Chapter 195: The New Duchess

Chapter 195

The New Duchess

“Mmm, my name is Ellie. You can call me Sister Ellie or just Senior is fine. I have botanic elemental power. So, if you need help, you can find me at the Botanical Building. It’s not hard to find since I’m the only student there. However...I’ll help only as much as I can. If something is beyond my abilities, don’t expect too much,”

Ellie said cautiously. She needed to observe this girl’s behavior to determine if she was worth associating with. If Zoey turned out to be deceitful, Ellie wouldn’t even bother talking with her again. Dealing with Nara was already a headache.

“Un-understood, Senior.” Even though Ellie implied not to disturb her often, Zoey smiled broadly. Previously, the other scholarship senior had told her not to contact him under any circumstances and to take care of herself. Those words had scared Zoey, leaving her unsure of how to survive at the institute without anyone to talk to.

So, when Ellie told her she could seek help, albeit limited, Zoey felt a warm sense of relief. She clenched the crystal, which looked like an ordinary stone, feeling fortunate to have met this kind senior.

Ellie didn’t know what Zoey was thinking, but she didn’t have time to chat all day. After introducing herself, Ellie entered her room, leaving Zoey standing there alone with a smile.

After their first meeting, Ellie chose not to see Zoey again. The little girl lived similarly to how Ellie had at first, going to the library to study on her own before classes started. Meanwhile, Ellie spent her mornings watering herbs and the rest of her time concocting potions until the first official day of classes arrived.

Ellie woke up early but had to water the herbs first, so she arrived in the classroom shortly before the start. Most of her classmates were already there. The seating and classroom were the same, and beside her was still the boy from the Tates family. However, Ellie’s current status was no longer one that the Tates merchant family could meddle with.

Unlike before, when Xeno knew she was of interest to the Setter family and even Second Young Lord Aman gave her significant attention so it seemed she had the potential to become the future lady of the Setter family. Back then, he always sought opportunities from her. However, after learning that Ellie was not Young Lord Aman’s woman but the man who had recently risen from the dead and caused a significant uproar immediately upon waking, Ellie’s status had changed dramatically.

“Duchess Ellie has arrived?”

“Duchess Ellie remains as beautiful as ever.”

“Duchess Ellie...” All the students greeted the newcomer with respect. Some even stood up to greet her. Ellie frowned slightly. The way they addressed her had changed significantly. Previously, some called her “Lady Ellie” or “Young Lady Ellie,” but now everyone called her “Duchess Ellie,” a title previously reserved only for Duchess Vida.

In fact, Ellie had heard herself referred to as “Duchess” within the Setter family before, but she thought Sara and others used it because she was important to the future head of the Setter family. She assumed it was an internal family term. However, she didn’t expect her fellow institute students to address her this way.

“Are you surprised? Everyone now calls you ‘Duchess,’ just like they call “Duchess Vida”,” said Aria, approaching Ellie when she noticed her frowning.

“Yes, suddenly everyone is calling me that. It’s quite unfamiliar.”

“Hehe, I figured. The Setter family treats you like a precious jewel. It’s not surprising that they didn’t tell you how their actions have elevated your status.”

“Huh?”

“They gave you a city as a gift, didn’t they? And now you control more than 3 cities. So, it’s not surprising that your status has become “Duchess.” Once you control more than 5 cities, you’ll become a “Princess”, instead” Aria explained.

In truth, titles like Duchess or Princess were just labels. There were many ways for someone to become a duchess. For example, Duchess Vida’s partner was a prince, and she had a city in her name, given to her by the Jarlon family to showcase their power and equality with the prince. This gift of 1 city granted Vida the status of “duchess,” combined with her position as the prince’s consort.

Still, Duchess Vida’s title was not yet officially recognized. She would only truly become a duchess once the wedding day arrived. However, everyone respected her, and no one thought the prince would cancel the wedding. So, it wasn’t wrong for everyone to call Duchess Vida.

However, the first person to be officially granted the title of duchess was “Duchess Ellie.” The moment the Setter family gave her 3 cities, the Ares Kingdom announced the new duchess officially. Of course, the announcement was known among the nobility first, while the common folk didn’t pay much attention to such matters. Even Ellie herself wasn’t aware of her new status.

“Is there such a thing?”

“Yes, I figured you didn’t know. I heard you chose to stay in the scholarship dormitory even though the institute prepared a room in the noble area for you. It seems you still think of yourself as lowly, even though you now rule 4 cities within the tower...You’re something else.” Aria shook her head as if Ellie was clueless. But with such a bold attitude, Duchess Vida couldn’t stay silent.

“Do not be disrespectful to Duchess Ellie.” Aria wrinkled her nose at being scolded.

“Even if she has become a duchess, Duchess Vida knows she hasn’t changed. Besides, I’m not used to changing how I address her.”

“It sounds like you’re challenging a royal decree.” Duchess Vida narrowed her eyes, reprimanding her friend to prevent others from using this situation against her later. Aria understood Vida’s intentions well but remained stubborn.

“You don’t have to change how you treat me. After all, I’m still Ellie...”

“Are you defying a royal decree too?” Before Ellie could say more, Duchess Vida reprimanded her with the same line. Ellie ended up looking at Aria with a deadpan expression.

Who would have thought Duchess Vida could be so harsh? Threatening with royal decrees and intimidation. Didn’t you know the severe punishment for defying a royal decree...?

