I Raised the Villain's Daughter Too Well-Chapter 28: Didn’t Know! -

After the entrance ceremony, before the other students arrived, I entered the girls’ dormitory.

This was where Firnea was supposed to stay. A minimum safety check was necessary.

"...It’s spacious."

Firnea’s room was on the top floor of the dormitory.

At a glance, it was on a completely different level from the other dormitory rooms.

The floor gleamed with polished marble, a resplendent chandelier hung from the ceiling, and the bed, luxuriously embroidered with red thread, stood beside an antique oak desk.

This was originally the room reserved for a princess upon her enrollment.

"How are they going to clean this..."

I sighed heavily, already feeling anxious.

Maids were not allowed at the Academy.

Of course, there were maids hired by the Academy who cleaned the rooms three times a week, but...

Firnea would no doubt make a complete mess of the place.

Regardless, it would only take a day before it was a disaster again.

Debating whether I should learn how to disguise myself as a woman and sneak in later, I thoroughly searched the room.

Fortunately, there were no dangers. However, dust had accumulated, so I was cleaning up a bit when—

Clack. The door swung open.

"...!"

What? The ladies should still be at the afterparty.

I quickly turned around to find Firnea leaning against the doorframe, covering her mouth with a fan and grinning mischievously.

"Virdem, what are you doing in the girls' dormitory? You pervert?"

"...My Lady. What about the afterparty?"

Just because the entrance ceremony was over didn’t mean she should actually come back.

The real event began afterward—engaging in small talk with nobles she was meeting for the first time, exchanging future lecture schedules, and establishing connections. That was the true essence of the entrance ceremony.

For me, as a butler who had no need for connections, ensuring Firnea’s residence was safe was far more important, but that didn’t apply to Firnea.

For her sake, I had to be strict. Firnea, slightly daunted by my stern gaze, muttered sheepishly.

"Ah, no, it’s not like that. Wine got on my dress. Even though I evaporated it with magic, it still felt uncomfortable, so I came back to change. I’ll go back afterward."

"Ah..."

So that was it.

"I apologize. I was too quick to judge. I was convinced you had run away because it was bothersome."

"I didn’t! I’m not a child..."

Firnea shouted back, then blushed and awkwardly cleared her throat, twisting a strand of her hair around her finger.

"...Anyway. Thanks for earlier."

"For what, My Lady?"

"For blocking the wine. Honestly, I never expected it. It was a mistake, so it was fortunate, but if it had been an assassination attempt, it could have been dangerous."

"Ah, if you’re referring to that, I was surprised as well. I didn’t think My Lady would let it slide so easily."

"...What? You thought I’d destroy a whole family over something like that? I’m not that ruthless, you know?"

"I didn’t think that far. But I did expect you to at least mete out some punishment. At the very least, so you wouldn’t be underestimated."

Honestly, if I were in Firnea’s position, I would’ve at least challenged them to a duel.

Firnea handled it well, but if another student had been in her shoes and just let it slide, they would’ve been branded a pushover.

The Academy was still within the confines of noble society—a wild jungle where the law of the strong ruled.

If she’d read that far into it, there was nothing more to say.

Firnea grinned slyly.

"Well, normally I would’ve punished them a bit... but I was in a good mood, so I let it go."

"...What?"

She was in a good mood after getting wine spilled on her?

Why?

...A peculiar fetish?

Maintaining a neutral expression, I rose from my seat.

"Ah, I see. Well then, please change and make sure to return to the ceremony afterward."

"Where are you going?"

"I need to unpack my things in the room. Oh..."

I almost forgot.

I pulled a pair of sparkling silver rings from my pocket and called out to Firnea.

"My Lady, your hand, please."

"...?"

Firnea, looking bewildered, instinctively recoiled like a cockroach the moment she realized I was about to slip the ring onto her finger.

Honestly, it hurt a little.

But Firnea seemed too overwhelmed to notice, her expression genuinely shocked as she glanced back and forth between me and the rings at least ten times.

"Huh? Wh-What? Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, what is this? What’s going on?"

"These are rings linked by the same magical wavelength."

I rotated the ring I was wearing once.

The other ring, resting in my hand, rotated as well.

"As I am not allowed to stay in the girls’ dormitory, you will be alone at night, My Lady. If a problem arises in such a situation, please rotate the ring once. However, if you do so, I will assume it is a worst-case scenario and employ every measure possible. Please keep that in mind."

"Oh, oh. So, that’s what it was... that’s what it was."

Firnea let out a deep sigh, yet she continued to glance at me with a gaze full of resentment. Her face was as red as a tomato.

