Episode 1
“Hey, did you hear? Yesterday, on Valentine’s Day, Serena confessed to Luize again.”
“So what? She got dumped again—big time.”
At Helios Empire’s prestigious Harrington Bell Academy, the atmosphere during the lazy lunch break was lively.
Some kids were snacking, others listening to music, while groups chattered away.
Plenty of groups were chatting, but the topic was always the same—yesterday’s public confession. Serena’s bold love confession had basically become the hottest gossip in the school.
“I mean, with that much effort, shouldn’t he just accept her already? They’re childhood friends, after all.”
“Childhood friends don’t matter if Luize hates her that much. Honestly, this is Serena’s fault. If the other person says no, why keep chasing him?”
“Yeah, but… I still feel kinda bad for her.”
And then—bam! The lounge door opened and someone strode in confidently.
“Shh, quiet down. It’s Serena.”
The students, who had been raising their voices, immediately shut their mouths and sat up straighter. After all, the school’s hottest topic had just walked in.
They tried to act casual, but all eyes sneaked glances at Serena. She ignored the stares, sat down confidently, and opened a book like nothing had happened.
“…What the? I thought she’d look all depressed.”
“Right? Didn’t she usually look like she was dying after getting rejected?”
When Serena acted as if nothing had happened, whispers started up again. One curious girl couldn’t hold back and walked up to her.
“Hi, Serena.”
“Mm, hey.”
Serena smiled and greeted her back.
“But… are you okay?”
“Okay about what?”
“Well, yesterday… you got rejected by Luize again.”
“Oh, that. Yeah, I’m fine.”
The girl studied Serena’s face, confused. She was smiling so brightly that she really did seem fine.
“Why, did you think I’d be moping around?”
“Huh? No, I was just… worried about you.”
Serena smiled even wider and said,
“No need to worry. I quit, you know. That damn one-sided crush.”
She said it loudly on purpose—loud enough that everyone in the lounge perked their ears. Her words dropped like a bomb, and now everyone who had been sneaking looks turned their heads openly, eyes wide with disbelief. Serena? Giving up on her crush? Nobody could believe it.
“Wow, you all must’ve been so worried about me. I’m touched. But I don’t need your pity anymore.”
Serena stood up, meeting every pair of eyes head-on, and walked out with confidence.
The moment she disappeared, silence fell over the lounge. Three seconds later, the students exploded into chatter again, unable to hold back their excitement.
Everyone agreed on one thing: Serena must’ve finally lost her mind.
“Ugh, seriously. Everywhere I go, it’s that damn confession talk again.”
Serena stabbed at the bacon on her plate with her fork, annoyed. Even while she was trying to eat, she could feel people sneaking glances at her, making it impossible to tell if the food was going down her throat or up her nose.
‘If I could, I’d just grab the school mic and announce to everyone: I’m done with that stupid crush!’
She sighed and dropped her fork.
Every student at Harrington Bell Academy knew one thing:
[Serena is madly in love with Luize.]
It was practically school law—so well known that even the headmaster supposedly knew about it. Which meant life had been absolute hell for Serena lately.
‘I said I’m done! Done with that crush!’
She screamed inside. Of course, the original Serena would’ve chased Luize till the day she died, but not anymore.
Because she wasn’t the real Serena.
She had realized only a few days ago—on Valentine’s Day itself—that she’d transmigrated into a romance fantasy novel as none other than Serena Cressia.
Just like the original plot, she had confessed to Luize that day with handmade chocolates… in the middle of the sports field, in front of everyone. And his rejection still rang in her ears:
“I wouldn’t like you even if I died and came back to life, Serena.”
The shock must’ve triggered her old memories—reminding her this was a novel world.
‘Really? My memories couldn’t have come back before that humiliating scene?’
She sighed deeply.
