“...and as long as you heat the blended ingredients over a cold flame for two hours, just like this—”
Pop—!
A plume of blue vapor bubbled up from a vessel on the workbench.
“—a bottle of Clarity Potion is complete!”
The potions professor displayed the freshly made Clarity Potion to the students. Through the transparent glass of the vessel, the clear blue liquid inside was vividly visible.
Meanwhile, the students diligently took notes.
“Alright, that is all for today’s class. Once you return, you may try making it yourselves. If anyone can brew it on the spot in our next class, I will award them one academic credit.”
The professor's words sparked a wave of excitement among the students, though considering their own skill levels, most felt it was rather hopeless.
Leaving the potions classroom, Shulim planned to head to the campus dessert shop first to grab a slice of pastry. The academy's courses required a significant amount of mental exertion, and with a Magic Formations class coming up shortly, Shulim did not want her brain running low on sugar.
However, before she had walked very far, a group of girls blocked her path from ahead.
“...”
Looking at the socialite group arrayed before her, all dressed impeccably like aristocratic young ladies, Shulim was somewhat puzzled as to why they were stopping her.
“You are the daughter of the Hayeral family, are you not?”
The apparent leader among the young ladies—a girl with blonde hair curled at the ends, holding a small folding fan—was the one who spoke.
Although Shulim did not know where she had learned her name, since the girl had approached with accurate information, there was no need to deny it.
“I am. May I ask what business you have with me?”
Fwap~!
The leading young lady snapped open her folding fan, half-covering her face while fanning herself gently.
“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Delgette Valorian, the legitimate daughter of the current Marquis Valorian.”
Marquis Valorian...
Shulim had indeed heard of him. He was supposedly one of the top high nobles holding true power within the empire, and his house was the maternal family of the current Second Imperial Consort.
In other words, the present Marquis was the biological uncle of the Third Prince, who enjoyed considerable support. That meant the person before her was the Third Prince's maternal cousin.
Imperial relatives...
“I have no other reason for seeking you out than to invite you to join a tea party circle I have established.”
Delgette stated calmly.
“Inviting me? A tea party?”
“Precisely. It is a tea party circle that currently only invites aristocratic socialites from within the empire.”
Huh, so that's how it is...
What a surprise. Why would a club that clearly sounded like an exclusive gathering for highborn young ladies invite a mere countryside noble?
Besides, even as a rural noble, she had heard rumors regarding the imperial succession struggle. If she remembered correctly, House Valorian was right at the center of that vortex...
Was this tea party circle truly just a simple tea party? Especially considering she was in the same class as the Ninth Princess...
“While I am very grateful for your invitation, I am sorry, Miss Delgette, but I currently have no intention of joining any group.”
“What—?! You dare refuse?!”
Before Delgette could even speak, the surrounding socialites burst into sharp condemnation.
“Do you know what you're saying?”
“Lady Delgette came to invite you in person! Do you have any idea what an honor that is?!”
“Do you understand what you are doing?!”
“Are you aware of the consequences of offending us?!”
Shulim was somewhat speechless. She really didn't know where these eleven- or twelve-year-olds had picked up such venomous arrogance. Compared to them, the tsundere Fran was vastly cuter.
“...I apologize, but who are you all?”
Shulim’s calm composure incensed the young ladies even further—especially her tone, which made them sound like insignificant nobodies.
“...You brat, what is with that attitude?! Mark my words carefully: I am the third daughter of Viscount Melk!”
“...I am the daughter of Count Vika!”
“...I am the daughter of Viscount Ryan...”
The highborn ladies cared deeply about their status. Offended by her apparent ignorance of who they were, they immediately declared their family titles in the sharpest tone possible.
“...I see. I will keep that in mind.”
Even though the young ladies looked quite agitated, Shulim remained completely calm.
More importantly...
None of the self-introductions so far had mentioned low-tier nobility; almost all of them were mid-to-high-ranking aristocrats. Clearly, this imperial socialite tea party had a threshold. From that perspective, the motive for inviting her became even more suspicious.
Shulim’s reaction naturally infuriated the young ladies even more.
“...As expected of someone from a washed-up house, lacking even a shred of tact—”
“Silence! Quiet down, all of you!”
Realizing that letting her companions continue their commotion would reflect poorly—especially with quite a few onlookers already turning their gaze toward them, which might spark undesirable rumors tomorrow—Delgette cut the young ladies off.
“Your behavior right now is entirely lacking in proper decorum!”
Rebuked by Delgette, the young ladies dared not speak another word.
Delgette snapped her fan shut and glanced at Shulim.
“Shulim Hayeral, there is no need to rush your refusal. You may reconsider my proposal. The doors of my tea party circle remain open to you at any time.”
With that, Delgette flicked her right hand to open her fan once more and turned to leave.
The socialites surrounding her hurriedly followed behind, though many cast warning glares back at Shulim before leaving.
“...”
How completely bizarre.
Shulim shook her head and put the matter out of her mind. She needed to get ready for her Magic Formations class; delayed like this, she no longer had time to grab a dessert.
...
What Shulim had not anticipated was that this incident was merely the beginning.
Just as she had speculated, Delgette’s purpose in establishing the tea party circle was anything but pure. It was an extension of the power struggles among the empire’s upper echelon. In typical years, even if such political maneuvering occurred, it would not be overly severe. However, this year happened to feature an extraordinarily important target of attack, causing even the highest-ranking figures to cast their eyes upon a circle that normally belonged solely to youth.
And that meant certain matters were no longer subject to the will of the youths themselves...
“Umm... I'm sorry, I have something to take care of, so I'll be leaving first.”
“Ah, well—something came up suddenly, so I can't go to the dessert shop after all...”
“...Tomorrow isn't very convenient. Maybe another time, another time...”
Hmm... Is this what they call social isolation?
After discovering that the attitudes of her classmates had suddenly shifted one after another, Shulim understood that those highborn ladies must have done something. While the young ladies themselves likely lacked the influence to achieve this level of ostracization, if the forces behind them had stepped in, it was by no means impossible.
Even if Manacos was exempt from imperial interference, it was located right in Langard, meaning there were countless ways to exert indirect influence.
The mere fact that stepping outside the academy placed one squarely in the realm of imperial nobility was enough to frighten most youngsters who had yet to experience the harsh reality of society into backing down.
“Well, whatever...”
Rate on N.U.
