Chapter 3

Selena's POV

The cold breeze of a night touches my skin, I looked up at the dark and cold sky with the stars are twinkling so brightly, I was here at the veranda in deep thought of what happened at the royal palace. So many things happened, another problem arose. The door opened and there was Flora.

"Milady, please come inside, it is very cold tonight, you might catch a cold," she said

"Flora, you know what."

"Yes, milady? Is there bothering your mind right now?"

"what are the odds of life? someone wants to run and the other person wants to live. However, how can be someone so greedy?" We live, I live, each person was given two choices or more, however, they are supposed to choose only one for you and you don't have anything to do about it or the right to choose, which is sucks. I want to live freely and leave that damn fate, I crossed my arms to my body to warm myself and closes my eyes. how can I live if the choice that was given to me was to get married as if I was the prize from a lottery? damn it!

"Milady." Flora is worried about me, I came back to the manor not speaking any words, right after the carriage stopped, I got off then I immediately went straight to my room.

"Tomorrow, I will be back again at the academy right?" I asked.

"Yes, Milady"

"Very well, I am tired, I will retire for tonight." I came in and Flora closes the door, I went to my soft and fluffy bed the moment I close my eyes I immediately fell asleep, I wonder what will happen at the academy tomorrow? I wonder what the crown prince said to me awhile ago?

Calix's POV

The moon is full, here I am in my study room doing a lot of work. There are lots of papers that are needed to be done, however, it still won't get my head out of it on what happened this morning.

"Your majesty, here are the papers with regards to the slums at the east side-! Is there bothering your mind? you seem to be preoccupied." I stopped for a moment, Gin, my aide, and my friend, we've been together since we were young, his mother was my wet nurse while his father was the prime minister of the royal palace and closes friend of my father.

"Do you wish to retire for tonight?" He suggested.

"No, I have to finish all of this before I go back to the Academy," I said while checking the papers that are piled up in front of me.

"The crown Prince of all, the perfect prince that every lady wishes for and a perfect husband. However, whoever thought that the prince doesn't have any romantic side and even workaholic prince."

"What do you mean?" I glared at him.

"I meant what I said, your majesty."

"You are talking in nonsense, shut up or else I slit your tongue," I warned him. Then he Immediately stopped teasing me.

"You are wrong for one thing," I said.

"What-?" I slammed the table, stood up, and face the window and I was looking at the moon and stars, how peaceful it is tonight, but still, there's something that bothers me that won't get off my head. It reminds me of what happened.

"why do we have to get married if we don't love each other?"

why does it bother me a lot? she is careless, she is one of those ladies who want power, one of those who constantly following wherever I go she is the one who suggested to be engaged with me. Then, now? she doesn't want to be married to me.

"Calix?" Gin called my attention.

"Bring the papers that I need to finish, I will take all night long."

"what?! but!"

"Now!" He sighed then eventually followed my order, I need to concentrate, I don't care if she doesn't have to be engaged with me, she did me a favor at least. I wonder what was she thinking?

Selena's POV

I woke up early this the usual, my body might belong to Selena, but I am still Katrina in mind, I remember being a student that should be waking up early to attend my morning class, the uniform is already at the bed when I woke up. I didn't wait for Flora to come anymore, I took a bath, dress up myself. To be honest, I'm still not getting used to it, someone is serving me and doing the things that I should be the one who should do. When Flora came to my room, It did gave her a panic alert again, she saw me that I was already done and she doesn't have anything to do to help me.

"M-Milady! You don't have to do all of that! I should be the one serving and helping you instead!"

"It's fine, I woke up early than expected, I have nothing to do so I did everything, don't worry I am not mad," I said while smiling.

"But!"

"I am quite a bit nervous, going back to the academy, you see" That's a fact. I don't know what will I get on the Academy, as far as I know, Selena has minions with her that follow her around, but they are not her true friends, or should I say, she doesn't have friends at all. They only follow Selena because she is the daughter of a duke, Even she has, they should visit her when she is dying in bed, but no one came. Well, I don't want them to follow me anyway, it is bothersome and I am also doing my best to avoid any trouble! this is my new life! this is the new me! Instead of thinking about problematic scenarios, I will only think of positivity! that's right, when I think to be positive, positive events will eventually come!

