Chapter 10: The Bag with the Spider (10/302)

Chapter 10: The Bag with the Spider

May 6, 2023.

Sheep clouds drifted across the clear summer sky.

The stone wall, bathed in white sunlight, had worn down over time, losing its former grandeur. However, it still effectively served its purpose of prohibiting passage.

Cledwyn walked lightly along the stone wall path, his head bumping against the stiff summer grass. His black hair, with its blue sheen, looked cold like steel even in the summer.

A high-quality white linen shirt fluttered white in the sunlight and wind. Despite the hot weather, he exuded a refreshing aura as if unaffected by the surroundings.

The Zachariah Library, situated at the end of the stone wall, was as quiet as ever today. The librarian was away from her post. Cledwyn ascended to the top floor without hesitation and entered near the fourth bookshelf, close to a pillar inside the reading room.

The chair was empty, as it always was, as far as he knew.

Or rather, almost always.

Cledwyn reached out to the chair but did not sit down. Instead, he infused magic into the chair's handle.

Creak. A barely audible mechanism sound, only detectable by a trained ear, was heard. Cledwyn leaned against the pillar.

Soon, a light voice came from inside the pillar, so soft that only he could hear it.

<How I've missed you, my precious master.>

"Be quiet."

The voice inside the pillar burst into laughter. Cledwyn asked coldly.

"What did I ask you to find out?"

<It's clean.>

"What?"

Cledwyn raised an eyebrow. A peculiar smile appeared on his handsome and youthful face.

"Then, was it a coincidence that you found it?"

At the time of his father's death, he was a freshman who had just entered the academy.

The emperor must have rejoiced. If the young heir of the duchy were to die 'by chance,' it would be like a ripe melon falling into his lap.

The thorn in his side, Mainland, would have seemed like an easily obtainable treasure.

But even after several years, Cledwyn Mainland was still alive, having eliminated numerous 'accidental' threats through his own strength.

When he learned that someone had come to the place where he and his subordinates exchanged codes, Cledwyn naturally assumed it was the emperor's spy.

So he deliberately drew his sword and threatened, expecting a reaction within the spy's anticipated range.

But the culprit was different from his expectations in many ways. The lack of training was surprising, and the person seemed more shocked by Cledwyn's appearance than he expected.

However, those eyes soon glared at him coldly and never wavered.

Those eyes.

The calm, purple eyes seemed more like those of an adult who had experienced the world than those of a twelve-year-old child. Cledwyn carefully recalled his conversation with the child and couldn't help but smile.

An interesting element had been added to this school.

***

As the first week of mutual exploration drew to a close, the freshmen cautiously began to hold parties.

There were two main types of parties at the Noble Academy: those organized by the student council and those organized by the students.

The former were official events where all students within the council's designated range could attend freely, while the latter were more like social gatherings, where only those invited by the host, with their family names on the invitation, could attend on behalf of their families.

Children from wealthy and high-ranking families were invited to most parties, while those from poor families or with lower-ranking parents were invited to fewer.

The freshmen soon found it fun to evaluate, like adults, which parties were impressively sophisticated and which had mishaps.

In this regard, Diane McKinnon's pajama party was flawless.

Since it was a type of gathering not bound by formalities, the children forgot their intentions to evaluate and got lost in playing with toys or having pillow fights, giggling.

Diane's dormitory, the venue for the party, was an entire mansion, so there was no need to worry about disturbing the sleep of people in the next room, as in a typical pajama party.

However, those with a keen eye noticed that the pillows and bedding Diane prepared for the day were all top-quality imported linen, the servants attending to the students were exceptionally polite, and the snacks prepared for when they were hungry used gold-like expensive ingredients without hesitation.

"Great, Diane. Thanks for inviting me."

Alecto Islani, already known for her wit, said admiringly.

"I'm the one who should thank you for coming. If there's anything uncomfortable at the party, tell Betty."

Diane, wearing a sky-blue silk gown with lots of frills over her fine linen pajamas, sat like an adult and replied. Almost all the freshmen were attending the party today, and Diane's pajamas were visibly more expensive than the others.

Even Betty, the maid, wore a fine material that made her look like a knight's wife. The children, guessing the wealth of the McKinnon family from the maid's attire, couldn't hide their envy.

Neris sat next to Diane, silently observing the party atmosphere.

She felt very strange. In her previous life, after becoming an adopted daughter of the Elantria family, she had been invited to many parties but had never truly been welcomed.

Even at the graduation ball, which everyone looked forward to, she had only terrible memories. Yet, Diane had earnestly asked Neris to come 'early' and stay 'next to her' today.

When Alecto went to her friends, Diane immediately turned her head and asked Neris gently.

"Liz, is there anything you want to eat? I asked them to make a lot of things you can't get at the school cafeteria. What do you like? There are cookies with rose jam, almonds dipped in chocolate, and warm milk with honey. Should I get you some?"

