Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better? - Chapter 33

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 33
Even Duke Simour had been astonished by my speed in solving equations, so Professor Kyle must have found it all the more suspicious.
I understood to some extent, but it was absurd that Professor Kyle, who had already branded me a cheater and student intimidator, maintained such an attitude.
“Without any evidence, what exactly are you basing this on?”
I let out a bitter laugh at the ridiculousness, and Professor Kyle’s expression hardened momentarily.
“It seems the lady has much to rely on, and while Duke Simour may be on your side, thinking that the Academy and Magic Tower are also on your side is pure arrogance.”
…
“Your abilities fall far short, yet you cling to this place thanks to your father, so everyone is quite dissatisfied.”
…
“Cheating in such a ridiculous position! Even if you begged me right now to bury this matter, it wouldn’t be enough. Do you understand?”
“I’m afraid I don’t.”
“Your learning ability is already notoriously poor, but this is beyond belief. Anyway… women who care only about appearances. Honestly, the lady isn’t a child, yet the fact that I have to teach you basic common sense like not cheating is simply astounding.”
This professor certainly had a way with words. He seemed to coast through his lectures while spewing contempt left and right.
“Your words are going too far, Professor.”
I glared at him fiercely.
“What will you do if my words go too far? There’s no one listening here! If you’re so upset, why don’t you act according to your nature? Go ahead and hit me if you dare. With such impressive backing, you can do whatever you please, can’t you?”
I watched him bark away with amusement.
I realized why he was so brazenly crossing the line—Professor Kyle was deliberately provoking my temper to spread rumors that the lady had gotten into a physical altercation with a professor.
I had arrived through nepotism, so my reputation was already terrible. On top of that, I had a record of throwing mana stones at a Magic Department student like throwing rocks.
Professor Kyle was confident he would win in the court of public opinion.
‘So he wants me to slap him once and crush his spirit completely.’
“Lady Deborah Simour. Do you really need to cling to the Magic Department like a leech? Since you’re disrupting the classroom atmosphere so much, wouldn’t it be wise for the honor of the Simour Family to make the right decision?”
Instead of raising my voice in anger or flipping a desk as he intended, I simply pulled my lips into a savage smile.
“I haven’t done anything, so I’m not sure what you mean by disrupting things. I have never committed any cheating that you speak of.”
“Are you clinging to this because you believe Duke Simour will protect you? Remember that Academy matters are not under the Magic Tower’s jurisdiction. If you continue this obstinacy, I’ll report it to the Headmaster.”
But isn’t the Headmaster my grand-uncle? Of course, I’m not particularly close to him….
Having lost the Simour title in the succession struggle, Marquis Bert was not on good terms with his twin brother, Duke Simour.
I stared at the threatening professor before speaking.
“Without clear evidence, you’ve already concluded that I cheated by intimidating my classmates and are now interrogating me. So I have nothing more to say.”
“Ha!”
“First, bring me the evidence of who showed me the answers. Then I’ll take my leave.”
“How shameless! Tsk tsk. No respect for authority!”
Leaving Professor Kyle clicking his tongue behind me, I stepped outside and tapped my fan against my palm.
‘This might actually work out smoothly.’
I hadn’t expected Professor Kyle to be so cooperative.
‘Let’s see how this plays out.’
Having strategically retreated, I tutored Duke Simour that evening as he immersed himself in equations. As I wrote out the mathematical proofs I’d memorized for the exam, my father called to me softly.
“Deborah.”
“Yes?”
“About the formula you devised. How would you feel about presenting it directly to the academic community? This would surely be a great Achievement that would mark a turning point in the Empire’s magical history.”
His cold gaze, usually so composed, now burned with fervent excitement.
“Moreover, it’s an opportunity to prove that you embody the Simour name more than anyone else.”
“….”
“In all my years, my heart has never swelled with such pride. It feels wasteful to keep this to myself alone, so revealing it to the outside world….”
“Please wait just a moment, Father.”
“Wait? Whatever for?”
“In any case… just because one is a woman doesn’t mean one should concern herself only with adornment.”
I recalled Professor Kyle’s crude remark, and my eyes flashed crimson.
“Yes, I have a separate plan in mind.”
* * *
From that moment on, I adorned myself far more elaborately than the professor’s words suggested—as if staging a protest.
I wore absurdly large jewels that dangled from my ears, and deliberately chose ornate dress styles, causing several students to gape openly as I passed.
With arrogant poise, I crossed my legs and gripped a flamboyant pink quill, solving the formula problems faster than anyone else and submitting my answers first.
‘I was an engineering student in my past life—honestly, this level is child’s play.’
Despite being given two hours, I finished in thirty minutes, and sharp gazes fixed upon me.
‘What?’
‘Did she really finish already?’
The Teaching Assistant immediately began grading, and I received my test paper back with a perfect score. When several of my classmates saw the flawless paper placed squarely on my desk, their expressions twisted into something ugly.
