Chapter 28: The Academy

I stared hatefully at the castle like structure before me.

Glittering white was all around me, offending my eyes as I gazed upon the most well respected place in Frare. The Academy.

Incidentally, the start of the game.

Our commoner heroine, and her lovely sidekick best friend in crime, would appear.

Her sidekick was never mentioned because she had no actual affect in the first place.

Viscount Flaunder's youngest daughter, Irene. Irene Heise Flaunder, an average looking girl with short brown hair and eyes... much like our heroine, but without the cuteness of a bunny. She was very literally just plain.

She was also madly obsessed with Vincent in the storyline. It was why she hated Rosalia so much, because her weird stalker obsession allowed her to find out about the abuse which occurred behind closed doors.

Incidentally, in Vincent's route, Irene is a side villain. If the heroine chooses her best friend's most beloved, then Irene becomes a complete maniac and tries to murder the heroine in her own home by burning it to the ground.

Vincent cuts her head off for that one.

...

I'm beginning to believe the makers of the game should've warned it was a yandere genre. The beautiful pictures and animation do not match the actual dark themes within it.

They even had the audacity to make the characters in chibi ちび form in the text box to show dialogue...

At the moment, I'm currently standing fairly dumb at the entrance. Ricin was languidly relaxed on my shoulder, likely asleep.

'I should... go in... huh.... but I really don't want to. This school is worthless. They don't teach magic, business, economics... they teach a little history and primarily etiquette. They claim to have a science research facility but It's primarily just a social ground for children to make friends.... ah...'

"My Lady?"

'I wonder if it's okay to skip classes here? Should I be like a delinquent in a yakuza anime?'

"Lady Rosalia...? My Lady?"

'I'm wearing this awful uniform with a skirt that barely covers my butt. With how strict noble society is and the dress code for most women, what pervert got these approved? An all white uniform too? What if I get something on it? It was costly too for something with barely any fabric...'

"MY LADY!"

"Ah!" It was too late for me to realize Angie had been talking to me when I was grabbed fiercely but my busty maid of many years.

"Please stop doing that! I'm worried for you My Lady, whenever you space out, you are so vulnerable! You could be kidnapped? Or worse! Please. For everyone's sake, be aware of your surroundings" Angie was on the verge of tears, which tore at my heart strings.

"Y-Yes... I'm sorry" I apologized sincerely. It is a bad habit of mine.

"Only you would say sorry to a maid.." Angie giggled finally. She looked less stressed now.

Finally working up the nerve to move, I left with Angie towards the student dorms.

The Academy had rooms based on rank. Being a high ranking Duke's daughter, I not only got my own private room, but one of the Royal Suite. Since Ceil was an only child, brave of the King to assume he'd live long enough to become king..., it meant that I could have one.

Another Royal Suite also existed, but the son of Duke Violet was occupying that currently.

That was the only news of the Duke's son I've ever really gotten.

He was supposedly around my age, maybe a year older, and rumored to be hideous and evil.

Though he is the full blooded son of Duke Violet, a beautiful man by all means. I highly doubt such rumors, as some of me weren't so magical either.

Another thing I know about Duke Violet, is that he is a beast man.

They aren't uncommon, but they are a rarity amongst Nobility. Duke Violet is a rarity.

The suite is beautiful, and much like my room at home. Cream colors and soft delicate fabrics were everywhere. It was larger than a Japanese apartment in just the main room, but it had a room to house Angie, a kitchen, and multiple other empty rooms.

When I was settled in, Angie came inside before freezing.

"My Lady...?"

"Yes?" I answered curiously. She was just standing there like a statue.

"May I ask... did you... did you build an entire lab in the room?!" She looked ready to have a heart attack at this point.

I looked behind me at the tables full of technical equipment, my homemade mixtures, textbooks of all kinds were stacked in the shelves.

It did look like a home lab.

"Yeah?" I didn't understand why she was shocked?

"My Lady... that's... nevermind" she sighed. It was obvious my poor maid had given up on normalizing me.

"Here my Lady, this came today" Angie handed over a beautiful letter. The seal had me knowing it was from the Mermaid Queen!

'Today starts your first test. May it be blessed with the seas and spirits'

My heart warmed up as I thought of the beautiful and vicious Queen. Sometimes I forgot I was a villain, but if they wanted a mediocre villain... then they would be in for hell.

My knowledge of science, magic, swordsmanship, and fighting... along with knowledge I gained as a noble such as diplomatics, etiquette, economy, history, and more.

I was somewhat of an OP protagonist at this point! Unstoppable!

The nightmares were gone. This didn't mean I never suffered from slight ripples in my sanity when I was faced with the people in person.

Gerald terrified me, but Maxwell even today...  I still could barely face him with normality.

Sometimes... I simply felt hollow. Hazy on what was reality and what wasn't.

