Chapter 1

<Magical Potion Manufacturing>

When Julian Sancio, a graduating senior, appeared in the class attended by third-year Academy students, the lecture hall was thrown into chaos.

No one knew just how powerful his backing was, but even if Julian Sancio didn’t attend enough classes, or even if he didn’t take exams, he was never expelled or removed from the student register.

When he showed up for class, the previously cheerful atmosphere instantly froze over. Magical Potion Manufacturing was a class that mostly consisted of female students, but this year, every single student was a girl.

The sharp eyes glaring at him were so fierce, it felt as if frost was swirling in the air. There were more than a few girls with that icy gaze. Only Beatrice, who didn’t know the reason, awkwardly tried to read the room.

“This class will be organized into pairs.”

The professor’s words were rather unfortunate for Beatrice.

As an exchange student who didn’t know anyone, unlike other students who had spent three years together, there was no one willing to pair up with her.

But it wasn’t just Beatrice who was disadvantaged by this announcement.

“It’s been a while, Rose.”

It was a simple greeting. But the blonde beauty swung her hand at his cheek.

“It’s only been two days since we broke up, and you say ‘it’s been a while’? Is that all you have to say? Are you playing with me right now?”

Julian dodged quickly before Rose’s hand could connect with his cheek, letting out a hollow laugh

“That’s a pretty intense way to greet someone.”

“Don’t talk to me! Unless you want to get slapped again!”

Rose glared at him coldly, and along with the other girls, moved away to the side of the room without him.

“Hmm. Ah! Maria? You’re taking this class too?”

Looking around, Julian waved at a plain-looking girl sitting far away, only for her to raise her middle finger and thoroughly ignore him.

Some girls cried, and others even splashed their drinks at Julian. Of course, he dodged with irritating agility.

In the end, only two people in the lecture hall failed to find a partner: Beatrice and Julian Sancio. Thus, they became partners by fate, or perhaps inevitability.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Julian Sancio. You probably already know that.”

Julian smiled brightly and offered Beatrice a handshake. Having seen the fierce reactions from the other girls, Beatrice desperately wanted to find another partner, but unfortunately, that option didn’t exist.

In the end, she managed to grasp his hand with trembling fingers.

Right after class that day, Beatrice was practically dragged away by the other girls in the class as if she were being kidnapped. They gave her an almost excessive amount of information about Julian.

Their stories shocked Beatrice.

First, she learned for the first time that a person could be compared to a rag. Second, that such a crude nickname could be paired with words like ‘shining’ or ‘platinum.’

According to the girls, Julian was a person to whom the gods had given no virtues except for his looks. One girl even cursed that all his character and talent must have been used up when his appearance was created, resulting in such a scoundrel.

Beatrice didn’t know exactly what he had done wrong. But perhaps that was a relief. She planned to return to seminary after this semester. She didn’t want to know anything about the deep affairs between men and women, and she especially didn’t want any connection to a promiscuous person.

Despite his first impression as the enemy of every girl, Julian wasn’t a bad person. However, as time went on, Beatrice started to understand why the girls hated him so thoroughly.

After hearing her name at their first meeting, Julian presumptuously called her ‘Bea’ as a nickname. He did correct himself after she asked him not to.

At their second meeting, they worked on an assignment together in the Academy plaza. Julian bought her pancakes and sweet black tea.

These two things were Beatrice’s favorite at the Academy. Such sweet treats couldn’t be found in the ascetic atmosphere of the seminary, nor would they be available once she entered the temple.

That’s why, despite her modest finances, pancakes and tea were something she treated herself to at the plaza café at least once a week. Julian, who couldn’t possibly have known this, somehow picked exactly what she liked best. Beatrice felt a mix of surprise and chills at his uncanny choice.

At their third meeting, Julian carried Beatrice’s books for her at the library. Saying they were heavy and that he would carry them, he strode off, forcing Beatrice to practically run to keep up.

He was so kind even to someone he barely knew; how sweet must he be to someone he liked? If he showed this honeyed kindness to others and then did the same for another girl, surely the recipient would be hurt.

‘Of course, not me.’

If Beatrice hadn’t known that he was the ‘Shining Rag’, she might have been a little mistaken about him. But she had already heard all the details of Julian’s notorious reputation from the other female students, and she was a theology student who had attended seminary until last year, scheduled to be assigned to the Central Temple as a priest once her exchange period ended.

Beatrice, who wanted to live a sacred life as a priest, did not misunderstand his kindness or warmth in the slightest.

「Listen carefully, Beatrice. Never be alone with that man, Julian. If you do, you’ll end up regretting it greatly.」

Beatrice wasn’t completely naïve; she knew what could happen when a man and a woman were alone together.

Great regret. They didn’t explain exactly what that meant, but Beatrice accepted their warnings, or perhaps advice, without complaint. After all, danger is something to be avoided, not something to be endured.

So, whenever Beatrice had to meet for assignments outside of class, she always chose crowded places like the plaza or the library. She made sure to avoid any space where they might be alone together.

But, of course, it wasn’t something she could avoid forever. Since the class was Magical Potion Manufacturing, the time finally came for the assignment to submit a potion they had made themselves.

To manufacture a magical potion, they had to use the laboratory, and to prevent students from copying each other’s potions, each pair had to book separate times. That meant Julian and Beatrice would inevitably have to spend time alone together.

Several days before their scheduled lab time, Beatrice was extremely tense. As a beginner, the potion she could make was simple and quick, so even using the lab, it would only take about ten minutes.

What could happen in that short time? She wondered, while Julian’s noisy rumors kept swirling in her mind.

Even after arriving at the laboratory, Beatrice couldn’t concentrate on making her potion.

It wasn’t just because of the strange writing she saw on the wall as soon as she entered the lab. In fact, she didn’t even have the luxury to care about that.

For the first time in her life, she was alone with a man—in a place meant for experiments, yes, and technically a public space anyone could enter, but still, she was in an enclosed room with a man. And all those terrifying warnings from the other girls, repeated every time she met one, made her extremely nervous.