“Hm-Hmm-Hmhm~”

Rose hummed with a smile as she walked down the institution’s main hall. 

This morning, she woke up 5 minutes before her alarm went off and felt strangely renewed as she got up from bed. Then, Rose discovered that the garden she'd been tending to with her attendants is in full bloom when she visited. She was thinking of inviting Ria over to have tea, so they couldn't have bloomed at a better time. Finally, as she prepared to eat breakfast with everyone in the house, her personal butler and their cook surprised her as they managed to procure one of her favorite dish. 

All of these things combined had resulted in Rose's high-spirits. 

("I wonder if he had a good morning too?")

In her mind, a familiar boy's visage surfaced. These days, Nyx had grown relatively distant. Although they were still friends, Nyx has been trying to minimize contact between them. She knows that he does it out of care for her and her reputation, but quite frankly, she doesn't care what most people think. They don't need the approval of others to be friends, and she most definitely doesn't want to be with people who would antagonize or look down on Nyx.

But just yesterday, they went out together for the first time in a while. It felt like they went back to their childhood and that made her incredibly happy. Perhaps they could start going home together again, or maybe go out again and visit other places. 

As she was lost in thought, imagining how their future encounters would go, she heard a voice call out to her from behind.

“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?”

“Hehe~ 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 yesterday!”

“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'll have to stop you there, Ms. Grayle.” 

The two came to a halt 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's body froze. 

(“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, do something so reckless?"

“...It was for my friend.” Rose firmly 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. 

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 away. With every word, every lie, every second spent listening to him, the lid of her reasoning was slowly being melted away by an intense fury.

“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 hatred and frustration 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.

“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 seated.

“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 our people. I merely request that you simply follow a few of my stipulations…”