Chapter 1

The man approached Iberia’s direction, smiling like someone missing a screw.  

The familiar school uniform. The purple badge indicating second-year status. After confirming these details, Iberia’s gaze returned to her book.  

Feeling an unfamiliar presence in front of her, Iberia lifted her head. A pair of slightly double-lidded eyes were looking at her.  

“Your glasses look nice.”  

“Would you like them?”  

Iberia responded reflexively.  

Without replying to her words, he smiled even more deeply.  

***

Iberia picked up a newspaper displayed in front of the library building and folded it neatly.  

As always, the newspaper was filled with stories about debutantes from noble families and unremarkable gossip.  

Running a hand through her hair, Iberia habitually turned the page. And then she saw…  

“Hm?”  

A face that seemed both unfamiliar and familiar.  

Iberia froze in place, quickly scanning the newspaper.  

Next to the headline, ‘Young Master Nesferos Achieves Highest Score Ever in Lacanel Academy’s Transfer Exam,’ was a photo of a face she knew all too well.  

Uncommon silver hair and even rarer violet eyes. Eyes that gave off a sharp impression and slightly full lips.  

Except for the lack of a smile, it was him.  

For a moment, Iberia’s expression went blank.  

She had heard of Young Master Nesferos before. And most of what she’d heard were bad rumors.  

His unusual behavior had made the papers a few times, but his face had never been published with them. That’s why his striking appearance had seemed unfamiliar.  

“It’s fine. I was very polite to him.”  

Murmuring a small rationalization to herself, Iberia’s expression returned to its usual calm.  

As long as it didn’t bring trouble her way, Iberia was indifferent to most situations.  

In other words, Iberia wanted to avoid situations where trouble might come her way.  

She just had to avoid getting involved.  

That was Iberia’s simple conclusion.  

After all, Young Master Nesferos lived in a world completely different from hers. Folding the newspaper neatly, Iberia began walking away at a leisurely pace.  

“Iberia!”  

From behind, the voice calling her was somewhat familiar. Iberia turned and looked at her roommate, Cynthia, who had already approached her.  

“Iberia, you’re here? We were supposed to go eat lunch together!”  

“I was looking at this, sorry. I just thought I should know at least a bit about how the world works…”  

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s go already! I’m starving to death right now. You know I didn’t eat breakfast today.”  

Cynthia’s steps were light. Iberia followed her with a sheepish smile.  

“Are you seriously going to study again today? No way, right? Today’s the weekend! And the exams ended yesterday!”  

“Yeah. I’m planning to go to the library after lunch and then head to the self-study room. Want to come along?”  

Cynthia was horrified. Why on earth would anyone study on a weekend after the exams had already ended?  

Iberia smiled as she watched Cynthia’s expression. Cynthia’s eyes had narrowed sharply.  

“Is it really something to hate that much?”  

“You’re just weird. I always wondered if there was anyone who actually enjoyed studying, and here you are, right next to me.”  

It wasn’t exactly because she enjoyed it, but Iberia didn’t bother correcting her. She simply smiled calmly.  

Lacanel Academy, where the Empire’s talents and nobles gathered.  

The reason Iberia had been able to maintain her position as the top student since enrollment was due to her relentless effort. She had her reasons for working so hard.  

Sometimes, there were people with talent so overwhelming that effort couldn’t compete, but Iberia had yet to meet such a person.  

Suddenly, Iberia recalled the article she had just read. The record-breaking score on the transfer exam. Her face stiffened.  

“Young Master Nesferos…”  

“You know him? That’s surprising.”  

“No, I told you, I keep up with the world.”  

Cynthia asked with genuine curiosity, and Iberia laughed at the absurdity. 

Do I really seem like someone completely cut off from the world, only studying all the time?  

Iberia blinked a few times in embarrassment. Upon reflection, it was sadly a hard fact to deny.  

Even she had to admit that she was quite ignorant of worldly matters. She was well-informed about what was reported in the newspapers, but compared to other students, she knew far less about rumors spread by word of mouth.  

Iberia spoke slowly, as if testing the waters.  

“There was an article saying he’s coming to our academy.”  

“Right! They said he scored the highest ever on the transfer exam.”  

“How did he end up coming here?”  

Cynthia glanced around before lowering her head toward Iberia. Iberia tilted her head in response.  

“This is just a rumor, so I’m not sure if it’s accurate… but apparently, he almost killed a noble student there.”  

“How did that happen?”  

“If there was a reason, wouldn’t the Young Master have stayed there?…”  

The Nesferos Ducal House isn’t just any ordinary family. They can bury almost anything. 

Cynthia spoke nonchalantly.  

Iberia unknowingly accepted her reasoning.  

“Even if it’s exaggerated because of the rumors, it’s still scary, isn’t it?”  

“Yeah. So be careful not to get involved.”  

“I was already planning to. I just want to live quietly.”  

