On the day of enrollment, the weather was unbelievably beautiful.
The March sky was a translucent blue, as if someone had channeled the ocean right above our heads. A few white clouds drifted lazily, nudged along by the wind. The cool shadows cast by those clouds slid across the academy's grey stone walls and swept over the sandy ground of the riding ground.
In front of the main gates of the Royal Knight and Magic Academy,
the grand marble triumphal arch was surrounded by carriages belonging to various families. Their dark oak frames were emblazoned with family crests, their golden coats of arms glittering under the sunlight.
Young men and women dressed in uniforms stepped down from the carriages in small groups. Some looked nervous, others pretended to be calm, and some were surrounded by servants as if they had come to inspect their own territory.
Standing before the main gates, I looked up at the greyish-white stone building.
I had arrived—the stage of destiny.
—The Royal Knight and Magic Academy was founded in the year 27 of the Kingdom Calendar, commissioned by the first king, Aldrich I. It took four years to complete, and its establishment marked the official confirmation of the kingdom's national policy of “promoting both sword and magic.”
Prior to this, knights and mages belonged to two separate training systems, with strict barriers dividing them.
In other kingdoms (yes, there is more than one human kingdom in this world, and they have waged wars against one another; the kingdom Loris is in is merely a rather weak, peripheral nation), they have different training systems.
But let's not get into that for now.
I can only say that the academy is even larger than I imagined.
The two wings of the academy served as the teaching areas for the Magic Department and the Swordsmanship Department, connected by a central corridor. To the north stood the library and the experimental tower. These four buildings enclosed a central courtyard paved with white stone slabs.
Right in the dead center stood a bronze statue of the first academy director.
Quite handsome.
“The Royal Knight and Magic Academy,” Shirune's voice drifted from behind me. “Miss, are you ready?”
I replied nonchalantly, “Let's go. We're going in.”
Shirune obediently followed behind, carrying my suitcase.
The carriage driver behind us didn't leave immediately, instead heading to the carriage parking area to wait.
For an ordinary young lady, going to school was probably a miserable affair. After all, boarding was mandatory at this academy, and they were only allowed to bring a single servant.
I, of course, brought Shirune.
Since today was the entrance ceremony, both new and returning students would be arriving. The biggest difference between them was that there was no difference at all.
After all, I was already wearing the uniform of the Magic Department, which I had picked up yesterday afternoon. With my incredibly mature magic circuits, securing a spot in the Magic Department had been a breeze.
My uniform consisted of a deep blue robe with silver trim along the cuffs and collar, secured at the waist with a thin silver belt. The robe extended down to my calves.
Underneath was a white, high-collared shirt.
On my feet was a pair of black, low-heeled leather shoes, polished to a brilliant shine.
On our way here, Shirune had adjusted my collar several times. Even now, she reached out once more to smooth out the silver trim.
Alright, it makes me look incredibly lazy. But honestly, that back portion is just too difficult to adjust by myself.
“Miss.”
“Yes?”
“You look very beautiful today.”
Her voice was very soft. I looked into her eyes, my reflection captured within her deep crimson pupils.
Blonde drill twintails, emerald-green eyes, and the deep blue uniform of the Magic Department—I looked quite different from the Tyrant Daughter of two years ago, who had stood in that banquet hall forcing a smile in a red evening gown.
Personally, I thought my character art looked gorgeous no matter what.
“Thank you,”
I said, and her tail gave a gentle swish.
Quite a few students had already gathered in the plaza in front of the main gates. Some wore the same deep blue Magic Department uniform as me, while others wore the white uniforms of the Swordsmanship Department—which consisted of a short-cut white jacket paired with dark trousers, the cuffs tightly secured for ease of movement.
There were also students dressed in the light grey uniforms of the Comprehensive Department.
Everyone wore a silver badge pinned to their chests, engraved with the academy's crest—a crossed sword and wand, topped by a crown.
As I crossed the plaza, I began to feel countless gazes falling upon me, mostly from first-year students.
“That's the Aldheim family's...”
“That rumored Tyrant Daughter...”
“Shh, quiet! She's looking this way...”
