“Hm-Hmm-Hmhm~”

Rose hummed with a smile as she walked down the institution’s halls. Seeing her, students, whether juniors or seniors, greeted her as she passed them by. Her infectiously great mood made it much easier for people to approach her, enough that even those too timid to greet her managed to utter some words this time. At first, she found it all too troublesome, but in the end, she accepted it as simply being a part of her life as part of Class A. 

“Rose! Wait for me!”

While walking, a voice called out from behind her. 

“Ah, Ria! Good morning!” Rose greeted Ria in an uncharacteristically loud voice. Her expression brightened further as she saw her friend approach her.

“Well, you seem to be in an awfully good mood?”

“Ehehe~ you can tell?” 

“Everyone can! You're even humming!” 

Rose let out a child-like giggle in response. 

“Seems like your date went well yesterday, huh?”

“Wha!? D-d-date!? What are you saying, Ria!?”

Rose’s cheeks were flushed with a pretty tinge of red as she turned to Ria.

“Oh, don’t play dumb! I could tell. Even if you don't say anything. Especially with you scrambling to leave!”

“I-it isn’t like that… we just went home together, that's all. It’s just... it’s been such a long time and it was so much fun.”

“Awww, now I’m a little envious…” Ria smiled as she replied to Rose. 

“W-what’s there to be envious about? We’re friends too…”

“Mhmm, if you say so.”

“I-I’m serious, ok!? Really! Let’s just walk to class quietly.”

“I’m afraid I will have to ask you to abandon that thought, Ms. Grayle.” 

The two abruptly stopped as they turned to the voice's source.

“Professor Sillia, good morning.” The two turned to see Sillia walking towards them. Sillia had a serious look on her eyes, like she was mad, and turned towards Rose. “Miss Grayle, I was tasked with bringing you to the headmaster’s room. I trust you know the reason why?”

Rose froze in her tracks. 

(“That’s right, there’s still that problem...”) 

Rose recalled the reason why she went to Nyx’s home yesterday. How could she have forgotten about it? Regardless, she remembers how they were supposed to deal with it and immediately replied.

“...Yes.”

Rose strove to recall everything that they talked about yesterday and practiced what she was going to say in her mind. 

“W-wait, what's happening?” Ria, who had no idea what was going on, suddenly spoke up.

“I-it’s nothing, Ria, don't worry. I’ll be back just in time for the test, you go on ahead!”

“Ok, if you say so... “

Rose waved to Ria as she walked alongside Professor Sillia. However, Ria couldn't help but worry about her as she reluctantly waved back.

**

“Why did you do it?” Sillia spoke all of a sudden, startling Rose.

"..."

"Why would you, an honor student, commit the most well-known taboo in the institution?"

“...It was for my friend.” Rose hesitantly replied.

Sillia sighed, “It seems this is about Mr. Troan once again, hm?” Rose remained silent. “Still… for you to use magic against someone when it was so strictly forbidden… what were you thinking?”

“I… never intended to use magic. I don’t know what came over me. By the time I was self-aware, he was already lying on the ground...” 

“...I see.”

Sillia and Rose resumed walking in silence. In time, they reached a large brown door with intricate designs surrounding it. Beside the door, a plate with inscriptions reading, “Headmaster’s office” could be seen. Sillia gently knocked on the door, and after a brief moment, the doors slowly opened, revealing three people seated inside. A middle-aged man with hair resembling the pale tint of ferns sat behind a table with a stack of papers and other utilities, while Brad sat alongside an imposing elderly man on the two chairs in front of the table.

“Ah, good, you’re here, Ms. Grayle.” The man sitting at the center of the room clapped his hands together upon seeing Rose. “Please take a seat.”

Rose sat on one of the chairs situated opposite to the two people. Once seated, she looked at the ones in front of her. Brad’s face was twisted with a sneer while his father glared at Rose. Rose closed her eyes and sat quietly.