Iberia reviewed her goals. To live quietly until graduation from the academy. And after that, to secure a stable income so she wouldn’t go hungry.  

Her noticeably low level of extracurricular involvement compared to previous top students at the academy was because of this goal.  

He was a genius, and she was currently the academy’s top student, so it was inevitable that they would cross paths. It was almost a given.  

Iberia lowered her gaze and bit her lip. She planned to deal with Young Master Nesferos as submissively as possible.  

***

She had anticipated the day she would meet Young Master Nesferos.  

She just hadn’t expected it to be on the first day of the semester.  

“Hello? It’s been a while.”  

At the familiar voice, Iberia furrowed her brows and ran a hand through her hair.  

Raising her gaze from her book, she saw a face just as familiar. She silently prayed to the heavens before responding calmly.  

“Hello.”  

“You remember me, right?”  

His eyes sparkled. Iberia’s instincts screamed that this was a moment where she needed to answer carefully.  

After a brief moment of deliberation, Iberia nodded.  

“That’s a relief.”  

Young Master Nesferos smiled brightly. His eyes curved, creating a cheerful atmosphere.  

Iberia glanced at his face briefly before quickly averting her gaze. He had an excessively beautiful exterior.  

The students in the same space had their attention entirely fixed on Iberia and Young Master Nesferos.  

As she tried to deduce why he had approached her, countless scenarios played out in Iberia’s mind. At the same time, it took effort to keep her gaze from naturally drifting toward Young Master Nesferos.  

“…Where are you headed?”  

Young Master Nesferos smiled prettily. Iberia, startled, asked back.  

“Pardon?”  

“I mean, which class are you going to?”

“I’m in Imperial History right now. The class Professor Ferrel teaches here.”

Iberia glanced at Young Master Nesferos briefly before lowering her lashes. It was because their eyes had met. His gaze held a strange light.  

“I’m in Imperial History too.”  

“Oh, I see.”  

Iberia answered mechanically, blinking slowly. 

So why had he approached me?  

“Um… You can sit here. I’ll find another spot.”  

“Huh?”  

A puzzled look appeared on Young Master Nesferos’ face, but Iberia awkwardly stood up. If Cynthia had seen her, she would’ve scolded her to oil her joints because of how stiff her movements were.  

After thinking about why he might have spoken to her, the only thing that came to mind was the seat.  

Gathering her usual pen, textbook, and notebook, Iberia walked to the back of the room. Her eyebrows drooped gloomily as she relinquished her usual spot.  

The second row, middle seat. A spot that didn’t strain her neck, had a clear view of the board, and allowed her to concentrate well. It was Iberia’s beloved prime spot.  

“Sit with me.”  

“Pardon? Oh, no. It’s fine. Please sit comfortably by yourself, Young Master.”  

Iberia replied hastily. Worried that her words had come out too strongly, she flinched slightly.  

Still, sitting next to Young Master Nesferos was too much. It wasn’t that she disliked it; she was more scared.  

Without looking back, Iberia strode away.  

“Next time, sit with me, okay?”  

Iberia pretended not to hear, finding a suitable seat to settle into. She figured he wouldn’t say anything if she claimed she hadn’t heard him—a rather naive assumption.  

Despite her lack of response, Young Master Nesferos continued speaking to her in the same tone.  

“Iberia Del? Next time, you’ll sit with me, right?”  

Iberia’s face turned pale in an instant.  

A noble knew her name. Of course, she had considered the possibility that he might know her name, but hearing it directly was another matter entirely.  

To Iberia, it felt like an overwhelming pressure.  

A warning: ‘I know your personal information.’ Though his tone was gentle, the meaning Iberia perceived was far from gentle.  

In the end, Iberia had no choice but to nod while maintaining eye contact with him.  

Her life’s difficulty level was far too high, and Young Master Nesferos’ clear eyes only made her feel worse.  

“Enjoy the class.”

When Iberia gave a small nod, he smiled once more.  

Was that pure, pretty face genuine or fabricated? If it was the latter, what was the reason behind it? 

Iberia’s mind grew more and more tangled.  

Afterward, the professor entered, and the class began, but Iberia struggled to focus. She hadn’t been this distracted since enrolling in the academy.  

At the end of class, when she looked at her notes, the handwriting resembled something written with a foot. It didn’t look like the neat notes Iberia Del was known for.  

Frowning, Iberia stared at them for a while before tearing out the page and discarding it. It contained nothing from the lecture, only traces of her stream of consciousness, so she had no reason to keep it.  

Sighing deeply, Iberia rested her cheek against the desk and leaned sideways.  

She was annoyed.  

Annoyed that a person full of unpredictable variables had disrupted her peaceful life. And annoyed that she kept dwelling on the fact that Young Master Nesferos had spoken to her.  

“…Why am I like this?”  

At this rate, she wasn’t sure she could focus on her remaining classes. Just then, someone sat next to her. Iberia instinctively tensed and straightened her posture.