Chapter 10

Thank you always. Today, I'm posting two chapters. This is the first one.

Six months later.

I advanced to the higher department.

Thanks to saving up for tuition, I didn't need to apply for a scholarship.

Being able to pay for my tuition by working myself feels like I've become independent.

—But it's all thanks to the teachers, so I'm not really independent.

Noel learned from the administration that Arnaud had added a "research assistance fee" to the materials budget allocated to her.

That's why Noel could buy reference books without any trouble.

She didn't understand the value of money or things. It turned out that the reference books she had ordered through the administration were quite expensive.

Noel decided to repay Arnaud with a promotion.

Recently, Professor Michelle made a small magical device for her.

It's a simplified version of a magical device that measures magical power.

By embedding it in the hilt of the rapier, it indicates the remaining magical power of the enchantment by color.

When the color changes from blue to green, it's a warning. When it turns red, the enchantment's effect is gone.

Noel could now unload her rapiers with peace of mind.

She had all the previously unloaded rapiers fitted with these magical devices.

The number of rapiers she unloaded wasn't large, and their power wasn't very strong, given her student status.

For the rapiers she unloaded to the knights, the most important thing was that the enchantment was "consistent."

The power should neither be too strong nor too weak, but always consistent.

Otherwise, it could lead to accidents.

Not being able to make them at will was quite a challenge.

—That's the sadness of mass-produced items.

But for now, it's fine. After all, it's just a side job while studying.

Still, I managed to save enough for tuition and dorm fees.

About a month after advancing, when I had just started to get used to life as a first-year in the higher department, I was suddenly called to the administration.

"Someone from your family, the Vionne family, has come to see you," they said.

Noel's mind went blank with shock.

—Why?

It couldn't be anything good. Noel, urged by the administrative staff, headed to the reception room but had a plan.

"Could you please deliver a message to Professor Michelle for me?

Tell her I'll be late because someone from the Vionne family has come."

The staff member replied, "Sure."

Noel felt a bit relieved and opened the door to the reception room.

She really wanted to ask Arnaud for help, but officially, Noel and Arnaud were unrelated. She remembered this at the last moment.

"Ah, Miss Noel."

The butler who greeted her as soon as she entered the room was familiar.

He was a butler's apprentice under the butler Heine, who was getting old.

"I still have class. What is it?" Noel said flatly.

"It's an order from your father.

You are to leave the academy immediately and return to the mansion."

"Huh?"

"The possibility of Lady Zeraphi being chosen as Prince Sariel's fiancée has increased, so a lady-in-waiting is needed at the royal academy.

Since there is no suitable candidate, we are asking you, Miss Noel."

The butler's apprentice said this arrogantly, as if he was proud to deliver the order.

Noel felt her blood boil.

"Are you kidding? I refuse.

I won't leave the academy."

"It's an order from the Earl."

The man's eyes widened.

"I said I refuse."

"That's out of the question. You cannot refuse.

You are a lady of the Vionne family.

If you defy the Vionne Earl, you will be disowned."

The man almost shouted.

"I don't mind being disowned."

"Miss Noel, this is serious.

The Vionne Earl has ordered you to be brought immediately.

If you defy him, you will truly be disowned."

"That's fine, then."

The man's face turned pale and red, and veins bulged on his temples.

—He looks like he might faint.

Noel thought.

"This is serious, too.

I don't care about the Vionne family's convenience."

"Stop being unreasonable!"

The man suddenly stood up and grabbed Noel's arm.

Noel instinctively activated her lightning, and the man screamed and let go.

The door opened immediately.

"What's the commotion?"

Theo's calm figure stood at the entrance.

"Professor Michelle!"

Noel ran to Theo.

"What did you do to my student?"

The man shrank under Theo's glare.

"T-this is a matter of the Vionne family.

Miss Noel has already processed her withdrawal from the academy."

"Really?

I haven't heard anything about my student leaving from the principal."

"Student? You can't just claim a lady from another house as your student..."

"Don't be rude to Professor Michelle! She's been taking care of me!

I said I don't mind being disowned!

Let me go home!"

Noel clung to Theo's arm and shouted.

"If you keep being so insolent, you will be disowned for real!"

"Exactly what I want!"

The butler's apprentice stormed out, and Noel leaned against the wall of the reception room.

"Are you okay?"

When Theo asked, Noel explained the situation.

"They said they need a lady-in-waiting for Zeraphi—my sister.

They want me to be a lady-in-waiting at the royal academy.

And they told me to leave the academy, by my father's order."

"What a terrible father."

Theo's words made Noel almost laugh.

Suddenly, a figure appeared at the open door.

"I heard that."

Prince Robert entered with his guards and attendants.

"Prince Robert..."

"The prince was just visiting me," Theo chuckled.

"The Vionne family is even worse than I heard."

Robert sat down on the sofa.

"Indeed," Theo nodded.

"If you want to be disowned, it's best to formalize the process.

Otherwise, they'll keep coming after you."

"You're right.

I'll do that."

Noel stood up from the wall.

"Since I'm worried about you going alone, I'll lend you my guards and attendants."

"Are you really going to do something so simple...?"

Noel was exhausted, and Robert shrugged.

"I think it's a reasonable consideration. I've heard some things from Professor Michelle.

