HTNSA 54

Chapter 54

Rosia felt a crushing despair, like she’d been cornered.

‘How did things end up like this?’

Her reputation at the academy was already in ruins.

She had already been struggling to sow discord between Eila and the rest of the family—only the Duke of Blanche and her older brother Jerat were even slightly cooperative.

“Lady Rosia, it’s time for your meal.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Everyone is waiting for you.”

Rosia sighed irritably at the maid’s persistence.

But she quickly gathered herself and cleared her mind.

‘No, it’s not over yet.’

Fortunately, the brainwashing of the duke and Jerat was progressing quickly.

‘I’ll just use this setback to tighten my control over them.’

With renewed resolve, she entered the dining room—and her face immediately stiffened.

The atmosphere at the table was unusually warm.

Perhaps because Irene had joined the family meal for the first time in a while, the entire family was enjoying a rare moment of warmth.

Seeing this made Rosia even more reluctant to mention the exam results.

Just imagining how delighted Irene would be at Eila’s success twisted her gut further.

‘They must not know yet that I didn’t place first.’

The academy hadn’t sent the official results to the family yet, so no one likely knew.

At that moment, Rosia’s eyes landed on Kedric. He was eating with a blank expression.

‘Kedric must know.’

Clutching the hem of her dress, Rosia looked gloomy.

Just the thought of Kedric knowing she had failed to secure the top rank weighed on her.

Then Calios spoke brightly.

“Rosia, come sit. You look tired.”

“Yes…”

As soon as she sat, Calios asked expectantly, “So, how did the exam go?”

Rosia hesitated. The duke was looking at her with eyes full of anticipation.

She couldn’t bring herself to say she hadn’t placed first.

“Well…”

Before she could speak, someone unexpected answered for her.

“Rosia did very well.”

Kedric carefully wiped his mouth with a napkin and continued.

“She placed high despite fierce competition right after enrolling.”

“Is that so? As expected of our Rosia! A true daughter of House Blanche, ha ha!”

Calios laughed heartily at his second son’s words.

Jerat, too, nodded enthusiastically.

“This finally clears away the shame of not having a Blanche daughter take first place.”

Calios beamed at Rosia.

“If there’s anything you want, just say the word. I’ll grant it.”

But Rosia remained silent, staring at Kedric.

Though his face was emotionless, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was watching her closely.

After a pause, she finally spoke.

“No… I didn’t place first.”

“…What?”

Calios flinched slightly.

He quickly tried to recover and asked gently, “What do you mean, Rosia?”

Tears fell from Rosia’s eyes.

Her sorrowful expression evoked pity in anyone who saw her.

“Kedric was just being kind… I only placed second. I promised I’d get first, but I couldn’t… I’m so sorry.”

At her confession, the family’s faces turned to stone.

They had assumed Eila never ranked first because she wasn’t truly a Blanche daughter.

But now, the actual Blanche noble Rosia had failed to do it?

The result stunned everyone into silence.

Calios tried to steady himself.

‘Come to think of it, Rosia hasn’t received proper education. She just entered the academy upon returning to the family.’

Given that, he could understand why she didn’t place first.

“It’s alright, Rosia. You haven’t been studying long. Even getting second is impressive.”

He offered kind words.

“You can take first next time. Don’t worry.”

Trying to shift the mood, Calios changed the subject.

“Still, the student who beat you must be incredibly talented. I don’t know of anyone at the academy with such skills…”

Then Kedric quietly spoke.

“The one who placed first… was Eila.”

“…What? Eila?”

Calios and Jerat widened their eyes.

Calios’s expression hardened in disbelief.

“But… wasn’t Eila afflicted with mana insensitivity? How could she…”

Seeing their reaction, Kedric understood their confusion.

He too had been shocked when he first heard.

Watching silently, Irene asked cautiously, “Could it be that Eila’s mana insensitivity has healed?”

“Yes. According to rumors, she recovered just before the exams. That allowed her to do well on the practical.”

Irene’s eyes welled up with tears.

“That’s such a relief…”

Even after Eila had left the family, Irene had worried about her.

She had tried to reach out in secret, but Eila had firmly refused, asking only to be quietly watched over.

Those words had pained Irene deeply.

Now, to hear that the condition which had haunted her was gone—finally, a burden had lifted.

Calios, however, couldn’t hide his surprise.

“I had assumed that if she recovered, she’d become a fine mage… but to take first place right away…”

Jerat smiled faintly.

“She was always talented in subjects that didn’t require mana. If she returns to the family, she’ll be a great asset…”

But Jerat trailed off.

Rosia was staring straight at him.

“Ro-Rosia… I didn’t mean…”

Rosia gave him a slight smile.

“It’s fine. Eila has real talent. It would be wrong to let personal feelings get in the way of what’s best for the family.”

Calios looked at her with admiration.

She was more mature than he expected.

‘She must be deeply upset about losing first place to Eila, yet she’s putting the family first.’

He nodded warmly.

“Don’t worry too much. Everything will be fine, Rosia.”

Rosia lowered her head and cut her meat quietly.

But with her head bowed, no one saw her face.

No one saw how twisted with pain it had become.

Unable to bear it any longer, Rosia spoke.

“Father, I don’t feel well. May I be excused?”

Calios, seeing her pale expression, nodded.

“Hm, of course.”

Rosia politely bowed and left the room.

As she walked away, Calios turned to his eldest son.

“Jerat.”

“Yes, Father?”

“Go after Rosia.”

Jerat tilted his head in confusion.

Calios clicked his tongue.

“She’s clearly upset. Go and comfort her.”

Jerat quickly rose from his seat and rushed off in the direction Rosia had left.

He didn’t quite understand her mood but figured that comforting her—even just a little—might help.

Meanwhile, Rosia, having exited the dining room, walked quickly down the corridor, her fists clenched tightly at her sides.

Her mind was swirling with emotion.

‘Why did it have to be Eila?’

Not only had she failed to take the top spot, but the one who surpassed her was the girl she had worked so hard to erase from the family.

Worse still, everyone now seemed proud of Eila.

Even Jerat—her supposedly loyal ally—had just now praised Eila as a potential asset to the family.

Rosia felt like she was suffocating.

The corridor stretched long before her, but she couldn’t see straight anymore.

Tears blurred her vision, and her breath trembled.

She didn’t stop until she reached her room, slamming the door behind her.

Inside, she leaned against the door and slowly slid down to the floor.

Her carefully constructed mask cracked.

She buried her face in her hands and cried silently, shoulders shaking.

Her voice echoed only faintly in the empty room.

“Why… Why does it always have to be her?”

No one could hear her now.

And no one would come—except maybe Jerat, who would arrive too late to make any difference.

Rosia’s pain, jealousy, and fear brewed together into something dark and burning.

Her mind was already forming new plans—new ways to undermine Eila.

Because if she didn’t win next time, there might not be a next time.

And Rosia Blanche refused to be forgotten.