While moving to attend a class, I happened to see Arthur and a professor having a conversation, but I didn't think much of it at first.
There were countless nobles with ties to the royal family here, so I just assumed they might know each other.
However, after hearing the professor's words, my perspective changed. Anyone who would smile and say something to wound Arthur like that couldn’t possibly be someone close to him.
As someone who prided myself on knowing Arthur better than even he knew himself, I felt a surge of heat in my head as soon as I heard what the professor said.
What the hell did that crazy bastard just say?
"How I wish you weren’t born of such lowly blood."
What the hell is this? Is he seriously claiming he's some kind of demigod, half god, half human?
That arrogant bastard who relied on his power and caused a mess, only to be sent to the back rooms.
How dare he insult my friend? I felt my head heating up, but at the same time, my thoughts started to cool down, analyzing the situation more carefully.
I remembered his face. He was a villain in a side story.
Valian Clock.
Once at the center of the royal court's power, but pushed aside when Queen 1st appeared.
Out of spite, he sided with Queen 2nd’s faction, but even they saw him as a problem to deal with.
I had thought he'd tone it down, knowing he had nowhere else to go if he was pushed further, but that wasn’t the case.
If he were someone who could assess the atmosphere, there’s no way he would have been pushed this far.
"Phuh-huh♡"
I let out a laugh as I thought about that trash’s backstory, and immediately Arthur and Valian's gazes turned toward me.
Valian’s eyes were full of confusion. He must have heard something from Queen 2nd’s faction about me.
That I was someone they shouldn’t mess with.
But what does that matter?
Even if he doesn't want to touch me, I’m completely filled with the desire to mess with him right now.
"Poor Prince. What are you doing? Are you so relaxed that you're talking to a cleaning maid from the academy?"
Tilting my head with a hint of curiosity, Arthur bit his lip in frustration.
Despite the sudden sneak attack, he managed to suppress his laughter! Is this what they mean by royal education?!
"...Lady Allen, it seems you may be misunderstanding something."
Valian forced a smile, trying to smooth things over.
"You're the one who's misunderstanding ♡ You pathetic cleaning maid ♡ Do you really think someone like you should be talking to me? ♡"
"First of all, I'm not a cleaning maid, I’m a professor. My name is Valian of the Clock family."
Even after I provoked him, he didn’t wipe the smile off his face. Well, he must have been good at managing his expression, considering he survived in the royal court for so long.
Though, that won’t last much longer.
"And what’s that about? ♡"
My words went far beyond simple rudeness, sounding more like a direct insult. Valian's smile immediately faltered.
"...The Clock family has helped the royal court since long ago."
"That’s just a joke, right? ♡ You’re just an old has-been ♡ Why are you so serious? ♡"
"The name of my family isn’t something you should joke about."
"Little girls should appreciate when they’re messing around ♡ You’re no fun ♡ Are you a loner, old man? ♡ No friends? ♡ Right? ♡"
Each word I added caused the smile to vanish from Valian’s face.
It couldn’t be helped. I wasn’t just using my Mesugaki skill to provoke him.
Based on my vast knowledge, I came up with things that would really annoy him.
I picked out words I knew would hit his weak spots, and through my Mesugaki skill, I made sure to say exactly what would frustrate him the most.
After putting so much effort into this, how could someone like Valian manage his emotions?
"And by the way ♡ It’s not my fault that I don’t know anything about your old family, is it? ♡ Why should I know about some weak family that only knows how to scribble with a quill on a desk? ♡"
"..."
"Old man ♡ Your family’s just a joke. You’ll disappear soon ♡ I don’t want to waste my memory on something like that ♡ I need more important things in my head, like a good parfait shop ♡"
I ignored Valian completely and casually told Arthur about the parfait I had eaten at the academy, causing him to chuckle.
"...Lucy Allen."
Perhaps that was the trigger. The smile that Valian had been forcing disappeared, revealing his ugly face.
His skin sagged, and his wrinkles were so pronounced that his face looked more like that of a monster than a human.
"I can’t just let you insult me like that."
"Really? ♡ What are you going to do? ♡"
"The Clock family will send a formal letter of protest to the Allen family."
"Wow ♡ So you’re saying, ‘Please punish her because she was wrong~’? How scary ♡ Daddy will be so shocked, he’ll call me, right? ♡"
"This isn’t just a small matter. It’s between families."
"Old man ♡ Do you really think you can fight my daddy? ♡"
Valian’s words faltered at the mention of fighting the Allen family.
The Allen family had delayed the empire's invasion with just their power alone, and it was led by the monster of a knight, Benedict Allen. Who in their right mind would think they could challenge them?
"Not possible? ♡ So you’ve been throwing a fit without any reason? ♡"
"Noble families can’t just be dismissed that easily."
"So pathetic ♡ Just a dog barking when it has nothing, huh? ♡"
"..."
"Isn’t it embarrassing? ♡ You can’t even hurt a little girl without getting hurt yourself. Aren’t you ashamed? ♡"
"..."
"Ah~ ♡ I guess you don’t think you can win, huh? ♡ I understand. It’s sad to see an old man like you struggling. ♡"
"That damn bitch."
