Aerin silently clenched her skirt hem. She’d expected these tricks to make that two-faced bitch snap, storm over, and accuse her outright.

If Tilisha had done that, it would’ve played right into Aerin’s hands. Aerin would’ve feigned innocence: "Tilisha, jumping to conclusions like that hurts. Are you blaming me for everything just because we have history?"

Others would chime in then: "Yeah, where’s your proof? Did anyone actually see Aerin do this?"

Tilisha would be left speechless, glancing around, fists clenched tight, teeth gritted.

Truth was, Aerin never hid her actions. She wanted Tilisha to know—but she’d never admit it.

Every Divine Maiden in class was her accomplice. None would side with a wild Divine Maiden. None would risk offending her, second daughter of an imperial Divine Maiden family.

But to Aerin’s disappointment, Tilisha showed no reaction.

This prank had dragged on for days. Yet Tilisha acted clueless.

Dirty desk? She wiped it clean. Chair full of thumbtacks? She removed them. She always cleaned her desk and chair with a cloth anyway—just extra chores.

As for the insects stuffed in her desk drawer—Aerin had her male lackeys handle that. No girl liked bugs.

But Tilisha’s response stunned Aerin.

Finding dead insects crammed inside, Tilisha didn’t flinch. She just sighed softly, gathered the corpses with her bare hands, and left the classroom.

Aerin followed. Tilisha didn’t head left to the trash bins. Instead, she walked to a small grove, buried the insects under an old tree.

Is this woman crazy? Brain damaged?

Burying those gross bugs on purpose? She must be messed up.

Aerin couldn’t figure out where her revenge plan failed. Why wasn’t this shrimp bothered at all?

"Tilisha," Aerin approached casually after the burial, "aren’t you disgusted handling insect corpses barehanded?"

"Disgusted?" Tilisha held her book, not looking up. "Insects are spirits of nature too. Forests thrive because of helpful bugs. What’s dirty about that?"

"Besides, far dirtier things exist in this world. Things too vile to face."

"Oh? Like what?"

"Human hearts." Tilisha murmured the words meaningfully, still ignoring Aerin.

"You—" Aerin froze, catching the hidden jab.

"—" She raised her hand but dropped it. Lashing out would just prove she was the villain.

Aerin glared at Tilisha for a long moment. Tilisha didn’t even glance up, absorbed in her book as if Aerin didn’t exist.

That bitch...

Coleman’s rules were strict—no exceptions. Even knowing Tilisha insulted her, Aerin couldn’t act openly.

She got away with bullying because no classmate sided with Tilisha. To them, a wild Divine Maiden was a stain, unworthy of standing beside proper Divine Maidens. They supported Aerin—or at least stayed silent.

Teachers never noticed. Tilisha had no evidence. That’s how Aerin thrived.

But physical fights? Expulsion was guaranteed. Ruining her bright future over a wild Divine Maiden wasn’t worth it.

"Hmph..." Aerin sneered and walked away.

Just wait, ugly duckling. I’ll get you back.

Class began. The teacher arrived. Tilisha studied as usual, asking questions after the bell, then sitting quietly.

The day ended.

"See you tomorrow, Aerin."

"Tomorrow... huh?" Aerin watched Tilisha brush past, bewildered.

This ugly duckling greeted her first? Said "see you tomorrow"?

She never even looked at me before.

Hmph. Fine. I’ll see how long you last.

Next day, Aerin repeated her tricks—but worse. She covered Tilisha’s desk with vile graffiti.

No thumbtacks this time. She swapped the chair with a wobbly old one from storage. One leg was broken; propped up, it looked normal. One sit, and it’d collapse.

Aerin pictured Tilisha falling flat on her ass in front of everyone. She could barely contain her excitement.

Finally, time to teach that smart-ass bastard a lesson.

Done, Aerin returned to her seat, smirking as she waited.

One minute passed. Three. Ten...

The classroom filled. Aerin’s confidence wavered.

Wrong. Class started in three minutes. Tilisha always arrived twenty minutes early. Why so late today?

Something’s off...

Aerin sensed trouble.

Was that ugly duckling skipping class? All this effort wasted?

Tch...

Unease prickled her skin—she didn’t know why.

The bell rang. Caris entered, textbooks under arm. Aerin’s blood ran cold.

Damn it!

Tilisha always cleaned her desk graffiti. But today—she wasn’t here!

Her seat was front row. If untouched—

"Class... huh?" Caris adjusted his glasses, spotting the empty seat. He frowned, set down his books, and walked to the front. He examined the crude words scrawled there.

It’s over...

Aerin slumped in her chair, heart icy. She shrank down like a turtle.

Suddenly, she remembered.

‘See you tomorrow, Aerin.’

Tilisha’s words from yesterday.

—That bitch! She set me up?!

You’re such a baby!

Aerin realized it now. Tilisha hinted she’d come, luring Aerin to prepare. But she never showed.

Her front-row seat—

"Who did this?" Caris scanned the class, voice sharp. "Step forward."