“So, this is the wench that laid a hand on my son!?”

Brad’s father’s voice boomed inside the room. The man’s hostility leaked through his voice, not even attempting to rein it in. Rose remained silent, ignoring the sound of restrained laughter from beside the man. 

“Now, now, this is a civil discussion. Shall we begin with how this happened? Ms. Grayle?”

Rose opened her eyes and spoke, “Yes, first, allow me to apologize for the harm and trouble I have caused. It is unmistakable that I broke the institution’s rules.” Rose bowed her head slightly. Although it irked her to do so, it was necessary. Rose then turned towards the headmaster.

“Would you like me to begin with Brad's proclivity for harming my friend at the start of the year, or from when I found them beating him up behind the institution’s cafeteria?”

The headmaster’s eyes widened. “Beat him up…? Might I inquire as to what she means?” the headmaster glanced towards the two men’s side. Brad remained unperturbed, in fact, his sneer became even more defined.

“I don’t know what she’s talking about, Headmaster.”

!!

Rose’s face was painted with shock after hearing Brad’s reply. 

(“Don’t know? You don’t know!?”)

 She could feel an intense burning inside her, just like yesterday. However, she could not repeat it, not in front of the headmaster or in the institution at least. From the bottom of her heart, she despised Brad. 

Brad continued, “I believe Ms. Grayle may have sorely misunderstood the situation.” Brad shook his head sideways. “However, I don’t blame her since women tend to be like that. They know not of the bonds of us men who engage in what may seem like harsh physical activities to her. It was just us, deepening our friendship”

(“This bastard...“) As Brad continued, Rose’s eyes narrowed. Bit by bit, her patience was being shaved. With every word, every lie, every second spent listening to him, the lid of her reasoning was slowly being melted away by the madness rising within her heart.

“Hmm… I see, I see...” The headmaster stroked his beard. “Could that have been what happened, Ms. Grayle?”

“...With all due respect, Headmaster, no sane person would ever call kicking someone lying on the ground, crying, as merely deepening one’s friendship.” Even if she could muster all of the self-control she would ever have, it can never repress the deep-seated indignation and frustration within her heart which she so desperately hid as she spoke.

“I told you, we weren’t beating him up. We were having fun with each other and he slipped. You’ve gravely misinterpreted what was happening, Ms. Grayle. Didn’t you see him smiling? May I perhaps refer you to an eye-specialist? My family has various connections with them.”

“You…”

Rose slowly started to rise from her seat, her eyes held a dangerous glint of sharpness to them, and her hand unconsciously started to hover from the seat.

“I advise you to remain seated, Ms. Grayle.”

Rose felt a chill from her spine. Beside her, she could feel an overbearing presence that grasped at her very heart. Like a frog staring at the eyes of a snake, helplessly shivering in one corner, unable to escape its gruesome fate. For the first time since her father, Rose felt intense waves of dread wash over her. 

“This shall be your final warning, Ms. Grayle. Sit. Down.”

Rose, though reluctant, complied with the headmaster’s order. Unable to withstand the intense presence directed at her, she had no choice but to remain grounded, much like her frustrations.

“Now then, allow me to apologize on behalf of Ms. Grayle and the institution, Count Baruth. We will be sure to inflict the necessary punishment upon her. However…” The headmaster slightly bowed his head towards the count. ”Please extend your boundless compassion upon her as she is an important model student that represents our institution. Ms. Grayle isn’t usually like this which is why I have taken it upon myself in order to appeal for your forgiveness on this matter as well.”

“Do you have any idea how much money I pour into this institution, Headmaster? Do you!? For my son, whom I’ve entrusted to you to come home beaten and bruised. Do you have any idea what I--”

“It’s ok, Father. Thank you.”

Brad’s voice suddenly interrupted the count’s ramblings.

“As a gracious noble, I am not averse to forgiving the rude actions of my people. I merely request that you simply follow a few of my stipulations…”