“From now on, you should change your seat. As you have become Duchess Ellie, it’s inappropriate to sit in the same place. If others see it, they might think the students in this room lack proper decorum.” Duchess Vida glanced at everyone in the room. Naturally, everyone nodded in agreement, especially Xeno, who had been sitting next to Ellie. If he had to sit with someone who suddenly became a “duchess” and had the potential to become a “princess” in a few years, he might as well be punished with a flogging.

Previously, he had tried to use her, but fortunately, he hadn’t done anything too extreme. Otherwise, he might not have the face to attend school now.

“We’ve prepared a seat for you, Duchess Ellie. It would be nice if you and Duchess Vida sat together, but if Duchess Vida prefers to sit with Lady Aria, there’s a table next to it prepared for Duchess Ellie,” said one of the students from a noble family. Vida glanced at Ellie and then nodded.

“Then, Duchess Ellie, please join me,” Vida said, leading the way. Aria followed and sat at the next table, which was still close to Duchess Vida. This left the innermost corner table for Ellie.

Seeing how easily the seating arrangement was handled, everyone relaxed a bit. However, they were unaware that the real important protagonist hadn’t arrived yet. Or to put it more precisely...the real troublemaker hadn’t entered the classroom yet.

“Oh, did everyone rearrange the classroom this year?” Before anyone could truly relax, a cheerful voice interrupted them, making the students in class freeze.

It was Nara, who had just entered the room with a cheerful demeanor. She hadn’t expected to still have a place in the noble student accommodations. She thought she would be sent to the shabby dorms for scholarship students. But after walking around, she found that her luxurious room was still there. If she had known this...she wouldn’t have gone back to the village at all. Especially now that her house resembled a pigsty, it was far better to stay at the institute for the next 3 years.

Understanding that the institute still cared for her, Nara assumed it was because she was the great “future priestess.” They feared her potential wrath in the future. This thought kept her in high spirits. At least Ellie was still in the scholarship dormitory while she enjoyed the high-class accommodations!

“Why is everyone so quiet? Even if I am to be a priestess, it’s no problem in arranging for me to sit with Duchess Vida.” Nara poked her head in, glancing at the front of the room. She noticed an empty seat, where Duchess Vida and Aria usually sat together. Seeing them separated, Nara assumed the seat was meant for her.

Ignoring the stares of the others, she walked in like a fool and placed her belongings on the chair next to Duchess Vida. But before her small bottom could touch the seat, 4 sharp ice spikes formed on the chair.

“Ah!!” Nara screamed, her bag was pierced and torn by the ice spikes, revealing its contents. What startled her the most was the ice that forming so high it almost reached her eyes!

Ellie watched the beautiful ice spikes with shining eyes. This was the power of the “villainess” in this novel. After the heroine gained rare light elemental power and had a friend with unique botanic power, how could the villainess have simple powers? Otherwise, the story wouldn’t be fun with an unworthy adversary.

The reason Duchess Vida was chosen by the royal family was partly due to her Jarlon lineage. However, the Jarlon family selected Vida from all the young girls in their family because of her exceptional power.

Initially, Vida was the only fiancée of the prince, but the Jarlon family knew that if Vida proved to be unfit, the royal family would find a way to replace her. Therefore, until they were sure of Vida’s unique power, they did not grant her a city. In other words, Vida only received the title “Duchess” after her power was awakened, and her power was the unique ice power.

“Screech!! What is this? Who dared to do this to me!!? Do you want to have problems with a future priestess!!?” Nara shrieked in shock, feeling like she had just narrowly escaped death a few seconds ago. It was no wonder she couldn’t control her emotions.

The students in the room kept silent. They knew that the person who wielded this power was Duchess Vida. Only she could use such ice power. In truth, the other students wouldn’t have allowed Nara to sit in Duchess Ellie’s seat either, but they wouldn’t dare perform such a bold action, which was like an act of declaring war. In this room...if anyone had the courage and the immunity from the church’s repercussions, even if Nara became a priestess in the future, it would be “Duchess Vida” alone.

“This seat belongs to Duchess Ellie. Everyone in the room agreed she would sit with me. Therefore, this is not a seat for a future priestess like you. Your seat has been prepared, so please proceed over there,”

Vida said calmly. She didn’t leave Nara guessing who had acted. With a flick of her small finger, the dangerous ice spikes turned into beautiful snowflakes and disappeared into the air. This was the first time Ellie saw such a magnificent use of power, increasing her determination to master ice stratagem creation even more.

Additionally, the skills Duchess Vida used were incredibly useful. Ellie wasn’t so glutton and obsessed with making cold desserts. She also felt that Duchess Vida’s attack methods could be adapted into effective traps. Considering that the 4th-floor neighbor was a creature possessed fire elemental attribute, using ice power against those lava beasts could make the battles more feasible.

“What do you mean? And what is “Duchess Ellie” anyway?” Nara, who understood nothing, was extremely shocked. So, this seat wasn’t meant for her but for Ellie?

And what was this “duchess” business? Wasn’t this too ridiculous? Or had she fallen asleep and was still stuck in a nightmare? Wasn’t it her who had been invited to stay in the high-class accommodations, while Ellie was sent back to the scholarship dormitory? What exactly was going on? She didn’t understand at all!!