- You…!
- What!? Are you going to hit me?
Tilia, despite facing a man head and shoulders above her, showed no signs of retreating. Instead, she looked at him with a quizzical look, a soft smile playing on her lips.
“You came all the way here, shaking with fear, afraid that I might say something.” Do you even have the courage to hit? You will be immediately expelled for this.
Although Tilia did not know Gregory's entire plan, she understood perfectly well why he followed her.
- Don't worry. I will not tell your beloved father, the Honorable Earl Myers, about your dirty words. But in return...,” she said quietly, watching him flinch at the mention of his father.
- You'll have to apologize.
- …What?
- Apologize. Or admit that you are no better than a dog rummaging through garbage.
The moment Gregory met Tilia Ambrose's fierce, sparkling green eyes, he realized his mistake. He should never have talked to her. He should have turned and walked away after the first insult. She was the daughter of a poor baronial family, notorious for their viciousness. He fell into her network.
Damn it.
Gregory knew that Tilia Ambrose was not the type of person who would hesitate to take action. He frantically looked around for help, but all he saw were people gawking at what was happening and waiting for the outcome. There was no one who could get him out of this situation.
- What are you doing? - Tilia pressed. - Still thinking about it? For the record, I'm okay with being hit. If one strike gets you expelled after a long stay here, that's more than enough. Come on, Gregory.
- You…!
Unable to contain his rage any longer, Gregory Myers's fist began to shake, but then a voice interrupted him.
- Stop, Gregory.
Gregory turned his head towards the voice, and there she was - Cecilia Clayton, daughter of the Marquess of Clayton, walking up the stairs with fiery red hair, shining like a May rose. She was the lifeline Gregory had been waiting for.
- Cecilia!
- Gregory, why are you always so desperate to pick quarrels with the ladies?
Unlike Gregory, whose face lit up with relief, Cecilia's pale blue eyes sparkled with disapproval.
- You should be ashamed.
As the eldest daughter of the Clayton family who had been close to the Myers family for a long time, Cecilia scolded him severely.
- What are you waiting for? Get out of here.
- T-Tilia, you should be grateful to Cecilia for saving you! - Gregory spat out the phrase of a third-rate villain, running away as if he had just been given a reprieve.
-Are you okay, Tilia?
Tilia, who had been watching Gregory's retreating figure, turned her head towards Cecilia's voice.
-You must be really shocked.
The sound of expensive, jeweled shoes could be heard as Cecilia stood next to Tilia's worn shoes.
- What can you do? Boys are stupid by nature. Just forget about it.
Cecilia's ocean blue eyes softened. Her fiery red hair, contrasting with those clear blue eyes, complemented her striking features, earning her the nickname "Rose of the Blue Sea."
As soon as Cecilia intervened, the surrounding spectators, who were expecting an argument, quickly lost interest and turned away.
But when she looked at Tilia, a subtle crack appeared on Cecilia’s warm face, which was not easy to notice.
"She really is a troublemaker."
Cecilia carefully looked Tilia from head to toe. The first thing that caught her eye was the gray uniform, unchanged since it had first been issued. Buttons and ribbon were the simplest designs, and the uniforms were not tailored.
Then Cecilia's gaze fell on Tilia's scuffed shoes, and for a moment there was a flicker of sympathy in her pale blue eyes.
Tilia Ambrose - no money, no connections and not even an ounce of cunning. A stupid girl who seemed to think that all she had to do was study hard to graduate at the top.
“Why does she live such a hard life? She needs to know there is an easier and safer way.”
Cecilia's gaze slid from Tilia's poor outfit to her face.
...Maybe it's just his type?
For a moment Cecilia thought of Ilex Davenport, whose eyes lingered on the path leading to the library. No matter how harshly she judged Tilia, if she kept her mouth shut, her flawless skin and delicate features would surely attract many men.
Her raven hair, although not a popular color in the kingdom, shone with a healthy shine, and her piercing green eyes, although rebellious, had a captivating charm.
What a pity.
What a pity that such a smart person has no idea about reality.
"She'd rather use another weapon than waste time studying."
Even if Tilia had graduated second in her class, it was a world with a strict social hierarchy. No matter how much the world shakes with unrest, she will never surpass Gregory Myers.
Having finished her thoughts, Cecilia said tenderly:
- Tilia, are you going to study again?
- Yes. After all, it's exam period.
- Such an exemplary student. When I watch you study, I start to worry about my own grades.
