Due to that event, Gretel was blamed by Sullivan an and the others for Selena’s bullying. She denied her involvement, but they didn’t believe her.

After that, Gretel’s position within the school weakened.

Now, there were an increasing number of girls that were trying to earn Selena’s favor.

There was also a group of boys that were approaching Selena, perhaps noticing what was happening around them. They mainly consisted of second or third sons, people that weren’t going to be heirs, that wanted to get closer to Sullivan an and the others.

It was particularly obvious that the girls were now harboring ill feelings towards Gretel.

“You say I ordered them? You have no proof of it, and yet you believe the words of that woman…”

What frustrated Gretel was that Sullivan an only believed in Selena’s words. He used the words of the bullies as a pretext to treat her like a wrongdoer.

It was unbearably frustrating for Gretel.

A unity was made between the bullies and a group of people who were trying to empower themselves by spreading bad rumors about Gretel and undermine her.

That much was still okay.

Gretel didn’t mind such small things.

However, the words Sullivan an had said was what hurt her heart.

She shed tears and sat down where she was.

“I was…for his Highness…I was raised for the sake of his Highness! Only for the sake of his Highness!”

Gretel loved Sullivan.

However, Sullivan didn’t love her back.

He only thought of it as a political marriage.

Ever since the engagement had been decided, Gretel had worked hard. She pushed herself for the intent of Sullivan, but not an ounce of her work had been appreciated.

The one Sullivan an wanted was a woman like Selena.

"Your Highness…why did you say that to me…why!”

She covered her face with both of her hands, and Gretel continued to cry while her tears ran down.

When returning to the party venue, the place was wrapped in a strange atmosphere.

The students were watchfully waiting while clinging to the walls, but there was a group in the center being noisy.

I asked Myla about the situation.

“What in the world happened?”

“It started out as a small quarrel. However…”

Jilk and Sullivan were at Selena's left and right side.

Gretel raised her voice in front of the three people.

It was a shout filled with grief.

“Why can’t you listen to me?! I’m──I’m doing this for your sake, your Highness!”

The prince was absolutely cold towards her quivering voice.

“Your words are not fit to be heard. End of discussion.”

“Please wait. If you know the character of that person, why do you still accept her?!”

I’m not sure what had happened, but I understood that Gretel was desperate and trying to appeal to the prince.

When I looked to Myla, she continued talking.

“Um, when Gretel saw Selene holding hands with a boy other than his Highness the crown prince, she got angry. Then his Highness the crown prince said that she shouldn’t be noisy over just that much.”

He forgave his girl even when she was two timing with other men.

That was the kind of guy Sullivan was.

I definitely would hate it if something like that were to happen, but the prince seemed to think that it was fine.

Selena, wearing her uniform, hid behind the prince.

She took an attitude that would make someone want to protect her, while Gretel on the hand wore a red dress, makeup, and appeared to shine.

Quite the contrast, right?

Gretel and Selena looked like exact opposites.

Selene had guys surrounding her, but Gretel had nobody near her.

Jilk, the other man Selena was dating stepped forward.

“So the daughter of the chairman has become this wretched. Look, there’s nobody by your side.”

When Gretel looked at her surroundings, the rich students and her supposed followers both turned away.

The students who held animosity towards her didn’t act hostile, but they grinned while watching.

“Do you all know what that woman’s done? All of you have been──”

Everyone held out their hand.

However, the boys weren’t in a panic.

“We know.”

Gretel was surprised when the blue-haired Jilk said that.

“What?!”

"Selena had saved me. She listened to my troubles. So──I want to protect her.”

I felt it praise-worthy that he was able to make such a confession while all the students were watching.

When he said that, the girls, who had been silent, then raised shrieks of cheers.

“Did you hear that just now?!”

“I want him to say that to me too!”

“I’m jealous. On the other hand, that chairman's daughter is quite unsightly.”

Gretel sneered.

She cast her eyes downward while clenching her fists.

“…Do you not intend to stop playing around while attending the academy, your Highness?”

Sullivan lowered his gaze once Gretel said that.

“She’s the only irreplaceable woman for me. Gretel, I didn’t dislike you before I had entered the academy. However, I cannot forgive your attitude towards Selena.”

The girls around Gretel laughed at her.

“Did you hear that? The woman’s done for.”

“This is pretty much the same as him breaking off the engagement, isn’t it?”

“I always hated that girl.”

They were slandering her to their hearts content now that her position had weakened.

"…Gretel, I’m disappointed.”

The prince, looking at his fiance with a look of scorn while furrowing his eyebrows, seemed to be reaching the peak of his anger.