Chapter 37

Riante and Joffrey swapped their test papers when the teacher wasn't looking.

I frowned, watching them from behind.

‘What are they doing?’

There wasn't much time left for the test.

It's almost over, and they're swapping test papers?

The test paper Riante took from Joffrey looked almost blank.

Riante started writing on the paper she received from Joffrey.

But, of course, there wasn't enough time.

Before she could write a few answers, the teacher collected the test papers.

Riante's face turned pale.

‘If she was going to do that, why did she swap the test papers?’

I tilted my head in confusion.

After collecting all the test papers, the teacher said,

“We will form groups based on the test results. The group with the highest performance will receive special points, so everyone try your best.”

So, the group formed by this test was important.

‘The group with the smarter kids will show better results. It's only natural.’

The morning class ended with the test.

Since there were many young children, the class was kept short.

Joffrey left the classroom with a beaming smile.

The other kids also started to leave one by one.

“Hey… Aren't you going?”

Dione asked me, who was still sitting.

“I'll go,” I said, getting up with her.

Just as we were about to leave the classroom, Riante's nanny rushed in.

“Miss, did you do as I told you?”

“……”

“Miss….”

“I did! I did!”

Riante, who shouted, burst into tears, lying on the desk.

The nanny hugged Riante and stroked her back several times.

“You did well. You did well….”

“I, I really studied hard… I didn't take a single day off during the break to go to the intermediate classroom…!”

“I know, Miss. I know.”

As I continued to watch them, Dione gently pulled my hand.

“Don't you want to go…?”

“No.”

Dione and I walked out into the hallway.

Riante's sobs could still be heard as we walked to the end of the hallway.

Dione sighed.

“Sister, is it a sad thing?”

“Huh? Oh, no… Just seeing Riante….”

“Why?”

Dione looked around and lowered her voice.

“Try not to get involved with Joffrey if you can.”

“…?”

“Joffrey's father, Uncle Valderic, is a scary person.”

“Scary?”

“Yes. Valderic's territory is the most fertile land, and it's close to the commercial district, so it has flourished. He lent a lot of money to his relatives. To our territory as well….”

I understand the meaning.

After the grandfather's attack, most territories had their budgets drastically cut.

Moreover, various disasters have occurred this year.

So, they must have had no choice but to borrow a lot of money from Joffrey's father.

“The kids have to listen to whatever Joffrey says. Otherwise, their parents will be in trouble….”

I now understand why Joffrey, who isn't even in the 7th rank, could act so freely.

He had a solid backing.

‘Riante must have swapped the test papers because of her parents.’

She was a bad kid, but she really loved her parents.

When Uncle Decon and his wife looked at their only daughter, didn't honey drip from their eyes?

I groaned.

* * *

After lunch.

The kids gathered by the lake in front of the chapel to play.

They said it was always crowded here during lunchtime because it was close to the cafeteria.

Dione approached me, who was sitting on a bench and tapping my feet.

“Hey, do you like chocolate pie?”

“Love it!”

“Good.”

She opened a rattan picnic basket.

Inside were two small, round chocolate pies.

The pies were sprinkled with crushed nuts, giving off a fragrant smell.

“I have milk too!”

“Why don't you sit here, sister?”

I patted the seat next to me, and Dione sat down happily.

We sat side by side, munching on the pies.

Then, someone rested their chin on my shoulder.

“Me too.”

I looked to the side, and Balzak was looking at the pie I held with a very tired face.

I tore off a piece and put it in his mouth, and he chewed it well.

After swallowing the piece I gave him, Balzak stretched and came in front of me. Joshua was with him.

“Baby, didn't you just have lunch?”

“Balzak also wants to eat.”

“I haven't had lunch yet.”

“Why?”

“My training ended late, so I'm going to eat now.”

He said, “The new swordsmanship teacher is said to kill people,” with a disgusted look.

Come to think of it, Conrad also mentioned that his swordsmanship teacher was strict.

Balzak looked at me, then glanced at Dione next to me.

“What, you're here too?”

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