Quietly Hiding that I am a Man chapter 67- Fake Appearance

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Bang!

“Damn it! That woman’s such bad luck!”

Boomer, fuming with rage, kicked open the door.

The members of the Pluto Guild exchanged uneasy glances.

They couldn’t understand why Boomer, who had confidently left to overthrow the Luna Guild today, was now storming back in such a state.

“Boomer, what happened? And why’s your cheek all red?”

“It’s that damned lady from the Duke of Efilia’s house.”

At Derek’s words, the guild members shuddered.

The Duke of Efilia’s family was one of the most prestigious noble families, not to mention the largest sponsor of the Etrance Academy.

One member, speaking nervously, asked,

“Wait, are you talking about Lady Jeanne? The one who supposedly got in through Duke Michael’s influence?”

“Huh, as if it wasn’t bad enough she got in through corruption, now she’s hitting people too.”

“You can tell she’s a Sacre, no shame at all!”

Shocked whispers spread among the guild members.

Derek smiled quietly to himself.

Things were working out better than he had anticipated.

‘My guess was right. She’s got a terrible temper and is dumb to boot. She’s just a pretty face with nothing else going for her. I almost embarrassed myself by getting involved with her.’

Derek had been harboring a grudge against Jeanne ever since she refused to be his dance partner and her brother, Cedrickk, warned him, “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll back off.”

He had promised himself he’d get revenge one day.

For now, Derek spoke with a sly grin,

“There’s even a rumor going around about her. You know Jeanne went missing for a while, right?”

“Of course! The Academy was buzzing about it for days.”

“Turns out, she was caught trying to elope with a commoner. How desperate she must’ve been, spending days with some guy.”

The guild members burst into laughter at Derek’s exaggerated sneer.

In reality, Derek knew nothing about Jeanne’s disappearance.

But spreading rumors like this would ensure that Jeanne became isolated within the Academy soon enough.

Derek imagined what would come next.

‘Once she’s completely ostracized, I’ll swoop in like a hero. Her face alone is exactly my type. I’ll have my fun with her, and then toss her aside.’

Unlike other guilds, which often welcomed students from different regions or backgrounds, the Pluto Guild was only open to pure-blooded Kaisar.

Their elitist mindset naturally fostered a disdain for minorities.

Derek felt a strange desire to conquer Jeanne, both because of her Sacre heritage and her defiant attitude.

‘A noble lady with eyes like a wild animal.’

Derek silently recalled Jeanne’s face: her snowy white skin, pale lavender eyes filled with uncertainty, rosy cheeks, and sharp, upturned eyes.

Even Derek, who had been part of high society for years, had never seen anyone as beautiful as Jeanne.

The princess, known as the hidden red rose of the royal family, looked like a common wildflower compared to her.

But more striking than her beauty was Jeanne’s arrogant gaze.

Derek, his face flushed, swallowed hard.

‘It’s not just that I want Jeanne. I want to see that proud girl kneel before me. But if things go on like this…’

There was one complication, though—he wasn’t the only one after Jeanne.

Even Carlisle, who was notorious for ignoring noblewomen, seemed to be interested.

Derek couldn’t believe it—Jeanne had even caught his eye.

At the Academy, Carlisle was so indifferent to women that rumors had spread that he was into men. Derek had noticed something strange in Carlisle’s behavior, though.

Like a predator protecting its territory, Carlisle had been clearly wary of Derek and the others—something completely out of character for him.

‘The wealthy and powerful Flare family wouldn’t care about Luna’s land. Carlisle is only interested in Jeanne. If things continue like this, Flare will take both the land and Jeanne from us.’

No matter how much the academy prioritized academic year over status, Derek wasn’t foolish enough to directly harass the daughter of the Duke of Efilia.

In fact, he thought it might have been a stroke of luck that Jeanne had gotten on Boomer’s bad side first.

Derek approached Boomer from behind and tapped the table lightly.

Sensing someone’s presence, Boomer turned his head angrily, only to meet Derek’s smiling face.

“Boomer, you want the Luna Guild’s house, right? And you want revenge on that Sakr girl, don’t you?”

“Of course.”

“Luna’s been blatantly violating one of the guild’s three core principles. Until now, we’ve been turning a blind eye because of those brats… but that’s not fair, is it? Even if they’re kids, there shouldn’t be exceptions. We all deserve to start from the same place.”

Derek’s argument resonated with the guild members, who nodded in agreement.

The Latserk family, to which Derek belonged, might only be a barony, but it had a long history in the tea business.

For someone like Derek, who had been learning business from a young age, manipulating people for personal gain wasn’t difficult.

With his hands behind his back, Derek casually looked around and spoke again.

“Exactly. So, we’re not acting out of selfish desire, but for ‘equality.’ We’ll report to the Guild Committee that the Luna Guild is inadequate and doesn’t even meet the minimum membership requirements.”

Derek’s words easily erased the guilt lingering in the hearts of the guild members.

