My older sister is a villainous rich girl.

The next day, under pressure from her mother, Chris decisively shifted the blame for wanting to adopt the puppy onto Wayne.

"How could a refined lady like me possibly pick up something off the street?"

Chris fawned over Ashville, "It's all because Wayne is too soft-hearted. He couldn't bear to see the puppy die on the street, so he cried and begged to bring it back, and I reluctantly agreed."

Wayne silently swallowed his breakfast, as quiet as a chicken.

Ashville turned to her and asked, "Wayne? Is that so?"

Wayne nodded. "Yes, that's right."

Ashville's tone softened a bit: "Alright then, just this once. Don't bring any other small animals home next time."

A lady like her, who strives for perfect poise, usually wears expensive and fragile jewelry. Under normal circumstances, she would never allow this wretched dog to have the opportunity to affect her elegance or make a mess of her home.

But since it's poor Wayne's request, we'll make an exception and accommodate him.

After Ashville left, Chris finally relaxed: "That was close, thank goodness I was quick-witted."

She walked over to Wayne and petted the dog. "What should I name you?"

This dog has the potential to be a lazy pig; it does nothing but eat and sleep, and now it's unconscious again.

"No rush, we can think about it at school." Wayne wiped his hands with a wet towel, entrusted the little white dog to Karen's care, and then dragged Chris, who was staring at the puppy with a perverted grin, to school.

As soon as Wayne entered the campus, he heard the discussions around him.

"Pokeran's script is absolutely amazing. I think he's better than all the other writers in the capital right now!" one girl said.

"Yes, and his theater troupe is really good. That noble lady and the prince from the neighboring country are both so good-looking!" another boy chimed in.

Hmm? Is this another student who went to see that performance yesterday?

But just as they were having a pleasant conversation, they were suddenly interrupted by a new voice.

"Ha, such a low-class and blasphemous vulgar story. I thought only commoners with no appreciation for art would like it—I never imagined that such inferior elements would exist in Seiki Academy as well."

"You!" The boy glared angrily at the newcomer.

The tall girl who interrupted their conversation was the one who had previously caused trouble for Wayne, but was interrupted by Ge Li.

The girl, who had been chatting happily with the boy, suddenly looked gloomy, a hint of fear creeping into her eyes. She pulled the boy beside her and whispered, "Percy, let's forget it..."

"Yuna! Over here!" The two delinquent girls who were with her last time called out to their companion from a distance.

The girl named Yuna gave a disdainful and mocking snort and walked past the two students whose moods were completely ruined with her head held high.

"Ugh."

Chris sighed when she saw this.

"Wayne, are they your classmates?" she asked.

"It seems so, Gothic Edgeworth's henchmen."

Chris was silent for a moment, then said, "These so-called 'followers' are one of the ways nobles band together. By attaching themselves to a certain 'leader,' they gain a dominant position in all activities within the academy, making it difficult for even the teachers to interfere."

She gently patted Wayne's head.

"Wien, don't become such an annoying nobleman in the future."

Wayne simply gave a faint "hmm".

……

Learning is a process of continuously enriching oneself.

However, halfway through the learning process, it's hard to feel where the improvement actually comes from. Only the more assignments each year and the more difficult the exams become, the more it proves the passage of time.

Richard was a bit distracted today; he even accidentally knocked his pen away without noticing and picking it up.

So, a girl sitting near him—the delinquent girl named Yuna—deliberately crossed the aisle, which was more than a meter wide, to pick up his pen and then respectfully put it back on his desk.

She would occasionally glance at Richard with a flutter of excitement.

Because Wayne was sitting in the back, he saw everything and couldn't help but glance at Gollie Edgeworth, who was in the same row as him.

She was indeed staring intently at Yuna with murderous eyes.

As if feeling a thorn in her side, when Yuna glanced at Prince Richard again, her gaze lingered a little longer. Then, as if pricked by a needle, she suddenly let out a soft "Ooh!" and immediately turned back to sit up straight.

"Yuna! You answer this question."

On the lectern, the teacher adjusted his glasses.

After class, it was lunch break, and Ge Li left the classroom directly through the back door. Wayne also packed his things, wondering what to eat in the cafeteria for lunch.

How about grabbing a quick bite and then killing time at the crafts department?

On her way to school, Chris insisted that she actively participate in the craft club's activities, feeling that it would be better to make her presence felt in the short term.

"Wayne, let's have lunch together," Richard invited him.

It seems that His Highness has not given up on trying to win over people.

Wayne had no objection and followed him and Gavin toward the cafeteria.

The prince walked very slowly, which made it clear that he had something to say.

When they reached a semi-open rest area, he finally gathered his thoughts and said softly, "Wayne, a very famous theater troupe recently came to the capital. Their performances are superb. I wonder if Chris is free this weekend..."

"Excuse me, Lord Geli! I shouldn't have disturbed His Highness's studies~" A strange voice suddenly came from the front, interrupting the prince's words.

"Uh..." Richard's expression was somewhat strange as he abruptly stopped speaking.

Wayne recognized the voice; it was the girl named Yuna.

He glanced at the prince and Gavin; all three of them stood motionless.

"You should say this to His Highness the Prince, not to me." After a long pause, Ge Li's voice rang out.

"I'm so sorry! I know I was wrong!" Yuna seemed to be sincerely begging for forgiveness.

However, just as Wayne began to wonder if "Gore was bullying Yuna," she heard her shout, "But His Highness belongs to everyone! Even Lord Gore cannot have him all to himself!"

"Pfft—" Gavin couldn't help but let out a sound.

"Who! Who's eavesdropping outside!" In less than two seconds, Ge Li rushed out in a fit of rage and immediately spotted Prince Richard and Wayne Winchester with their interesting expressions, as well as Gavin Warren, whose face was red from trying not to laugh.

"You...you all..." Ge Li's eyes turned red in an instant.

Gavin didn't care about any of that and mocked loudly, "Your Highness belongs to everyone!"

"Gavin!" Richard disapproved and stopped him.

Ge Li finally couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears, wiping away her tears in front of everyone.