To ensure a quick disownment before things get worse, it's best to accept the offer.

Braed, Lindsay, go with her."

"As you wish."

"Understood."

The two handsome and dignified men responded.

Noel, feeling at the mercy of events, left the academy and headed to the palace to get the necessary documents for the disownment from the legal department.

To save time, she rode on Knight Braed's horse, which was her first time.

When she returned to the Vionne mansion, her father's carriage was there. She had expected it since she had instructed the butler's apprentice, but the thought of seeing her father after 3 years and 1 month made her shudder. She remembered the difficult days of her childhood.

Still, Noel decided to face him with her back straight.

—Don't tremble, my body. You can do this.

This would finally allow her to sever ties with the family.

Braed and Lindsay were right beside her.

Their horses were tied to a tree in the front yard, not the stable, so they could leave immediately after the task was done.

When she knocked on the door of the mansion, which still looked shabby, the butler appeared.

He seemed even older than three years ago. She thought he must have had a hard time.

"Miss Noel, you've returned."

He was surprised for a moment but then puzzled by the two men next to her.

They were both too well-dressed.

"Who are these gentlemen?"

"They are witnesses."

"Witnesses, for what...?"

"Your father is in the study."

"Yes, sir..."

Noel headed for the stairs, slipping past the butler. Braed and Lindsay followed closely.

The Vionne Earl's study was the most impressive room in the mansion.

The other rooms were in terrible condition, but the study, her mother's room, and her sister's room were like a different world.

As a child, she had thought the reception room should be tidied up, but since no one ever visited the Vionne family, it wasn't necessary.

When the three of them entered the room after knocking, her father was taken aback.

"What is this, all of a sudden!"

He shouted as usual but was clearly confused.

"Father, it's been a long time.

The withdrawal form you submitted was not accepted."

"What?"

"I am a student of Professor Theo Michelle and had her sign as my guardian when I entered the higher department.

The Vionne family is not involved."

"Nonsense! I am your father!"

"You left me alone for three years, and there was no escort from the Vionne family for my enrollment procedures. My tuition was paid by a scholarship with only my mother's signature.

Moreover, the healers have confirmed the numerous burn marks on my body from the fire attacks.

Given these circumstances, the academy has shown me consideration and determined that I was likely a victim of abuse or neglect."

Her father was speechless.

He seemed to realize the implications for a noble.

"This time, I was told that if I defy your orders, I will be disowned. I will follow that.

Here is the disownment document.

Please sign it.

Father, this is the disownment of your unwanted second daughter."

Noel handed over the document.

Her father's face was red with anger.

His blood pressure must have been very high.

"You will regret this.

Not only will you lose your noble status, but you have no abilities."

Spitting out curses as if in a last-ditch effort, her father signed the document.

Noel, with trembling hands, took back the document he pushed towards her.

It was definitely his signature.

Lindsay confirmed it with a sideways glance and nodded.

"Thank you, former father."

Noel smiled and handed the document to Lindsay, who carefully put it in a document case.

Now, there was nothing left to do.

"Goodbye."

Noel left the Vionne mansion, feeling light in both heart and body.

She returned to the academy.

When she entered Professor Michelle's laboratory, Arnaud was waiting worriedly.

Prince Robert was not there.

The moment Noel saw Arnaud, the tension she had been holding back broke, and tears welled up.

She tried to cover her face with her hands to stop the tears, but it was no use.

"Noel"

Arnaud embraced Noel, who was sobbing, as if to enclose her in his arms.

"Poor thing, you must have been scared."

He stroked her hair and back.

"Pro-Professor Roche"

Noel clung to Arnaud, burying her face in his chest.

"You did well."

The more he comforted her, the more the tears wouldn't stop.

Arnaud continued to soothe her for a long time.

Noel, who had been crying uncontrollably, didn't notice that during this time, Professor Michelle had confirmed the disownment document signed by the Vionne Earl, and Braed and Lindsay had signed as witnesses.

They were both adult heirs to a baron and a marquis, respectively, making the document complete.

The completed disownment document was entrusted to Lindsay.

"You can be completely unrelated to the Vionne family now."

Braed was also smiling kindly.

After they left,

"I thought it would be safe with Braed Bantoran, but..."

Arnaud said, still stroking Noel's hair.

"Is he famous?"

Noel asked, cooling her red eyes with a cold towel Theo had made.

"He's the winner of last year's Anzelar Kingdom Swordsmanship Tournament."

"Wow"

She didn't know such a powerful person was with her.

Lindsay was also the son of the Wodruff Marquis, who was the Chancellor.

She had thought they were impressive but had put them to work. Plus, they had seen her crying and clinging to Professor Arnaud.

She decided to forget about it since it was done.

Later, Noel gave gifts to Prince Robert and the other two.

To Braed, she gave ten throwing knives enchanted with lightning magic. She had heard he could use any weapon, so she enchanted them with lightning.

To Robert and Lindsay, she gave a set of bracelets enchanted with wind magic. These used the "eavesdropping" wind magic, allowing them to communicate even when apart by giving a bit of magic to each bracelet.

She and Arnaud tested it, and it worked within the academy, so she thought it would work within the palace.

The three of them were pleased.