章節 41: [Chapter 41] What's diligent about using people
"A strange expression that's neither a smile nor a frown. Dianne raised an eyebrow, and Neris calmly gazed at Alekto's face, which was about to explode.
'What's so great about you? Do you know why kids like you so much?'
Alekto tilted his lips and flipped his plate over Rianon's head.
Clang, clang. Alekto's plate rolled on the stone floor, making a clear sound.
Rianon wiped the food that was pouring down his face with an angry gaze.
'You're so annoying. Don't you have more friends than me?'
Dianne was impressed by Neris's keen insight in choosing this seat. The place they were sitting was perfect for enjoying the beautiful scenery while keeping their food from splashing.
Usually, they would sit a bit far from the kids, but somehow, they had grabbed this spot today.
'Hey, hey... yeah!'
Rianon seemed to want to argue logically, but unfortunately, he lacked both vocabulary and logical thinking.
A pitiful scream echoed through the hall. Alekto sneered with a contemptuous face.
'Are you out of your mind? Why, I'm going to the aristocratic school, and it's going to be so cool? Now I'm scared, and I don't know what to say? What do I do? Your dad is just a second son, and I'm the daughter of a count. We're the ones who are really high-class nobles?'
It sounded plausible to the kids' ears, even to Rianon himself.
Rianon's father, Bert, would never inherit the title of Count Bert.
But Alekto's father was already a count.
'How can you pour food on someone? I don't understand.'
'What's wrong, are you scared...?'
The noble kids knew whose side to take. The fact that Rianon had picked a fight with 'silent' Alekto first was also taken into consideration.
Rianon glared at his classmates' condemning eyes and stormed out of his seat. Behind him, Alekto's mocking voice followed.
'Where are you going, Nona? You should finish eating and then leave!'
The suggestion to eat the food spilled on someone else's hair, clothes, and the floor was, of course, a joke.
The kids burst into laughter, and Alekto received handkerchiefs from them. Among them was a handkerchief from a popular boy among the 1st-grade girls, which made a few people whistle.
Alekto proudly chose a few handkerchiefs and wiped his face with them. A staff member employed by the dining hall came to clean the floor, and Alekto's maid, Rina, also rushed over, seemingly having been informed. She had food stains on her clothes, indicating that she had been eating as well.
'Ugh, disgusting.'"
As Dianne saw the mixed-up food, she felt nauseous and put down her fork. Neris responded indifferently and stood up.
"Let's go. I've had enough to eat."
"Yes! Let's go to my room and do our homework... Ah, I need to go see Hoffman's wife."
"Okay. Let's do it together next time."
"Yes!"
Dianne got up with a pleased expression, feeling good. As she walked with Neris, carrying their plates, towards the exit, Neris suddenly turned around.
It was a good thing that they had subtly provoked Alekto's pride in the counseling room on their way to class today. It was also good that Angrad's father had come on the first day of school.
However, they had sat close to Alekto, not needing to do much, and had let him cross the line by himself.
After all, there's nothing like resentment to amplify people's negative emotions.
"You're the count's daughter, and you're being condescending to a viscount? That's too much. Your father will also be offended."
"You're just trying to have fun, but you're going to be locked up for three days? That's a bit much. Honestly, what did you do wrong?"
"I might have done something wrong, but we all make mistakes. But did I do something wrong enough to deserve this punishment? The one who caused the trouble is him, isn't it?"
Alekto was looking at Neris with contempt, but resentment was faithfully conveyed. And Rianon had made it impossible to bear.
Even if the meal had ended safely in the dining hall, Alekto would have taken out his anger on Rianon somewhere. Both Angrad and Rianon were easy targets for Alekto to vent his inferiority complex, but for now, he couldn't touch Angrad.
Alekto started to tease the kids again, and Neris, who was sitting nearby, exchanged a brief glance with Megara and smiled naturally.
Then, she turned around and left the dining hall with Dianne.
***
"Neris."
It was late at night. Neris, who had come out of the aristocratic school, raised one eyebrow at the voice calling her name.
However, when she turned to look at the person who had called her, a bright, welcoming smile had already appeared on that small face.
"Nell Oppa."
"Is it over?"
Nellusion asked, leaning against the tree, as if he had been waiting for her all along. Neris knew that he had come at the exact time, but for now, she responded as he wanted.
"Yes. Oppa, why are you here? Who are you waiting for?"
"I was waiting for you."
"Really?"
The area around Hoffman's wife's residence was quiet and peaceful, with the stars shining brightly in the night sky. Nellusion's silver hair sparkled beautifully in the moonlight. The gentle smile on his face was clearly directed at Neris.
No one would not be happy with such treatment. At least, not a normal twelve-year-old.
Neris looked down shyly, then smiled brightly and approached him.
"Will you take me there?"
"Of course. Our family's ladies shouldn't be walking alone at this late hour."
