Chapter 68
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Violet's First Words - Episode 68
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The Dean's Office door swung open. "Dean, have you seen this article?" Herbert jolted awake, pretending he hadn't been dozing. The secretary's ashen face held a newspaper. "What's happened?" Outside, commotion had erupted. "Expose the Academy's corruption transparently!" "We demand fair assignments!" Voices clamored from beyond the door, punctuated by someone shouting. Herbert hastily took the newspaper from his secretary and read.
<Violet Everdin's Honest Confession. She has been exploited by her Younger Sister's proxy assignments all this time— —Used in assignments without her knowledge.... In the process of protesting this fact to the Academy Dean, she received suspension.... 'Although it happened without my knowledge, it remains true that I was implicated in the proxy assignment incident, so I took responsibility and withdrew.' 'Since entering the Academy, I have never properly attended a single class.' 'This blacklist incident is my sin for not speaking honestly about it first.'>
The newspaper slipped from Herbert's hands. Defying their expectations, Violet began engaging with the media. She revealed the truth to the people and made her appeal. And the world believed every word from that small woman completely. The protesters gathered outside were proof of it.
"Get Professor Sierra in here right now!"
But it wasn't only Sierra who came flying into the Dean's Office. The Board of Directors, composed primarily of wealthy parents who made substantial donations, sent letters in rapid succession. The practice of admitting students through donation funds and granting them all manner of privileges to ensure good grades was notoriously well-known. What they truly feared was this practice being exposed to the outside world. Beyond them, students who had graduated with excellent marks and those currently enrolled were desperately worried about the reputation of the Academy they attended being damaged.
"My head's about to roll! What am I supposed to do about this, Professor Sierra Muen! The Board of Directors is lodging protests left and right. And on top of that, the students have started protesting!"
"W-well. I... hehe..."
Sierra was sweating profusely. She truly hadn't expected Violet to make such a direct public statement and confront the matter head-on like this. 'This girl is quite the troublemaker, it seems.' Sierra thought. That was the moment. The secretary, pale as a ghost, spoke.
"You have a visitor."
"I told you to say I'm out if anyone from the Board of Directors comes!"
"It's not the Board of Directors..."
"..."
"Miss Violet Everdin has come directly."
Herbert's eyes widened and his mustache trembled slightly. Soon Violet quietly opened the door and entered.
"Good day, Dean."
"That's far enough. How dare you show your face here."
"How can you say such a thing? You've made it so an innocent person can't show their face anywhere."
"...Ahem. You came here to ask me to lift the blacklist, didn't you?"
"No?"
Violet smiled gently.
"Then what reason brings you here?"
"I came to give you a choice. Whether to continue speaking with me through the media."
"..."
"Or to speak with me directly."
Herbert's eyes twitched.
"Are you threatening me by saying you'll keep running your mouth to the media?"
"It's not running my mouth—it's speaking the truth. I want the Academy to acknowledge that I've been doing Marigold's assignments for her all this time."
"Marigold Everdin is on leave anyway. So what difference does it make..."
"It makes a difference in integrity. The integrity of openly confessing my past mistakes. And I want you to announce that I've withdrawn from the Academy."
"Do you think you're in a position to make demands?"
Violet laughed with genuine innocence.
"Yes."
"...What?"
"As you know, I'm currently involved in several lawsuits. Adding one more lawsuit regarding this incident won't make any difference to me."
"..."
"Do you remember? You said my reputation was the problem. But thinking about it differently, isn't it true that the one obsessed with reputation has more to lose? Honestly, once the trials I'm currently involved in conclude, there's very little I have to fear."
Violet spoke calmly. Sierra's hands trembled.
"Since I'm the one with nothing to lose and nothing to cling to anyway, my guardian just told me that I would win this."
Violet smiled.
"So please punish the person involved in this matter. After that, I'll live my life completely separate from the Academy."
Herbert swallowed hard. He looked at Sierra's ashen face. Sierra had been egging him on from the side, and he'd simply wanted to put down the presumptuous young Violet once. While Sierra usually flattered Herbert, they weren't particularly close beyond that. Bowing to Violet wounded his pride. But if he wasn't careful, his position as Dean would slip away.
"Professor Sierra! What is the meaning of this?!"
"Yes?"
Sierra looked at Herbert with a pallid face.
"I've told you before—your favoritism toward certain students is far too severe! Now that I've heard the full story, Violet doesn't seem like such a bad person. How could you try to pin the blame on her alone in the incident with Marigold? Because you were making such a fuss from the side, I momentarily lost my judgment."
"You're blaming everything on me now..."
"You're fired! Do you understand? You'll never set foot in academia again. Now I see—it's not Violet who should be blacklisted. It's you."
"This is unjust! How can this be happening!"
"Leave. Otherwise, I'll call security!"
Sierra staggered. Violet watched her quietly.
"Is that all you have to say, Dean?"
Violet asked quietly. Herbert cleared his throat awkwardly.
"What else is there to say? Since there was a misunderstanding, I'll lift the blacklist. I'll also handle your withdrawal properly, so let's consider this matter closed. Understood?"
A cold smile played at the corner of Violet's lips. The door burst open loudly. Everyone's heads turned. Standing there was Ash in a navy suit. His mere presence still illuminated the room with his appearance.
"Grand Duke Ravens, what brings you here so suddenly?"
Herbert spoke in confusion.
"As the representative of the Board of Directors, I've come to inform you of the Dean's dismissal."
"...What did you say?"
Herbert doubted his ears for a moment.
"Coincidentally, this morning, after lengthy discussions with the Imperial Family, I inherited a portion of my father's estate. My father, Rivan Fatherfall, holds a permanent seat on the Academy Board of Directors. So I convened the board and was elected as its representative."
Behind Ash stood several professors and members of the board.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org