The first thing Seraphina Valois noticed the next morning was that the academy had become... louder.

Not normal loud.

Whispering loud.

She stepped out of her dormitory and immediately felt it.

Eyes.

Everywhere.

Students turned their heads the moment she passed. Conversations dropped mid-sentence. Even the wind felt like it was holding its breath.

Seraphina narrowed her eyes.

"Kael."

"Hmm?"

Her best friend walked beside her casually, hands in his pockets like nothing in the world could disturb him.

"Why are they looking at me like I’ve committed treason?"

"You did threaten a noble family yesterday," Kael said.

"I was being dramatic."

"You said you’d bankrupt them in three days."

"That’s called commitment."

Kael didn’t respond. He never did when she was like this.

Which meant he agreed.

Probably.

As they entered the academy hallway, Seraphina straightened her posture.

Today, she had a plan.

A simple one.

A villainess plan.

No misunderstandings. No accidental heroism. No saving people.

Just pure intimidation.

She had practiced her expression all morning.

Cold eyes. Slight smirk. Aura of danger.

Perfect.

She stopped in the center of the hallway.

A group of first-year nobles passed by.

Seraphina slowly turned her head—

And smiled.

Not warmly.

Not kindly.

A villainess smile.

Sharp.

Deliberate.

Calculated.

The group froze.

One of them dropped their books.

Another stepped backward.

Seraphina felt a spark of satisfaction.

Finally.

Fear.

Respect.

Normal reaction.

"Yes," she whispered. "This is it..."

Kael leaned slightly toward her.

"...You look like you’re about to ask them if they’ve eaten breakfast."

Seraphina froze.

"What?"

"You’re smiling too gently."

"That is a villainess smile."

"That is a friendly apology smile."

Seraphina turned back toward the group.

They were still staring at her.

One of them whispered:

"She smiled at me..."

"I think I’m going to faint..."

Seraphina’s soul left her body for a second.

This world was broken.

Completely broken.

Before she could correct it, a sudden commotion came from the end of the hallway.

"Move!"

"Get out of the way!"

A boy stumbled forward, clutching his arm. His uniform was torn, his face pale. Behind him, two older students followed slowly, smirking.

"Didn’t we tell you not to interfere, commoner?"

Seraphina watched.

Oh.

A classic bullying scene.

Perfect.

This was it.

Her moment.

She stepped forward immediately.

Kael sighed behind her.

"Don’t—"

"I will handle this," Seraphina said dramatically.

She walked toward the group with steady steps.

The hallway went silent.

Good.

Witnesses.

Even better.

She stopped in front of the bullies.

Then tilted her head slightly.

"I don’t like noise," she said softly.

One of the nobles scoffed.

"And who are you supposed to be?"

Seraphina smiled again.

This time—she made sure it was colder.

"I’m someone who ruins things that annoy me."

The air dropped.

Even Kael paused slightly behind her.

Finally.

A good line.

The nobles hesitated.

Seraphina continued calmly.

"Leave him alone."

The taller one laughed.

"Or what?"

Seraphina sighed.

She reached into her pocket slowly.

Perfect timing.

She had prepared this.

A signed noble family seal she had "borrowed" for intimidation purposes.

She placed it on the wall beside them.

"I’ll make sure your families lose every political contract in the western region."

Silence.

The two nobles stared at the seal.

Then at her.

Then back at the seal.

"...That’s the Valois crest."

"Yes."

"You’re—"

"I’m in a bad mood," Seraphina said simply.

That was enough.

They left immediately.

Fast.

Without another word.

Seraphina exhaled slowly.

Perfect.

Clean execution.

No misunderstandings this time.

She turned toward the injured boy.

"You’re welcome."

The boy looked at her with wide eyes.

"...You saved me."

Seraphina blinked.

"No. I threatened them."

His eyes shimmered.

"Like a guardian angel..."

"...What?"

"Thank you!"

He ran off crying.

Seraphina stood frozen.

Kael walked up beside her.

"...Guardian angel?"

"I threatened their entire bloodline."

"Yes."

"And he called me an angel."

"Yes."

Seraphina slowly turned her head toward Kael.

"This world is insulting me on purpose."

Kael shrugged slightly.

"You did help him."

"I threatened him indirectly first."

"That doesn’t cancel it."

Seraphina covered her face with one hand.

"I hate being the heroine."

At that exact moment—

A presence approached from behind.

Slow.

Measured.

Confident.

"Interesting."

Seraphina turned.

Crown Prince Cassian stood a few steps away, watching her quietly.

He had seen everything.

Of course he had.

Seraphina straightened instantly.

Perfect.

Time to reset the image.

She lowered her voice.

"I was simply maintaining order. Don’t misunderstand."

Cassian smiled faintly.

"I didn’t misunderstand."

Good.

Finally.

Someone intelligent.

Seraphina relaxed slightly.

Cassian continued:

"I understand perfectly."

"Yes?"

"You enjoy protecting people in your own way."

Silence.

Seraphina stared at him.

"...That is the opposite of what I said."

Cassian’s eyes stayed on her.

"I know."

"...Then why did you say that?"

His smile deepened slightly.

"Because it suits you more."

Seraphina felt something deeply unfair happening to her reputation again.

Behind her, Kael sighed.

Softly.

Almost... amused.

Cassian’s gaze shifted briefly to him.

Just for a moment.

Then back to Seraphina.

"I look forward to seeing what kind of ’villainess’ you become."

And with that—

He walked away.

Seraphina stood there.

Silence settled again.

Then she slowly turned to Kael.

"I’m doing it wrong."

Kael patted her head once.

"You’re doing something."

"That’s not comforting."

"It’s accurate."

She groaned.

Somewhere down the hallway, students were already whispering again.

"Did you see that?"

"She threatened nobles again..."

"And the prince noticed her..."

"So cool..."

Seraphina slowly lowered her head.

"...Next time," she said darkly, "I’m starting a war."

Kael paused.

"That escalated quickly."

"I need results."

"You’re not allowed near foreign kingdoms unsupervised."

Seraphina turned toward him.

"Why?"

Kael looked at her for a second.

"...Because I’d like to retire before I’m twenty."

Seraphina smiled.

Finally.

A reaction she understood.

Now that was progress.