Their gazes felt like needles pricking my skin.
I maintained my facial expression. Over the past two years, my reputation had finally spread far and wide, thanks to various banquet events and the word-of-mouth of those young noble ladies.
Thus, I had no choice but to let the corners of my mouth curl slightly upward.
I half-squinted my eyes, adopting a haughty, high-and-mighty look that practically begged to be slapped.
However, aside from the slander, my actual abilities were top-tier in every aspect, so there were also whispers of admiration.
“She really is beautiful...”
“I heard that during the magic circuit enrollment test, the bishop evaluated her as an exceptionally rare type. Truly terrifying!”
“Doesn't that mean she has incredible talent?”
“As expected of someone from the Aldheim family...”
Yet, amidst these admiring murmurs, I caught the sound of someone gritting their teeth in annoyance.
“So what? She still has a rotten personality.”
It was the daughter of Count Klein—Vera.
The very same manipulative girl who had provoked me at that first tea party and spilled water on me.
I had also clashed with her recently.
Our last clash seemed to be at a banquet just two months ago. Although I didn't enjoy bullying women, she always came looking for trouble with a fake smile masking her malicious intent.
For instance, she had covered her face with her folding fan, smiling as she said, “Miss Aldheim's gown is in such a unique color. It looks just like the style that was popular last year.”
Translated, she was saying: “Aren't you embarrassed to attend a tea party wearing last year's outdated style?”
I had simply smiled and replied, “Miss Klein's fan is also quite unique. It looks just like the style that was popular the year before last.”
And then, I had casually stomped hard on her foot.
She cried. To everyone else, it looked like she had been brought to tears by my harsh words, so I spread the rumor that she simply had a fragile psyche.
Hahaha... was I being a bit too mean?
But regardless, the story that spread was still that I had publicly humiliated the daughter of the Klein family at a tea party. I didn't defend myself either, since doing so would conflict with my Tyrant Daughter persona, and the will of the world wouldn't allow me to explain anyway.
It was best to just ignore everyone's gossip.
I headed inside to pick up my textbooks.
The foyer of the textbook distribution area had a soaring ceiling, featuring a stained-glass dome that depicted scenes from the kingdom's founding war. Sunlight filtered through the colored glass, casting a mosaic of vibrant light and shadow across the floor.
A long table was set up in the center of the foyer, with several upperclassmen and teachers seated behind it. A bustling crowd surrounded them, creating a lively atmosphere as they handled freshman registration.
When I approached, the crowd naturally parted to make way for me.
An upperclassman took one look at me and gulped.
“Name?” he asked.
“Loris von Aldheim,” I said haughtily, placing my left hand on my hip while brushing back my blonde hair with my right.
The trembling upperclassman quickly finished registering me.
The teacher, however, remained completely calm and handed over my required materials. After all, the faculty at the Grammar Academy were highly capable individuals who weren't easily swayed by political influence. Only the students would tremble in fear at the mention of family power.
Besides, if word got out that a student had defied a teacher, it would always be the student who faced punishment, even if that student was me.
Thus, I showed the teacher proper respect.
“Thank you.”
“You're very welcome. Loris of the Magic Department, correct?” the teacher said. “The dormitory building is in the East District, and your room number is written on your name tag. The entrance ceremony begins in the auditorium in half an hour, so don't be late.”
“Understood. Thank you once again, Teacher.”
I took the student handbook she offered and turned to leave.
However, I had only taken a few steps and was nearing the bustling exit of the foyer when hurried footsteps sounded behind me. This was immediately followed by a soft, muffled thud, as if something had crashed into me.
“Ah—!”
A girl's voice cried out.
I stumbled from the impact and nearly fell, but managed to steady myself and turned around with a frown.
In truth, I already knew exactly what had happened.
Sitting on the floor was a girl with light pink hair. Her hair wasn't very long, barely reaching her shoulders, and the ends were a bit messy, as if she had hurriedly brushed it this morning without thoroughly detangling it.
Her features were delicate, with thin eyebrows, light brown eyes, and pale pink lips—not exceptionally striking, but very charming in a quiet way.