"Why say it in such a misleading way?"

"I am not sure what you might have misunderstood."

"When a man gives a woman a ring, it usually has... you know. That kind of meaning."

"I am, before a man, My Lady’s butler. Virdem of the Serbus Family."

"..."

Firnea’s expression grew visibly displeased, but there was nothing to be done about it.

The only reason I could stay by Firnea’s side was because I was Virdem.

Virdem of Serbus. The ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) butler family that obeyed the Seriratus absolutely.

If it had been anything else, I wouldn’t even be able to stand by her side.

It was so obvious that I had never forgotten it for a single moment since I was ten years old.

"...Give it to me."

"Yes, My Lady."

Firnea received the ring, naturally slipping it onto her finger.

Then—

Flick, flick, flick, flick—she twirled it around incessantly.

Naturally, the ring on my finger spun around as well.

"Hmm. It works fine."

"I would appreciate it if you only used it in times of danger..."

"Never mind that. Come every time I spin it."

"...What?"

"I’ll call you even when it’s not that dangerous."

I looked at Firnea.

She was smiling sweetly, but there was a hint of frustration in her eyes.

"My Lady."

"What?"

"Forgive my impudence, but My Lady has already reached the peak."

"Yes, that’s right."

Since it was a simple fact, Firnea accepted it.

Some professors might have more refined magical techniques than Firnea.

However, in a pure killing contest, not even a veteran knight commander could guarantee a win against her.

If Firnea were in danger—

Even if I went alone, there would be nothing I could do.

If the ring spun, there were far more important things to do than running to her side immediately—like informing Maclaine, or rallying every trustworthy noble.

"If you understand that, why did you say such a thing, My Lady? Even if I rushed over, it would not be of any help."

Firnea paused for a moment, as if contemplating, then used the ultimate move:

"Do you hate it?"

"...Ha..."

Utterly unreasonable.

I nodded slowly.

"As you wish, My Lady."

It was a fact that every aspiring butler needed to learn.

The relationship between a butler and a noble lady was an absolute hierarchy—one that could never be overturned.

****

After the entrance ceremony afterparty.

The atmosphere had loosened considerably, unlike the entrance ceremony where everyone was busy gauging each other and forming alliances.

Leah was eating a cherry cake alone at the dessert corner.

"..." freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

Of course, to be precise, she wasn’t completely alone.

If one looked closely into the corner, there was Armeria, rubbing Arin’s cheek while mumbling, "Why...? Why...?" like she had lost her mind (Leah had already answered that question for the 34th time).

But Leah had made up her mind.

Tomorrow, she would dye her hair and sever the sisterly bond with "that thing."

In other words, she was alone.

...Until she mustered up the courage to go up to someone and speak first.

Now was the time to act.

"I-I can do this..."

Leah muttered to herself, trying to muster up courage.

Due to the strict upbringing enforced by the Paltis Family, this was practically her debut in high society.

Especially Leah, who had been raised under even stricter conditions.

After Armeria had repeatedly run away from home since she was ten, Leah was the only child left to raise properly, and the pressure fell solely on her.

But rather than resent her sister, she had endured, looking forward to life at the Academy—dreaming of fresh romances, becoming one of the so-called popular girls loved by everyone.

Leah glanced at her reflection in the wine glass, seeking confidence.

'This should be enough!'

After carefully observing the other noble ladies with hawk-like eyes, she concluded—

She couldn’t surpass them, but she could at least compete.

Moreover, didn’t people talk to her during the entrance ceremony?

It was clear that other students were interested in the young lady of the Paltis Family.

Feeling a surge of confidence, Leah approached a group of tall, handsome students who were chatting loudly.

"E-Excuse me."

She bit her tongue.

"Hm?"

The chatting students turned to look at Leah, and her mind went blank.

She had to say something, but nothing came to mind.

"...H-Hello?"

She wanted to die.

As she was wallowing in despair over her terrible greeting, the students’ faces lit up and they approached her.

"Ah! You must be Lady Leah of the Paltis Family!"

"Paltis Family, as in the Hero’s family, right?"

"Oh... It’s my first time seeing a Hero in person."

'...Huh?'

Contrary to her expectations, the response was far warmer than she had anticipated.

It seemed she wouldn’t have to die after all.

For the first time in her life, Leah felt grateful for her family’s Heroic lineage and smiled as naturally as possible.

"A-A Hero? That’s all in the past. You can just treat me normally."

"How could we? Without the Paltis Family, we wouldn’t even be here. How could we treat you normally? Hahaha!"

