"So… what about me and Eric?" Yvonne asked, forcing her voice to stay calm. "What exactly happened between us?"
Naomi's eyes lit up instantly, glittering with excitement. Clearly, she had been waiting for this. Yvonne could already tell she was more interested in gossiping than in serving breakfast. And judging from the way she sighed dreamily whenever Lord Raphael's name came up, she suspected Noami was more invested in fantasies than facts.
"Oh, Miss Alessandra," she said, lowering her voice as if we were sharing a secret.
"Things between you and young master Eric only got worse after you entered the academy."
"Worse?" Yvonne echoed.
Noami nodded vigorously. "You stopped at nothing to get his attention. Everyone knows that. And there's also something important you should know—Miss Cassandra is also in love with young master Eric."
Yvonne went quiet.
So she was right after all. That two faced twin of Alessandra always acts coquettesly whenever Eric appeared.
Naomi leaned closer, clearly enjoying herself. "Isn't it exciting? Twin sisters falling for the same man. And not just any man—the outstanding young master of the Blackthorn's family. It's the perfect story for gossip."
"…That title is unnecessarily long," Yvonne muttered. Then asked, more carefully, "So… does Eric love Cassandra?"
"No, no," Naomi said quickly, shaking her head. "Young master Eric hasn't responded to Miss Cassandra either. But she's far more reserved than you were. Honestly, most people thought he'd eventually accept her."
Oh?. "Then what changed?"
Naomi smiled knowingly. "You did."
"…Me?"
"Yes! No one expected you to succeed. But somehow, you managed to grab his attention. And not only that—he finally responded to your one-sided love. You even took things to the next level."
Yvonne stiffened. "Next… level?"
Noami covered her mouth, giggling. "Oh, Miss Alessandra, there's no need to act innocent. Everyone knows you and young master Eric already… you know."
Yvonne heart skipped. "Knows what?"
Noami grin widened. "You were even caught in the act."
Yvonne took a deep breath as it dawned on her.
Today.
The river.
The guards.
"Oh," Yvonne said stiffly but frowned immediately. "That. How did you know?"
Naomi laughed, clearly misunderstanding her mistress reaction. "How could I not know? The whole academy knows by now."
"The whole academy?" Yvonne eyes widened in shock. "That happened just hours ago!"
Rumors really did spread faster than wildfire.
She opened her mouth to ask more, but the sharp ringing of the school bell cut Yvonne off. Naomi froze, then instantly transformed from a gossip-loving girl into a frantic maid.
"Oh no! Miss Alessandra, you'll be late for class! Hurry, hurry—get up now!"
*
The moment Yvonne stepped into the school hall, she felt it.
Eyes.
Dozens of them.
Whispers slithered through the air like snakes, crawling into my ears whether she wanted them to or not. Disgust. Curiosity. Judgment. Amusement.
Yvonne expression hardened.
Across the hall, Cassandra stood with her group, her gaze sharp and filled with disdain. Beside her was Kaylyn, whose face twisted the moment she saw Yvonne.
"You shameless slut!" Kaylyn shouted, storming toward Yvonne.
Her hand rose.
But was caught midair.
The sharp sound of skin against skin echoed—not a slap, but the force of Yvonne grip stopping Kaylyn motion.
"You dare?" Yvonne said quietly, her voice icy. "You dare raise your hand against a descendant of the Questrie family? Are you tired of living?"
The hall fell silent.
Kaylyn's eyes widened as reality finally caught up to her. No matter how low Alessandra's status was treated here, the Questrie name still carried weight. She slowly lowered her hand, her confidence crumbling.
She turned helplessly toward Cassandra, who approached flanked by Bianca and Lilith at her side.
"Alessandra," Lilith snapped, trying to salvage the situation. "You have no right to use the Questrie name with that filthy mouth of yours."
Yvonne turned her gaze on her. "And who are you to lecture me?"
Lilith froze.
She hadn't expected that. None of them had.
Cassandra stepped forward, her face tight with anger. "Do you feel no shame at all? After being caught doing something so disgraceful?"
Shame?
Disgraceful?
Yvonne almost laughed.
How ironic.
She had done nothing wrong, yet here she was, standing trial in the court of rumors. If they wanted a villain so badly, then fine—she will give them one.
"Ashamed?" Yvonne tilted her head slightly. "Why should I be? One doesn't feel ashamed of something so… memorable."
Cassandra's face flushed crimson.
Yvonne finally understood it clearly now. Though they were twins, Cassandra had always been treated like a princess—cherished, protected, admired. Alessandra, on the other hand, was the unwanted one. The shadow. The powerless, useless one.
And Cassandra had always bullied that shadow.
Yvonne sighed as she studies Cassandra expression which shifted into confusion.
Then Yvonne heard it, Cassandra's thoughts:
(When did Alessandra become like this?)
(She used to stay quiet. She used to endure everything. She would apologize even when she was wronged.)
(Why does it feel like I'm looking at someone else? Someone who isn't Alessandra at all?)
Her gaze sharpened, studying Yvonne as though trying to peel her apart.
Yvonne sighed again, seems like she had gone too far.
If she continued like this, she would attract the wrong kind of attention. She still needed answers. She still needed to understand why she was here—and how to leave.
But still…
Who would quietly endure injustice?
Straighten her posture, Yvonne meets Cassandra's eyes calmly.
If this world wanted Alessandra to remain weak, then it would have to accept one thing—
She is not the type to bow. Or endure silently.