Fortunately, Carson remained silent even though I was approaching him.
It seemed like he had forgotten the restriction he imposed on me earlier.
After a long time, I stood in front of Carson and called him with a determined voice.
“Pink Hair.”
“…”
“Pink Hair?”
Although he allowed me to come closer, he didn’t respond even after several calls, his angry expression frozen on his face.
Nevertheless, his completely different face made even his angry look seem like a beautiful painting.
Just being in the club room and seeing Carson’s expressions justified my decision to join the club.
Actually…
I wanted to see him even angrier.
What’s wrong with me? I must have a bad personality.
After calculating in my mind, I suddenly grabbed his shoulder.
“Pink Hair.”
Then, Carson, who had not given me a single glance, turned his head sharply and scolded me.
“I told you not to touch me…!”
Tap.
And Carsion’s cheek was pressed hard by the index finger I had held out beforehand.
His expression suddenly becomes blank.
In the end, I couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.
“Phew. Haha! It’s pink hair. “You look really cute right now.”
It was another moment when Carson’s face flared up.
Several weeks have already passed since I joined his club, which I don’t know what to call it.
I was more satisfied with club life than I thought.
No, correct me.
Club life was truly the best.
Even if you don’t do anything, you get guaranteed grades and even facial welfare.
There will be no better club than this.
Moreover, I didn’t know where they came from, but thanks to Carson, the club room was gradually becoming my residence with a blanket and a sofa.
There were two housemates responsible for facial welfare, though.
Still, it wasn’t bad being with them.
Carson, although a bit prickly, was an innocent boy with amusing teasing, and Fior’s bright personality added a lively atmosphere.
Since entering the academy, I had been unable to make friends or have anyone to talk to, so having someone to talk to now made me secretly happy.
But then, unfortunately, the situation I feared the most before joining the club happened.
It seemed like my peaceful academic life was about to come to an end.
To prepare for such a situation, I used to sneak into the club room every time…
How did they find out so quickly?
“Hey, did you join the club with Carson and Fior?”
I looked at the group of students who were glaring at me with a tremendous gaze.
There were five of them, three female students and two male students, who surrounded me in an instant.
I didn’t expect to come back like this after taking a short walk to digest my lunch.
I glanced around.
Unfortunately, in this desolate place, there was no one to ask for help.
But I raised my head confidently.
“Yeah, it’s true.”
“Ha. Look at what she’s saying.”
“Can’t you see the situation? Why are you so confident?”
The children, who seemed to be thoroughly nurtured by their families, had ‘I am a noble’ written all over their faces.
Starting with wrinkle-free school shirts to well-maintained skin and expensive-looking brooches.
I didn’t realize it until I looked down at my uniform in comparison.
Hmm. Obviously, I’m a commoner.
Even though they were from wealthy families, their gaze, which looked down on me, was typical of nobles with authority.
Unluckily, I was dealing with nobles, even when I tried to avoid them. How unfortunate.
“You thought you could be friends with them just by joining that club, but they don’t care about you. Am I wrong?”
“You crawling up like that just because of your half-and-half face is disgusting.”
…Even if I don’t want to show interest, they approach me first.
Of course, later on, I found it fun to tease Carson, but I approached him first.
But…
It seemed that I didn’t think I would say it straightforwardly…
“Why did you join that club, then?”
If it was a question like that, it would be easy to answer. Of course…
“I didn’t join that club because I wanted to be friends with them.”
“Then what’s the reason for joining that club?”
This question was easy to answer. I just…
“Because Carson’s face looks nice.”
“What…?”
All of them were confused.
I didn’t think that I, who said I didn’t join the club to be friends with them, would say that I joined the club because of Carson’s face.
I rubbed my head slowly.
“Then, can you guys join that club even if you want to? With Carson and Fior there?”
They are handsome, aren’t they?
“Well, well, of course, we would’ve joined if we were allowed…”
One of them agreed, but suddenly came to his senses and denied it while shaking his head.
“We won’t monopolize them like you do!”
It’s not that I don’t monopolize them; I just can’t do it.