"Phuh-huh ♡ Are you mad? ♡ Are you going to hit me? ♡ What, are you going to cry? ♡"
As I kept provoking him using my Mesugaki skill, I could see his face turning bright red with anger. It was clear he was about to lose control.
"You bastard, you’re just a mongrel with no proper bloodline, how dare you—"
...What?
"Isn’t it true? ♡ A brat born from some unknown trash, huh?"
What the hell did this bastard just say?
"Are you mocking me now?"
"You must have inherited something, at least looks-wise? To seduce a kingdom’s hero, you should at least have a face like this."
When his smile disappeared from his face, I immediately stopped smiling and channeled the holy energy within me.
As my smile vanished, Valian, thinking he’d won, gave a disgusting grin.
But that didn’t last long. The pressure in the air grew heavier as Valian’s panic grew. He tried to conjure a spell, but it wasn’t fast enough.
My fist shot out and destroyed the magic circle before slamming into his flabby stomach.
"Ugh! Ughh!"
Unable to endure the pain, Valian doubled over, clutching his stomach.
Since his head was conveniently positioned, I placed my boot on the back of his head and spoke up.
"Do you want to squeal again? ♡ I couldn’t hear you clearly~ ♡"
"Ugh. Ughh."
"Really ♡ You mean ‘squeal’ is a metaphor? ♡ If you can’t even understand that, what are you doing? ♡"
"Ughhh."
"Did you decide to become livestock? ♡ You look the part, but I hope your dreams come true later~ ♡ I just want to talk to people~ ♡"
"..."
"Ah~ ♡ Sorry~ ♡ I couldn’t say anything because I was cleaning with my mouth~ ♡ I thought you were shaking in excitement, so I thought you wanted more~ ♡"
I lifted my foot off his head and used the tip of my shoe to lift his chin. His face turned pale with fear.
"Old man ♡ Do you really have the courage to call yourself a man? ♡ It’s sad that whatever’s hanging there has to be stuck to you, huh? ♡ Should I give you a neutering surgery? ♡"
"I... I am from the Clock family..."
"Oh, so what? ♡ It’s just disgusting to see a man like you trying to sell yourself off. ♡"
I kicked his face again and, seeing blood on the end of my shoe, I threw the shoes aside, irritated.
Damn, my anger still hasn't subsided. This trash is talking out of turn when it has no idea who it’s dealing with.
Should I beat him more? Until he’s begging me to stop while pissing himself?
"Lucy Allen. Please calm down."
"I’m not mad at all. Poor Prince, you just don’t know how to see things."
"Look around. Everyone’s scared, aren’t they?"
Arthur's words broke through, and I belatedly realized I needed to pull back. I lifted my head and looked around.
There were a lot more people gathered here than when I first came.
Some were looking at me, as if they expected it.
Some looked at me with fear, and some with surprise.
But not a single one of them dared to approach.
They all subtly avoided my gaze.
"...Grandfather?"
<What is it?>
Updat𝓮d from frёewebnoѵēl.com.
"What should I do?"
<What should you do? Haven’t things gone the way you planned?>
"I didn’t plan for this!"
<Didn’t you say you’d cause a scene when you got the chance? I thought you planned for this.>
"Well, yes, but this situation really looks off!"
I could clearly see my reputation plummeting!
They’re going to talk behind my back, calling me a troublemaker!
As my grandfather said, things were working out, but now it feels like I'm digging myself into a deeper hole.
Let’s just see how this plays out.
I’ll go all out today, whether it works or not!
"Hmph."
I yanked my hand from Arthur’s and headed toward the crowd. I gave the boy at the front a sharp voice.
"Why are you staring at me? Do you want to squeal like that pig too?"
"...What? No! No way!"
"Then move. You’re wasting my precious time."
"Yes!"
I watched the crowd part as I raised my head proudly.
Everyone, stay out of my way!
It’s Lucy Allen's return!
If you mess with me, I’ll trample your dignity!
"Lady Allen."
Hearing the cold aristocratic tone, I cautiously raised my head.
There, behind a fan, stood Joy, and her eyes were filled with a sternness I hadn’t seen before.
It was a chilling determination, so different from her usual playful demeanor.
Was she... angry? No, that can’t be right. She must just be setting the mood, right?
"Stop it. It won’t be solved by just walking away."
I stopped, signaling my understanding with a crossed arm, and Joy turned her gaze away from me, directing it to the others.
"Everyone, please leave. The class has already started."
"Uh, Lady Partlan, this situation..."
"I’ve clearly asked you to leave. Do you think my words are a joke?"
"No! I’ll leave right away! Sorry!"
Wow, seeing this, Joy really is terrifying. She’s completely different from the usual girl next to me. Is this what the socialite Joy looks like?
The crowd, which had gathered to watch, quickly dispersed at her command, and Joy sighed, bowing her head before gently grabbing my cheek with her soft, white hand, pulling it toward her.
"Lady Allen. Why do you always cause a scene where everyone can see?"
Her voice, a lament, sounded just like the usual silly Joy.