Chapter 11: Favoritism
Two weeks after Bianca returned to school, she had a midterm exam. She did her best, but the three-month delay proved fatal, and the results were disastrous. Her father, the duke, was indignant.
“Look at Satias. Satias has been searching for you for more than two months and has even taken time off from the academy, yet he is ranked first. And yet, look at you. You are not even in the top fifty!”
At her father’s irrational reproach, Bianca’s eyes welled up with tears.
“I am three months behind and have suffered memory loss. Brother is ranked first simply because he is outstanding.”
“Nonsense, what are you talking about? He’s not particularly outstanding. You could have surpassed Satias. From today on, don’t expect a day off. You will study until you finish in the top ten.”
Bianca despaired at those words. What was said now was already a contradiction, and to begin with, why would her father be so vehement about it? Or rather, it was beyond her grasp why he wanted her to surpass her brother, who scored the highest.
Given that he was planning to marry her off anyway for a political maneuver, what was the point of making his daughter study so hard?
Satias had told her repeatedly not to act in defiance against their father, though. Despite having so many things to say, she only nodded and waited for the storm to pass.
When she left the office, Satias was standing in front of the door. Bianca was about to complain to her eldest brother, but he held up his index finger in a gesture of “Shh”.
“Bianca, I’ll listen to you later. Go to your room now.”
With that, he went into the room, leaving Bianca behind. Without any choice, she returned to her room in low spirits as her brother told her to do.
Bianca did not expect that life as an aristocrat would be so demanding. Her thoughts were sinking deep into her head.
After a while of being depressed, she heard a knock at the door.
“Bianca, I’m coming in.”
It was her brother. Bianca sprang at Satias, who opened the door and entered.
“Brother! Father is so terrible!”
Bianca cried to her brother. She reported every outburst her father had hurled at her. Her brother listened quietly without interrupting.
“So, what do you want to do?”
“Me? I want to go back to the monastery,” said Bianca firmly, causing her brother to sigh.
“That’s not it, right? What must you do now?”
“Study,” she replied in a fading voice, downcast. The brother nodded at his sister’s words and stood up.
“Then, give it your best.”
“Please hold on. Brother!”
Bianca grasped Satias’ shirt. Satias assumed he was at last free from Bianca’s whining, but that was not the case.
“But this is strange. Why must I achieve higher grades than you? Father is so quick to bring up brother as a reference. Isn’t that strange? I heard from the tutors that you are always at the top of your class. I don’t think it’s fair to compare me with you. And yet, you know what? Brother Julian isn’t reprimanded for getting a mid-range grade and being told, ‘So-so, I guess’ or such? Don’t you think that’s strange?”
She appealed to her brother, pouting.
“Julian is a little different.”
In response, Satias’ answer was evasive.
“Different? Don’t we attend the same school? What’s the difference? This is favoritism. It’s cunning.”
“We are next to each other, but it’s a different school. The site is different.”
“Yes and?”
Bianca was stupefied. She had never heard of such a thing before.
“There are corridors connecting the two schools, café terraces, saloons, and shared areas.”
“What do you mean?”
Bianca blinked her eyes, and Satias smiled wryly.
“To put it plainly, the school Julian is attending doesn’t require magical power to enroll, whereas the school we’re attending requires magical power to admit. So what we learn is a little different.
“Huh―? Brother Julian doesn’t have magical power?”
Satias rushed to cover Bianca’s mouth. Bianca had learned at the academy that lack of magical power was virtually fatal to a high-ranking aristocrat.
“You’re too loud, Bianca!”
Bianca mumbled.
“I’m going to release my hand now, but don’t you dare yell. The servants are on the other side of the door. Julian also possesses magical abilities, but his magical power is weak. He didn’t meet the standards of the school we’re attending, so he wasn’t admitted.”
When she nodded, Satias finally let go of his hand.
“Brother, everyone is aware that I have amnesia, right?”
Bianca kept her voice down to prevent her brother from interrupting her again.
“Yeah.”
“Then why has no one told me about that?”
“Julian, or rather Mother, finds it to be a sense of shame.”
Bianca cocked her head, pondering.
“That’s why it’s taboo to bring it up in this house.”
“I get it. I suppose I am not allowed to say it. I will be mindful. And another thing, why must I be compared to you?”
“You’re still hung up on that? It’s because we go to the same school.”
Her brother’s reply was concise.
“I envy Brother Julian,” she grumbled in a few words.
“Bianca! Even if it’s wrong, don’t say that!”
The older brother glared at Bianca with a terrifying expression.
“Okay,” Bianca replied in a small voice.
Her furious brother looked spine-chilling. Once again, her brother tried to leave.
Bianca subsequently tugged at his shirt again.
“Bianca, enough of this; you’re ruining my clothes.”
“Is there any inconvenience for you if we get along?”
At her question, Bianca caught on to the abrupt fading of Satias’ expression.
“Why do you think so?”
“Because at home you try to distance yourself from me.”
“I’m not particularly running away from you. It must be your imagination.”
She couldn’t decipher Satias’ expression as he answered. Bianca was discontent.
“You don’t have to think of unnecessary things. You should study diligently, just as Father has told you to.”
If her brother said so, it was inevitable.
“And one more thing.”
“There’s still more?”
He made a disgusted expression. He wanted to leave the room at once.
“Why does Mother only treat Brother Julian so well? Not that I am being particularly tormented by Mother, though.”
Her brother stayed silent for a while.
“You don’t have to know now. Don’t be in a rush. You will soon remember. Take things slowly. In any case, you should study now. If you have anything you don’t understand, come to the library at the school. I’ll teach you when I have time. Is that okay?”
Bianca nodded grudgingly. She wanted to chat with her brother some more, but he wanted to return to his room. It seemed like she was pestering him, so she gave up.
This house was supposed to be Bianca’s home, but she felt uncomfortable as if she were temporarily residing in someone else’s house.
Brother Satias, won’t you take my side?
On that day, Bianca went to bed feeling forlorn.