She was wearing the uniform of the Magic Department.
Her student handbook had fallen to the ground, splayed open to reveal the name “Liliana” written in neat, tidy handwriting.
Liliana.
She sat there, rubbing her forehead as if she were seeing stars, tears welling in her eyes from the painful collision.
The hem of her uniform skirt was dusted with dirt, and she had likely bruised her knee, given how slowly she sat up. Then, she raised her head and looked at me.
Her light brown eyes widened slightly.
“I-I'm so sorry—!”
She scrambled up from the floor and bowed deeply. Her movement was so rushed that her forehead nearly collided with my shoulder again.
“I wasn't looking where I was going, I'm so incredibly sorry! I bumped into you... Did your uniform get dirty? I, I—”
She looked up, taking a proper look at me.
And froze.
I knew what she was looking at. As a commoner, she didn't know about my infamous reputation as a villainess, but my appearance was undeniably striking.
It was only natural for her to be captivated by my looks.
But her expression quickly shifted as I let a textbook "villain face" slip onto my features.
Thus, her expression went from apologetic to nervous, and then to something I couldn't quite describe.
It was like a small animal encountering its natural predator—instinctively wanting to flee, yet frozen in place.
“...Which family do you belong to?”
My voice wasn't loud, but it was crystal clear.
My tone was cold and carried a hint of condescension, causing Liliana's body to stiffen.
“I, I am...” Her fingers twisted together, her knuckles turning white. “I am... a commoner. I entered through the selection exam.”
A commoner.
The surrounding noise suddenly died down for a brief moment.
People had already noticed the commotion, and now the whispering grew even louder. A few passing Magic Department freshmen stopped in their tracks, exchanging glances.
A boy in a white Swordsmanship Department uniform leaned against a pillar, arms crossed, with a mocking smirk on his face as he prepared to watch the drama unfold.
I could feel everyone's eyes on us.
They were all waiting.
Waiting for me to say something fitting of my Tyrant Daughter persona, eager for some juicy gossip on the very first day of school.
My palms began to grow warm.
Here it comes. The will of the world was watching too.
A commoner. In this kingdom where nobility reigned supreme, a commoner entering the Royal Knight and Magic Academy was an extremely rare occurrence.
Every year, only a select few commoners who passed the selection exam were granted admission, and upon entry, most were relegated to the Comprehensive Department.
It was difficult for commoner students to gain access to the core curriculum of the Magic and Swordsmanship Departments—while not an official rule, it was an open secret. After all, the chasm of bloodline and talent was undeniable.
And Liliana—the game's heroine.
A commoner girl holding the title of the “Light of Healing,” she had not only passed the selection exam but also had her talent officially recognized. To the noble children, this was a direct provocation.
Why should a commoner stand on equal footing with us?
Though I didn't think that way myself—farmers are respectable, after all—the Loris of the game certainly did.
And so, she began bullying Liliana.
From verbal humiliation to physical harassment, step by step, until she eventually drove herself to her own doom.
My palms grew warmer and warmer.
“...A commoner.”
I had no choice but to play my part according to the established script, repeating those words in a tone even colder than before.
Liliana's shoulders tensed.
She kept her head lowered, her light pink bangs falling to obscure half her face. I could see her fingers trembling.
Honestly, I actually quite liked this heroine. She was cute and gentle. But I was the villainess, and I had to follow the will of the world. I could only hope my old method would still work.
“A commoner, bumping into the eldest daughter of the Aldheim family,” I said. “Do you not even know how to watch where you are walking?”
“I-I'm sorry... I really didn't mean to...”
Her voice grew softer and softer.
Whispers broke out among the onlookers.
“Miss Aldheim is angry...”
“That commoner was far too careless. Of all people to bump into, she had to choose her.”
“It was just a little bump. Is she really making a big deal out of this?”
“You know what her reputation is like...”
“True.”
“And you think a simple apology is enough?” I heard my own voice, as cold as a frozen lake in winter. “You have dirtied my uniform and ruined my mood. How do you intend to compensate me?”
Liliana looked up, her light brown eyes brimming with tears. She bit her lip, desperately trying to keep them from falling.
