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It felt like a safer option to keep Ayla under her surveillance and take control of the situation.
However, to get her expelled for failing grades, simply interfering with her practical exam wouldn't be enough.
If she got a perfect score on the written exam, there was still a chance she could barely graduate.
‘Then the best thing to do would be to make it impossible for her to take the exam itself.’
She intended to lock Ayla up somewhere for a while so she couldn't take the exam at all.
Then she would inevitably be expelled from the academy, and she would easily take the top spot.
But to avoid being suspected in all of this, she needed that person's help.
This was something Rosia couldn't do alone.
‘I should ask them to send someone useful. They'll understand if they hear the situation.’
Reviewing the plan carefully, Rosia gave a chilling smile.
‘Let’s see how long you can afford to be so relaxed.’
The end-of-semester exams were fast approaching.
Ayla began studying frequently in the library with Peony.
The more time Peony spent with Ayla, the more she liked her.
‘Ayla seems smart, and she studies hard too.’
She quite liked her first friend.
However, Lona, having heard the rumors, was furious.
‘Your Highness, what are you thinking? How can someone as noble as you associate with such a commoner?’
‘Watch your mouth about my friend, Lona.’
Lona became restless and complained whenever she spent time with Ayla.
Watching her, she realized that Lona's real master didn't really approve of her being close to Ayla.
Whenever the topic of Ayla came up, Lona was very upset that Peony only took her side.
“How can you do this to me? You know how much I care for Your Highness!”
Those were the words Peony wanted to say to Lona, who had betrayed her.
But she kept her lips tightly shut and chose to ignore her.
Ayla was beautiful and dignified.
Looking at her, it almost felt like the fact that she was a commoner meant nothing.
‘The things she wants from me are modest too.’
All Ayla took in exchange for continuously making her Antidote were a few herbs.
Considering the herbs used in the Imperial Palace, it was an absurdly low price, so Peony readily provided them.
Of course, she didn't think that was enough.
Peony had no intention of ending her repayment to Ayla, who had saved her life, with just that.
Peony looked at Ayla and asked.
“You’re studying really hard, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, the end-of-semester exams are just around the corner.”
The exams at Riod Academy were rather trivial for Ayla.
Nevertheless, she was working hard to take first place overwhelmingly.
‘Rosia will definitely be aiming for first place too.’
This exam was an opportunity for Rosia to prove that she was the true bloodline of the Blanche Noble house.
Taking the top spot with her outstanding skills wouldn't be particularly difficult.
But Ayla had no intention of letting her take first place.
‘To counter Rosia’s Magic, I need to sway people’s hearts early on.’
Thinking so, Ayla added briefly.
“I especially want to get good grades on this exam.”
As if hearing her words, the students studying nearby suddenly burst into loud laughter.
They were a group who hung out with Freya and had subtly bullied Ayla in the past.
“Pfft, did you hear that? Why is she working so hard when she’s going to fail almost everything in the practical exam anyway?”
“I know, she’s always failed the practical exam. What’s the point of studying for the written exam?”
Ayla stopped Peony, who was about to get up and argue with them.
“I’m okay, Peony. If they make such a fuss and a different result comes out, they’ll be the ones who are embarrassed.”
“That’s true, but…”
Peony reluctantly sat down at Ayla’s urging.
As she said, if Ayla got overwhelming grades on the exam, everyone would shut their mouths.
‘Ayla will be curing her Mana insensitivity soon.’
But she was still disappointed that she couldn't give them a taste of their own medicine.
Peony tilted her head, noticing that the person who used to get the most upset in these situations was nowhere to be seen.
“Come to think of it, where’s that guy who always follows you around?”
Ayla answered in a small voice.
“Felix seems to be busy with the homework Duke Argenta gave him. He said he’d have lunch separately today.”
Peony nodded as if she understood.
Felix was being taught by none other than Duke Argenta. It would be strange if he wasn't busy.
Besides, these days he was getting so much attention wherever he went that it wouldn't be easy for him to walk around alone.
“Well, he must be very busy if he has to prepare for the exams at the same time.”
That was when Peony finished speaking casually.
Suddenly, a murmur spread around them.
A heavy footstep echoed through the floor, and an unfamiliar presence was felt behind them.
Then, an unexpected voice fell into her ear.
“Ayla.”
Peony slowly turned around with a frozen face.
Then, a head of jet-black hair and blood-red eyes came into her view.
Ayla’s former fiancé, Kadin Rate.
His appearance plunged the library into a chilling silence.
“If you don’t mind, can we talk for a moment?”
Ayla looked up at Kadin with a troubled face.
‘Kadin?’
She couldn't help but be surprised.
He had suddenly appeared after not showing his face for a while after losing to Felix in their duel.
‘What’s going on? He’s been quiet all this time.’
Kadin was a very proud person.
That's why Ayla thought he had completely given up on her now.
“…What’s going on?”
Ayla asked with a stiff expression.
Normally, she had to use honorifics to upperclassmen, but she didn't want to be polite to an uninvited guest.
Kadin didn't seem to mind, and answered calmly.
“I came to give you something.”
Ayla carefully looked around.
Everyone in the library was staring at them.
It was difficult to continue arguing like this in a place where they should be quiet.
“I’ll go talk for a bit.”
Ayla looked back at Peony as if she couldn't help it.
“You don’t have to go if you don’t want to, Ayla.”
Peony said with a worried face.
“No, it’s better not to cause a scene.”
At those words, Peony glared at Kadin with a dissatisfied face.
She wanted to shout at him to get away from Ayla right away, but she barely held back.
Instead, she gave Kadin a warning look.
Kadin smiled slyly without avoiding her gaze.
Peony frowned even more as if she was displeased.
“Please wait here for a moment, Your Highness. I will have a conversation with Ayla and bring her back safely.”
“Where are you planning to go?”
“Well, anywhere we can have a quiet conversation alone?”
At Kadin’s words, Ayla said firmly.
“The only place I can go with you is the backyard of the library.”
She meant that she would never have a conversation alone with him.
Kadin looked at Ayla with a disappointed face for a moment.
But when Ayla didn't react, he shrugged as if that was enough.
“Well, that’s what she says. Then I’ll be on my way.”
He said that and left with Ayla.
Peony watched their backs with a dissatisfied expression.
She respected Ayla’s wishes and didn’t stop them, but she was very unhappy with this situation.
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