Chapter 55 – Divine Princess Awakening Progress: Final Two Days

The Divine Princess Tournament was over.

Just as Irene and Frand had hoped, Teresa had lost—and lost utterly. It was a complete, one-sided defeat.

For Frand, that was exactly what he wanted.

Teaching that ungrateful Wild Divine Princess a lesson brought him satisfaction. He couldn’t care less about her so-called “determination.” To him, only the utterly incompetent and talentless had to rely on sheer willpower. Teresa’s refusal to surrender only proved her uselessness as a Divine Princess.

He left, content.

But for Irene, the match had been a total failure.

She hadn’t just wanted revenge—not just a public opportunity to “discipline” Teresa. She had hoped to use her debut to make a name for herself. Catch the attention of outstanding peers and instructors. Secure a spot on a powerful team.

Yes, she’d won the match.

But what she got... was the opposite of everything she had hoped for.

Instead of praise, the audience whispered behind her back.

“That second daughter of the Cardifen family sure is vicious, huh? Yikes... She’s got a nasty temper. Best to steer clear of someone like her.”

“Was that a match or a torture scene? Honestly, I couldn’t tell if I was watching a battle or an interrogation chamber.”

“Sure, she’s pretty... but if she treats classmates like that, imagine what she’d do to teammates!”

Such gossip infuriated Irene. Letting it spread unchecked was unacceptable, but trying to stamp it out could make things worse.

So in the end, she dumped all the blame on Teresa.

That little tramp ruined my image! Unforgivable!

If she’d just surrendered after a few lashes, everything would’ve gone smoothly!

Irene couldn’t understand it. To her, Teresa had deliberately gone against her—dragging both of them down.

Of course, things weren’t about to settle down just because the tournament had ended.

Irene’s retaliation was far from over.

***

Teresa stared silently at her soaked notebook.

She flipped it open at random; the pages were sticky and pulpy, clinging together like soggy pickled vegetables.

This was the notebook she’d poured her heart into over the past two weeks. She had compiled everything—lecture points, insights from textbooks, her own observations—into a tightly organized set of notes.

Now it was ruined.

Of all the bullying and pranks she had endured, this was the one thing she couldn’t overlook.

Deliberately destroying something someone cares about—that, she couldn’t forgive.

She rose to her feet and walked with heavy steps toward Irene, who was chatting and laughing with some classmates.

Irene seemed to notice her but pretended not to. She kept smiling, laughing with her little circle.

“Teresa? Something you need?”

Noticing she hadn’t left, Irene finally turned lazily, still smiling.

“Cardifen. My notebook was thrown in water. Was it you?”

Teresa enunciated each word clearly.

Other things, she could ignore. But this... she couldn’t.

To trample someone’s efforts and dedication without remorse—unacceptable.

“Huh? Got any proof?”

Irene shrugged, turning to the others around her.

“Hey, Teresa here says I ruined her notebook. Anyone see me do that?”

Of course, everyone shook their heads. No one would back Teresa up.

No, not everyone in the class was on Irene’s side—but no one was going to stand with Teresa either.

“After last period, I saw you and the girl next to you leave the classroom with a notebook.”

Teresa’s gaze stayed locked on her.

“So? Does that prove anything? Did you see whose notebook it was? Maybe it was mine.

Maybe it belonged to someone else. Teresa, you’ve got a little too much ego, y’know?”

Irene smiled sweetly.

“Got any witnesses?”

She leaned closer, placing both hands on the desk.

“And even if it was me... what then?”

Teresa said nothing.

“You’re so quick to point fingers. But I get it. Girls like you—spoiled, fake, always acting delicate—think everyone should act the same way.”

Teresa slowly raised her eyes.

Her emerald gaze met Irene’s without flinching.

“Hey! What’s going on over here? Class is about to start!”

A new voice cut in.

Teresa turned. It was a very... “distinctive-looking” boy—his face was long like a horse’s, and his expression as lifeless as a dead fish.

“Teresa, if I remember correctly, this isn’t your seat.”

The boy’s name was Laro, the class’s temporary monitor.

He always put on a righteous act—stern, just, upstanding, as though he would personally root out every injustice.

But Teresa knew better.

He was in the same temporary team as Irene. This so-called class monitor was just another actor playing a part.

If he truly stood for justice, why had he let all these petty torments go unchecked?

And when he did intervene... it was only to tip the scales against her.

“I’m here to demand justice from Irene.”

“Justice? For what?”

Laro laughed.

“She just said a few words to you. One petty brat was bad enough, and now we’ve got two.”

“...Monitor, sir,” Teresa smiled sweetly, “your horse-face is starting to look a little ridiculous.”

“You—!”

That got under his skin. The one thing Laro hated most was when people compared his face to a horse’s.

“You fatherless, motherless little dwarf—!”

“Standing on the moral high ground to scold others is easy,” Teresa said calmly, hands behind her back.

“But the moment someone insults you, you snap. Isn’t that right, Monitor?”

“Looks like now there are three petty brats.”

“Teresa...!”

Teresa ignored them and walked away.

Her notebook might still be salvageable if she dried it properly.

“Why so worked up, Mr. Class Monitor?”

Irene didn’t seem bothered. She stared coldly at Teresa’s retreating back.

“In three days, it’s the Crown Tournament. No need to waste energy on someone who’s going to be expelled soon.”

“...You’re right.”

Laro snorted.

“When that day comes, I’ll personally sweep her—and that ridiculous Divine Child of hers—out of this school.”

**

Back at her seat, Teresa clutched her Golden Butterfly Hairpin, a faint smile playing at her lips.

The Divine Princess Awakening—only two and a half days remained.

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