The character she’d landed in—Serena Cressia—was the illegitimate daughter of Count Cressia and some nameless maid. She also happened to be the childhood friend of the male lead, Luize. Their families had business ties, so the two knew each other since they were little. Of course, “childhood friends” didn’t mean they were close. It was always Serena chasing him around like a lovesick puppy.
“Luize, let’s go see the flowers together!”
“I’m busy. Go alone. And stop calling me out for stuff like that.”
Yeah… he was a brat from day one. Even as a kid, he found Serena incredibly annoying—just like now.
But his attitude didn’t really matter anymore.
The real problem was that in the original story, Serena died miserably. She loved Luize so obsessively that she kept interfering with him and the heroine… until she was tossed aside and died pathetically.
Basically, she was just an extra—someone meant to highlight the male and female lead’s love story by being the tragic fool.
And she hated it. Hated that she was supposed to cling to love and die like that.
“If I had to transmigrate, why couldn’t it be as someone better?”
Anger bubbled up. Serena slammed her fork onto the table with a loud clank. The student sitting next to her flinched and whispered to a friend.
“She must still be touchy about getting rejected again.”
Yeah, that’s probably what they were saying. Serena packed up her untouched food and stood. Next time, she’d find somewhere quiet to eat alone.
“Hey, didn’t Serena say she gave up on her crush?”
“Pfft, like that’s true. She’s just pretending ‘cause she’s embarrassed.”
I can hear everything, idiots.
Even while walking, students kept whispering about her. Serena glared at them and they quickly averted their eyes, stuffing their mouths awkwardly.
Thunk.
She dumped her leftovers, returned her plate, and went to get a drink of water.
‘Some “prestigious academy.” They gossip like hyenas right in front of me. Pathetic.’
Harrington Bell really was famous—not just in the Empire, but across the whole continent. Unlike normal schools, it had three tracks: the General Division (for scholars and officials), the Magic Division (for aspiring mages), and the Martial Division (for knights-in-training).
Serena was in the General Division. But even in such a prestigious place, school life was still school life—full of drama and nonsense.
“Serena!”
Just as she was about to drink, someone called out and ran toward her.
“Oh… Bell.”
Serena’s face darkened immediately. It was Bell, a reporter for the school newspaper. This girl lived for gossip and spreading rumors—Serena’s Valentine’s fiasco had probably gone viral thanks to her.
“Wow, you let your hair down today?”
Bell eyed Serena’s long, pale-gold hair that reached her waist.
“Why? Can’t I?”
“No, but ever since that rumor about Luize liking ponytails, you always wore yours tied up.”
Oh, right. She had. Serena sighed again. This version of her really had been pathetic.
“…Did I really?”
“What’s going on with you? Don’t tell me—you seriously gave up on your crush?!”
Bell’s loud exclamation made everyone turn to stare again.
“Yeah.”
“What?! No way. Don’t tell me getting dumped fried your brain? You’re not acting like yourself at all.”
Of course she wasn’t. She wasn’t the old Serena anymore.
“This is me. What’s your problem?”
“Huh?”
“Whether I have a crush or not… Oh, wait. Are you upset because you’ll have fewer articles to write now? You always made up lies about me without even asking, didn’t you?”
“L-lies…?”
Bell’s face started turning red. Naturally—because Serena had never talked back before.
In the original story, Serena was passive. A timid girl who only looked at Luize, never fighting back when mocked or slandered.
But now? Serena wasn’t that girl.
“If you’re really a journalist, at least act like one.”
“Hey—!”
“And one last thing. I’ll even give you your next headline.”
Serena slammed down her cup, stepped up to Bell, and declared:
“Write this down: Serena Cressia does NOT like Luize Fredelin. That stupid crush is over. Got it?”
Bell flinched hard, completely thrown off by Serena’s sharp tone. Serena gave her one last glare before striding toward the door.
But then—she froze.
Someone was standing at the cafeteria entrance, staring right at her.
The male lead himself. The one who had once been everything to Serena.
Luize Fredelin.
