Valeria Sandfroy

Hestia lifted her eyes from the book she's reading. A girl in pristine Aldenine uniform greeted her sight. Her curly brown hair was tied by a red ribbon on one side of her head, eyes bright and cheeks looked sun-kissed. The look made her adorable and friendly.

A worried look displayed on her small face.

"I was worried about you. You were gone for almost a month." The girl said before taking a seat beside her.

Valeria leaned in, "You know, that girl Elspeth, she's been throwing her weight the moment you were gone. It was laughable that a mare Baron's daughter rules Aldenine now. She's definitely exploiting the Crown Prince's good grace, don't you think?"

Hestia wanted to laugh. If Valeria was truly worried about her as she said. She could have visited her in Bellmore's mansion.

The same thing happened in her past life. All her friends left her side once they discovered the Crown Prince revulsion of her. They immediately switched sides and only Valeria remained with her.

She was her closest friend, her only confidant, and her accomplice to all the evil deeds she had done for the sake of becoming Cain's Empress.

But the moment everything came to light, the schemes, the cruelty, Valeria Sandfroy disappeared, nowhere to be found.

When she was ascending the platform to be killed she thought she saw the woman's silhouette, a serene smile pasted on her lips as she looks at her bedraggled appearance. When Hestia looked closely the person was gone. She thought it was just her mind conjuring things.

But now she thinks there is more to what happened in her past life than what was uncovered.

Valeria sighed, "The poor Crown Prince had no idea of that girl's true colors."

Hestia didn't reply but the frown on her forehead deepens.

Valeria casts her a puzzled look when she did not react to the news. Hestia was still sitting there reading her damn book as if she didn't hear what she had said. If it was in the past, Hestia would've blown her top with so much as just hearing Elspeth Casigleri's name.

Valeria clears her throat, "Hestia, did you hear me? Someone told me Elspeth and the Crown Prince are in the school garden enjoying a walk. Shouldn't we do something to save the Crown Prince from that girl's clutches?"

Hestia lifted her head and looked at the girl beside her. A beauty mark adorns the right corner of the girl's lower lip. This girl looks like she had deeper schemes she had not detected in her past life, Hestia thought.

The blank look on Hestia's face made Valeria uncomfortable. Hestia should be fuming by now when she said Elspeth and the Crown Prince are together, she should be marching in the garden by now to cause a scene that everybody would enjoy a good squabble. It should be that way.

But why is Hestia so calm and composed today?

The smile on Valeria's face wobbled as Hestia kept on staring at her with dead eyes, "Hestia, the Crown Prince-"

"The Crown Prince had nothing to do with me, neither does Elspeth Casigleri." Hestia retracted her eyes and focused on her book again, ignoring the gaping Valeria on her side. "If you don't have any more to say, please get out. Our class is about to start."

"He-Hestia? What are you-"

"For a mere merchant's daughter, you sure don't know your place. This is class A, those from class F shouldn't enter here as they please." Hestia said, her tone icy and indifferent, she didn't even bother to lift her head when she said those harsh words.

She didn't mince words with Valeria Sandfroy. Starting today she will cut any friendly relationships she had with this scheming girl.

"Pft!"

Someone from the crowd laughed when they heard what Hestia said. Then everyone followed suit, casting Valeria with a mocking smile on their faces.

Valeria has never been insulted this much her whole life. She's indeed a merchant's daughter but her family is one of the wealthiest in Graceland. People give her respect because of this.

Like any schools that cater to the rich and noble, Aldenine academy had a caste system. Sons and daughters of a wealthy family without status can enter Aldenine but their standing hinders them from openly socializing with the upper and more noble class, all of them who belonged to the last category were herded to class F. the lowest of the low.

She was lucky enough to know the Grand Duke's daughter from an acquaintance. Since then, she does everything to get on Hestia's good graces. She thought her place in Hestia's has now been cemented when no one dared approach the crazy girl after the last incident involving the Crown Prince.

She was sure she could now manipulate Hestia in the palm of her hand. She only had to use the Crown Prince and Elspeth Casigleri's name and she could manipulate Hestia as much as she wants.

Mocking laughter echoed inside class A, other than that an occasional flipping of paper could be heard.

Hestia acted as if nothing happened while Valeria was embarrassed and fuming inside.

Valeria couldn't endure it anymore, she ran out with eyes full of tears. It didn't take long for the whole academy to learn that the famous villainess, Hestia, had bullied another poor soul again after she returned from being suspended.

Others who didn't appreciate Hestia's return criticized her. While others were quite refreshed when they heard the Grand Duke's infamous daughter is back, it would surely make their boring school life lively once more.

In a garden full of blooming flowers, two figures were seen walking side by side. They were quiet for a long time, enjoying the scent of the flowers brought by the gentle wind.

The man had an indifferent look on his face while the woman displayed a complicated look.

The man decided to break the silence first, "We should head back. Classes are starting soon." The man turned and about to head back when a hand on the sleeve of his uniform stopped him.

Elspeth seemed to be paralyzed on the spot as fear washed over her, "Cain, I'm scared." She whispered.

The Crown Prince's features soften, "I am here, she could not touch you."

Elspeth still felt anxious with Hestia's return even with the assurance of the Crown Prince.

The Prince sighed and held her hand, "You are doing well on class A and I've placed my people there with you. A mosquito couldn't approach you before they are squashed to death by me. Come, I'll take you to your class."

Elspeth still didn't answer but gave a soft nod this time. She was ushered by Cain towards the class A building, classes had long started when they neared the freshmen's section.

The teacher was droning on when he spied the Prince and Elspeth on the room's threshold. The monotone look immediately vanish from his old face, it was transformed into a warm, welcoming one,

"Crown Prince, did you escort Miss Casigleri here?"

All eyes were on the two people standing by the door. The room was once again in a buzz.

Elspeth and the Crown Prince's presence aren't new to them. After what happened to the Casigleri girl last month, the Prince had shown his full support for the girl. In just a day, Elspeth Casigleri rose from Class E to Class A!

It had never happened in the past nor did the school condone such an act. But being pressured by the future Emperor forced the School Head to make an exemption.

After that, a group of noble ladies from prominent families started flanking the Casigleri girl. Everyone's perception of the baron's daughter changed drastically. Now those who ignore her in the past are trying to curry favor to her and those who bullied her kept their silence and bitterness. They should have sided with the Casigleri girl from the very start, they thought bitterly.

Again, the Crown Prince escorting Elspeth wasn't new for class A but today is a bit different. They all looked at Hestia who was seriously scribbling on her notepad and to the couple by the door. The former looked like she hadn't heard the commotion.

A touch of excitement shone in everyone's eyes. They were anticipating a good drama today.

Will this scenario end with a catfight?

They couldn't wait and see.