I Possessed the Villain’s Daughter – Chapter 55
Her appearance stood out enormously. It wasn’t just because she was the only one in the entire hall not wearing the academy uniform. If she had chosen yellow or beige clothing, she might have blended in a little better, but dressed in blue, she looked completely out of place—like an odd presence among everyone else.
Perhaps that was why no one stayed near her.
It was obvious she wasn’t just catching the attention of the students. As proof, the moment a professor entered the auditorium, the first person he pointed out was her.
“You there, the student with the purple hair.”
“Y-yes?”
Elia jumped in surprise as she replied. Countless eyes turned toward her. She shrank her shoulders, but the professor’s voice remained sharp.
“Why are you not in uniform?”
“Um, well…”
It was a simple question, but his tone was cutting. His reaction was understandable.
It was common for new students at Lebekam to rebel against the rules at the start of term. Most of them came from noble families and had grown up without ever being bound by regulations.
Why should they wear the same uniform every single day?
Why should they eat together in a dining hall with strangers?
For those who had spent their entire lives wearing clothes tailored just for them and dining quietly with their families, it wasn’t strange for them to complain.
That was exactly why professors became stricter than ever at the beginning of term, sharpening their words and attitudes—because community life required obedience to rules.
The professor must have assumed Elia was one of those rebellious students. She hardly seemed the type, but she fumbled awkwardly, unable to answer. Adjusting his glasses with a sigh, the professor spoke again.
“See to it that you never attend class in casual clothes again. This applies to everyone here, not just you. You’ll also receive a penalty point. Come see me after class.”
“…Yes. I’ll wear it properly starting tomorrow.”
Elia lowered her head deeply.
From around us came muffled chuckles. It was probably because of her thick northern accent. Her head dropped even lower at the ridicule.
I frowned slightly.
The orientation ended with a brief overview of the academic schedule and course explanations. They also told us that from the second semester of first year, we would begin choosing majors. Since it was only the first day, class ended quickly.
“Aren’t you leaving?”
I could feel Lucran looking at me in puzzlement. I shook my head.
“I have something to do. Go on ahead. I’ll see you later.”
“Yes, until later then!”
Raon beamed and waved cheerfully.
I stayed where I was, arms folded. Some people seemed to whisper about me, perhaps because they recognized me. But no one dared approach; they only lingered briefly before slipping away.
The auditorium emptied like an ebbing tide. In the silence, I fixed my gaze forward.
Elia stood before the professor, head bowed. After a few last words of caution, the professor exited through the front door. Elia packed her bag quietly, looking lonely, and headed outside.
I rose from my seat and approached her.
“Elia.”
“…Lyla?”
Her eyes trembled faintly when she spotted me.
“Wh-why are you here…?”
“Why weren’t you in uniform today?”
It must have sounded like a rebuke. Elia turned her head away.
“…”
“Being singled out by a professor on the very first day will make things difficult for you from now on.”
“…”
“Elia, why aren’t you saying anything?”
She finally raised her head.
“That’s… none of your business, Lyla.”
“…!”
“You don’t need to concern yourself with me.”
“Elia…?”
“I’ll be going now!”
Without giving me the chance to stop her, Elia bolted.
Left behind, I could only stare at her retreating figure in bewilderment.
Was it because of this morning?
Well… I did say those things. It would be natural for her to be upset.
Guilt pricked at me. Elia might be awkward, but I couldn’t get her bright smile out of my head—the one she had shown me while saying she knew no one else here.
Back at the dormitory, I found her door firmly shut.
“…”
Just as I was about to head to my room, something in the living room caught my eye.
And at that moment, I realized why Elia had come to class in her casual clothes today.
I walked slowly into the living room.
Her uniform hung on the rack. Though she had tried her best to clean it, the bottom hem remained wrinkled and faintly stained with mud.
It must have gotten soaked yesterday when her bag fell into the muck.
If she had just told me, I could have lent her a spare…
I bit my lip.
No, it must have been difficult to say.
After all, I had shut myself away in my room from day one, making no attempt to communicate with her.
My gaze drifted back to her closed door.
