Chapter 194
Chapter 47: The Truth Revealed
There were already a bunch of students gathered outside the Goldsand Mansion, and the two riding the “Cake” quickly became the center of attention throughout the entire noble district on their way back.
As shocked and confused glances from classmates fell upon him, Roy couldn’t help but chuckle wryly at being in the spotlight.
Charlotte wasn’t exactly the type to be overly familiar in public; she was quite innocent at heart.
In fact, Roy could clearly see that Charlotte’s body was stiffer than usual—she was definitely a bit nervous.
“If you feel uncomfortable, I can get off first.”
“Don’t. You’re not allowed to go anywhere.” The girl slightly turned her head, lowering her voice with a serious tone: “This is to protect you.”
“Protect me?”
“Exactly. There are too many bad women like Ayana Shanik! I’m warning them that they absolutely cannot come after you again!” Charlotte pouted her lips, huffing softly, claiming her territory.
She looked like a little cat that swallowed vinegar, which Roy found incredibly cute.
Cute, and he wanted to tease her.
So, the young boy mischievously leaned down, getting close to her luxurious red hair, and gently blew into her shell-like small ear.
“Don’t worry, how can that kind of cheap perfume compare to a beautiful ruby?”
The “Ruby of the Lionheart Kingdom” was probably a title Charlotte had long been tired of hearing, but when Roy whispered it in her ear, it made her shudder, filled with both shame and delight, her face flushed.
“You idiot. Don’t say that in public!” The girl looked slightly pouting, full of complaints.
Seeing the princess’ shy and awkward demeanor, Roy was in high spirits.
After witnessing their shared ride on the griffin and affectionate whispers, the other students were left in shock.
“Isn’t the Golden Red Griffin a symbol of the royal family? He was actually allowed to ride the royal griffin?!”
“How unfair! Why does he get to ride with Princess Charlotte?!”
Even though their points of focus were different, they all pointed to the same conclusion.
Just as those from the Lionheart Kingdom said, Roy Ainbrad was indeed an Oath Knight, second only to the noble lineage of the Reinhardt royal family!
Although foreigners had limited understanding of Oath Knights, they’d heard that it represented royal approval, symbolizing the highest honor of the Lionheart Kingdom—not something a mere marquis’ son could compare to.
With that in mind, it explained why Roy had captured Charlotte’s favor.
And how could such a big shot possibly be a scumbag?
As Charlotte’s suitors felt relieved, they also sank into despair.
Previously, they could mock the scumbag nameplate to regain some superiority, but now they realized that Roy was no ordinary person but someone of status matched to the royal family.
Of course, what people were truly focused on was the outcome of this negotiation.
While the clamor was in the minority, more people were throwing cold laughs and sneers.
“So what if he’s an Oath Knight? Let me be blunt, the entire Lionheart faction is no match for the Goldsand faction!”
“The new guy won’t be able to find any advantage in front of Senior Douglas!”
“Are you underestimating this academy too much? Just because you’re powerful in your own country doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want here!”
Older students, seniors from the second and third years, and those of noble birth took on the role of tutors, endlessly explaining the so-called truth to others.
“But I don’t see Roy as losing? He looks pretty happy, actually!”
Occasionally, someone would pipe up like this, only to be met with collective mockery.
“Foolish!”
“What do you know?”
“What good is laughing now? You’ll find out tomorrow!”
The crowd began to disperse.
Little did anyone know, that night a fierce argument broke out inside the Goldsand Mansion.
No one could say for sure what happened inside, but in the end, Ayana was thrown out like trash, exactly like a drenched chicken, a pitiful sight.
The next day, Ayana showed up in Alice’s class.
This meeting would reveal the true outcome of yesterday’s negotiation; hence many students came to watch, crowding the hallway, piling down the stairs, and even bringing a projection crystal to stream live.
“What did I say yesterday? Lionheart can’t compare to Goldsand, and Roy can’t beat Douglas. Today, you all will find out!”
Similar statements echoed everywhere.
However, they never expected to see Ayana no longer holding her usual arrogance, but rather reluctantly coming to face Alice, bowing to the two girls.
“I’m sorry…”
“I was wrong before.”
Alice honestly never cared about Ayana’s apology, but Nia held onto grudges fiercely.
The elven girl casually swung her legs, fiddling with her pointed ears, feigning surprise: “Oh? What did Lady Ayana say? My ears are too bad to hear clearly~”
Ayana’s face instantly twisted, her trembling mouth brewing a storm of foul words.
But under the indifferent gaze of the black-haired boy, she couldn’t bring herself to curse, managing only a smile that looked worse than crying.
“I-I’m sorry! It was my fault!”
“This classmate, could you specify what exactly you were wrong about?” Nia coughed a couple of times, sounding like a teacher inquiring, as she earnestly asked.
Each word from Ayana was like pulling teeth, as if enduring torture: “I-I shouldn’t have started trouble, I shouldn’t have sent someone to attack your dorm…”
“I’m truly sorry!”
“Oh, don’t do that, how tragic!” If it weren’t for Nia’s radiant smile, her tone of sympathy could almost make someone believe it.
“We’re just mere maids, just lowly peasants, how could we ever make it hard for you, Lady?! Feel free to bully us as you wish!” As she finished speaking, Nia rested her chin on her hand, squinted her bright eyes, and burst into an extreme mockery: “I still prefer the rebellious look of you, Lady~”
After being humiliated by Roy and tossed out by Douglas, Ayana had already broken the record for her “greatest humiliation in life” twice. Now, being mocked by Nia in front of a crowd of students, Ayana finally broke down and started to cry.
Roy simply watched silently, neither sad nor happy.
He had no interest in bullying girls, but he understood that one can never be lenient with such people.
If Alice couldn’t fend for herself, if Nia hadn’t intervened, if he hadn’t stepped in to settle things with Douglas, Ayana’s bullying would have been far worse than her current treatment.
Witnessing Ayana’s apology, people finally understood who the real winner of the negotiation was.
“Roy won!”
“Truly the Oath Knight of Lionheart!”
“As for what they said about Lionheart not being as good as Goldsand, I nearly believed your nonsense!”
The seniors and nobles who had previously analyzed things with such authority stood dumbfounded.
Lionheart really wasn’t inferior to Goldsand! Even if Roy was an Oath Knight, that wouldn’t compel Goldsand’s prince to back down, right?!
In reality, Roy had indeed concluded the negotiations thanks to the witch’s name as a threat. Unfortunately, the details were kept confidential, so this kind of information wouldn’t easily spread.
If before people were only focused on Roy and Douglas’s negotiation, with the outcome revealed, the root cause of this matter, the malicious acts of Ayana Shanik, finally came to light.
“Did Ayana really bully her classmates?”
“What a disgrace for us nobles!”
“I heard she initially wanted to win over Roy, but when that failed, she lashed out at Roy’s maid! So laughable, isn’t she just a pathetic loser?”
“So, in a way, Roy did rid the academy of a menace?”
“At least he stood up against Goldsand for his maid and friends.”
As an Oath Knight, representing the Lionheart faction, he faced the head of the Goldsand faction, forcing them to relent. As a noble son, he stepped up to protect his maid and friends.
The name Roy Ainbrad echoed through the academy for the second time, but this time, one could no longer hear the words “scumbag” or “bad boy.”
