Talk about putting someone on the spot!

Trying to strong-arm her into forgiving him?

Yifia watched George kneeling toward her, utterly speechless.

She’d actually thought George had some guts.

And *this* was it?

If he was so cowardly, why stir up trouble in the first place?

This was no longer about her forgiveness—it was whether Pris Academy would press charges.

"I trust Pris Academy will handle everything properly and ensure no student suffers injustice," Yifia declared, her expression stern. She ignored the pressure of George’s kneeling and squarely passed the buck to the academy. George’s fate was none of her concern.

[System, is George really part of the female lead’s circle? How can he be so… unscrupulous?]

[Host, the system has never confirmed your assumptions. Per the original plot, George was merely the female lead’s study partner upon her arrival at Pris Academy. Once she rose to prominence, he was no longer worthy of standing beside her.]

[…]

Fine.

The idea that Fina and George belonged to the female lead’s circle was purely her own guess. But whenever plot details came up, the system clammed up tighter than a sealed gourd. Nothing ever slipped out… Wait. Hold on.

Why had the system answered *this* question so readily instead of dodging it?

[System, why no spoiler warning when I asked about George’s role?]

[For non-essential characters unrelated to main plotlines, inquiry permissions are granted. Example: Yifia’s original fate was never concealed.]

Flawless logic. Truly transparent.

Yet the more straightforward the system was, the more Yifia wondered: What secrets were the main characters hiding that demanded such tight lockdown?

Knowing further questions were pointless, Yifia refocused. The year director, face stern, was already signaling for George to be taken away.

Seeing no hope left, George’s anguished face crumpled. He knew he was done for. All his dreamed-of futures vanished in an instant. His limbs went limp; two attendants hauled him away by the arms.

With the troublemaker removed and the farce concluded, the director nodded for the ceremony to resume. After announcing the top student, came the eagerly awaited reward distribution.

Amid hushed student gazes, Yifia stepped onto the stage and accepted the golden commemorative coin. Housed in a glass case, it glittered under the sunlight.

So beautiful~

Yifia nearly choked on tears of joy. She strained to keep a solemn face, dredging up life’s saddest memories—but none could withstand that golden gleam…

Thankfully, only after stepping down did her lips betray a wild upward curve. Back at her seat, Lucy and Jesina swarmed her, eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Yifia happily opened the case. Inside lay a ping-pong-sized golden coin. Exquisitely carved patterns intertwined to form a lamb peacefully grazing.

"As expected—every Pris Academy commemorative coin is a masterpiece!" Lucy beamed with the same unapologetically dazzled grin as Yifia. Jesina, utterly captivated by the craftsmanship, murmured, "Flawless from every angle… I adore it more the longer I look!"

A hesitant longing flickered in Jesina’s eyes. "Yifia… would you consider selling it? If so, please let me buy it. I’ll offer eighty gold coins."

Fair offer. Pris coins typically traded at sixty gold, rarely exceeding seventy. (One gold = ten silver; one silver = one hundred copper. Eighty gold meant true financial freedom for a commoner.)

Yifia shook her head, *click*—the case snapped shut. "Sorry, Jesina. I’m gifting this to my dearest friend."

Jesina froze. *Giving it away? Not selling to improve her life?* Yifia’s generosity felt utterly unlike a commoner’s.

Noticing Jesina’s stunned expression, Yifia added gently, "She helped me greatly. This gift is the least I can offer."

"The noble friend you mentioned in class?" Jesina asked.

At Yifia’s nod, Jesina’s admiration swelled. Unlike Brianna, who scorned all commoners, Jesina respected those striving honestly. But Yifia—a commoner—choosing to gift such treasure? Truly noble character. *Worthy of friendship.* And she admired Lady Barron too? Jesina’s heart sang: *A sister in spirit!*

Sometimes, girl friendships bloom out of nowhere.

Post-exams, Jesina ditched the noble girls entirely, boldly squeezing between Yifia and Lucy. The campus trio was born—going everywhere together.

"Yifia, Lucy! Holiday today—stroll down Corifine Street? Fresh Eastern spices just arrived, prices are reasonable!"

Yifia’s almond eyes lit up. *Perfect timing!* She’d been stressing over ingredients.

"After class, I must visit my injured cousin. Can’t join," Lucy said.

"No worries—I’ll bring you a gift! Jesina, does Corifine Street have a blacksmith?"

"If we can get the pot cast there, I’ll solve both spice and cookware in one trip. These are gifts for Amelia—no cutting corners!"

"Of course! But you *must* come with me to one spot. They say it’s incredibly effective!"

"?"

Curious, Yifia followed Jesina after school. At Corifine Street, she stared at the pointed-hat Gothic building ahead—its facade a bizarre, shimmering "colorful black" that left her utterly stunned.

A chalkboard by the entrance read:

*Meidani’s Divination House: Blessings • Exorcisms • Professional Demon Elimination~*