Then, she bowed deeply once more.
“I am truly, deeply sorry—! I will compensate you! I will absolutely wash your uniform clean—”
“Compensate? Wash?” I arched an eyebrow. “Shouldn't you be buying me a brand-new one instead?”
...How wicked. I really didn't want to be like this.
But there was no helping it. I had to keep up the act to push the event forward. Even if I wanted to turn around and leave, my body wouldn't move. It seemed that at this crucial junction, I had to form a grudge with her and make her detest me.
At my words, her body stiffened.
The whispering around us grew louder.
“That's way too much...”
“Her uniform isn't even dirty.”
“But she's from the Aldheim family...”
“So what if she's an Aldheim? She can't just bully people like this.”
“Shh, quiet down—”
I stood in place, staring at Liliana as she remained bowed before me. Her shoulders trembled slightly, and she didn't dare raise her head out of sheer helplessness.
Her light pink hair hung down, concealing her face. But I could see her fingers tightly gripping the hem of her skirt.
Her knuckles were practically turning blue from the strain.
“—Miss Loris.”
Just then, a clear voice rang out from behind me.
I turned around. Leonhart von Edelstein stood there. He was dressed in the white uniform of the Swordsmanship Department, the golden epaulets on his shoulders gleaming brightly.
His golden hair was meticulously combed, and his ice-blue eyes looked at me, his expression carrying that same standard, gentle smile.
But his gaze lingered on my face for a brief moment.
It was only for an instant, and then he looked away.
“Your Highness,” I said, reluctantly curtsying.
“The entrance ceremony is about to begin,” he said in a mild tone, as if making casual conversation about the weather. “Should you not head to the auditorium, Miss Loris?”
“...I was just about to.” It seemed I wouldn't have to figure out how to resolve this and pacify her myself.
Phew, the main protagonist has arrived.
“That is good.” He nodded, then shifted his gaze from me to Liliana. “And who might this be?”
“A commoner,” I said. “She bumped into me.”
“I see.” He cast a glance at Liliana.
Liliana remained in her bowed posture, trembling too much to lift her head.
“Miss Loris,” Leonhart said, his voice remaining gentle. “Since it is the first day of school, why not let bygones be bygones? This young lady has already apologized.”
I looked into his eyes.
They were ice-blue, warm, and perfectly polite.
I couldn't read any emotion in them at all.
“...Since Your Highness puts it that way,” I said, withdrawing my gaze. “I shall let it go.”
“Thank you for your generosity, Miss Loris,”
he said with a smile, before turning toward Liliana.
“Are you alright?”
Liliana snapped her head up, her light brown eyes wide. She stared at the golden-haired prince before her, her lips parting several times before she managed to squeeze out a sound.
“I-I'm fine... T-Thank you, Your Highness...”
Her voice was as quiet as a mosquito's buzz.
Her cheeks were flushed bright red. Leonhart simply nodded without saying anything further, turning to walk toward the auditorium. His white Swordsmanship Department uniform stood out in the crowd, his golden hair shimmering under the sunlight.
Liliana stood frozen in place, watching his retreating figure with her hand pressed against her chest, as if trying to hold down a heart that was about to leap out.
I suddenly realized something—did this guy possess some kind of passive skill that made women's hearts race?
Truth be told, even after two years, I still hadn't found a good way to counter his King's Engine aura. The best I could do was hold my breath to make it slightly more bearable.
In the game my little sister had introduced to me, this was also the exact moment Liliana first fell for Leonhart.
A commoner girl publicly humiliated by a noble lady on her very first day of school, only for the prince to step in and rescue her.
This seed of romance would slowly sprout in the days to come.
Until one day, it bloomed into genuine love.
Do your best.
As the catalyst that allowed her to meet the prince, my destiny as the villainess was to use my own “evil” to highlight the heroine's “goodness,” using my “arrogance” to push the prince and the commoner girl together.
That was how it was in the game.
And in reality, it would likely be the same.
I could finally leave. Before I walked away, I cast a glance at Liliana, curious as to what she was doing.