You don’t need to concern yourself with me.
I wanted to apologize, but the words wouldn’t leave my mouth.
The next day, we went to class separately again. Thankfully, she wore her uniform this time—but once more, no one stood beside her.
Rumors spread quickly that she had been reprimanded by a professor on the very first day. Her conspicuous purple hair and thick northern accent only fueled the whispers.
Wherever she walked, people muttered, and so she always kept her head down. Soon, I rarely saw her in the dining hall at all.
Meanwhile, I was the center of everyone’s attention.
“Good morning, Lady Rosahill!”
“Did you sleep well last night?”
Students greeted me warmly from all sides. Word spread fast that I was friends with Lucran and Raon, and the Rosahill name itself carried appeal. Every time I passed by, greetings never ceased. I could hardly respond to them all, so I simply smiled. Perhaps because of that, people had started calling me something unbearably embarrassing—“The Ice Flower.”
I was fending off the attention with polite responses when I caught sight of Elia ahead.
I froze.
“Oh my, isn’t that Lady Emon over there?”
One of the girls beside me whispered.
“Shall we greet her?”
Another giggled slyly before raising her voice.
“Lady Emon!”
Elia flinched and turned around. And then—
Thud!
She tripped and fell to the floor despite there being nothing in her way.
“….”
“Oh dear, did she just fall on her own?”
“How awful!”
Their words were sympathetic, but their faces brimmed with amusement. Elia’s cheeks flushed scarlet as she struggled to get up.
I stepped forward and offered her my hand.
“Tha—”
She reached for it—until she realized it was me. She froze.
“….”
Her violet eyes wavered as they met mine.
“I-I’m fine.”
Flustered, she scrambled up on her own and dashed away.
“How pitiful,” one of the girls beside me murmured.
“Lady Lyla, it must be difficult for you too, sharing a room with her, isn’t it?”
“If it were me, I’d have asked to change rooms on the very first day.”
I stared down at the hand I had extended.
Elia’s wounded expression burned vividly in my mind.
I knew things couldn’t go on like this.
But whenever I tried to reach out, Elia only fled. If I knocked on her door, she pretended not to be there.
Being ignored to this extent, irritation slowly began to rise.
If she hates me so much, maybe I should just pretend she doesn’t exist, too.
That was what I was mulling over.
It was Friday.
Tomorrow, at last, I could return home. My heart fluttered at the thought—my brothers and father must be waiting for me.
Though life here hadn’t been as enjoyable as I’d hoped, I wasn’t particularly dissatisfied with the studies themselves. I even caught myself smiling at the thought of explaining to them what subjects I was learning. My steps back to the dormitory were light, especially since no one was crowding around me today.
Thud!
The sound of someone falling reached my ears.
Ahead of me were three young ladies.
One of them had clearly stuck out her foot to trip someone.
On the floor, her hair spread like a vivid magenta bloom.
Elia Emon.
She often tripped on her own, but if someone actually stuck out a foot? She never stood a chance.
“Oh my, pardon me,” the girl said in a falsely sweet tone.
“Are you all right?”
Her face, however, brimmed with amusement as she looked down at Elia.
“…”
Elia said nothing.
“You really should be more careful. Or was it true, Lady Emon, that you often trip even when there’s nothing there?”
Laughter burst out.
“Why don’t you say something?”
“Yes, we’d love to hear your sweet little voice.”
Before I realized it, I was already speaking.
“…What do you think you’re doing?”
I glared at them.
“Who…? L-Lady Rosahill?”
“Lady Rosahill?!”
Two of the girls stared at me, flustered.
“What business do you have loitering outside my room?”
“W-well, that is…”
One of them rolled her eyes evasively.
“Lady Keaton, Lady Ameta, isn’t it?”
I remembered their names clearly.
But I had no time to waste with them now. After giving them a final glare, I seized Elia’s hand.
“…!”
She looked up at me in shock.
“Come inside.”
“W-wait…”
Ignoring her protests, I pulled her along, opened the dormitory door, and shut it firmly behind us. I didn’t care what the others thought.
I sat her down on the sofa in the living room and faced her.
