Chapter 11: A Happy Break (2)
Lunch tea time should have been a relaxing moment, but the only one at ease was the girl sitting across from Iris.
She appeared serene, her eyes gently closed, but her inner thoughts were far from as beautiful as her outward demeanor suggested.
With long golden hair and a calm, gentle expression, she might have seemed kind. But in truth, she was a cruel sadist.
Those who had been used by her cursed her as an irredeemable wretch.
Those ruined by her influence wailed her name in anguish, damning her existence. Yet, she paid no mind to any of it.
Why would she? They were nothing but rabble, barking their frustrations to no avail.
To Stefania, it mattered little what such trifles thought. To her, they were toys—meant to be played with and discarded.
The only things that mattered were her own amusement and those who stood above her.
That’s why she liked Iris.
It was rare to find someone among the nobility who knew their place, someone who tried so earnestly—albeit clumsily—to please her.
And Iris’s helpless, trembling compliance, even when treated as beneath her, was a source of twisted fascination for Stefania.
She was too precious to discard after a mere few games.
Sending Baek Hoyeon to gather intelligence on the Baek Empire was of little consequence.
Stefania’s true intent had simply been to delight in seeing Iris struggle, panicking as she stumbled through her task.
Yet, when Iris returned with unexpected information, how could Stefania resist rewarding her? That was the reason she had suddenly summoned Iris today—to give her a well-deserved reward.
“Iris?”
“…Lady Stefania.”
Hearing Iris’s voice, still thick with tears as though she’d been crying on her way over, pleased Stefania greatly.
“You should drink before the tea gets cold, yes? I had it prepared just the way you like. Or perhaps you’re not in the mood today?”
She considered teasing Iris further, imagining all the ways she could make the girl squirm.
But Stefania restrained herself, fearing she might break her plaything. After all, this meeting was meant to reward Iris, not punish her.
Stefania wanted to enjoy Iris’s company for a long time.
“N-no… It’s just…”
“Pausing is fine, but you really should drink it quickly, don’t you think?”
Iris felt as though she were staring down a venomous snake. Stefania’s smile, though charming on the surface, carried an unmistakable threat.
Iris was certain that one day Stefania would strike, sinking her fangs deep.
Even so, Iris couldn’t cut ties with her. Her family’s lives, the rise and fall of their noble house—all of it depended on Stefania’s whims.
The teacup extended to her felt like a poisoned chalice. Resigning herself to her fate, Iris swallowed the tea, lamenting both her family’s dependence and her own powerlessness.
The tea was the perfect temperature—not too hot, not too cold—with a smooth texture and a delightful aroma.
It was so well-made that, for a brief moment, Iris found herself thinking that Stefania could win a tea-brewing competition at the Academy.
“Well then, shall we discuss the Baek Empire’s current situation?”
So it had come to this. Placing the teacup back on the saucer without making a sound, Iris steeled herself.
What would be taken from her this time? How far would she be tormented today?
“But before that, I have a question. Your uncle—he was said to have been struck and then deported while engaging in missionary work on the eastern continent, yes?”
“Ah… Yes. But why do you bring that up now…?”
“Hmm. You’ve done well, Iris. That’s all I needed.”
What was happening? Iris wracked her brain for answers but came up empty.
Then why had Stefania sent her to Baek Hoyeon? None of it made sense.
Stefania, noticing Iris’s efforts to piece things together, found her adorable and reached out to pat her on the head.
For Stefania, it was an act of bestowing a reward. For Iris, it was the ultimate humiliation.
“So… is this the end of today’s meeting…?”
“Just a bit more petting, and then you may go.”
Stefania’s hand ran through Iris’s well-maintained violet hair, relishing the silky texture. This had become a habit of hers; she often petted Iris like a beloved pet.
To an outsider, the sight of a third-year student petting a first-year might have looked like a tender sisterly moment. But anyone who knew the truth would cast Iris a pitying gaze.
Hiding her shame at being so demeaned,
Iris prepared to leave. Stefania bid her a gentle farewell, reminding her to be cautious on the complicated path to the gymnasium.
Always so naïve, Stefania thought, organizing the information she had gathered.
First, the Baek Empire was now in a state tolerant enough—or perhaps lenient enough—to pardon those spreading subversive ideologies.
Missionaries who had previously gone to the Baek Empire hadn’t even returned as corpses. This time, however, one had been beaten but was sent back alive and intact—a first.
Second, the Baek Empire’s focus had shifted westward. Baek Hoyeon’s attendance at this academy was solid evidence of that.
Whether they sought conquest or peace, Stefania didn’t particularly care.
That decided, she thought it was time to start making connections. With a simple wave of her hand, the table and teacups began to blur and fade. As she left, the space she had occupied showed no trace she had ever been there.
