Chapter 144: Benevolent
"You? The one who can’t even perfect a test, calls us stupid? What audacity!"
I sighed. "It’s because you act like this. I don’t understand why you hate me so much, Bethany."
Bethany moved back after I said that while staring at her face. "H-Ha? You’ve been annoying Night since we were first years so, of course, I hate you!"
"But I’m not annoying him anymore. I avoid being with him now, so what’s the problem?"
They couldn’t answer because they don’t know the answer. These girls are just bored with their life and bullying me makes it more exciting for them. ’How pitiful.’
"Even if you keep on bullying me, you’ll never win." I smiled. "It’s because I’m no longer engaged to Night, I am his wife."
"Ha!? What absurdity are you spouting?"
I shrugged. "See? I can spout anything but there are no proofs so it’ll end up being baseless." Even though I am indeed Night’s wife. "It’ll depend on the people, whether they believe it or not. Who knows if what I’m saying is true or not?"
"It’s a lie!" Bethany said and I just shrugged.
They were all looking at me with fear in their eyes. I used to feel guilty when people look at me like that. I’ve been trying to be good to everyone because I know that I was born lucky and I can get whatever I want... but was being born lucky my fault? Why do I have to be kind to people who are mean and cruel toward me?
I laughed. "It’s useless." Just realizing this now makes me learn that I was indeed naïve. Like what Night said, I was stupid, and I might still be am. "I won’t be quiet with what you guys are doing anymore."
Bethany started backing away after I smiled at her.
"If you’re coming at me like this and keep bullying me, I’ll give you the same treatment. Even double it back."
Bethany scoffed despite looking terrified. "Y-You think you can fight me?"
I shrugged. "I don’t know. You’re the smart one here so you should figure that out." After saying that, I smiled and walked away.
That was so annoying, and I even got a bruise on my cheek. ’How am I going to explain this to Ace?’ I sighed.
"Milady, are you alright?" Kaoru asked as I passed him by. He must have seen what happened since he was following me. "Was it for the best that I didn’t interrupt? The lady got injured because of it."
I smiled and patted his arm. "You did great controlling yourself. Those girls will make things worse if they saw you helping me."
"But the young master would get angry seeing a bruise on your cheek." He said while pouting. ’Ah... he’s right.’ It’s the second time I got a bruise on my cheek.
"Then, let’s go to the infirmary and get some ice. If we put some ice on it, the bruise will disappear quickly."
Kaoru sighed as he followed me. He didn’t have a choice anyway, and he can’t complain either.
When we arrived in the infirmary, I didn’t expect to see Ericka inside with her finger bleeding.
"What happened to you?" I asked, making Ericka look at me.
Her brows furrowed. "I should be the one asking you that. What happened to your beautiful face?"
I scratched my cheek as I giggled. ’Hearing people say that I have a beautiful face really makes me happy.’ "Some mosquito bit me."
"That is one hella big of a mosquito."
I laughed it off and Ericka didn’t bother asking any more questions. "I’ll be going first. I’ll kill that mosquito for you if ever I bump into it." She said with a huge smile while waving her hand with the injured finger. I wonder how she got injured like that? After Ericka left the infirmary, I went and got the ice pack I needed.
"Should we go back to the classroom?"
Kaoru looked at me while squinting. "I don’t think the lady’s friends would feel delighted seeing you with a bruise on your cheek." He said. ’He’s right again.’
"That makes sense." I sighed. Since the next subject will be self-study, I think we can spend our time somewhere else. "We should go to the library and read some books. Don’t you like reading books?"
"Only comics. I would rather play games."
I chuckled as we walked in the hallway towards the library, but as soon as we arrived, we bumped into someone unexpected. I almost fell on my butt if it wasn’t for Kaoru’s quick reaction, he immediately stopped me from falling by grabbing my back.
"I’m sorry. Are you alright?"
I looked up and grunted after seeing Ryzen.
"Noelle." He called my name and even tried to approach me, but Kaoru quickly got in between us.
"What business do you have with the lady?" Kaoru’s not even hiding his honorifics at all.
Ryzen raised both of his hands and I can see him panicking. "I only want to apologize for what happened. I really didn’t know anything." He said. "Aziel said that he’ll let you go home safe and well after getting the ring, and I... I really thought that he’ll finally be honest with you since I know he really likes you."
My forehead creased. "Did you know his purpose?"
Ryzen nodded, causing me to ball my fists.
"Yet you still did that?" This is unbelievable. I thought we were childhood friends? How could he just do that to me?
"Y-You don’t understand, Noelle."
"Of course, I don’t understand!"
Ryzen tried to touch me but Kaoru slapped his hand away. I saw how his hand became red, but it didn’t matter.
"Aziel, he’s not an evil person. He just wanted to be free, and I want him to have his freedom since I am also his friend." Ryzen said, making me bite my lower lip.
I know. I’m aware that Aziel is not an evil person. He kidnapped me, but he didn’t hurt me physically. That might be the case, but what he did was unforgivable.
"What about the fear I felt that time?" I know I shouldn’t pour my anger on Ryzen, but I can’t stop. "What about the pain he inflicted on me after I learned that he befriended me so that he could use me? Only because he needs something from me. And you... you knew it since the beginning but you acted like there was nothing wrong with that."
"I don’t have an excuse, but I swear, I didn’t know he’ll do something grave like that. "
This is useless.
"You don’t have to worry about me anymore." I took a deep breath. "Just, stay away from me."
When I was about to get inside the library, I remembered that I need to contact Aziel. It’s the truth about his mother’s past and his other family.
"This is my last question," I said as I looked back at Ryzen.
"W-What is it?"
"Have you been in contact with that guy?"
Ryzen tilted his head. "Aziel? No. I have been trying to talk to him to confirm his actions, but I think he already changed his phone number."
Tsk. What a bummer.
"Fine. If you ever get in contact with him, tell me. But if not, don’t talk to me." I don’t know if that was a little mean of me, but I didn’t want him to think that what he did was okay. ’Although I’ll forgive him soon enough. I just can’t keep interacting with Ryzen right now.’
"O-Okay. I’m sorry again, Noelle."
I entered the library while sighing. "Was I being too mean?" I asked as soon as we sat down at the farthest end of the library.
"The lady was still being benevolent for not cussing at that guy," Kaoru said making me sigh. Why does he sound angry? And I don’t even cuss.
I placed the ice pack on my cheek as I looked out the window and saw other students doing their gym class in the field. "It’s so hot outside. I wonder how they could stay under the sun like that." It must have been hot and exhausting.
"Does the lady want to eat something?"
I sighed. "What do you mean? We’re not allowed to eat anything inside the library." I told him.
We were just relaxing with a book on the table when we heard tons of people getting inside the library and they’re creating noises. ’They should have been scolded by the librarian by now.’ But they’re not stopping at all.
"What’s going on?" I muttered.
"Should I look at it?"
I nodded, and that’s how Kaoru left his seat to look at the commotion. ’What time should I go back to the classroom?’ Those thoughts wouldn’t leave my mind as I sighed and looked at my book. Even if I keep reading, nothing comes into my mind and I’m not learning anything. ’Bethany must have slapped me too hard that my brain stopped functioning.’
When I heard familiar footsteps, I turned around. "Kaoru, what was—"
I immediately stopped talking after seeing who was with Kaoru.
"You..."
I stood up from my seat while still holding the cold compress on my cheek. "This— I’m not skipping class. We have self-study that’s why—"
Night pulled my hand away from my cheek and the moment he saw the reason why I was holding a cold compress, his expression changed and I heard him click his tongue.
"Who did this?"
