Chapter 1.6

Four years later, now 18 and a second-year at the Imperial Academy, she faced a significant challenge.

“Damn…” 

She muttered a small curse as she roughly grabbed the old report cards spread across the desk with one hand. Her name written in black ink, and the numbers next to it that made her angry every time she saw them, were crumpled pathetically. The number ‘2’ might have looked like ‘3’ when crumpled, but it never looked like ‘1’, which made her feel even worse.

‘I’ll proudly seize the top spot since I’ve been accepted.’

This was the ambition she had when she entered the academy and the advice from her sponsor. However, despite this determination, she had consistently been second place since she enrolled.

Some might say that’s still impressive…

Objectively, it’s not bad—actually, it’s quite good. Among the nobles who have received excellent education since childhood, being second might not be a bad score.

But the problem wasn’t the score; it was the top student who always pushed her to second place.

Ah, thinking about it makes her angry again.

She tousled her hair and frowned. How could just thinking about him make her so angry?

“…Ah, already.”

Looking at the clock, she realized it was time to leave the room. She hurriedly organized the report cards and gathered her books before heading out.

Her lazy roommate was still in a daze, but she didn’t care. He would wake up on his own.

Leaving the room later than usual, the hallway was busier than normal. It was all because she had wasted time whining over her report cards.

She clicked her tongue and hurriedly moved. To secure a front seat in the classroom, she couldn’t dawdle.

Quickly exiting the dormitory building and reaching the classroom, she encountered someone she absolutely didn’t want to meet.

“……”

Underneath the shimmering golden hair, his vivid purple eyes stared at her intently. She had no idea where the breeze was coming from.

His elegant golden hair and violet eyes were all dazzlingly beautiful, but she couldn’t help but frown.

Because he was the cause of all her distress and melancholy.

She slightly furrowed her brow and gripped the book tightly.

Leaving the room later than usual had resulted in the misfortune of encountering him. It was a harsh price for indulging in a brief moment of laziness due to her gloominess.

“Hello, Raven. Good morning.”

He greeted her warmly and smiled brightly at her. The students who had gathered around to see him seemed entranced by his smile.

Well, she couldn’t say she didn’t understand.

Even though she disliked him, she had eyes.

“Today is the day we have our first class together. If it’s okay…”

He continued speaking with a smiling face, but she maintained a neutral expression and walked past him.

The other students who had gathered around the famous academy prince whispered behind her back. She didn’t need to hear to know what they were saying. 

That rude girl, how dare a commoner ignore our Prince Klein?

“Leon is too kind. There’s a limit to ignoring him. What are you doing in front of people?”

One of the female students clung to him and loudly criticized her.

He gave an awkward smile, as if embarrassed, but even that sounded beautiful like the resonance of a string instrument.

“Don’t say that. I’m the one who presumptuously acts friendly.”

If you knew, you should stop…

Grinding her teeth, she moved forward, and the female student, seemingly unable to give up, spoke again.

“Even so, isn’t it ridiculous for her to act like it’s your fault that she’s stupid and always comes second? She should know her place. She obsesses over grades so much.”

“……”

Having chosen a front seat, she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

She could feel the sharp gazes of some students on her. Regardless, she calmly took out the books for today’s class.

If she didn’t react, the uncomfortable attention would eventually disappear.

While flipping through the pages and previewing today’s lesson, a soft yet strong voice came from the classroom door.

“Marie, I appreciate you standing up for me, but I don’t think it’s right to say such things when the person is present.”

The female student who had been eagerly criticizing her shrank back and murmured in a trembling voice.

“I, I didn’t mean it like that…”

“I know, just apologize to Raven and don’t do it next time.”

Even though she couldn’t see him with her back turned, she could envision him holding the girl’s hand and smiling like a saint forgiving a sinner. Marie probably wouldn’t apologize to her even if she died.

Thinking about it, it was funny. Was he some kind of priest? And clearly, the intention was bad, didn’t he have eyes and ears?

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and adjusted her seat.

“As expected of Leon. Leon is too kind for his own good.”

“To defend a rival who ignores him like that!”

They’re collectively delusional.

As the classroom buzzed again with praises for him, she chuckled sarcastically, resting her chin on her hand.

“…Ha.”

With just one word, Leonard Klein, the famous academy prince, had made the female student repent, and now he was surrounded and praised by the other students.

Leonard Klein, the name of the annoyingly perfect young man, was known by every academy student, no, every imperial citizen. It was because Klein was one of the oldest prestigious families and one of only two ducal families in the Herais Empire. Vast and fertile lands, wealth that would last for decades or centuries, and a deep history were always accompanying descriptions when introducing the Klein family.

Moreover, the Klein family was the one the Chernor Marquis, her sponsor, held a deep inferiority complex towards. Leonard Klein was the prince of such a Klein family and its sole heir.

This year, at 18 years old, the same age as her, he had tied with her for first place in the entrance exam and had consistently taken the top spot in all academy exams throughout the first year, surpassing her.

And that wasn’t all. With an appearance more beautiful than a statue in the temple and a gentle character called the embodiment of a saint, it was only natural that everyone in the world adored and loved him.

Yes, that perfect guy. Annoyingly ideal human.

“……”

She gritted her teeth and pressed the pages of the book tightly. The stiff paper crumpled miserably in her grip.

Leonard Klein, the pride of the academy and beloved by everyone, was also the person she fervently disliked with all her heart.

* * *

“Today’s class ends here. Oh, I’ll announce the group project in the next class, so make sure to form your groups in advance.”

Today was definitely a day of bad luck. Not only did she end up entangled with Leonard before class due to coming out a bit late, but now there was a group project.

She would rather take a comprehensive exam covering an entire textbook than gather people for a group project. It’s not because she didn’t have friends. She just felt that the structure of having to cooperate with strangers for a crucial project affecting grades was inefficient.

She absolutely hated group projects, but she couldn’t say that to the professor who had already left the classroom, so she just sat quietly. The classroom was already bustling with students trying to form groups.

In truth, forming a group wouldn’t be difficult if she set her mind to it.

“If you do a group project with Raven, it’s super easy. She does everything.”

At that moment, she overheard a group whispering while pointing in her direction. She indifferently rested her chin on her hand and glanced over at them. 

Indeed, there had been times when, frustrated by their incompetence, she ended up handling the project alone. Moreover, teaming up with her, the second place student, guaranteed good grades, so it wasn’t surprising they would say such things. Not that their opportunistic attitude didn’t annoy her.

Eventually, the students approached her desk and cautiously asked, 

“Ahem. Raven, would you like to do the group project with us?”

“…Sure.”

Nobles, by nature, are beings whose exterior and interior differ, criticizing a lowly commoner for being arrogant yet not refusing to benefit from it.

It’s all the same, no matter who she teams up with.

She inwardly scoffed and nodded with a neutral expression.