The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 45
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Saint Hennige Academy is a prestigious school established with the support of the Marquis of Hennige in the eastern part of the Nesman Empire.
Apart from a few commoners selected as scholarship students or those admitted with the backing of nobles, the majority of students were children of noble families.
From ages nine to twelve.
The school generally divided students by age, but due to the possibility of repeating or advancing grades, sometimes the age and grade didn’t match.
“Hey, are you studying even during lunch?”
A neatly dressed boy with black hair and sharp grey eyes looked up at the sound.
Richard Ulverni, with his reddish-brown hair and eyes, was leaning in close.
‘… Pretending to be friendly again.’
Ian smiled politely, hiding his true feelings.
“To keep up with the class, I have to study hard. As you know, I skipped a grade.”
Ian was ten, and Richard was eleven.
Despite the one-year difference, Ian was in the same class because he had advanced a grade.
“Well, it would be embarrassing if you fell behind after being lucky enough to skip a grade.”
Ian inwardly chuckled.
Unlike him, who had entered as the top student and always ranked first, Richard was merely a middle-ranking student.
It was amusing that Richard attributed Ian’s achievements to luck.
“Brother, I need to study, so unless it’s important, can we talk later?”
“Hey, don’t you get bored studying all the time? Come on, let’s go out and play; there’s still lunch break left.”
“Hmm, I don’t know…”
“Or do you want to go to the snack bar?”
When Richard put his arm around Ian’s shoulders, Ian remained silent for a moment.
‘Why is he pretending to be friendly lately?’
Richard usually couldn’t wait to pick a fight with Ian.
Ten years old but taller than his peers by half a palm, with neat features and a particularly beautiful smile.
He was the heir to the Bayern Dukedom and had inherited immense wealth from his deceased parents.
Not to mention his excellent grades and kind personality.
Since his admission, Ian had been popular even among the older students.
On the other hand, Richard, despite being the eldest grandson of the Marquis of Ulverni, was known as a troublemaker with a dirty and arrogant personality.
He was also shorter and smaller than Ian.
Jealousy and inferiority, perhaps.
Someone who always picked fights suddenly acting friendly meant he had an ulterior motive.
Maybe he should talk to him for a bit to find out what it was.
‘What a bother…’
As he hesitated, Richard asked casually,
“Hey, isn’t Duke Bayern coming to this year’s school festival either?”
The mention of Duke Bayern instantly sharpened Ian’s attention.
“Why do you ask about my uncle?”
But he didn’t erase the smile from his lips.
He sensed that what Richard was about to say was the reason for his recent friendliness.
“Well, I was wondering if he wouldn’t come again. He always sends that white-haired aide in his place.”
“Well, if he’s busy, he can’t come, but otherwise, he will. You know my uncle has a lot of work.”
“Still, as your guardian, shouldn’t he pay more attention to you?”
Ian chuckled.
He was starting to understand why Richard had been approaching him lately.
“Yes, I suppose.”
“You can’t even go home during the holidays and have to go to your maternal relatives. It seems like neglect, don’t you think?”
“Sure. And?”
When Ian tilted his head, Richard got to the point.
“Why don’t you change your guardian?”
“Brother, how can I change something the court decided?”
“If you say Duke Bayern doesn’t care about you and neglects you, the adults will help you. So just change it. It’ll be better for you too.”
“Hmm, if I were to change, to whom?”
“You have relatives… Your granduncle, right? The eldest son of Count Azelot.”
“Oh.”
Count Azelot.
“My dear, you must not trust that Ash. He must have killed your father for his fortune. Come live with your grand-uncle.”
Pretending to be kind in front.
“…We need to sweet-talk our way into being his guardian and then transfer the assets to our side. What would the kid know?”
But behind the scenes, he was a thief who wanted to steal his inheritance.
‘So this is why you’ve been acting friendly, because of Count Azelot.’
Realizing Richard’s motive, Ian replied with a disinterested expression,
“I’ll think about it.”
Of course, he’d only think about it.
Because he hated Count Azelot and could only trust his uncle.
