“The sky is absolutely amazing~”
Sitting beneath the high, clear autumn sky, I contentedly rubbed my full stomach.
A leisurely moment in the garden after a luxurious meal at a fine restaurant—what more could I ask for?
A peaceful, happy feeling brought a smile to my lips.
‘And to think I actually managed to get some time off.’
Stretching with a long yawn, I ended up just lying down on the lawn. Then, with a bit of sentimentality, I murmured,
“Look at those clouds…”
Once my body and mind had relaxed, I finally started noticing the surroundings.
Marble pillars supporting a massive crimson roof.
Tigres family emblems hanging here and there.
And the sprawling, beautiful garden before me.
I yawned lazily, marveling again at the mansion’s grandeur.
It was autumn, but the midday sun was surprisingly warm. With an uplifted face, I mused aloud,
“When should I tell Ansen I got time off?”
He’d definitely be happy to hear it—he seemed to be in desperate need of rest.
Humming softly, I recalled the conversation I’d had with the Duke over lunch.
‘It was more surprising than expected, wasn’t it?’
I never imagined he’d grant my request. I’d thought he’d be far more stubborn.
He acted like he’d never allow it—and then gave in after all.
Just as I was about to smile with satisfaction, a gentle breeze brushed across my forehead.
Eyes closed, I basked in the sunlight drifting beneath the clouds.
Sleep was beginning to gently tug at me.
But right before I could doze off completely—
“Well, well. Look who it is.”
A sudden voice above my head snapped my eyes wide open.
Under the sunlight, her flaming red hair glinted sharply.
A girl about my age was looking down at me, the sun behind her.
She was dressed in an elaborate gown, lightly fanning herself with a feathered fan.
A fan?
‘Isn’t it a bit chilly for that, especially in autumn?’
Still lying on the grass, I stared up at her before slowly sitting up.
There was something strange about her expression. No, rather than strange… cold seemed a better word.
For someone who’d just greeted me like she was happy to see me, her face said otherwise.
‘Is she… sneering at me?’
And soon enough, my suspicion proved correct.
“Seeing you lying around at this hour, I guess Selenea’s given up on the academy entirely. Right, Martina?”
The girl smirked, lifting one corner of her mouth, her face full of disdain.
Another figure stepped forward behind her.
“Roze, l-let’s just go.”
“Oh my. What’s wrong, Martina? Aren’t you happy to see Selenea after all this time?”
‘So their names are Roze and Martina?’
I blinked, glancing between the two of them. Neither name was familiar to me—at least not from what I remembered reading in the novel.
That’s when Roze let out a short laugh, her violet eyes glinting as they scanned me up and down with clear malice.
“Selenea. Cat got your tongue? Embarrassed to be caught napping in the middle of the day?”
I just stared blankly at her, saying nothing. Roze didn’t stop her mocking.
“Surprising. I never imagined you were even capable of embarrassment.”
“R-Roze. Please, stop. Let’s just go…”
Martina gave a tiny tug on Roze’s sleeve, but Roze seemed to be enjoying herself far too much to stop.
“Shall I give you some advice? About the academy admissions, that is.”
Ignoring the chattering Roze, I turned my attention to Martina, who was clearly growing more and more uncomfortable.
Roze was flashy from head to toe, but Martina was dressed simply—modestly.
Her long purple hair hung low, hiding half her face, adding to her withdrawn, somber presence.
“Why so quiet, Selenea? Don’t want to hear my advice?”
Roze asked again with a pressing tone.
“Now’s not the time to ignore harsh truths, don’t you think? Especially when the advice is coming from someone with excellent chances at academy admission.”
At that, I changed my approach.
Originally, I’d planned to just keep ignoring her—but that was clearly not going to work.
“Who are you?”
I asked in a bored tone. Roze’s expression soured immediately as she looked down at me.
“…What?”
The smile drained from her face. I gave her a disinterested once-over and continued in a flat voice,
“Why are you talking to me like you know me…?”
Martina’s eyes widened in shock. Roze let out a sharp “Ha!” and snapped her fan shut.
I smirked.
‘What, you thought only you could get under people’s skin?’
I stared at her coolly. To be honest, her smug, irritating tone had been bothering me for a while now.
And even without knowing the full context, one thing was very clear—
Roze completely looked down on me.
