Since Theo had announced a pop quiz, I focused on the lesson.

As he’d said it was to test our sincerity toward the class, Theo told us everything that would be on the quiz—including the correct answers.

It was ridiculously easy, but I still had to stay sharp and not mix up the letters.

Then, ten minutes before class ended—

“Alright, put your books away and only take out a pen. This quiz will count toward your final graduation score.”

Just as announced, Theo handed out the quiz papers. As expected, the questions were extremely simple.

I was filling in the answers diligently when—

“Assistant Theo!”

Someone raised their hand.

“Someone’s cheating right now!”

Theo’s brows furrowed hard. The student sitting behind me shouted confidently.

“Rosie Noart! There’s a piece of paper in her desk drawer!”

Ah. So this is how they’re going to play it.

“Rosie Noart.”

Theo strode over to stand in front of me.

“Put down your pen and place your hands on the desk.”

I clicked my pen down and set it aside. Theo pulled a piece of paper from the drawer.

It was filled with the quiz answers, written in minuscule letters—small enough that the handwriting couldn’t be identified.

Giggles echoed behind me.

“She must not have had any confidence—even for something this easy.”

“Maybe she got away with cheating on the entrance exam because the proctoring was lax, but with the graduation exam? No way.”

Theo let out a long sigh and spoke in a stern tone.

“Rosie Noart, follow me to the assistant’s office. Cheating during my class will receive no leniency. I’ll proceed according to Academy regulations.”

And the Academy was famously strict. Two warnings, and you were expelled. Since the Academy wasn’t mandatory education, it made sense.

Getting expelled midway through was seen as deeply shameful.

If you weren’t going to attend from the start, fine—but dropping out midway meant you’d caused trouble in group life.

“Yes, Assistant Theo. I actually quite like that there’s no leniency.”

I said with a small smile.

“But I won’t be going to the assistant’s office. If I want to find out who framed me, it’s better for me to stay right here.”

Hey, kids.

You messed with the wrong person.

I survived the Noart Count Family, remember?

“A false accusation? Are you calling this a false accusation? When the evidence is right here?”

Theo asked, his tone cold and pressing.

I nodded and smiled brightly.

“Yes.”

Then I turned to Ray.

“Ray, could I borrow your water bottle?”

Ray always carried his own water bottle.

It was already sitting on his desk, and he nodded, curiosity lighting his face.

“Watch, Assistant Theo.”

I took his bottle and poured water on both the cheat sheet and the corner of my quiz paper.

“What in the—!”

Gasps erupted from the students gathered around me.

The ink on the cheat sheet smudged instantly, but the ink on my paper stayed perfectly intact—even under water.

“My dear grandfather, the Count of Noart, told me when I enrolled: ‘Everything you use at the Academy will be the best of the best with every function imaginable!’”

As expected, Grandfather had been right. Throwing money at something did, eventually, make it useful.

“He bought me only the finest school supplies when he heard I’d be attending the Academy. Said I needed to splash some money around if I wanted people to chase after me—so I wouldn’t end up eating alone.”

I spoke slowly and clearly.

The students were all wearing the same expression—Is that really a good life lesson?

“So he bought me smudge-proof ink pens in every color. The kind used in the Imperial Palace for classified documents. Utter waste of money, honestly—but that’s what he did.”

All eyes were on me now, the room completely silent.

I glanced around once, then stated clearly:

“So the ink in my pen doesn’t smudge with water. Ever.”

I pulled out a notebook and dropped a water droplet on something written in a different pen color. As expected—not a smudge.

“And today, I didn’t borrow a pen from anyone. Which means I didn’t write that cheat sheet. Someone else placed it in my desk ahead of time.”

“You’re saying… someone planted this?”

“Probably someone with a friend in Class 2. They had that same class yesterday and took this exact quiz.”

“…Ah.”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“The quiz was easy, and you gave us all the answers in advance, Assistant Theo—so you didn’t bother changing the questions.”

I said it all matter-of-factly.

“Oh yeah, Class 2 had that lesson yesterday—it was super boring and not inte—”

Zahid had said that earlier, which clued me in that Class 2 ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) had already taken this class.

As I kept speaking slowly but clearly, Theo bit down on his lower lip.

“The culprit is someone with a roommate in Class 2. Someone who knew I’d be sitting next to Ray today. Someone who briefly visited Ray’s desk before I arrived…”

“Ah!”

Ray’s eyes widened as he jumped in.

“Nesha! You said earlier that my seat looked nice and sat here for a bit, right before Rosie arrived!”

The student Ray pointed to—Nesha—visibly flinched.

She was the same girl who had reported me for cheating.

“And you… your roommate’s in Class 2, right? I’m the class rep, so I know the dorm lists.”

“I—I… I just… um, that is…!”

Mm.

She couldn’t even say no—this was over.

“…Oh no…”

I said, sounding dejected.

“Too bad this happened during Assistant Theo’s class. There’ll be no leniency… processed according to Academy regulations.”

Theo’s eyes narrowed sharply as he turned to Nesha.

The Academy was unforgiving toward unilateral bullying among students.

Especially when the harassment was clearly malicious—it was never swept under the rug.

“Nesha Saliod. Follow me to the assistant’s office. Immediately.”

All the kids who had giggled and chimed in with Nesha earlier went completely silent.

And so, Theo left, dragging Nesha behind him. The classroom fell into a hush.

“Whoa… Rosie.”

Only Ray, grabbing his water bottle, smiled brightly despite the tense atmosphere.

“You really…”

“Hm?”

“…You’re totally my type.”

He rested his chin on one hand and gave me a sly smile.

“Didn’t think I’d meet anyone I wanted to get closer to more than Zahid Dyfenril.”

“Eh? You just figured that out? I’m cuter and sweeter than Zahid…”

I trailed off awkwardly and glanced behind me.

Just as Theo was about to leave the classroom with Nesha, he turned back.

“Oh, right. Because of that little incident, I forgot the final announcement.”

He addressed the whole class in his usual flat tone.

“Once again, let me emphasize: Magical Nanoscience is all about creating materials. Practical skills are more important than theory.”

And yet… he still wouldn’t look at me.

“We’ve displayed a set of artifacts made in our lab in the dormitory lobby. If you’re interested in staying at the Academy for research, please request a personal interview.”

It was a recruitment announcement—for anyone who wanted to remain at the Academy after graduation to work on research.

“Oh, that one!”

“It was so pretty! Sparkled and everything! Incredibly intricate, too!”

“It already had a name, didn’t it? ‘Sky Pocket’ or something!”

“Did you read the plaque? It’s supposed to help the Empress Dowager with her asthma symptoms. Once the display ends, they’re going to present it to her!”

Students buzzed with excitement, remembering the artifact on display in the dormitory lobby.

“Once we finish the theoretical lessons, we’ll begin practicals.”

Theo added, expressionless.

“Of course, none of you will be able to make something like the ‘Sky Pocket.’ That’s made of rare and expensive materials, and took us months of work.”

With that final remark, Theo left the room, dragging Nesha with him.

She was still sniffling as she walked out.

‘She’ll definitely get a warning. And if she gets one more, she’ll be expelled. …Will she keep her head down now, or try something else?’

I stretched and let out a long yawn.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep