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The news of Raynia, who was detained provisionally, spread across the academy.
Everyone was busy whispering, but the one who was shocked and dejected more than anybody else was Viscount Rocke.
He, who was out of mind, only began to move after hearing the Crown Prince’ order to reinforce the investigation.
“Young Lady Miller.”
His voice trembled.
“Rany, that child . . .”
“Do you think Rany did that, Viscount?”
The complicated expression flashed on his face.
“Isn’t this no longer a matter of if she did it or not? Even if she didn’t do it this time, as the mistake from the past already came into light . . .”
Fortunately, he looked like he was thinking between two possibilities.
The voice mixed with a breath said,
“The Rany that I know wouldn’t do her work poorly like this.”
“I’m glad you know that about your daughter.”
“If she did it, she would do it properly. Although it was something she might do, she wouldn’t do it so sloppily.”
He hesitated and then looked at me.
It seemed like I clearly saw what he was trying to say.
“Young Lady, are you planning to help Rany?”
Even after all the affected families demanded compensation, the damage to Rocke Merchant Guild would also be significant if the academy expelled her and the Crown Prince himself announced the crime that was committed in front of him.
I saw his hands trembling.
“If the crime is confirmed, I . . .”
The lips that were hardly parted finished the words.
“I won’t be able to stand on her side.”
He closed his mouth back after finishing the words he let out of his throat.
I had already predicted it, so it wasn’t surprising.
He would make all efforts to maintain the guild’s reputation through abandoning Rany.
If the crime was confirmed, it wouldn’t be easy to turn the tables even if she was wrongly accused.
On top of that, this happened in the presence of the Crown Prince, and he personally investigated it.
“There are many workers hired in the guild. In addition, not only me, but also Benji, whose future is bright, would be stigmatized. I can’t let the crime pass to that kid, can I?”
He tried to appease himself through the excuses he mumbled out, but nothing changed.
It was always Rany who would be chosen to be sacrificed through weighing benefits.
“In the end, my father will do nothing for me if things go wrong. That is the way for him to protect his possessions.”
Just like what Rany said calmly with an unmoved face, he once again abandoned her.
Looking at the face filled with faint hope, I asked him.
“Are you thinking everything will end smoothly if I help Rany?”
He was wondering if I, a young lady of the Duchy, came forward, would Rany’s crime be lighter.
Or if my family could protect her.
“. . .”
“So, you’re asking for my help, but you won’t do anything?”
He quietly breathed out.
The problem was that this incident brought up the past.
Forging holy objects was a felony more severe than simply smuggling academy’s items with defective products.
How did Mago find out that Rany almost got into an indictment in the past?
It was true that a summoning letter was issued, but the prosecution wasn’t held.
That case remained unresolved, but without doubt, the record of the almost opened trial, and other parties remained, so it might be easy to dig up the case.
After turning my back to him, who gave no answer, I approached Abigail.
“Please take care of Benji and Jeremy so that they won’t get too worried. Tell them to not get sweeped by the misinformed words inside the academy.”
“I think Benji will be okay. He dealt with this bravely, and even calmed Jeremy.”
It was really fortunate that he was a kid with a composed and relaxed personality.
I indeed had hinted to him a bit, but he could guess how reliable the spreading words were.
“About the ledger I asked you earlier . . .”
Pondering after the carefully asked question, I answered.
“For now, I think it’s best to just hold onto it. I don’t want to bring it out unless it is really needed.”
She, who looked confused, nodded, and then disappeared with a short and quick step.
Everyone was talking around Rany’s name with furious faces.
The venomous words even came from the lips of those who were not harmed in any way.
Needless to say, the nonexistent facts were more plentiful.
It didn’t take long for a single mistake to become countless mistakes.
Even though the Crown Prince had not yet announced the definite situation, the event that happened in the dean’s room was talked about as if it were a live broadcast.
“How daring. Forging holy objects alone is a big felony, yet she dared trying to con the Beyond Family?”
“I bet a lot of families are gritting their teeth because she ruined the swordsmanship event in front of His Imperial Highness.”
I cut through the intense gazes that were also glued to me with a quick step and headed to the back gate.
Bertin, who had been waiting in the appointed location, flashed a smile to me.
“Are you feeling sour?”
“This is going just as expected.”
Not even one of the predictions went astray.
Even the Viscount’s choice.
It didn’t mean it was less bitter just because I had already known about it.