Henry now faked a smile to keep his polite act and maintained it as he then shifted his gaze toward the boy who stood bwhind her, head bowed down still.
The boy was wearing a simple, casual suit, though clean, not luxurious. It wasn't difficult to guess his status. And, his overly polite behaviour was a sign too.
A servant...
'But he's still just a child.'
Noticing Henry's gaze, the girl quickly explained, clearly proud for whatever the reason.
"Why are you looking at him? Don't you remember? Last time, I told you my father went to buy me a slave. This is him."
She grinned.
Henry, however, felt nothing but disgust.
'They sell children as slaves…?'
"Oh…" Henry said flatly. "Why did you come here?"
His head throbbed. Dealing with these people was exhausting.
"Why are you asking like that?" she scoffed. "Of course I came to see the beggar your father brought back."
Ah. Here we go again.
Does she actually want to die?
Henry stared at the girl. She was still smiling sweetly, as if she was the most well-behaved child in the world. He suddenly felt the urge to pinch her ears, hard, out of frustration.
"What beggar?" he asked, feigning surprise.
Apparently irritated by his reaction, her words grew even harsher.
"I heard your father brought some beggar girl from nowhere into the mansion. I want to teach her a lesson so she remembers her place."
At that very moment, unfortunately, Ricarda was nearby.
She had happened to pass by and, upon seeing unfamiliar guests, instinctively hid. When she heard the word beggar, she immediately realized they were talking about her.
Of course...she was a beggar...
Despite the hurt, curiosity crept in, so she stayed and listened.
"Lady Mareena," Henry said calmly, though his tone was firm, "I don't understand why you're so interested in other families' matters. But you're going too far. There are no beggars here, and you don't need to teach anyone any lessons."
Henry decided to take a stance.
And to stand up for Ricarda.
And at that, the girl flinched.
Her face flushed red with embarrassment.
"Henry! How dare you talk to me like that? I'm going to complain to the duke!"
"What duke?"
"Your father!"
"Oh…" Henry smiled faintly. "Go ahead. I'd actually like to see how he reacts when he hears someone called his daughter a beggar."
Her mouth fell open.
Henry smirked at her childish expression and turned away.
"If you have nothing important, don't come here whenever you want. It's annoying."
With that, he walked away toward his room. Martha followed closely behind him.
'I guess being nice wasn't really an option anymore...'
"You-!"
The girl behind stomped her foot in anger.
She definitely wasn't going to let this go.
Henry had always listened to her before. He had obeyed her every word. But now he is protecting that beggar? She had changed him, hadn't she?
'That beggar!'
From that moment on, Pinky began holding a grudge against Ricarda, the girl she hand't even met yet.
Unaware of the forming grudge, Henry was still mad about this world's people.
'For fuck's sake… these kids should be sent to jail.'
Henry clenched his teeth.
How can they be this twisted?
He couldn't imagine anyone having a peaceful childhood in this world.
Compared to them, noisy kids and crybabies felt harmless.
'At worst, I'd lose my hearing.
But if I stay around these people, I might lose my life.'
Goosebumps rose along his arms.
He rubbed them absently and told Martha to leave. He wanted to be alone.
He still had things to plan.
"Young master! Young master!"
Just as he lay down, Martha rushed back in, calling out loudly.
'What now…?!'
At this point, he felt like dying all over again.
Martha stood at the doorway, holding a letter. Her face was glowing with excitement.
"Young master, you got selected!"
Henry was confused.
"…For what?" Henry asked flatly.
To get killed again?
"It's an invitation letter from the Academy of Capital! You've been selected!"
Henry took the letter and read it, his headache worsening.
A academy?
'Well, it's fair a child has to go to school. So schools do exist here...'
"Do I have to attend every day?" he asked.
"And… is the capital far from here?"
Martha stared at him in disbelief.
"Very far, sir Henry. You'll have to stay at the academy. Every student studies there for four years."
'Oh.'
"It says the academy starts next week," he said, reading the letter by himself. "So shouldn't I prepare to leave now?"
"Yes!"
Martha immediately rushed out, gigling.
Watching her behave like an excited child, Henry felt a rare sense of calm.
"Henry…"
Ricarda's voice.
"Ah… Ricarda. Why are you here?"
He sat up and watched as the girl's gaze drifted to the letter in his hand, and she parted her lips to speak.
Then,
"The duke has arrived!"
Henry froze.
The one person he absolutely did not want to see had returned to the mansion.
'He is back early...'