Nellusion's words were true, but at the same time, they weren't. Valentino wouldn't be walking alone at this hour - he would have a servant with him, and a butler would be accompanying him at this time. However, Nellusion hadn't come to meet Neris for that reason.
Neris felt like she could grasp his thoughts.
The phrase "the duke's family" had a sweet, enticing ring to it. Once that word was spoken, it would be difficult to refute Nellusion's words, even if she received annoying meddling from others.
"A noble family is originally like this." A poor country girl who grew up in a rural area wouldn't know if a noble family was really like that.
"People are diligent in using others, even at this age."
It was really annoying to be used by others. Neris was someone who wanted to reduce her time with Nellusion to zero seconds in her new life.
But how could she do that?
"Thank you. I was scared of the night road anyway."
It seemed like she had come to use him, and he was also using her. She was a convenient source of information.
Neris's calm and shy smile briefly caught Nellusion's attention.
She was still a child, so it wasn't a romantic interest. But there was a strange feeling that drew his gaze to her.
A mature, calm, and difficult-to-understand feeling.
It was as if...
"Does she know everything?"
But that would be a mistake. Nellusion told himself that. It was impossible for a twelve-year-old child to imagine what was in his heart.
The two of them walked along the beautiful brick road lined with the teacher's residence and administrative buildings, then turned onto the path leading to Neris's dormitory.
The buildings were lit up, with students enjoying their evening meals, doing their homework, or having pajama parties with friends. Thanks to that, the road wasn't dark.
"Oppa, did you get home safely? Are the duke and duchess doing well?"
Neris took the initiative to speak, as it was clear that Nellusion was looking for an opportunity to talk to her.
She didn't make excuses to avoid walking with him, but rather because she wanted to get information from him. In that case, there was no need to waste time.
Nellusion responded with a calm face, smiling kindly.
"Thank you. Both of them are doing well. Do you remember Valentino? My younger brother. He's around the same age as you. I had a hard time comforting him because he wanted to follow me."
Neris couldn't help but remember Valentino. People usually remember those who tried to kill them. Of course, that's if their brain still works after they're dead.
She replied with a gentle tone.
"Of course, I remember. He's going to enter school soon, so I'm looking forward to it."
"He always wanted a sister to play with, but all he has is an older brother like me. Neris, when Valentino enters school, I hope you can play with him a lot. He's always been lonely."
How pitiful.
It was true that Valentino was interested in Neris. Valentino didn't have a toy like Neris, not before or after being adopted into the Elantria family.
Neris almost burst out laughing, but she smiled and replied.
"Then that's good. I've always wanted a younger sister too."
There was no way to approach the other person more emotionally than by telling the truth.
Neris was certainly looking forward to having a younger sister. Even though she was treated badly, she believed that she had a special place in Valentino's heart, thinking, "He's family, after all."
But that was a story until she died miserably.
To be precise, Neris did have a special place in Valentino's heart.
A target to be killed.
A target to be used.
A target to be hated.
A useless mutt that would be abandoned as soon as it lost its usefulness.
But what's the point of showing that?
"Good," Nellusion said with a bright smile. Then, he carefully opened his mouth, recalling the news he had heard that evening.
"By the way, Neris, as an upperclassman, I might hear some wrong information, so I'm asking you directly. Is it true that Rianon Bert, a student in your year, has been bullied since sending me a letter?"
Neris almost burst out laughing at his unexpectedly new tone, as if he had just received the news. Wasn't he one of the people who knew the school news faster than anyone else?
She suppressed her impulse and replied with a worried and innocent tone.
"Um, is that so? I don't know much about Rianon's friendships. But it seems like there are a few people who don't get along with him. Even in the dining hall today... Ah, no."
Nellusion looked worried, as if he was having a hard time saying this. He hesitated for a while before muttering.
"Well, of course, I was a bit embarrassed at the time... But if he's like that, it's pitiful that he can't get along with his friends, and it's also awkward for me as an upperclassman. If it's okay with you, could you take care of him a bit? Maybe keep an eye on him when he's alone, okay?"
Neris had been waiting for these words.
Nellusion's words seemed to be genuinely concerned, but he didn't really care about Rianon.
She was certain of it. Tomorrow, she would receive the news she had been waiting for. The final puzzle piece to match Alekto.
So, even the disgusting time spent with Nellusion had value.
"Really? If it's inconvenient for you, I couldn't help it. But I think Rianon isn't that bad of a kid."
Neris replied calmly. Nellusion, who already knew that Rianon had looked down on Neris, smiled lightly and praised her.
"Neris, you're really kind."
He wouldn't know. How kind she had been to him in her previous life, until the very end. How she had been deceived and used, and eventually abandoned, yet still believed in him.
She would have to tell him that story someday. Neris smiled faintly.
"It's embarrassing when you say that, Oppa."
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