The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 211

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Ian was used to being the center of attention.

Aside from being the heir of House Bayern, there was his enormous inheritance, his tragic family background, his sculpted features, upright character, and excellent grades.

With such qualities, it was only natural that people’s attention would follow him wherever he went.

And after all, he had spent two years living in the academy dormitory, a confined space teeming with rumor and emotion.

Affection, admiration, envy, jealousy, pity for his home life…

The constant flood of emotions directed toward him could be tiring at times, but Ian thought he handled it reasonably well thanks to his calm and steady temperament, unusual for his age.

Still, even Ian found it overwhelming sometimes.

“Ian, have you made any plans for the break? If not, come to my house, we just got a puppy!”

“A puppy? I have a fox at home!”

“My family’s pond is full of fish! Why not come over to my house instead?”

“What are you doing over the break?”

“Come visit my house next time.”

“No, come to my house!”

Boys and girls alike were all talking at once, each trying to claim a bit of his attention.

Ian smiled gently at them.

“I’m sorry, but I already have plans, so I don’t think I’ll be able to visit anyone.”

In truth, he didn’t have any plans at all, but it was better to decline.

Most of them wanted to be his special friend, and if he didn’t treat everyone equally, problems always followed.

They would sulk, or worse, fight among themselves.

It was something he had learned countless times over his two years at the academy.

But no matter how fairly he treated his friends, if the seeds of conflict came from outside, what good would it do?

His classmates had surrounded him like a wall, as if to keep him all to themselves.

Beyond that circle, unfamiliar children, who he was meeting for the first time, were watching with faces full of resentment.

‘This is… awkward.’

Because his friends refused to give him space, he couldn’t properly greet the other guests.

His academy friends were important, of course, but so were the children introduced to him through his aunt.

They had traveled a long way just to meet him.

And more than anything, he didn’t want to disappoint his aunt, who had worked tirelessly for days preparing this event.

“Everyone, I’m sorry, but could you please move aside for just a moment—”

Just then, a blond boy with a mischievous look, standing a little apart from the group, let out a short laugh.

“Bragging about your puppies, foxes, and fish? Really? You’re nobles. Try to keep a little dignity, even if you’re far from the line of succession.”

“D-Dignity?”

“Yeah. And maybe try using your brains, too. Can’t you see Young Lord Bayern is uncomfortable because of you? You’re not helping anyone, least of all him.”

Greg, was it?

The heir to Marquis Lambert’s house. He was someone Ian had just been introduced to for the first time today.

Greg glanced around, as if to confirm support from the others.

The children who had been watching for a chance to get close to Ian since the luncheon nodded cautiously in agreement.

At that, Ian’s academy friends’ faces twisted with irritation.

“Ian’s close with us, you know?”

“Yeah, you only met him today!”

Ian quietly suppressed a sigh.

He felt sorry for his naïve friends, who were looking at him for affirmation, but Greg wasn’t wrong.

Still, if this bickering escalated into an outright fight, the entire party would be ruined.

Ian smiled gently and spoke to Greg.

“I’m sorry I didn’t manage to greet all the guests properly. That’s my mistake. But let’s not argue, please.”

“Ian, why are you apologizing? He’s the one who started it!”

At the indignant protest of one of the girls beside him, Greg let out a dry laugh.

“Don’t you get it? He’s apologizing because of you. You’re clearly not helping. So why don’t you take the hint and step aside?”

“What?”

“Ian should start making friends who are actually useful. Isn’t that what this whole event is for?”

The faces of the children who had surrounded Ian so possessively twisted with rage.

‘Useless friends’. That phrase hit hard.

Most of the boys from the academy weren’t heirs, they were second or third sons who would never inherit their family names.

Greg, on the other hand, was the future Marquis of Lambert.

His words had struck at the boys’ deepest insecurity, and to the girls, they were nothing short of an insult, an insinuation that they were foolish and worthless.

“You…!”

In the end, voices were raised, and the ladies who had been chatting pleasantly in the garden turned toward the commotion.

“What’s going on?”

“Why are you children shouting?”

They were the mothers of the children involved.