"Milady, the carriage is waiting for you outside," Flora said. She is still worried, even though I already told her that I will be alright. She looks like a mother bird to me, for example, she can't take the pressure and emotion of one of her chicklings going to leave the nest, how cute. Flora couldn't come with me to the Academy since there is a rule that any son or daughter that came from a noble family is not allowed to bring any of their servants with them. Well, I think that rule is made because they know that nobles are used to have servants and serving them wherever they go, the nobles are growing so independent with themselves, they rely on the power and riches they have. Well, Selena used to be like that, but not anymore.

"Good Morning Milady. You are extraordinary beautiful today." The head butler was waiting outside for me, he opened the carriage door for me as well.

"Is this your way to ease my nervousness?" I smiled.

"Well, you are really beautiful yesterday, today, and the following day's Milady." He is such a sweet talker.

"You flatter me, but thanks! I should be going now." He lifted me inside the carriage and closes the door. oh, I forgot to say goodbye to the duke, well, it seems like he doesn't have to hear me saying my goodbyes to him since he is busy with his work. I wonder will it be okay? Nah~ he's fine, he is the duke. Why should I be worried about him? But, I am kinda disappointed and sad at the same time, He didn't even say goodbye to me. I thought that we are getting closer to each other but it seems like it is my imagination.

The carriage left the estate and on my way to the Academy, here I am thinking what awaits me in that place, what kind of Academy it will be, on Selena's memory, she doesn't have many memories about the experiences being at the academy, whenever the prince will be at the Academy, that's the only time she will also be there and if not, she is at her estate doing nothing. In the modern world, she is what they call a "Die-hard fan". This girl, what does she think she's doing? does she think that being an empress is easy? is it just like that? of course, you have to study, not just from the books but also by interacting with people! ugh! My blood pressure is rising, I sighed and calmed myself. I already told myself, that I will escape this cruel fate and never become an empress or desire anything that has something to do with the prince, he can flirt whatever and whoever he wants, I'm still going to annulled this engagement and be free with my life!

"We have arrived, Milady." The coachman said. I got down the carriage and the moment I got off the carriage the eyes of everyone are on me their eyes are somehow in a state of shock.

"Lady Selena, it's been so long! My apologies, I heard that you got a cold, I couldn't come as soon as possible, for the reason that I was at the far place." Who is this lady? oh wait! she is one of the minions! What kind of non-sense is she spouting? if you are truly worried about Selena you supposedly visit her after you heard that she is sick, but you didn't! She is smiling in front and grinning but God knows that she is completely fake and she is acting nice to me.

"How long do you intend to stand on my way?" I looked at her with fierce eyes and she immediately got scared then, stepped away.

"I-! My apologies." I walked straight without flinching, but to be honest, I want to hide from these people, they keep on staring at me. for God's sake, I know Selena is beautiful, still! Suddenly, someone bumped into my shoulders and fell to the ground, I was a bit shocked, I was going to help her to stand then suddenly someone shouts at my back.

"Hey, commoner! are you blind? don't you see what's in front of you?!" One of the minions at the entrance was the one that shouted and surprisingly the other minions showed up as well and they were bullying the commoner that bumped my shoulder.

"I-I-I-I am very s-s-s-sorry lady Selena, I didn't -!" before she finished her sentence, she was slapped in the cheek by one of the minions, I was surprised at what they did, if no one will stop them they will slap her face again but, I immediately stop the hand of one of the minions.

"What do you think you are doing?" I said. I couldn't just stand and do nothing.

"B-but Milady, that commoner bumped you, she deserves to be punished! " I sighed thinking that what's wrong with her head? and right now I am very angry, this is supposed to be a peaceful morning but it turns out a complete mess. All thanks to these triplets. They seem so dumbfounded by what I did.

"On whose order? who do you think you are on doing that? punishing her will be up to me, nevertheless, you don't have the right to slap her." I said. I let go of her hand and she was shocked and pale at what I did, I helped the young girl to stand, I even wiped out the dirt on her skirt and took out my handkerchief to wiped the dirt on her face.

"I advised that you should go to the infirmary to treat your wounds, it might leave a scar if you don't give immediate treatment. And I am sorry that they hurt you." I left them and be on my way, the gaze of the people suddenly increased, they might on a state of shock that Lady Selena who is brutal, vicious, and evil suddenly helped a young girl and even wiped out the dirt on her skirt and face. I just want to have a normal school year! I just want to be a normal student you know! but what happens is the complete opposite of it! AHHH, KATRINA~ WHAT WILL YOU DO!!! I know I'm making weird faces right now, but I don't care because I am leaning and hiding in the big tree. I need to calm myself before going to my classroom.