***
Wait, was someone really hiding and eavesdropping on me while I was talking to Dogeon?
Suspicious. A busty blonde with slit eyes? That was plenty suspicious on its own. I know it’s wrong to judge people based on appearances, but slit eyes?
They’re always the ones who pretend to be allies but turn out to be traitors later on.
A classic “Sorry, but I was a mole all along!”
“I must apologize for testing you, Princess. Or rather, should I address you as Lady Hoyeon?”
“…And you are?”
Who are you? Seriously, you’re so suspicious it’s almost funny.
Popping up out of nowhere, all polite and slit-eyed—it’s like you’re trying not to be trustworthy.
Maybe I’m being too quick to judge someone by their appearance.
After all, I once thought Master Georg was kind hearted when I first saw him.
“My name is Stefania. Compared to the Baek Empire’s splendor, I am merely the humble owner of a small merchant guild.”
I’d just vowed not to judge people prematurely, but this constant stalking still didn’t make sense.
More importantly, I had no idea who she was. It would have been faster to list the people I did know; there’s not much one can learn in twenty chapters.
Even so, I’d memorized all the profiles and even the R-rated chapters, and her name hadn’t appeared anywhere.
“…You seem reluctant to trust me. Understandable. Even I wouldn’t want to meet with a spy.”
The way she spoke as though wounded made me feel guilty.
I had no idea why, but somehow I felt like I was the bad guy here.
Strange. I was the victim, but now I felt like trash. Seeing her looking so pitiful, I decided to at least hear her out.
“Hah, so what’s your business?”
It was probably something along the lines of Do you know the way? Or maybe she was trying to sell something.
She did say she was a merchant guild owner.
Though she was clearly at fault, why did I feel like I was the one losing? I couldn’t put my finger on what exactly was bothering me.
“Thank you for your generosity. What I came to ask is…”
I could already smell the sales pitch. The excessive flattery, the persistence in conversation, and then the seamless switch to a business smile when getting to the point—it screamed scam artist.
People like that latch onto a sucker and refuse to let go, and I really didn’t want to deal with her.
I had memories of someone barging in and practically forcing me to buy something with barely disguised threats.
She gave off that same vibe, and it made me uneasy.
“If it’s not too much trouble, I would like to invite Lady Hoyeon to tea this evening. What do you think?”
Tea time? Just tea?
Was it really just tea? Wouldn’t there be a group of girls there, giggling and gossiping about someone behind their back?
This was a trap. They wanted to use tea time as an excuse to publicly humiliate me. The thought made me desperate to avoid it.
All I wanted was to attend the academy in peace, but why did things like this keep happening? With a sigh, I pondered how to decline in the most noble way possible.
“I’d prefer the library over tea today. Perhaps another time.”
That should have been polite enough, right? Maybe my tone was too stiff, but by now it was second nature and hard to avoid.
“Ah, so you prefer books over tea. I see. I’ll respect your wishes. But should you ever wish to join me for tea, even later…”
She handed me what looked like a crystal orb.
“…just call for me. I’m always listening.”
“Am I supposed to rub it or something?”
“No, it’s just a gift. Isn’t it beautiful? It’s a rare gemstone found in dragon nests. I only wish to foster good relations with you.”
A bribe, essentially.
…Receiving it made me feel like a terrible person. To me, it looked like plain glass, but given her explanation, it must have been outrageously expensive.
Still, her earlier comment about always listening unsettled me. It was practically a confession to stalking. I tried to convince myself she wasn’t a bad person, but my suspicions lingered.
Even so, I had no intention of refusing a free gift. It was pretty, after all.
“…Fine. I’ll take it.”
“Thank you for accepting my sincerity.”
“…”
“…”
Neither of us seemed to have more to say, so an awkward silence settled. Breaking it, I decided to ask her where the library was.
“Do you know where the library is?”
“Yes, the clock tower you see over there serves as one.”
“Thank you.”
I bid her farewell and hoped she wouldn’t try to stop me.
To my surprise, she let me go without a fuss.
I’d expected her to be clingy, but she was unexpectedly straightforward about it.
Maybe she was a good person after all.
Perhaps the sinister aristocratic society I imagined was just a product of my paranoia.
Maybe her tea parties were genuinely about tea.
Her expression had briefly shifted when I thanked her, but it was probably nothing.
No matter how suspicious someone seemed, it was only proper to thank those who helped you.
Even if they were a slit-eyed stalker. If she was offering me tea and gems, maybe she really did want to be friends.
It might have been wishful thinking, but if that were true, then Stefania could be my first friend at the academy.
…So surely, this gaze must be one of kindness.
Ignoring the spine-chilling sensation of being watched, I made my way to the library.
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