Trouble’s coming. Big trouble…

Yeah, this time it’s really big trouble! Rebecca had beaten someone up and lifted a girl’s skirt. She was called in for a parent meeting. But Rebecca didn’t fear that—expulsion was the worst. What truly troubled her was how this damn mess had dragged in too many people, spiraling into unpredictable chaos.

Rebecca didn’t care about being caught for the beating and skirt-lifting. The real issue was Duke Ruta getting dragged in. He’d learned Professor Monise placed Rebecca in a problem class.

“Why was my granddaughter put in that class? Professor Monise, give me a reasonable explanation!” At Hobi Academy, Duke Ruta glared darkly at her.

“I followed procedure, Duke Ruta. You know Hobi Academy admits transfer students like your granddaughter without exams. Placing her among top scorers—how would that class view her? How would they view the academy? It’s unfair to them!” Monise ignored the Imperial Duke’s glare, her expression deadpan.

“Then hold an exam! My granddaughter can’t stay there! She’s being bullied!” Duke Ruta snapped.

“Exams are next semester! Holding one for every noble transfer would cause chaos. Duke Ruta, you’re an Imperial Duke, but at Hobi Academy, rules apply!” Monise stayed strictly professional.

“You—”

“Duke Ruta…” A voice cut in. “You say your granddaughter was bullied. But I say she beat my cousin and lifted my other cousin’s skirt, humiliating her!”

Fiery red hair, brilliant as flames yet deep as blood—the speaker was stunningly beautiful. Rebecca saw her when Laura and Kami escorted her back to the professor’s office.

She was elegant, dignified, majestic. Her breathtaking face drew admiration, yet up close, she radiated an aura that kept people distant. Not coldness—this was the natural isolation of absolute power. Years in high position forged an invisible shield around her, making her untouchable.

“Princess Livilan, as a royal, hear both sides—not just your cousins’ words!” Duke Ruta said flatly. To those who knew him, this was respect.

“Duke Ruta! Rebecca’s lying! She—”

“Silence!” The boy Rebecca had beaten stepped forward, but Princess Livilan cut him off.

Rebecca only now realized he was royal. But as a princess’s child, he lacked the royal surname—like the girl she’d teased. Their mother was from the last generation of princesses, not Livilan’s.

Rebecca didn’t care about royalty. Called in, she played victim first, claiming they bullied her. Duke Ruta, fiercely protective, believed every word. Guilt over neglecting young Rebecca drove him. At home, she was obedient, even cooking medicinal meals for him. Such a well-behaved girl—he couldn’t believe she’d hit anyone, let alone lift a skirt.

“Duke Ruta, this is your long-lost granddaughter, rescued from the Dark Lord’s palace by Laura and others?”

Duke Ruta nodded.

“She’s only been back with the Ruta Family briefly. Can you truly know her character so soon? She grew up among the Demon Race! I’d trust my two useless cousins over a demon-raised child.” Princess Livilan spoke calmly, but her azure eyes glinted with authority.

Duke Ruta frowned slightly, then relaxed. “You distrust Rebecca; I distrust your cousins. I don’t believe she beat anyone or lifted skirts! She told me your cousin pursued her for her looks. She refused, embarrassing him publicly. He then brought his sister to bully her. Wronged, Rebecca skipped school today!

Your cousin was wise to bring his sister—boys shouldn’t bully girls. Let girls handle girls. If he’d hit Rebecca, I wouldn’t spare him!”

How domineering! Only Duke Ruta dared this with royalty.

Duke Ruta was dead set on backing Rebecca. Her story was logical, her feigned timidity highly deceptive. Even Princess Livilan hesitated.

Livilan stared at her cousins. Her cousin had tearfully summoned her, claiming bullying. But doubt crept in. Had her two useless cousins lost face to this girl and sought Livilan to regain it?

Rebecca looked delicate—Livilan struggled to believe she’d beaten her cousin, despite class witnesses. But that class? Rucadan’s infamous playboys, all cut from the same cloth! The skirt incident? Likely an accident during mutual arguing when her cousin confronted Rebecca. Didn’t Rebecca flee the academy in fear?

Alright, Livilan wavered. Everyone was fooled! Rebecca was a tomboy who punched boys! A hooligan who lifted skirts! She even skipped school after typical troublemaker acts—and made it worse! Yet, Rebecca’s acting was superb. A great actress…