I Became the Bully that gets Avenged by The Academy

Chapter 4

Today too, I departed for the academy in a car driven by the White family's butler.

The white sedan comfortably took me to the academy. Despite the high speed, its smooth ride made me comfortable despite the characteristic morning fatigue.

Entering the academy, I arrived at the classroom with the quiet click-clack sound of my shoes.

As usual, after exchanging greetings with the many people who greet Isabella upon entering the classroom, I sat down and checked today's tasks.

Fortunately, today's schedule was lighter than usual without any of that socializing. I expected the socializing to be reduced for a while.

The reason was that even those who played during the break when there was nothing to do now had to focus on their studies.

Especially in cases with brothers, sisters, or siblings, if there are problems with grades at the academy, one's position as a potential heir could be greatly lowered. One could fall behind in the succession competition with other blood relatives.

Of course, as the White family's only daughter, my position as a successor is perfect.

Well, of course, if I suddenly started living a dissolute life or developed major physical or mental problems, the successor position of White Corporation would naturally pass to someone else, but that won't happen, so it's fine.

After carefully checking today's schedule like that, I waited for class.

I sent Lucia a message during the wait, asking what she was doing.

She said she was heading to class, and I requested, no, ordered her to buy me a caramel macchiato today too.

She accepted without particular resistance, sending an "understood" message with no further messages afterward.

After exchanging messages with Lucia like that, the homeroom teacher entered, and today's classes began.

After that, I normally attended classes, chatted with academy students, listened to lectures, and ran errands for teachers.

Then, when lunch and break time came, Lucia came to me like yesterday.

"Master?"

"Ah, Lucia, you've come?"

"Here, I brought what you asked for."

"Thank you, Lucia. What do you want this time?"

"Um...."

"Well, if you don't particularly want anything, I'll just give you money. If that's more comfortable for you, I'll do that."

"Then money is enough this time."

"Hmm.... That's boring."

"Yes..?"

"I said it's boring. Ordering items and just giving money, isn't that just a delivery service? Who would find great joy in just paying money, ordering items, and receiving them? Let's change the compensation instead."

Even if I give money, Lucia only thinks about receiving an amount similar to or less than the coffee I ordered.

But I had no intention of just watching Lucia like this. The worn-out uniform and shoes, beautiful black hair but without much shine, and dark circles under her eyes from fatigue despite her pretty face.

From now on, everything is for her sake.

This is purely out of altruism for her sake, definitely not because I just want to play with a prettier girl, absolutely not out of self-interest.

"Join me after class."

"Yes..? But I have something after today ends..."

"What is it? Part-time job? If it's something like that, I'll give you money. Follow me."

"....."

Her face looked somewhat dubious.

"I'll give you double what you'd earn at your part-time job today. Just quietly follow me."

When I mentioned double the income, her red eyes, lighter than blood, suddenly widened, clearly indicating that she was wavering at my offer.

"Yes."

After hearing her brief response, I lightly turned and walked away slowly.

As I walked away, I slightly raised the corners of my mouth while thinking about what to do for Lucia today.

"Fufu..."

Whether she wanted it or not, I felt a bit excited at the thought of doing something for her.

In some ways, it could be said to be an action that ignores her will, but...

But it's clear that Lucia would absolutely not agree if I just asked her to come normally.

Anyway, chuckling like that, I moved to the next location.

As people gradually came into view, I naturally lowered my raised mouth corners and waited for academy classes to end while acting as 'Isabella' today too.

After academy classes ended like that, since I could somewhat guess where Lucia would be, I went first to where she was likely to be.

"Lucia."

"!?"

Perhaps she didn't expect me to come find her first?

When I called her, Lucia turned her head sharply in surprise to look at me.

"When did you arrive?"

"Just now. I just arrived and called you. Are you ready to go?"

"No... please wait a moment. I still have things to gather.."

Did I come too early? I thought she would have prepared somewhat since I said we'd go after classes ended, but it seems I came earlier than Lucia expected.

"Yes, I can wait that much."

Not long after, Lucia came out with a bag slung on one side.

Without saying anything, I turned and quietly walked with Lucia to the parking lot where the car was parked.

"Get in. It's too far to walk."

When I said that to her, she nodded silently and got in the back of the car.

When I sat in the back of the sedan, the driver started driving to where I had previously specified. Well, it wasn't anywhere special, I just said to go to any popular department store.

Since he had worked as a driver for a long time, I thought he would know where to take us well enough.

"Um.... where are we going? It seems like we're going on unfamiliar roads..."

"Ah, come to think of it, I didn't tell Lucia. Well, you don't particularly need to know. It will surely be an enjoyable place."

"....."

Ah, Lucia's expression suddenly turned bad. Did she get upset because I didn't properly tell her the location?

Hmm... but if I tell the location, it won't be a real 'surprise,' right?

"Fufu, it's really okay. You'll probably know soon."

After being quiet for several minutes, the car stopped as we apparently arrived at our destination, and the driver opened my door.

"Now, Lucia? Come out this way."

Lucia followed my words and got out through the door I exited.

Then, after getting out, she was surprised, looking at one building in front.

"What kind of place is this..?"

"Ah, surprise~ It's a department store~"

Fufu, surprised?

"I just came like this to buy some presents for Lucia~?"

With that, I lightly grabbed Lucia's wrist and pulled her into the department store.

To be honest, I could have ordered all the customers inside the department store to leave, but that seemed too tyrannical, so I just let the customers shop while I took Lucia around shopping.

"Lucia? How about this?"

"It seems too expensive...."

"Haha, do you think this level of price is expensive for me?"

"That's not it.."

"So just tell me your honest impression. I'll take care of the price."

Afterward, I spent time having Lucia try on various clothes.

We bought pretty dresses, coats that suited her proportions and tall-for-a-woman figure, comfortable T-shirts and jeans for everyday wear, knits, etc. You could say we bought at least one of pretty much every type of clothing.

And I also bought her a wristwatch that every student should have one of.

Though she still had a confused expression, not being used to me buying things like this for her, I didn't stop there and bought her a piece of jewelry that suited her.

A red diamond - something ordinary people wouldn't even think about, or well, they might think about it but could absolutely never buy - I gave her a ring made with such a jewel as a gift.

There was no particular reason. I just saw it while passing by and thought the jewel would suit Lucia.

Of course, I didn't tell her the value of the ring, though.

Also, to make her beautiful hair even more beautiful, I had her skin and hair care done once at a salon and bought her various products.

She was just confused at first, but at some point, the corners of her mouth raised slightly, and her eyes became less sharp—now, that initial confused and shocked appearance was no longer visible.

As the sun was gradually setting, I had her get in the car, drop her off at her home, and then return to the mansion, though it was a bit late.

It would have been nice if there had been a conversation on the way back, but different from my expectations, she fell asleep with a comfortable expression not long after getting in the sedan.

Well, seeing her sleeping with such an innocent face when she had only shown cautious and somewhat fearful expressions toward me before, it seemed wrong to wake her, so I handled some other work while waiting for her to wake up.

Some ten-odd minutes had passed.

When I watched her wake up, she apologized with a reddened face, saying sorry, so I just roughly said it was fine and told her to go inside her home, then arrived home.

Though I didn't have many conversations with her, I felt satisfied spending time with Lucia and buying things for her.

I don't know how Lucia felt, but I at least thought I hoped her favorability toward me hadn't decreased.