Chapter 3

In this country, all noble children, both male and female, who turn 15 are required to attend the Royal Academy for two years. The academy has dormitories, but due to the strong opposition of my stepmother and Cynthia, I ended up commuting from the Duke's house to the academy. After the academy, I have to attend the Queen's education at the palace, and since the Royal Academy and the palace are very far from home, I would have preferred to move into the dormitory. However, Cynthia was worried that Prince Keith wouldn't visit if I wasn't there, and my stepmother, who would lose her punching bag without me, pleaded desperately, and that's what made the difference. Besides, according to the fairies' information, the servants, who feared that my stepmother's target would shift to them if I wasn't around, and who apparently vented their stress by harassing me, were also happy that I wouldn't be staying in the dormitory.

Thinking about my existence made me want to cry, so I'll stop.

"Miss Margaret is not suitable to be Prince Keith's fiancée."

At the academy, Miss Kanon Kiefer, the Duke's daughter, often brings her friends to me to voice their complaints. Since the first day, she has been loudly and persistently bothering me, so I am completely treated like a sore spot in the class.

"Miss Kanon, there's no helping it. Miss Margaret, you see?"

"Yes, even though we are both from ducal families, unlike Miss Kanon's family, your mother is from a baronial family, isn't she?"

"Oh? Wasn't she a mistress?"

Surrounded by her lewd laughter, I have become accustomed to it. Miss Kanon, the Duke's daughter, is one thing, but the others are from earl and viscount families. Since I never respond, and it is apparently well-known in society that I am neglected by my father and my stepmother, who was once a mistress, the initial cautious insults have now become smooth and effortless.

Until now, I thought Cynthia was the worst, but my world is still narrow.

'I hate the academy.'

'Everyone is mean to Margaret, so I hate it.'

'Should I make the whole academy explode?'

'No, no explosions, please.'

I couldn't help but chuckle, which seemed to touch Miss Kanon's sore spot.

"What's so funny? Please tell me slowly!"

I was then surrounded by everyone and taken to the back of the schoolyard. Until now, there were always people around in the classroom or the cafeteria, but the back of the schoolyard, where no one is, might be a bad place.

There's a pond, and I might be pushed into it. As I raised my gaze in confusion, I saw Prince Keith in the distance. He is not visible to Miss Kanon and the others because he is behind them, but I can see him. However, I'm worried that Miss Kanon and the others might get angry if Prince Keith appears.

But my worry was completely unnecessary.

"!"

Prince Keith did look at me, but he turned away and ignored me.

'The prince ran away.'

'Of course, I hate him. He should have helped me.'

'Should I pour a lethal dose of poison into him this time?'

The words of the fairies and Miss Kanon and the others flowed over my head.

I never thought I would be ignored in this situation.

"Are you listening!?"

Miss Kanon, who had been losing patience with my absent-mindedness, pushed my shoulder, and I lost my balance and almost fell into the pond behind me, but I was enveloped in a strange atmosphere and managed to regain my balance at the last moment.

"Kyaa!"

"What is it!?"

Suddenly, water or rain fell from above Miss Kanon and the others, and they turned and ran away.

'What was that just now?'

'They are so mean to Margaret.'

'They are being too cocky with our Margaret.'

'Next time, I'll mix chili peppers into that water.'

'Thank you, but don't do it anymore.'

'Why not?'

'I want to get back at the measuring lady, but Margaret says no.'

'Should I make the house explode?'

'You must not hurt people. I am content just having all of you. The pain of being hit and being stopped from falling into the pond is enough. Please, don't become the kind of fairies who easily hurt people.'

The dissatisfied fairies still said, "Okay."

But thinking about Prince Keith's fleeing back, I felt lost, just as I have been since my mother passed away.