It was truly my beloved leopard that grounded me. Ricin was too disconnected with humanity to understand.

He'd recommend killing those who haunt me, or leaving before such an occurrence could even occur!

It was a strategy but... I felt like I was a scared child running away. Though my body is that of a teenager, my mind was far older now. There was a point when I had to grow up, and I was still a child in my last life, always running away and trying to satisfy my loneliness with work.

That's why I died then, but now? I could live and enjoy growing old.

This Academy was a step in the right direction.

I'd face that little commoner girl head on if she wants a fight.

"My Lady, I will finish unpacking, please go explore! There are palace guards and knights in training all around so it should be extremely safe for you" Angie advised. I snapped out of my trance with an apologetic smile at Angie.

She merely ushered me out of the room, but I could see her hidden disdain for my lab equipment.

Helplessly, I was left on my own.

The Academy of Frare was like a fairy tale- truly the game could not capture this architecture. It was larger than any Cathedral, the marble was stark white and glittering in the morning sunlight.

My classes would start the day after the entrance ceremony tomorrow.

Ceil would be giving the opening address, announcing the new student council members, and welcoming the new students. He was chosen as the Student Council President.

I bet the black bellied monster is happy. More control for his ego~

I was softly walking through the empty halls and gardens. It seems no one wanted to explore?

I spotted a small pond off in the distance near the wood line of the Eastern Wing.

It was nearing the afternoon as I casually walked towards the pond and small garden built around it. A few large wall like hedges were off the side, white roses blooming on them.

So much white here...

The blue and green pond with lilies atop its waters were a beautiful change.

"Careful~ wouldn't want to see you take a dip so early into the year"

A deep baritone voice startled me. Whipping around, I saw a figure emerge from behind one of the hedges.

A man, dressed in the Academy uniform- except the tie was loosened casually and a button on the top was undone, was casually standing with his hands in his pockets.

Wild and messy black hair, a sly smile, and narrowed Phoenix eyes lit up by a sharp blue.

He was a the image of a rogue, someone you didn't want your daughter to meet, and the dream boat of any teenage girl looking for a bad boy.

Was there still beautiful people outside the capture targets?

He certainly wasn't one.

Yet his looks damn well put Ceil to shame.

If Ceil was a blinding and radiant beauty, this man was a sensual and seductive beauty. He simply oozed pheromones and impending heartache. His mischievous eyes foreshadowed danger.

Like a wild animal.

He removed a smooth hand from his pocket before waving it before my face.

I jumped again, suddenly realizing how close he had gotten while I was zoned out.

"Wake up baby girl" His smile was still there but his eyes took on a dangerous glint that made my body go cold and sweat form.

"Can I help you?" I asked politely, taking a step back to keep a proper distance. His smile deepened a little as his eyes turned more gentle.

"You can" He said mysteriously, moving to my left side before moving behind me smoothly. I was forced to turn as he circled me.

Really like a wild animal...

"Your name?" He asked casually, a fine sharp eyebrow raised in question at me.

"It's only natural I receive yours first before you ask for mine, no?" I countered. His behavior seemed...

Familiar? Off?

The man was tall, but he wasn't extremely muscular, more lithe. He seemed to bend over a little while his head lowered to talk down to me.

Good, I hope you get back problems trying to converse with me! Who said you had to lean down for me?!

I tried my best not to correct his posture. These tall people thinking they can look down on whoever they want...

"Ah~ of course. Then, I'm Kai, nice to meet you, princess"

My tongue nearly clicked.

He swiftly, and too quickly for me to move away, snatched my hand to plant a kiss on the back of it.

Sure enough, this man was sin completely bottled up. What's with this flirtatious attitude?!

Ripping my hand back, I glared at the man who merely chuckled at my reaction.

"A pleasure... Sir Kia. Then, I am Rosalia. And I am most certainly not a Princess, the Kingdom of Frare only has a Prince" Since he wasn't willing to give me a last name, I wouldn't either.

He seemed only amused at my words.

"Who said you were a princess of Frare? Maybe you're my own exclusive princess?" His eyes flashed and winked at me.

Who made this man?!

His mother must be crying at home this very moment.

So shameless!

"I am no one's 'princess' and especially will never be yours" I merely huffed, crossing my arms.

"Sounds like a challenge?" He said lowly.

His eyes were really unlike any normal person, they gave the feeling of a predator watching its prey.

Disgruntled, I coughed.

I've never had someone so shamelessly flirt like this!

How the hell do you even respond to this kind of person?

"It most certainly isn't Sir Kai, please remain proper" I scowled at his manners.

Was he even a noble? I was sure only one commoner would be entering.

No, his behavior being like a commoner, is an insult to commoners.

His smile grew, and I swore I saw the Cheshire Cat behind him, swaying its tail.

This guy is bad. He screams bad news.