"Aha, hahaha...!"

They were having a conversation.

And it was going... surprisingly well!

"Oh, right. Lady Leah, what do you think of this guy’s fashion?"

"Hey, don’t do that! You’ll make her think I’m weird!"

It seemed they were friends, as the male students nudged each other playfully before turning to Leah.

"Fashion?"

"Yes. This guy showed up to the entrance ceremony in prêt-à-porter, you know."

"I was wearing haute couture too, but it was so uncomfortable that I just changed out of it for a bit."

"Pret-...?"

Leah froze. It was a word she had never heard before.

"Honestly, I think my mass-tige look is better than this guy’s."

"Come to think of it, Lady Leah, what brand are you wearing? I’ve never seen it before."

"Haha, the fashion sense of noble ladies is something we men could never hope to reach. Surely, it’s a custom piece made by a renowned designer from the capital."

Leah, who was now the center of their expectant gazes, barely managed to answer in a trembling voice.

"I-I... I just made it myself..."

"..."

Leah’s face turned as red as a beet.

The students, momentarily stunned, quickly changed the subject.

"Oh, ah! Really? You must be really talented! I thought it was a luxury brand piece!"

"More importantly, I heard Lady Leah’s swordsmanship is exceptional. At such a young age, you’ve already achieved such great accomplishments... May I ask for a demonstration someday?"

"-Y-Yes! I can do it right now!"

"...Right now?"

Leah had made her first mistake.

In her eagerness to erase the impression of being a country bumpkin that the previous conversation had given, she latched onto the mention of swordsmanship—a subject she was confident in.

The student who had only mentioned it to move the conversation along was slightly flustered and tried to brush it off.

"Oh, yes. Thank you very much. But we can’t exactly draw swords in a place like this..."

"You don’t need to actually draw it! Just pretend you’re holding it and perform the techniques. I’ll evaluate it for you!"

"Huh..."

The student, after a brief moment of hesitation, decided to think positively.

After all, if he could get evaluated by a Hero, his skills might improve immensely.

Wasn’t this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?

A bit embarrassed, he nodded and moved to a spacious area.

"Then, as humble as it may be, please allow me to demonstrate."

"Yes!"

Leah, determined to redeem herself, focused all her attention.

'I have to really do a good job evaluating him!'

...This was her second mistake.

The student imagined he was holding a sword and began performing the secret techniques of his family.

The sound of his clothes slicing through the air echoed throughout the hall, drawing the attention of other students.

"Huh? What’s that student doing?"

"They say he’s being evaluated on his techniques by Lady Leah of the Paltis Family."

"...By the Hero? Lucky guy."

It was a fitting surprise event for the slightly relaxed atmosphere.

Thanks to the student’s impressive skill, conversations died down and everyone started watching.

For about five minutes, the student performed an empty-handed sword dance.

-Whoosh!

"Whew..."

-Clap, clap, clap...

When the final, precise move ended, a small applause echoed through the hall.

Despite not actually holding a sword, his refined movements clearly demonstrated exceptional skill.

The student, feeling elated, bowed his head. Though he had been initially flustered, he was grateful for the opportunity to showcase his skills and was sure his reputation had risen.

Feeling grateful, he asked Leah,

"Though it was lacking, how was it?"

"..."

Leah did not answer.

Wearing a deadly serious expression, she stared at the student’s arms, waist, and hands in complete silence.

Flustered, the student spoke again—

"Uh, Lady Leah...?"

"-It’s sloppy."

"...Excuse me?"

Immediately, a barrage of unfiltered criticism poured out.

"Why did you slash with one hand during the third overhead cut?"

"B-Because that’s how it’s supposed to be done..."

"It’s an awful move. Every airborne strike leaves you completely exposed to the enemy’s attacks, which is a fatal flaw. Any attack that carries such a risk must be executed with the full intent to kill. But you used one hand. What were you doing with the other hand? Nothing. It’s a flashy but utterly foolish move. Also, the twelfth step—why did it extend a whole foot beyond your shoulder width? It’s a completely meaningless advance, as if you’re walking straight into your own death. The fifteenth thrust was pointless too—"

As Leah continued her merciless critique, she suddenly noticed that everyone’s eyes were fixed on her.

"...Huh?"

The student receiving her feedback was now slumped over, completely dazed.

The other students watching had expressions as if they had just witnessed a murder scene in a back alley.

Leah quickly assessed the situation and made a snap decision.

"...I’m so sorry!"

And with that, she fled the hall.

Her third mistake.