People like that needed to be shown what it felt like.
‘For the sake of my mental health, of course.’
I shrugged and added nonchalantly,
“Whoever you are, you must have way too much free time!”
“W-What…?”
Roze’s face turned bright red.
“Whether I’m napping or you’re picking fights for no reason… looks pretty similar from where I’m standing.”
“……!”
“Muttering away to yourself like that…”
As I muttered under my breath—loud enough for her to hear—Roze snapped.
“No free time?! You think I’m like you?! I came here to train! The Duke gave me permission to use the training grounds!”
‘Oh, so that’s what this is about?’
I pieced it together and nodded. These girls were likely candidates preparing for academy entrance exams.
‘But then why aren’t they training at their own estates? Why the Tigres mansion?’
While I was puzzling that out, Roze couldn’t hold back and shouted again.
“How dare you compare yourself to me! You’re just a powerless nobody with no abilities!!”
Her violet eyes blazed with fury.
I watched her calmly, sighed deeply, and took a step forward.
Roze flinched slightly. I looked her straight in the eyes and said,
“So what?”
“…What?”
“What does me not having an ability have to do with anything right now?”
Roze stared at me, dumbfounded. I continued quietly.
“I think you’re a bit confused…”
“…….”
“I might not have a special power, but I can kick you out of here.”
“W-What does that even mean?!”
“This is my house.”
Roze reeled in shock. Then she suddenly shrieked.
“Did you seriously just say that?!”
I shook my head casually.
“No? I’m not done yet.”
“What…?!”
“Who taught you it was okay to act like this in someone else’s home? And where did you even pick up those disgusting, snobby habits of yours?”
Roze looked at me in disbelief. Her body trembled with rage.
“Oh, and did your precious ability teach you how to be this rude too?”
As I smiled with wide eyes, her face turned white.
‘I don’t know why Selenea’s being treated like this, but me? I’m not putting up with it.’
Kids around this age—they never stop if you just let them walk all over you. I knew that painfully well.
In my previous life, I’d been through it all.
“Hey. How the hell did Isebin get first place? Didn’t she cheat?”
“That orphan girl? She doesn’t even go to cram school!”
“Right? No way she got that answer unless she cheated. Even my ₩800,000 tutor couldn’t help me with that one.”
“Exactly. It’s 100% cheating. Probably never learned proper morals in that orphanage.”
The snide laughter after every sentence. The scrutinizing stares. The condescending tone that tried to find any flaw to pick apart.
It was all too vivid.
I’d seen—and lived through—scenes just like this more times than I could count.
Kids that age can be cruel without realizing it.
They don’t think the words they toss around can tear someone to pieces.
‘Because they’re still young. Still too immature to know better.’
They don’t realize that’s what makes it all the more brutal.
Without averting my gaze, I spoke coldly.
“Feeling upset? Maybe you should’ve watched your mouth first.”
Roze’s face was now beyond pale—almost blue.
She trembled, lips pressed tight. Martina hesitantly stepped closer again.
“R-Roze… let’s go, please?”
“Get your hands off me!!”
But Roze shoved Martina aside with a sharp snap, and Martina fell limply to the ground.
Roze’s eyes bulged with fury as she screamed at her.
“Don’t touch me, you filthy orphan! Just because our family lets you eat and sleep here, you think you’re my equal?!”
Through the messy strands of hair, Martina’s purple eyes trembled.
Watching the scene unfold, I stiffened, then let out a short sigh.
‘So that’s why they felt so different.’
The situation was becoming clearer. I looked down at Martina, still on the ground, with concern.
“Filthy orphan.” The words echoed harshly in my ears.
‘…Damn it.’
For a moment, I regretted provoking Roze at all.
If I’d just ignored her, maybe Martina wouldn’t have had to hear something that cruel.
I reached out my hand to help Martina up—
That’s when Roze spun around, shooting daggers at me with her glare.
“…You’ll regret this. I will get into the academy. But you? I’m not so sure.”
She sneered.
“You’re unawakened. You have nothing. No one will ever love you. And once the Duke realizes how useless you really are, he’ll toss you aside too.”
“…”
“Not that he ever cared about you to begin with. That’s common knowledge.”
I shut my mouth.
With one last glare and a grinding of her teeth, Roze turned on her heel and stormed off.
