdraw his hand that had risen to his ear.

“I, I…”

What should I do?

His pride had been so important that he had almost done something he shouldn’t have.

“I…!”

Now fear washed over him.

He was afraid of being punished by his father, and he dreaded the future of becoming the laughingstock of the class.

“I… am…”

Shturn was just a ten-year-old child, only one year older than Eshtiel. In his confusion, he desperately racked his brain.

What he came up with was quite a self-defeating move.

“I challenge you to a duel…!”

A duel. A duel should be fine. It’s a fair and gentlemanly method, so it might be a way to save face.

If he wins, everything would be resolved.

He might not be praised for winning against a girl, but at least he wouldn’t be looked down upon. He would only have to endure ridicule for a day or two.

That’s all.

That was the extent of Shturn’s calculation.

‘If she refuses… even better.’

Refusal would be the best scenario.

He could sway public opinion by claiming Eshtiel had backed down herself.

But as with all bitter tastes in life, ominous premonitions often come true, and second-best options are frequently forced upon us instead of the best ones.

“Hmmmmmm…”

Eshtiel placed her hand under her chin.

And then…

Grin.

With a devilish smile, she boldly met Shturn’s eyes.

“I like it.”

With that one phrase, many people’s fortunes diverged.

“…!”

“Uh… uhhhhh…?!”

“The transfer student… is going to face off against Shturn!”

“But in what?”

“That’s…”

Eshtiel’s establishment of the hierarchy was thus decided through the peaceful competition of arm wrestling.

And it was an undeniable fact.

Currently, they were living in a period when girls were typically stronger than boys,

And Eshtiel was an absolute champion with arm muscles trained from years of laundry work in her childhood.

“I’m done.”

“Woooooah!”

With the gallant heroine’s declaration, the class atmosphere instantly heated up.

It was spring.