The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 62
“The, the thing is…”
Marquis Ulverni stammered, sweating nervously.
Though the voice was flat and emotionless, the anger simmering in the ash-gray eyes was clearly visible.
“D-Duke… Your Grace. This is a misunderstanding.”
Ian tilted his head innocently.
“Then, was it Richard’s idea alone to keep telling me to change guardians?”
It would be hard to explain why Richard had been so persistent unless there had been parental influence.
“I’ll need to meet with the headmaster.”
The already pale face of the Marchioness of Ulverni turned completely white.
“D-Duke, surely you don’t intend to… to expel Richard, do you?”
The Marchioness’s lips trembled.
She had spent a fortune sending her son to Saint Hennige Academy, all for the purpose of forming connections with children who would go on to become influential in various social circles, which would benefit their family in the future.
“Isn’t that obvious?”
“But it’s just a fight between children! As for the guardian issue, it seems our child didn’t really understand what he was saying. It’s truly a misunderstanding to say we ordered him to do that!”
It was pitiful to see Richard blamed by such cowardly parents, but Ash showed no mercy.
“Whether this ends with your son’s expulsion or if the matter will be taken up at a family level, that’s your choice.”
* * *
For Ash, anything related to Ian was non-negotiable.
Ash stared quietly at the headmaster, who was frozen stiff like a statue. A teacup sat on the table, but the untouched tea had long gone cold, failing in its purpose—much like the headmaster himself.
Ash’s gaze was just as cold.
After a long silence, he spoke slowly.
“When I enrolled Ian here and made a large donation to the academy, I had just one request.”
That Ian would be carefully protected from any threats.
“And yet, you couldn’t even fulfill that simple request, and now this has happened. I am disappointed.”
He had chosen to send Ian here because he believed it would be safer than Nina’s household. The academy was a place where outsiders were strictly prohibited. But still not fully reassured, he had essentially bought Ian’s safety with money.
That money had built new buildings, expanded dormitories, improved the quality of education, and, of course, filled the pockets of the professors and the headmaster.
“Headmaster, what do you think about this situation?”
Ash’s icy gaze turned to the homeroom teacher, who trembled with guilt-stricken terror.
It wasn’t just like guilt—it was guilt.
Ash knew, just as Nina did, that they had been trying to sacrifice Ian to avoid a troublesome situation. The fact that they had dared to make the heir of the Bayern family bow his head—what should be the price for that?
Ash believed that if someone made a mistake, they deserved punishment.
Had Ian done something wrong and been made to apologize, Ash would have understood. Even if they had tried to cover up the incident to avoid familial shame, he would have found fault with that, but this situation was far worse.
“I trusted you to take care of the child, but I deeply regret that such a disgraceful incident has occurred. How would you like me to proceed?”
Ash had withdrawn, thinking it would be better for Ian’s well-being not to be overly involved, but that had only led to this miserable situation.
Ian was an exemplary student—excellent grades, good behavior, and harmonious relationships with his peers.
Clearly, they had assumed that because Ian was kind, he would simply let things slide. The thought was infuriating.
Was this truly the first time something like this had happened?
Ash reflected bitterly on not coming sooner and spoke.
“Expel the son of Marquis Ulverni and replace the homeroom teacher.”
“Your Grace, I beg your pardon, but that decision must be handled strictly according to school regulations…”
The headmaster broke out in a cold sweat and hesitated. If he didn’t follow the rules, his reappointment might be in jeopardy, as he was appointed by Marquis Hennige, who ran the academy.
Ash scoffed and spoke slowly.
“I’ve heard rumors that the academy’s donations are being used for money laundering.”
The headmaster’s face turned stark white in an instant.
“Your Grace, in a sacred place of learning, money laundering? Surely not!”
“The important thing isn’t whether it’s true.”
Ash had the power to turn lies into truth, while the headmaster’s position depended entirely on Ash’s decisions.
“So, I hope you’ll help me avoid taking more violent measures.”
It was only natural to remove Marquis Ulverni’s family from the academy for trying to reach for Ian, at the request of Count Azelot. And how would this teacher treat a student from a less powerful family?
As the headmaster lowered his head in silence, Ash stood up.
He knew the headmaster would have no choice but to accept his demands.