The food from the school cafeteria was quite good, but it had its limits. Neris, who had often gone hungry due to her husband's whims during her time as the crown princess, didn't particularly fuss over food, but the children who only ate food tailored to their tastes at home complained a lot.

However, even the pickiest child would find it hard to say that the food provided by the McKinnon family's daughter today was lacking.

"I've eaten a lot. Thanks for your concern."

Neris greeted politely. This time, Angarad Nine, who had been looking at her from nearby, approached with a shy face.

"Um, thanks for inviting me to the party, Diane. Nel, um, your hair looks really pretty today."

Angarad always called Neris 'Nel,' an attempt to appear close to her.

Neris's platinum blonde hair was known for its angelic sheen, even without a caretaker. Today, she had a particularly lovely half-up hairstyle, so Angarad's compliment was genuine.

"Thanks, your hair is pretty too."

Neris replied with a fluent and beautiful voice that could make listeners lose themselves.

Angarad wore a cream satin ribbon, a trend in the social circle. In her previous life, during her original school days, Neris had heard Angarad boast about her ribbon.

It was an expensive item that the Nine baron had bought from a famous dressmaker in the capital to ensure his daughter wouldn't be intimidated at the academy.

'What is she up to?'

Meanwhile, Diane, the host who had received the thank-you, didn't look very pleased.

Diane knew that Neris disliked being called 'Nel,' and it annoyed her that Angarad acted as if she were very close to Neris without even knowing this.

Feeling neglected by Diane and Neris, Angarad went to mingle with other children, feeling dejected.

Lower nobles had already held a few gatherings among themselves, and Angarad, with her rather cute appearance, had made a few friendly acquaintances.

As soon as Angarad left, Diane changed her attitude and spoke kindly to Neris.

"I have a card game I like. Let's play together, okay?"

"Sure. How many people play?"

"Two!"

The McKinnon family's servants, who had advised their young mistress to invite half the class and had worked hard for today's party, exchanged awkward smiles.

It was polite for the host to show equal attention to all guests. 'Miss Neris' was poised and intelligent, likely to be a positive influence on Miss Diane, but it was better to have a wide social circle.

At that moment, a servant carrying lavender-scented drinks collided with a partygoer who was running around.

Even though they were only twelve, the impact of a full-speed collision made the servant almost lose balance. Fortunately, he didn't fall, but a few of the drinks he was carrying spilled.

The child who collided with the servant, suddenly drenched in cold, sticky liquid, screamed.

"Ah! My dress!"

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, miss!"

"Ha ha ha! Joanna is all wet!"

Laughter erupted around them. The completely soaked child was quickly helped to change by her personal maid.

A few others were splashed, but not as badly, and continued to enjoy the party.

Neris, who happened to see Angarad's ribbon half-soaked, her eyes sparkled.

***

Neris, who had put her hand in her bag, suddenly stopped.

A rustling sound, something thin and light but stiff and dry. She knew what it was immediately, having experienced it before.

"Why are you stopping?"

Diane, who was taking things out of her bag next to her, tilted her head at Neris. Neris said casually.

"It's nothing."

She wasn't upset. In her previous life, this kind of prank happened every few days.

Actually, it's better this way, with 'dry things.' Better than a dead mouse, right? Much better than a live mouse.

But despite the lesser discomfort, it still felt strange.

Who had put dead spiders in her bag? And not just one or two.

There were already several among the new freshmen who would want to do something like this. Especially Megara and her followers.

But 'disgustingly' proactive and with a good sense of humor, there were only a few.

Neris counted a few names in her head. Was the direct culprit a boy?

Young boys often enjoy seeing others' startled faces without any real grudge. Especially for someone who was often targeted like Neris, she found their conscienceless actions very unpleasant, but there was nothing she could do back then. She was powerless.

Now, however, she could do something better than just crying and complaining. Fortunately.

The freshmen chattered brightly about the enjoyable parties of the weekend, waiting for the teacher. Then, a cautious voice from the next seat spoke to Neris.

"Nel, why did you stop when you put your hand in your bag?"

Angarad Nine. Seeing her face, which was cluelessly speaking again, Diane lost her patience.

'She's sitting next to me again.'

If it weren't for Angarad's ribbon getting wet at Diane's party this weekend, she would have given a curt reply. 'What's it to you?'

But Diane still remembered that the lavender scent and the color stains would need special washing to come out.

Diane's hesitation gave Neris enough time to observe Angarad. Neris gave her a brighter smile than usual.

"Why do you ask?"

Angarad's round eyes always made her look harmless and innocent. But Neris had a good idea who might have done this to her bag.

Just as she glanced over, she saw Megara looking this way. Neris smiled at Megara, who flinched slightly when their eyes met, and waited for Angarad's answer.