Chapter 6

A few days later.

"Ms. Marianne? Could you come to the rooftop after school?" Five seniors from the school came to the classroom.

"What is it about?"

"We'll talk on the rooftop."

Saying that, they flipped their long hair and left.

Hmm.

If they had something to say and a legitimate reason, they could have said it here.

I want to bake cookies with Mother, learn embroidery, chat with the gardener Tom, and talk with Misha and Lala after school. I also want to read books.

So, I didn't go to the rooftop and went home quickly.

I didn't say I would go, so there's no problem. Mother always says that if you don't listen properly, you'll end up in trouble.

The next morning.

Five people were waiting in front of the classroom.

What's with these people? Can't they do anything alone?

"Hey, you! You skipped out on us yesterday. What was that about?"

Oh, their eyes are glaring and their expressions have changed.

"I didn't say I would go to the rooftop. It's your mistake to assume that, isn't it? Besides, if it's something you want to keep private, I'm only six, so I'd rather not get involved."

I tried to speak in a slightly innocent and childlike way.

The people passing by don't seem like they'll help, but they're probably listening.

The seniors seem to be losing their composure, perhaps embarrassed to be seen bullying a six-year-old freshman.

"Hey, you! Lady Katarina was invited to a tea party by Prince Alexander, and you shamelessly tagged along, didn't you? Know your place. For someone from a poor baron's family, that's really overstepping!"

Oh?

I was the one invited to the tea party, and my sister was there to supervise me.

She even stabbed me in the side with her hand.

While I was tilting my head in thought, the leader of the group seemed to get really angry.

"You seem to know nothing because you're a poor country girl. People like you are just a nuisance to Lady Katarina. Do you understand? Like mother, like daughter. You're shameless.

Do you intend to take over Lady Katarina's prestigious family?"

Ugh.

This is so troublesome.

Should I counterattack all at once?

"Unfortunately, your statements are full of contradictions. I was born and raised in the capital, so if I'm a country girl, you are too.

You keep saying 'poor, poor,' but I think our Landfuria family's finances are pretty decent?

My mother's family is poor, but it's not because they can't earn money; it's because Grandfather doesn't want to earn more than necessary. And that doesn't inconvenience you at all, does it?"

"Oh! How insolent!"

"I don't want to be lectured by cowards who can't even voice their opinions without gathering five people to face me.

Also, if you insult Grandfather, I'll buy that fight at double the price.

Grandfather is the bloodline manager for a ranch that handles military horses.

Could you tell me your names? I'll make sure Grandfather doesn't sell any horses related to him to your families.

Almost all the horses supplied in the capital are under Grandfather's management. Your families will be in quite a bind, won't they?

When you can't buy new horses in the future and find out the reason is your child's foolish actions, how will your parents react? I hope they don't scold you.

Come on! Tell me your names! Come on, come on, come on!"

When I pressed them, they ran away. Cowards.

You've learned the rapid-fire verbal attack technique from Mother!

Mother fought against people who mocked poverty while raising six younger siblings! She's already taught me the tricks of the trade!

Feel the wrath of Mother, who was constantly mocked for being poor!

And you, by insulting my sister Katarina, you're inadvertently insulting her as well!

I crossed my arms and glared at their retreating backs, and everyone in the class was looking at me with sparkling eyes.

Oh no.

I don't want to stand out because if I do, I might be forced into committee work, student council, or other troublesome leadership roles.

I need to be more careful.

After that, the senior girls started spreading rumors about me, calling me "Lady Katarina's sister who uses her to get close to the prince" and "a cunning lady who threatens with knowledge of the capital's horse market."

A classmate whispered this to me.

Thanks for the lovely whisper.

Still, why did it come to this?

Should I ask the prince to explain the truth?

No, no, if I owe the prince a favor, it will be terribly expensive and scary.

Grandmother always warned me to stay away from loan sharks.

Ugh.

I don't want to get involved with the royal family.

There's nothing good that comes from it.

I want to be involved with people like the gardener Tom and the head chef Jackson.

And Misha from the trading company and Lala from the clothing store.