"That's quite a funny face you have there for a lady like you." What?! that gave me a surprise, I looked around to look who was talking, I look to my left and right but there was no one. am I imagining things? When I checked that there is no one, someone suddenly fell above the sky.

"Eek!!!" That person come closer to my face and was grinning and seems like he's having fun teasing me. He was like a wind, the smell of grass runs into my nose, when I look at him he gave me somehow a calm breeze of grass, his green hair like the color of the leaves of a tree and his blue colored eyes like a sky, who is this boy? why do I feel like I saw him before?

"wh-who are you? and how did you come from above?"

"Oops, my apologies, where are my manners." he backed away from me, then he gave me the courtesy of a gentleman.

"It is my honor to meet such an extraordinary young lady like you, I am Johaness De La Rosa, second son of Count De La Rosa." He stretches his hand towards me for him to kiss my hand to give courtesy. I hesitate to give my hand, I don't know this- wait! did he said Johaness? then he is-

"John!" oops! it slips to my mouth, I immediately covered my mouth and he as well was suprised when I called him John, there's no doubt about it, he is one of the men that fall in love with Adelia, the flirtatious and play-boy, Johaness De La Rosa he is popularly known by ladies by the name of John.

"I never thought that you already know me Milady. What a surprise! may I know what is the beautiful lady's name? " I am doomed! I shouldn't get closer to this person, so I ran off as fast as I could and as long as I don't see him! Next thing that I know that I am already in my classroom. My place is at the side of a window, once again, everyone was staring at me, I didn't pay too much attention to it. I was sitting at the side of the window when suddenly someone came up to me, and that was the girl that was bullied by those triplets, I wonder what is she doing here?

"La-la-lady Selena here!" she handed over some confectionaries at my table and everyone around us was like 'what-! she is insane!' I am not a human eater just so you know.

"I-I just wanted to say thank you for what you did to me a while ago." I was right! she doesn't have to do this, it was just normal for a person to help another, well, I guess not on them. Well, looking at her eyes, she is a little bit scared of me and that is understandable but her actions are sincere, I just have to accept this, since I need something in my mouth right now, since another stressful person appeared!

"Thank you, you are at the right time, I just need some of these, Thank you again." I genuinely smiled at her, which makes her blush like a red tomato.

"Y-your welcome" She is indeed shy, hehe.

"Are you in this class as well?" I asked since if I started to ask somebody here, they will just ignore me.

"Ah! yes! I am sitting beside you." Oh~ that's great! what a lifesaver!

"Oh really?! oh! by the way, I didn't get your name, may I ask what is your name?" I may sound rude but I don't know the names of these people, even though that they are my classmates

"My name?! you want to know my name?!" she is kinda shocked when I asked her name, not only her, even the people around us. They love to gossip, huh.

"am I not allowed to know your name? or was I being too straightforward?" While tilting my head, I wonder if I come up so strong.

"n-no! it is not like that! it just that, you are born noble and I am just a commoner...so our level has a huge difference." the way she said that, she thinks highly of me. I sighed and face her and I smiled.

"I am just a student here at the Academy, same as you, so I don't think we have very much difference. I am Selena Ascania and may I know the young lady's name?"

"I- I am Julie Devon, Milady." I reached out my hand to her and we shake our hands.

"Nice to meet you, Julie." I guess she is one of those extras in the game, although, they didn't pay attention to their appearance and names at all, so whether there is an extra character that will talk they will just put 'extra 1, extra 2, extra 3' on their names. Such trash to the person who created this game, gave them decent names will ya!

Calix's POV

The smell of grass and relaxing strong wind, since when did the wind get strong? and animals seem are livelier than the usual?

"Ah! I finally found you! Calix!"

"Gin, shut up" While I was laying down and relaxing after I took all night long just to finish the piling papers.

"We have to go now, classes are about to start" Gun won't pestering me if don't get up, so we went to Etoile Building. As usual annoying people started to gather up around us.

