Shiller’s calm but cold voice cut through the air as he turned to face Nick, who froze, eyes wide in surprise. Apparently, he had been so focused on Emma that he hadn’t noticed Shiller’s presence.
“W-Who?”
“Be quiet!” Nick hissed, trying to silence Muir’s questioning tone. He forced a strained smile, addressing Shiller.
“Lord Shiller Rengefelt, what a surprise to see you.”
“Ah, indeed. I was unfortunately misled by a false summons during the graduation party. I regret not being able to stay by Emma’s side—or to meet you.”
The graduation party had been exclusively for students, with no parents in attendance. If anyone could have intervened to stop Nick’s dramatic declaration, it would have been Shiller, Emma’s noble relative. Nick had clearly seen him as an obstacle, bribing a servant to deliver a false message that a professor was calling for him, effectively removing Shiller from the venue.
Nick’s tight smile didn’t falter as he responded, “It’s a shame we couldn’t meet.”
Muir, oblivious to the tension, beamed. “Wow, Lord Shiller, you’re acquainted with Nick? That’s amazing!”
Only Emma, Margit, and Shiller noticed Nick subtly signaling Muir to keep quiet, though she was too enamored with Shiller to pay attention.
“So, who is this ‘gloomy girl’?” Shiller’s voice dropped, his piercing gaze fixed on Nick.
“N-No one in particular,” Nick stammered, shaking his head quickly.
Shiller shifted the topic with deliberate ease. “How’s your family business doing?”
“W-What do you mean?”
Shiller’s expression sharpened, his smile cold and unyielding. “The trade with the Eastern Seas. I heard you claimed it as your family’s business. But it belongs to the Lavidge family, doesn’t it? Lies like that are frowned upon—especially in the world of commerce.”
Shiller’s cold eyes, combined with his mocking smile, radiated authority. Nick had no choice but to respond with a meek “Yes.” He desperately wanted to flee.
Nick had always felt inferior to Shiller. Higher in rank, better looking, intelligent, athletic—there was nothing Nick could beat him at. His only claim to superiority had been his engagement to Emma, and now that was gone.
— “So the trade belongs to the Lavidge family?”
— “Then Nick lied about it?”
— “If Lord Shiller says so, it must be true.”
The murmurs began to ripple through the dining hall. To refute Shiller’s words would mean defying the duke’s son, an unthinkable act. The social hierarchy was insurmountable; whatever Shiller declared would be accepted as fact.
“You’ve lied about more than just that, haven’t you?” Shiller pressed.
“I… I don’t know what you mean,” Nick muttered.
— “So Lady Emma really didn’t harass anyone?”
— “I thought the accusations sounded childish.”
— “If she wanted to, she could have done much worse. She has the duke’s and the marquess’s families on her side!”
“Emma hasn’t harassed anyone,” Shiller declared, turning to Margit. “Isn’t that right, Lady Margit?”
“Indeed. I’ve spent much time with Emma at the academy, and unlike certain others, she is a kind and noble lady. Such behavior would be beneath her.”
The scene devolved into what could only be described as a public trial. With Shiller, the duke’s heir, and Margit, the marquess’s daughter and future princess, standing against him, Nick’s humiliation was absolute. The two had been simmering with frustration over Emma’s ordeal, and now that Nick had foolishly presented an opportunity, they unleashed their wrath.
As for Emma, the subject of this ordeal, she remained quiet. She had never complained about Nick’s actions, much to their dismay. If she had, they would have gladly stepped in sooner. Now that the chance had arrived, they were determined to seize it.
The only one who remained utterly oblivious was Muir, who sat there, clueless as ever.
“But Nick-sama is truly amazing! The product he recently designed is selling so well, and he’s great at trade too. He has incredible business talent!”
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