His smile disappeared as he clenched his fists. A single thought filled his mind.

“Hang in there, Jeanne. And while you’re at it, realize this: the only place you have here is the one I generously offer you—right by my side.”

✽ ✽ ✽

One day, after morning classes, I wrinkled my nose while opening the cabinet to put away my books.

A basting pin, the kind used in sewing, was wedged in the cabinet handle.

“Seriously, this childish nonsense is infuriating.”

I hastily wrapped a handkerchief around my bleeding finger.

The wound looked small, but the pin had gone in pretty deep. While I groaned in pain, a few academy students passed by, giggling.

Suppressing my anger, I let out a sigh. Well, it’s a place full of people.

There’s bound to be a few nasty psychopaths who enjoy tormenting others.

“Still, they used to bully me every other day, maybe watching their step a bit. But lately, it’s becoming more frequent. If they were bullying me openly, I could catch them and deal with it, but these sneaky stunts are the worst.”

Recently, I had been the target of increasingly bizarre incidents.

Crumpled paper was thrown at me during class, my carefully written lecture notes would disappear only to be found soaked in the fountain, and sticky substances were constantly getting stuck in my long hair.

It was all typical, over-the-top harassment.

I crossed my arms and sighed.

‘In the Duke’s household, I was known as a Doberman, so they didn’t mess with me. But here, it seems too many people don’t know about Jeanne’s temper. Maybe I should set fire to the lecture hall soon.’

Many students resented Jeanne, who, despite being a special student, dared to defy the hierarchy.

That’s probably why, even weeks after the term started, Jeanne had not joined any group and remained isolated.

In fact, I preferred it that way.

Making friends only increased the risk of someone discovering I was actually a man.

Now that I was living as Jeanne, it was important to maintain a safe distance from others, no matter who they were.

“I still have to pay back the debt I owe Carlisle…”

“Lady Jeanne?”

Startled out of my thoughts, I turned my head. It was the princess in the same academy uniform as mine, watching me with a curious expression.

I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Layla, whose appearance I had been eagerly awaiting.

“My second goldmine has come looking for me.”

Following the first, a second goldmine had appeared.

Memories of digging through the flowerbed with Twitty the previous night flashed through my mind.

I bowed my head slightly and greeted her with a bright smile.

“Your Highness, it is an honor to meet you again. How have you been?”

“Indeed. I was worried when I heard you’d gone missing… but it seems you’re safe, thankfully.”

“You were worried? I apologize for causing you concern.”

After I finished speaking, I bowed my head again.

Layla, who had been staring at me, suddenly stepped closer.

I avoided her gaze, flustered by her unexpected movement.

Layla murmured playfully.

“Hmm, just as I thought.”

“…Is there something on my face?”

“No, it’s nothing. But Lady Jeanne, you grow more beautiful by the day. More so than any noblewoman I’ve seen. And yet, why is it…”

With her hands behind her back, Layla tilted her head slightly.

Her next words made me freeze in place, clutching my textbook tightly.

“…you seem like a flower without fragrance.”

I pressed my lips together at the cryptic remark.

Typical of Carlisle’s kin, she had a way of making people uneasy with just a few words.

I forced an awkward smile as I looked her in the eye.

Layla, with her hair tied in a braid and wearing silver-framed glasses, radiated elegance even without trying.

Since being trapped in this novel, I had encountered countless beautiful people, but Layla was exceptional.

Just like Carlisle, her golden eyes had a way of captivating others.

Layla’s renowned beauty was matched by her impeccable taste.

Everything she wore, ate, or even the patterns embroidered on her handkerchief, would become the latest trend.

The dresses and accessories she wore to balls would sell out the next day, and her signature braided hairstyle was so popular that even young noble girls imitated it.

The tulip brooch Layla was wearing was currently a must-have item.

Of course, the princess’s tulip brooch was a genuine article, far more valuable than the knockoffs worn by other noblewomen.

The intricately set emeralds of various hues, combined with the refined craftsmanship of the royal jeweler, were a clear testament to her royal status.

I was tempted to ask about the price but feared it might spark a revolution in my heart.

The only reason I was aware of such trends was thanks to Twitty, who had ranted endlessly about how lacking a tulip brooch was akin to being left behind in the marriage market.

“Not that I care, considering I’d rather be left behind.”

Even to my indifferent eye, Layla’s brooch was undeniably beautiful.

She laughed at the way I couldn’t tear my eyes away from it.

“Ah, are you coveting my brooch too?”

“As if! It’s far too luxurious for someone like me.”

Layla paused, staring at me.

To other noblewomen, that brooch might just be a passing trend, but as the author of this world, I knew better.

To Layla, that brooch wasn’t just a mere accessory.

“It’s about time I tested the waters.”

I deliberately pressed my still-stinging finger, the pain clearing my mind.

Pushing aside the unease gnawing at me, I put on a cheerful expression and broached the subject.

“By the way, Layla, are you going to recite the prayer at the upcoming Blessing Ceremony?”