Professor Monise was chatting with colleagues about Hobi Academy's upcoming magic and combat assessments when she spotted a familiar figure ahead.

"Huh?" Professor Monise paused, then hurried over to call out—but the person suddenly burst into tears.

"Wahhh... WAAAAH~~~" Rebecca sobbed, utterly heartbroken.

"Uh..." Monise froze. Beside her, Glenton and that jerk flinched in shock.

"What's going on?!" Professor Monise snapped, stepping closer.

"H-he bullied me, Professor Monise..." Rebecca pointed at the jerk from the top combat class, tears streaming down her face.

"Hmm?" Monise narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

Inside, Rebecca groaned. She'd planned to beat up this guy for bullying Glenton's sister. But her sharp senses caught Professor Monise nearby—no way could she fight now. So she switched tactics: fake crying.

Glenton, who'd seen Rebecca's acting before, instantly got it when he spotted Monise. He puffed up with righteous fury. "Professor Monise! He bullied Rebecca!"

"Weren't you two enemies?" Monise frowned, sensing something off.

"Uh... that's ancient history! My sister scolded me—I'm a reformed, friendly student now!" Glenton lied smoothly. Rebecca almost respected him for a second.

"Bullied you? How?" Monise pressed, skeptical.

"Rebecca wrote him a love letter," Glenton declared hotly. "He read it aloud in public to humiliate her!"

*Crack!* Rebecca gritted her teeth so hard she nearly shattered them. Dizziness hit—she swayed, about to collapse. *Take it back! He’s a total idiot!*

"Ah! Rebecca! Are you okay?" Glenton caught her.

"You... get lost..." Rebecca whispered weakly, too faint for others to hear.

"What did you say?" Glenton asked, worried.

*Met the wrong person!* Rebecca seethed. She didn't care about hiding her minor magic or combat skills—but getting caught brawling by Monise? No thanks. Her fake-cry plan backfired spectacularly thanks to Glenton.

*A love letter? Kill me now!*

"Love letters? You two harassed a top-class student over this?!" Monise scowled. "Don't you know assessments are days away? My office. Now." She stormed off, clearly favoring the jerk—he was elite; Rebecca and Glenton were from the problem class.

Rebecca glanced at the trembling Glenton. Too drained to scold him.

The jerk just stood there, bewildered. *What the hell just happened?*

Later, in Monise's office, parents were summoned. Again.

Rebecca wanted to cry.

"Duke Ruta, I won't revisit last time's truth," Monise said stiffly, "but this time—Rebecca wrote love letters to a boy prepping for assessments. Hobi Academy forbids dating!"

Duke Ruta frowned slightly. "I see. That's all?"

"Duke, you're spoiling her!" Monise insisted. "After last time, she still harassed him? You're ruining her!"

Duke Ruta gave Monise a cool look, then saw Rebecca's "dejected" face. His heart ached.

He'd doted on Rebecca since she returned home after years lost. Academy rules? He didn't care. He was furious someone dared reject—and humiliate—his granddaughter. *Reading her letter aloud? Unforgivable.*

"I'm taking Rebecca home today," he announced.

Monise paused. "Fine. She needs discipline. Teach her properly."

Duke Ruta said nothing. He led Rebecca out silently. Behind them, Glenton's powerless earl father roared in anger—he'd been summoned too. *Serves him right.*

In the carriage, Duke Ruta stayed quiet. After ten minutes, they stopped at an elegant pastry shop.

Rebecca stared, confused. No scolding? Just... desserts?

A server guided them to a table. Duke Ruta handed Rebecca the menu with a gentle smile. "Pick anything. Carina recommended this place—I thought you'd like it."

Rebecca blinked. *Carina mentioned it.* His tender, cautious gaze revealed everything: he wasn't angry about the "love letter." He just wanted to comfort his "heartbroken" granddaughter.

"I don't know... anything's fine," Rebecca mumbled, unfamiliar with local sweets.

Duke Ruta assumed she was still upset. He ordered the server's suggestions without prying.

When the server left, he smiled. "Rebecca, do you know how beautiful you are?"

Rebecca paused. She knew she was stunning—but it meant nothing to her.

"You're the Ruta Family's third young lady. Only a prince—or at least an earl—deserves you. I'll gather every eligible noble for you to choose from. That boy who rejected you? He doesn't appreciate you. He's unworthy..."

"Grandfather..." Rebecca sighed. He didn't care about broken rules or unladylike letters. He defended her unconditionally.

"Alright, alright—I'll stop," he chuckled awkwardly.

The pastries arrived. Rebecca wasn't a huge fan, but tried one. The taste was pure, natural sweetness—no artificial additives like Earth's treats.

*Heh heh.* Duke Ruta watched her eat, relieved. *She's eating. She'll be fine.*

Rebecca snatched his untouched pastry.

"Eat it all, my dear," he cooed.

"Grandfather, your health. Too much sugar isn't good for you." She genuinely worried about his blood sugar.

"Oh..." He beamed, touched.

He'd lost his son young. Finding Rebecca—his granddaughter—filled that void. Her obedience and maturity charmed him. To him, her "mistakes" were trivial. *A love letter? Nothing.* He only raged at the boy who hurt her.

Afternoon sun warmed the shop. Grandfather and granddaughter sat together. Despite Rebecca's repeated summons, Duke Ruta never blamed her—he shielded her, then clumsily tried to cheer her up. Rebecca was deeply moved.

The next day, she nearly killed Glenton.

*He ruined my reputation! I should murder him!!!*