‘Work hard, you lot.’
I silently cheered them on as I walked out of the classroom.
* * *
“There’s definitely something fraudulent going on. The speed doesn’t make common sense.”
“A spoiled, frivolous young lady who only cares about luxury and gallivanting around solving formulas that quickly? It’s absurd. Absolutely absurd.”
“The professor must be feeding her the answers!”
Several students in the Magical Formula Theory class were convinced that Professor Kyle was favoring Deborah Simour. Every time the young lady took a pop quiz, she solved the problems with such speed, as if she already knew the answers.
Moreover, Deborah Simour wasn’t even on the remedial exam list. Everyone agreed that this was impossible unless she had connections with the professor.
“This is absolutely outrageous!”
One student lamented, slamming the table with his fist.
“The professor isn’t even trying to hide that he’s backing her. How pathetic must we look for her to act so brazenly?”
“Her father is the Magic Tower Master, so she has nothing to fear. She entered the School of Magic without any mana sensitivity in the first place—that itself was special treatment. And now she’s creating discord like this? She’s gone too far.”
“There are rumors that Duke Simour will do anything for his daughter. They say the pink diamond he won at auction for Deborah Simour costs more than an entire Town House. It’s largely Duke Simour’s fault that the young lady has become so arrogant.”
Among them was a student who deliberately stirred up the matter, dragging Duke Simour himself into the criticism.
It was William Lemong, the third son of Marquis Lemong.
“When I graduate from the School of Magic, I’ll be assigned to the Magic Tower, and I’m beginning to worry about my fate of serving under that man as Magic Tower Master.”
He deliberately invoked the title of Magic Tower Master as he grumbled.
Beneath the Magic Tower Master existed seven Elders, and among them were those who coveted the Master’s position. One of them was Marquis Lemong.
Marquis Lemong harbored strong resentment toward the Emperor for entrusting the Magic Tower Master position solely to the Simour Family. Furthermore, unlike the Simour Family, which had devoted itself to strengthening imperial authority since the Empire’s founding, Marquis Lemong belonged to the Senate, which represented the interests of the nobility.
With tensions already established for a long time, William deliberately incited his classmates to amplify this issue, which was disadvantageous to the Simour Family.
Additionally, Marquis Lemong’s children were significantly outmatched in ability by the Simour twins.
‘Always being compared,’ he thought bitterly.
That’s why William was desperate to drag down the direct Simour lineage by any means necessary.
“A Magic Tower Master should be wise and impartial, yet he’s swayed by personal feelings—his qualifications are beyond questionable!”
“Now, William. Isn’t such talk dangerous? Duke Simour is the only 7th-class mage in the entire Empire. He stands in a realm beyond reproach….”
Even when someone cautiously pointed out his harsh words, William merely scoffed.
“No matter how prestigious Simour is, the truth must be spoken. Are you saying I should stay silent when injustice stands before my eyes? As a nobleman, it’s only natural to raise my voice in defense of justice.”
“Hmm.”
“I’m planning to write a petition demanding Deborah Simour’s expulsion from the Magic Department.”
“A petition?”
“Exactly! I can no longer tolerate the special treatment she receives simply for being a direct Simour. A woman with no mana who got in through her father’s influence should keep her head down, yet look at all this commotion she’s causing.”
“I agree with you, William! I can no longer stand to see such a crude and vicious woman in this department.”
George, who had been struck loudly across the face with a fan by Deborah last time, also supported William Lemong and prepared to sign the petition behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, Kyle, the professor of magical formulas, found the entire situation infuriating. He had received neither a promise of advancement nor a bribe from Duke Simour, yet he had somehow become a corrupt professor accused of backing Deborah Simour.
‘Damn it, if I’d at least profited from this, I wouldn’t feel so wronged!’
The stress from the noblewoman was causing him hair loss.
“Hey, Teaching Assistant!”
Kyle, who had been pulling at his hair frantically, called out to the Teaching Assistant.
“Yes, Professor Kyle.”
“Have you still not found evidence that the noblewoman coerced students into cheating?”
“Not only is there no evidence, but the noblewoman seems to have little interaction with the other students. She always walks alone….”
“How does that make sense? There must be students who fell for her tricks and gave her the answers!”
“Sigh.”
The Teaching Assistant’s eyes grew dark. Despite keeping a close watch, no evidence had surfaced—it was enough to make spirits weep. Honestly, even to the Teaching Assistant’s eyes, the noblewoman appeared to be simply memorizing and writing down the leaked answer sheet.
“Those bastards who are secretly helping the noblewoman are loudly calling me a corrupt professor!”
Kyle burst out in frustration. Someone was definitely helping her, but he had no idea who. To interrogate the noble students, he needed at least some thread to pull, and the uncertainty was driving him mad.
“Damn it. At this rate, I’ll take the fall for everything.”
That was when it happened.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————