She was still standing there, staring in the direction Leonhart had gone, the wind blowing her light pink hair to reveal her flushed ears.
Then, she suddenly snapped out of it, spun around, and bowed deeply to me.
“M-Miss Aldheim! Thank you so much for your immense generosity! As for the uniform, I-I will definitely compensate you for it—”
Wow... she really is too kind.
But she must hate me by now, right? No, judging by her tone, she didn't seem to hate me at all.
When playing the game, it was my sister controlling the character, so there were choices to forgive or not. In other words, the game's plot wasn't necessarily determined by Liliana's own decisions, but by the player behind the screen.
Now that there was no player, in this real alternate world, all the choices were being made by this kind and gentle heroine herself.
So... it seemed I needed to add a little more fuel to the fire?
“No need,”
I said, snapping out of my thoughts and waving her off. She froze.
“His Highness's favor is worth far more than your compensation.” I turned away. “Watch where you are going next time.”
“...Y-Yes!”
Her sigh of relief echoed behind me.
Finally, this opening event was over. I suppose our threads of fate had already crossed. In ancient Greek mythology, there was the concept of the thread of destiny—the Thread of Lachesis. Ours had already become intertwined.
Fortune and misfortune, circumstances, achievements, and suffering.
After leaving the foyer, I made my way through the courtyard corridor to attend the entrance ceremony in the auditorium.
Inside the auditorium,
the ceiling rose even higher than the foyer's. Stained glass depicted the kingdom's crest—a crossed sword and wand, topped by a crown with wings spread on either side. Sunlight filtered through the glass, painting the floor and seats in a vibrant array of colors.
The Magic Department was seated on the left, the Swordsmanship Department on the right, and the Comprehensive Department in the middle.
I found a seat in the Magic Department section. Shirune stood behind me like a silent shadow.
“Miss.”
Her voice was very quiet.
“Yes?” I said.
“Should I eliminate her?” she asked.
“...” There was absolutely no such option in the original game! Just how high was her affection rating with me to trigger a prompt like this?!
But if she actually did that, my life might suddenly come to an abrupt end—like choking to death on water or something. After all, the will of the world definitely existed.
I told her to keep quiet, and she didn't ask further.
However, her hand gently touched my shoulder—just a brief tap—before withdrawing.
—Though I later realized that was actually her tail.
Frankly speaking, the entrance ceremony was incredibly boring.
“In this season of blooming spring, I welcome you all to this academy. Ever since our kingdom...”
First was the address by the director, followed by the faculty representative, and finally the student representative.
When Leonhart took the stage to speak as the student representative, the crowd erupted into enthusiastic applause.
His voice was clear and gentle, his posture calm and dignified.
I sat below the stage. Though in just a short while, I would also have to go up there and deliver a speech as the freshman representative.
Let's skip that part~
After the ceremony concluded, the class assignments were posted on the bulletin board in the corridor.
I squeezed past the crowd and found my name near the top.
Loris von Aldheim.
Magic Department, Class 1-A.
My finger slid down the list and stopped on a familiar name. I thought to myself that the plot was perfectly on track now, but I couldn't help but feel a bit pessimistic. I still had no idea how I was going to change things.
Liliana, Magic Department, Class 1-A.
We were in the same class.
I stared at that name for a very long time.
Sigh...
I hope we can become friends.
(Voiceover: In the afternoon, Liliana made friends in her small dormitory room. Recalling everything that had transpired today, she felt a lingering sense of dread.
“Miss Aldheim... is so terrifying,”
she whispered, before rolling over and burying her face in her pillow, taking a deep breath.
“But His Highness... is so gentle.”
Her voice was muffled and indistinct against the pillow.
Meanwhile, Leonhart, who had finished registration, was resting in his private study at the royal palace. He flipped through the registry for today's entrance ceremony. As the student council president, he had the authority to view the registry. When he turned to the page for the Magic Department's Class 1-A, his gaze lingered on a certain name for a brief moment.
Then, he closed the registry.
“...Liliana,”
he murmured softly, in a voice so quiet that no one else could hear.)
...
Rate on N.U.