- You, as always, can handle it, Cecilia. See you later.
-...Wait, Tilia.
Cecilia shouted impulsively as Tilia turned to leave.
- Do you plan to get a job after graduating from the academy?
Asking any other noble lady if she was going to work would be terribly rude, but this was Tilia Ambrose. Everyone in the kingdom knew that the Ambrose family was practically ruined.
As Cecilia expected, Tilia showed no signs of being offended and calmly asked:
- What if yes?
“The secretary who works in the office of our family’s estate just got married,” Cecilia said cheerfully, her eyes shining, “so there is a vacancy in our estate.” I could write you a letter of recommendation... What do you think?
Although Cecilia felt a little awkward inviting someone like Tilia to the family estate, she felt that it would be better than leaving her in the capital in poverty.
- It would be better than working as a teacher in some other family. It is much more respectable to be a secretary in the marquis's estate.
Tilia, who had stopped midway, now turned fully towards Cecilia. The sunlight fell at a sharp angle, illuminating her black hair and white face. Her dark green eyes, slightly translucent under the bright sunlight, contrasted with her black hair, which seemed to absorb the light, becoming even darker.
- Thank you, Cecilia.
- It's not worth it. We must help each other as classmates.
- Thank you, but I will only consider this option if my grades deteriorate.
Wishing her a good day with a bright smile, Tilia turned away without hesitation. Judy Wells, unremarkable as always, trailed behind her, trying to keep up.
What pride, Cecilia thought as she watched Tilia's worn uniform disappear into the distance. She laughed softly, but the sound gave off a chill.
How stupid.
No wonder she clung so desperately to her scholarship.
Annoyed that she felt even the slightest sympathy for Tilia, Cecilia quickly turned and left. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get rid of the nagging thoughts about that poor girl who had just left.
The path to the library, which Ilex had watched so intently some time ago, stretched, bordered by trees, and there, at the end of it, was that same blue-black hair.
“...No, this is funny.”
Cecilia laughed at her ridiculous thoughts and shook her head.
A lot of people walked along this path. Of course, Ilex did not follow this impudent girl. It was just her imagination. After all, Ilex Davenport wasn't the type to look at anyone's back.
And there never will be.
Cecilia threw away these thoughts with a cold smile and left without hesitation.
***
- Ugh, Gregory Myers is the worst of them all, isn't he? He's famous for hanging out with creeps,” Judy grumbled as they entered the library, all the while casting wary glances at Tilia.
- This guy doesn't even realize it, but he says nasty things about every girl. Do you think he's only ever hit on one person? He probably insults anyone he sees.
Judy, who was seething with anger and waving her fists in the air, looked at Tilia again.
“You know, Tilia... you don’t have to be offended by what he said.”
- I'm not offended.
- When did Gregory ever say something like that? If you had told me, I would have joined in and scolded him.
“I was so focused on studying that I don’t even remember.” And, to be honest, I already forgot about it.
Judy still looked skeptical, but Tilia was telling the truth.
Contrary to her friend's fears, nothing Gregory said bothered her in the slightest. Even Cecilia's subtle teasing did not affect her. The words of privileged nobles who grew up in good homes were too blunt to hurt Tilia.
“...But anyway, promise me that next time you’ll tell me.” Fine?
When Judy, convinced that her friend was deeply hurt, spoke with genuine concern, Tilia responded with a playful grin.
- What would you do if I told you?
- Of course, I would resist them together with you! I would curse them!
-Can you swear?
- Certainly!
Tilia, amused that her usually shy friend was trying to act tough, smiled warmly.
- Those sons of bitches! Where do they get the impudence...?
- J-Judy!
But when Judy suddenly began to swear angrily, Tilia’s face turned pale, and she rushed to cover her friend’s mouth.
- This is a library!
- Oh, exactly.
Judy, who had just shocked everyone in the library with her aggressive outburst, suddenly pulled back, embarrassed.
- Where did you even learn these curse words?
- My brothers taught me. Told me to use them when needed.
Judy's innocent explanation left Tilia speechless for a moment. She had almost forgotten that Judy was the youngest daughter of the Wells family, known for producing fierce knights.
“Next time I’ll definitely scold them.” Do you understand, Tilia? Just leave it to me.
Tilia couldn't help but laugh at her friend's overly serious expression. It was such a bright laugh that it again attracted the attention of those who had turned away for a moment.