And openly saying that I joined the club because of Carson and Fior…
“I don’t think you have the right to interfere with Carson and Fior.”
“It looks like the kind Fior has treated you kindly and has made you proud, but in any case, nobility is linked to nobility.”
“A commoner like you is of such a class that he wouldn’t even dare to look at you.”
From the beginning, I made efforts to face reality more than anyone else. I was brutally realistic and didn’t indulge in futile dreams.
At the age of ten, I found myself next to my parents who were struggling due to an unknown illness. Despite the desperate situation, I fervently wished for things to get better, to rise again.
I clung to the hope that they would soon recover, that we could survive.
Even as I watched my deteriorating parents.
The result was, well, obvious.
I clung to my parents’ lifeless hands, crying uncontrollably.
And then, I despaired.
The emotion at the moment when hope turned into despair was something my young self couldn’t handle.
After the funeral, I couldn’t step outside my room for over a year.
My mind deteriorated, and my heart shattered.
If only I had given up hope and accepted reality, maybe the pain would have lessened.
When I finally admitted that I was left alone in the world, I made a promise.
To not dream futile dreams anymore.
Never again.
“I didn’t know they were nobles before joining the club, and I’ve never had those thoughts you guys are assuming.”
Having expelled any remorse, I denied their words and stared at the faces surrounding me.
I admit it.
Outside of the academy, the class difference between them and me may be significant. But here, it’s inside the academy, right?
So, why not boast about your status?
“I know my place well. Do you guys have a status comparable to their families?”
“Is your brain lacking?”
“Ha, do you think you’re the same as us? I’m the concubine of the renowned Count Kristia!”
“I belong to the Eltz family, famous for its gold mines.”
“I am…”
They started to introduce their families one by one in response to my light taunts.
I hope they’re scared when they hear about my commoner status.
“Yeah, I get it. Your statuses are incomparably higher than mine.”
“Do you finally understand?”
“If you don’t want to see your entire family ruined because of you, crawl under us.”
Unfortunately, I won’t crawl in front of them.
I glanced at their name tags one by one and spoke up.
“Hey, sorry for interrupting your passionate conversation, but can I confirm one thing?”
“?”
“I asked if your names are Stella, Bonita, Catherine, Harold, and finally, Andrew, in the order you introduced your families earlier, right?”
“What’s with the sudden trick?”
Did you just admit it?
That’s enough.
I smiled at them and then…
“Hey! She’s running away!”
“Get her!”
“Scream! You should have caught her since you were close!!”
After tripping the guy who pushed my shoulder and making him fall, I started running with all my might.
I was heading to Professor Walter’s research lab.
The reason for visiting Walter was simple. Leadership-related tasks were under his jurisdiction.
This Arena Academy strictly prohibited mentioning social status, as far as the regulations go.
Now that I think about it, it was evident that the academy was somewhat unknown.
However, even in such an academy, declaring your family publicly was a clear reason for expulsion.
I didn’t think about it. I never thought a commoner like me would carry an expensive recording device.
Use this opportunity to learn, kiddos. Life is a real battle, young ones.
If you want to get revenge separately, go ahead.
This is the ‘Arena’ Academy, and outsiders can neither enter nor interfere.
Wait for about four years outside until I graduate.
Inside the research lab, besides Professor Walter, there were several other professors.
Fortunately, it seemed like they were in the middle of a conversation when I arrived.
I showed a pitiful expression and played the recording for the professors, explaining my situation.
Oh, and of course, I didn’t forget to shed a few tears and say, “It was so scary.”
The professors’ reactions were as expected.
“Dirty bastards! They flaunted their nobility openly, and now this!”
“They clearly mentioned their family and status in the recording. We can’t let this slide.”
“This is an opportunity to show them a proper lesson.”
“They knew they could be recognized even without openly saying it. Why did they do that? Tsk.”
“You’ve been through a lot, Lien. I’m sorry for making you go through this so soon after coming here.”
“Yeah. Thank you, and don’t worry. Walter will handle the rest.”
I smiled faintly at the professors’ warm comfort.
“Thank you.”
