Chapter 39
Madam Hoffman, the head of the General Division at Aine Institute, resided in a personal residence that included two reception rooms, a guest bedroom, and a terrace with a clear view of the lake.
On the surface, this residence did not seem too different from the other luxurious dormitories. However, unlike student dormitories, its first floor was designated for official use.
Nerys entered Madam Hoffman’s residence, also known as the “Hawk’s Nest,” without a trace of fear. Even as she stepped into the counseling room—the place most upperclassmen dreaded—her confident expression and composed steps remained unchanged.
Inside the well-furnished counseling room, four people were already seated. Madam Hoffman sat with Alecto, while Baron Nine sat across from them with Angharad at his side.
Perhaps irritated by Baron Nine’s obviously enraged expression, Madam Hoffman spoke to Nerys with a cold demeanor.
“Sit down.”
Nerys closed the door behind her and took a seat beside Alecto. Baron Nine stared at her intently before asking, as if doubtful.
“Nerys?”
“Yes, Baron Nine.”
“You remember me, I see. This is the first time we’ve met since you were a child.”
In truth, Nerys had seen Baron Nine countless times in social circles after she became an adult. But he wouldn’t know that.
Angharad, though her face was filled with tears, couldn’t conceal her smug satisfaction. A look of intense hatred briefly flashed in her eyes as she glared at Nerys.
“See? You do remember me!”
It was the first time Angharad had ever sounded so triumphant at school. Alecto scoffed, and Nerys simply raised an eyebrow.
“What are you talking about?”
“Are you going to pretend now? You said you didn’t remember me!”
“If you mean when we first met, I really didn’t.”
“Then how did you know he was my father?!”
“Your noses look alike. And he was sitting with you. Was that really such a difficult guess?”
Angharad had no response.
Baron Nine narrowed his eyes, wrinkles forming at his nose.
“I see, Nerys. You were clever as a child, and you still are.”
Everyone in the room understood what he truly meant: Clever was just a polite way of calling her an impudent brat.
Nerys replied evenly.
“Thank you, Baron Nine. Madam Hoffman, I was in the middle of a lesson when I was summoned. If it’s alright, may I ask what this is about?”
Madam Hoffman, known among students as Hawkwoman—the hawk-like woman—gazed at Nerys with sharp eyes.
The winter sunlight streamed in through the garden-facing window, and flames flickered in the fireplace, yet Madam Hoffman looked as cold and unyielding as a stone statue.
“You’re always diligent. I’ve heard much about your academic excellence. Sir Voltaire speaks quite highly of you.”
“Thank you.”
Nerys did not make the mistake of taking those words as a compliment.
Madam Hoffman only cared about nobles who could contribute large sums in donations. If she ever heard that Diane was in conflict with Nerys, she wouldn’t hesitate to punish Nerys immediately.
“I have a question for you, Nerys.”
“Yes, Baron Nine.”
Nerys turned her gaze from Madam Hoffman to Baron Nine, who deliberately tilted his chin slightly upward as he spoke.
“I was told that you have been deliberately ostracizing my Angharad. Is that true?”
Pfft.
Alecto couldn’t hold back a snort.
Madam Hoffman, in a tone much gentler than when she had spoken to Nerys, warned, “Alecto, an adult is speaking.”
“I apologize. But who would believe that Nerys Truydd could lead an ostracism?”
Alecto added that if anyone wanted to ostracize others, they should be at least likable enough to have followers in the first place.
Nerys, internally, was quite pleased.
Alecto despised being underestimated. Given the chance, she always made sure to show off her sharp wit.
Of course, most people their age were like that. But Alecto had an older sibling who was praised far more often than she was. Her inferiority complex made herneed to prove herself even more pronounced.
If someone even hinted that she was merely following Nerys’ lead, Alecto would go to great lengths to prove them wrong.
Baron Nine exchanged glances with Angharad, who, seeing her claim dismissed, lashed out in her most venomous tone.
“She’s—she’s such a nasty, sly girl! Always pretending to be nice! Acting like she’s above it all! She framed me!”
Alecto scoffed again but quieted down when she received a sharp glare from Madam Hoffman.
Baron Nine looked at Nerys and asked, “Is that true, Nerys?”
His voice was smooth and seemingly gentle, yet firm with unwavering certainty. No matter what Nerys said, he had already made up his mind.
She had encountered this same attitude from him several times back when she was the crown princess.
Baron Nine was a man who prided himself on fairness. But he was also incredibly stubborn and deeply devoted to his daughter.
His beloved daughter had likely spent the entire winter break sobbing and inciting him. Now that he had a chance to interrogate Nerys, he would follow through and then retaliate however he could.
No matter what she said here, it would only serve to reinforce the bias he already held.
And that was precisely why Nerys had chosen not to return to Rohez for winter break.
Had she foolishly gone back, Baron Nine would have immediately summoned her to his neighboring estate. There, he would have interrogated—more like condemned—her in person and handed down a punishment for both mother and daughter on the spot.
