I Possessed the Villain’s Daughter – Chapter 53
‘…Huh?’
For a moment, I thought my eyes were deceiving me.
Through the falling snow in the white world, I spotted someone running playfully, their bright, magenta-colored hair fluttering in the wind.
I stopped dead in my tracks.
From behind, I couldn’t be certain who it was.
‘But…’
A faint sense of unease welled up inside me.
‘…No, it can’t be… right?’
That person climbed into a carriage and departed almost immediately. The crest of the family wasn’t visible. Though it left me with an unsettled feeling, I climbed into my own carriage as well.
‘…Yes. It can’t be.’
It had to not be.
The results of the academy entrance exam were announced in early February.
And the result was—proudly—I passed.
Not only that, I was even selected as a scholarship student, just as I had hoped. A double blessing. My family celebrated as if it had happened to them personally.
By late February, spring had already begun to arrive in the Ulysses Empire. Because the empire’s spring season was particularly long, buds of spring flowers had already started to appear.
At this rate, I was sure flowers would be blooming by the academy’s entrance ceremony in March.
‘Spring really is wonderful.’
With the academy issue resolved, all my worries melted away, and I spent leisurely days drinking tea and studying. My only daily routine was enjoying peaceful, carefree time.
And finally—today was the day I would leave for the academy.
“Lara…”
My brother Eit held my hand tightly, his eyes shimmering as if I were heading off to war.
“……”
My brother Eddy didn’t say a word, but his eyes were filled with concern.
“Take care of yourself.”
My father warmly embraced me in his arms.
I waved cheerfully.
“Really, don’t worry! I’ll be back this weekend anyway.”
“Yes, we’ll count on that and wait for you.”
“Lara, you must come back safely!”
“We’ll be waiting.”
I hopped into the carriage. My family stood rooted in place, watching me until I had completely disappeared from sight.
Of course, saying I wasn’t sad to part from them would be a lie.
But more than sadness, I was genuinely excited about going to the academy. The thought of new encounters made my heart race, filling me with anticipation rather than regret.
It didn’t take long to reach Rebecam Academy.
Jumping down from the carriage, I looked up at the academy once more.
‘So this is really where I’ll be spending the next four years.’
My chest swelled with emotion.
“I’ll have to work really hard.”
I nodded to myself.
“Keep my grades up too…”
“My bag!”
“…And keep track of my belongings—huh?”
Startled, I turned around.
A young lady stood there, having dropped her bag into the muddy slush.
Since the snow had only just melted, puddles still remained in the yard. It looked like she’d tried to carry her own luggage and slipped up.
‘Why not let her attendant carry it for her?’
Though I found it odd, she looked troubled enough that I decided to help.
As I walked closer, something about her back seemed… strangely familiar.
‘Have I seen her before?’
I tilted my head just as the young lady turned nervously.
Her eyes met mine in the air.
Eyes the color of blooming crimson flowers.
From beneath her hat peeked strands of gorgeous magenta hair, nearly the same shade as her eyes.
Her eyes shimmered with tears as she clasped her hands together.
“Ah, h-hello! We haven’t met before, but…”
Whatever else she said didn’t reach my ears.
Because…
‘Elia… Emon…’
The undisputed heroine of the original novel The Story of Elia—
And Laila’s greatest rival, Elia Emon.
She was standing right before me.
I walked on with a somewhat sour feeling. Beside me, Elia chattered away as if we were old friends, though we had only just met.
“So then, you see…”
At first, I tried to respond politely, but eventually I grew tired and settled for occasional replies like “Yes” or “That’s true.”
Perhaps sensing the change in mood, Elia quieted down a little.
We headed toward the main building’s auditorium, where the entrance ceremony was to be held.
The brightly lit auditorium was packed with people, each face showing a mix of anxiety and anticipation. I sat down, and Elia, after glancing around nervously, carefully took the seat beside me.
That alone was enough to grate on my nerves. With a short sigh, I leaned back just as the ceremony began.
Professors and the dean delivered dull greetings, followed by performances from upperclassmen—magic displays, singing, and instrumental music. Whatever the talent, it was all first-class, and the audience responded with admiration and applause.
After some time, small squeals began to ripple among the upperclassmen’s seats.
