It all started when I received a full scholarship to one of the most prestigious schools in the country — Mariam Luke University.
A place for the children of nobles, politicians, and the powerful.
A place where someone like me should never have belonged.
I was born a commoner.
My mother works as a maid for Duke Jacob Lin — a man respected not only for his wealth, but for his kindness. Every servant in his household is loyal to him, not out of fear, but gratitude.
He's always been generous, always willing to help those in need. My mother often said she was lucky to work for a man like him.
Ever since I was little, she used to bring me along to the Duke's villa. I helped with small chores, sweeping the garden, arranging books, anything that made me useful.
It was there that Duke Jacob noticed my love for studying.
Sometimes, during his spare hours, he would teach me alongside his eldest son, Miguel Lin.
He even lent me books from his library — old, fragrant, heavy books I used to read under candlelight until my eyes burned.
And when I finally graduated high school, he offered to make me his scholar at Mariam Luke University.
At that time, I thought it was a blessing.
I thought my life was finally changing.
But I never knew… that his second daughter, Julia Lin, would be the one to destroy the peace I'd built inside myself.
And now, I'm not sure if I can survive the next four years of this school.
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After Julia and her friends left, I slowly pushed myself up from the floor.
The hallway was nearly empty. Some students walked away whispering; others just sighed. A few laughed quietly under their breath.
My knees trembled. My chest felt hollow. Tears wouldn't stop falling no matter how hard I bit my lip.
Then I felt a gentle hand on my back.
"Hey… are you okay? Did they hurt you?"
I turned, startled, and saw a girl I barely knew — Martha Klies.
For a moment, I froze. I didn't know how to react, or if I should even trust her.
But her eyes… they were calm, full of genuine concern.
I steadied my breathing and nodded, though I couldn't lift my head from the shame.
"I'm sorry," she said softly. "I couldn't step in earlier, but I really felt awful watching how Julia treated you. I just…"
Her voice trembled. I could hear her guilt, her hesitation.
Of course.
No one would dare go against Julia Lin.
The nobles adore her, and with her father's power behind her, she can do whatever she wants.
I forced a small smile, tears still blurring my vision.
"You don't have to explain, Miss Martha," I whispered. "And you didn't need to bother. I'm sorry for making your hand dirty while helping me stand up. Please excuse me."
Before she could respond, I turned and ran —
away from her kindness,
away from their laughter,
away from everything that reminded me of how small I was in this place.