Would Wilmot, the Lord of Rohez, pick a fight with a neighboring noble just to defend the widow of a dead vassal? Of course not.
But here, at school, Baron Nine had no real power. He could only demand explanations, not enforce punishments beyond what school regulations allowed.
At least, by undergoing a formal interrogation process at the school, Baron Nine would find it difficult to carry out a second, more personal form of retaliation against her mother in Rohez.
Within the school rules, unless someone committed a serious crime like murder, the worst possible punishment was being barred from class and forced to write a reflection essay.
It was fortunate that Baron Nine had some sense of hypocritical fairness—otherwise, Nerys would have needed to find a way to hide her mother during the winter break.
With that thought, Nerys shook her head.
“I’ve never done such a thing.”
As expected, Baron Nine’s gaze remained cold. He did not believe her.
“Regardless, your actions have deeply wounded Angharad. From what I hear, Alecto, you too were involved? And you don’t seem to be showing any remorse either.”
Alecto’s face reddened with anger. The Isalani family outranked the Nine family both in title and wealth, so being accused by the father of the ‘thieving girl’ Angharad was an insult to her pride.
Madam Hoffman sighed heavily, as if deeply regretful.
“We will need to investigate further, but if it turns out that the two of you did engage in improper behavior, the school will take strict disciplinary action.”
“As you should.”
Baron Nine nodded.
Nerys felt Madam Hoffman’s piercing gaze on her.
It didn’t matter what kind of investigation they conducted. The outcome would never favor her over Alecto. The other students wouldn’t be able to see the groundwork Nerys had carefully laid beneath the surface, and Alecto had a powerful family while Nerys had none.
“For now, it’s clear that some form of bullying occurred. Alecto Isalani, report to the reflection room after classes today. As for Nerys, you will be suspended for a week—”
Knock, knock.
Before Madam Hoffman could finish delivering the blatantly biased judgment—exactly as Nerys had anticipated—someone knocked on the door.
Madam Hoffman was not used to being interrupted. She frowned but, after a brief pause, decided it was better to address the visitor first rather than resume her statement.
“Come in,” she said curtly.
The door opened.
“Madam Hoffman.”
At the sight of the visitor’s gentle smile, Madam Hoffman’s expression softened ever so slightly. She spoke in a warmer tone.
“Nellusion Elandria, what brings you here?”
Nellusion politely bowed his head once.
School regulations required all students, except direct members of the imperial family, to address faculty respectfully. However, most noble-born students still managed to act haughty in some way.
Nellusion was different.
Always composed and courteous, he was well-regarded among the teachers.
And for someone like Madam Hoffman—who openly favored wealthy and high-status students—his deference was highly pleasing.
After briefly assessing her mood, Nellusion glanced at Nerys and offered her a small nod.
The moment she saw his gaze, she knew exactly what he was calculating in his head. It was obvious.
Suppressing her disgust, she returned a neutral look.
“Madam, I heard that someone from our household was involved in an unfortunate incident. I was concerned that she may have done something wrong, so I came to apologize on her behalf.”
Baron Nine’s face twitched slightly.
Alecto and Angharad visibly grimaced.
To them, it was deeply unfair that Nerys Truydd—just a distant relative of the Elandria family—was receiving special treatment from the duke’s son.
‘Our household’? What nonsense! They don’t even share the same surname!
Hearing Nellusion’s mention of an apology, Madam Hoffman hesitated in thought.
Nerys could see the gears turning in her mind.
The Nine family and the Elandria family—if she had to choose which side to favor, the decision was obvious.
“Yes, it would be best if you apologized along with Nerys,” she finally said.
“Ah? It seems our Nerys has done something quite terrible then?”
Feigning surprise, Nellusion casually took a seat beside Nerys.
Baron Nine cleared his throat while Madam Hoffman, in a now gentler tone, responded,
“Not necessarily. Nothing has been confirmed yet.”
Her sudden shift in attitude made Alecto internally curse with the harshest insult among first-year students.
Just moments ago, Nerys was about to be suspended for a week—and now this?
Angharad’s face turned pale, and Baron Nine’s expression hardened as he protested.
“Madam Hoffman, what do you mean ‘nothing has been confirmed’? Are you implying my daughter is lying?”
“Baron, how could you say such a thing?”
Madam Hoffman’s eyes widened.
“If there is an issue, of course, I will ensure that the students and I apologize accordingly. But before making a decision, we must first determine the nature and extent of what truly happened.
As a teacher, it is my duty to administer discipline according to school regulations—but I must also exercise caution.
I trust that Angharad has told you everything as she understands it, but children tend to see things only from their own perspective.
Over my many years as an educator, I have learned that sometimes, what adults can see, children cannot.” (T/N: Wow. What a fking hypocrite.)
Every actual child in the room felt deeply offended by that remark.
And one of the adults, too.
Only Nerys and Nellusion remained completely composed, lowering their gazes in feigned humility, as if nothing had changed at all.