But they weren’t cries of fear—rather the kind of squeals one makes when seeing a celebrity.
The reason became clear immediately.
—“Next, we will hear a speech from the Student Council President.”
A boy walked confidently toward the central spotlight. Dressed neatly in the academy uniform with a small student council badge pinned to his chest, his face was strikingly handsome. No—he looked closer to a young man than a boy.
As he appeared, excited whispers spread among the older students.
‘Rey…’
So his name was Rey?
The spotlight made his hair shine a silvery white. In sunlight, it would likely gleam lemon-gold, but here it appeared like platinum. His eyes were a vivid green, sharp and beautiful.
‘…What the?’
For a moment, I thought he winked at me. Was it just my imagination?
“Nice to meet you all.”
With a friendly smile, the Student Council President greeted everyone, his voice amplified across the auditorium.
“My name is Rey Seawist, and I am the current Student Council President of Rebecam Academy.”
He went on to introduce himself and quickly extolled the many virtues of the academy and its beautiful scenery.
“It is an honor to meet you all here.”
He ended by expressing his hopes to study together and his excitement for the future.
Though short, the speech had a powerful impact.
‘Did you see that?’
‘He’s so cool…!’
His good looks helped, but it was also his confident solo speech in front of the vast auditorium that won everyone over.
When the excitement finally calmed down, it was time for the freshman representative’s speech. I straightened in my seat.
—“Next, the freshman oath will be given by Lucan Peregrine.”
The auditorium instantly fell silent.
‘…Peregrine?’
‘D-did they just say Peregrine?’
Whispers spread everywhere.
Lucan took the stage, his light-violet hair neatly brushed as he stood tall in the academy uniform.
Though I had been chosen as a scholarship student, I couldn’t surpass Lucan, who had earned the top score in the practical exams. He was the one chosen as freshman representative.
Ivesharun would have been thrilled to see this.
Lucan raised his hand at the center of the stage.
“I swear.”
Expressionless, without a hint of nerves.
“…I swear to uphold the academic spirit of Rebecam Academy, to devote myself to learning, and to strive for growth.”
The words were short and formal, seemingly prescribed.
But even that brief declaration was enough to stir the audience.
‘Amazing! First Rey the Student Council President, and now we get to see Young Master Lucan!’
I tilted my head. Just who exactly was this Rey that everyone kept talking about?
After the ceremony, I reunited with Raon and Lucan.
“Sister, how was the ceremony?”
“It was wonderful.”
I smiled brightly. We had grown close enough that both Lucan and Raon now called me “Sister.”
As we chatted, Raon shared some news.
“By now, everyone is busy meeting their roommates.”
“Roommates?”
“Yes. Incidentally, Lucan and I are roommates.”
Raon shrugged.
Apparently, on the application form, there was a section where you could write the name of someone you wanted to share a room with. If both applicants wrote each other’s names, the academy usually honored it. A thoughtful arrangement for first-years far from home. I hadn’t filled it in seriously, since I didn’t know many people—but those two clearly had.
“I see.”
As I nodded, Elia cautiously called to me.
‘…Um, Laila…’
“Yes?”
“Shall we go back to the dormitory?”
She kept glancing at Raon and Lucan. Raon, ever sociable, smiled warmly at her, but…
“…”
Elia only inched further away.
“I should check my room too. I had fun today—let’s meet again tomorrow.”
“Yes, see you tomorrow.”
“Rest well.”
After parting with Raon and Lucan, I returned to Elia.
For some reason, she seemed to be relying heavily on me. Was it just because we had met first? It wasn’t exactly comfortable, but…
‘Well, it’s only the beginning.’
In time, she’d make her own friends, and I’d make mine.
Inside the dormitory building, I checked the lobby, where an attendant was stationed only for first-day registration.
“Elia Emon!”
Elia ran over excitedly. The attendant bowed politely and found her name on the list.
“South corridor, third room. It gets lovely sunlight. And your roommate is…!”
Elia’s voice cut off.
“…”
A sense of dread washed over me.
‘Please, no. Please…’
But the heavens were not on my side.
Elia’s eyes sparkled.
“Laila! Your name is here! We’re roommates!”
Oh, no.
I instinctively clutched my head in despair.