"your majesty, I would like to-kyaa! hey, stop pushing!" These ladies are everywhere and I am getting tired of it, I glared at them and they stepped back. Gin told me that I shouldn't do that to those ladies, there were times that Gin seems to be forgotten who is he talking to. I guess I need to reschedule our training and by this time it will be much harder than usual. On our way, I've heard a certain rumor is already circulating about, however, I didn't pay attention to it since I don't care who's family and whose noble or commoner they talked about.

"It seems like something happened a while ago, don't you think, your majesty?" Gin said.

"Gin, we are at the Imperial Academy, and I don't care about the rumors, let's go" Gin can call me by my name Calix here at the Imperial Academy, however when we are at the Imperial Palace, he is obligated to call me with respect. On our way to our room, I saw her casually talking to a girl who seems to be a commoner. I stopped for a minute and started to wonder when did she change so fast? I heard that she got sick for days, it is strange that she changed so fast. She is smiling and grinning when is talking freely to that girl.

"Is there something wrong, your highness?"

"Nothing, let's go." Anyways, I don't care at all about her, if she wants to flirt then she can do it, she can whatever she wants.

"You seemed to be interested in Lady Ascania, your highness." I stopped and glared at Gin.

"One more word, you know what will happen" He got scared and just nodded his head, in silence saying yes. She and I are different, I am already in my third year and she is just in her first year. One more year and I will be out here. Or I can just graduate early so that I don't have to interact with those ladies who constantly follow me.

"Oh! Calix! Welcome back, where have you been all this time?"

"Young master, Johaness" Gin bowed down.

"Hey, there Gin!"

"Why are you here? of all places? the Imperial Academy is big enough for us to bump into." I said. Johaness, Count De La Rosa's second son, is the same as I am, he is also in the third year and his brother is already in the fourth year, he a troublesome guy to be exact.

"How cold you could be to your friend! oh, by the way, earlier this morning, I saw an interesting lady." Johaness is smart but behind his innocent face is a flirtatious and mischievous guy, he always attracts ladies and whenever we saw each other, there is always a young lady clinging to his arm, every day he constantly changes his lover.

"who that might be young master Johaness?" Gin asked.

"Oh come on, Gin you can call me Johaness remove the formalities since we are friend"

"Since when?" I said.

"Calix~! anyway, just I mentioned a while ago, there is an interesting lady that I met and she immediately catches my attention." Here he is again, bragging about every woman he met, the other day, he is with the second daughter of Viscount Aluminium, yesterday he is with the youngest daughter of Baron Yuséf and Now he is with another woman, I bet that woman fell in love immediately to his sweet-talking.

"she has beautiful long and smooth colored violet hair, eyes that sparkle like an amethyst gem, and skin that white as snow." It gave me a shock Johaness description, the only woman that I know that has violet hair is and skin as white as snow is her. is he what Johaness was talking about?

"Although it is a shame that I didn't get her name, she immediately runs off, the moment I asked her name." He said. Good.-wait what?! what did I just say? Good?! I must out of my mind, maybe because I haven't had enough sleep, that's why I am acting like crazy.

"Calix, perhaps you know someone like what I describe?" Gin was going to say something, but I immediately said that I don't know and refuse to believe that what Johaness said about the lady he met is her. The time passed by, morning classes are over, I left the room, and Gin. Then immediately went to the place where I slept. I need to nap, my head is constantly giving head pain, I can't even focus on class. I was relaxed, my hands are beneath my head as a pillow, there is no perfect place to rest, the breeze of wind, the ray of sun, and the big tree that protects me from the heat.

"Lady Selena, look what I got from the cafeteria, caramel pudding, and strawberry shortcake! all of these are for you!" did I heard that right?

"You don't have to bring me all of these, I am full as we speak." Maybe my ears are started to play with me that I started to hear her voice.

"I want to give you these as an appreciation of what you did to me a while ago."

"didn't you already gave me some sweets when we were in the room?" so noisy.

Selena's POV

"These and those are different, Lady Selena." She appears to be begging that I should eat the caramel pudding and the shortcake that she bought. Well, since I haven't eaten anything yet, I might as well accept her offer.

"Okay, in one condition," I said.

"What is it milady?" she asked.

"That you will call me by my name Selena and remove the formalities." when I said that, she freaked out, her face turns pale and here I am giggling because of her reaction.

"B-b-but Lady Selena~" she pleaded.

"I am going to take this Caramel Pudding since it's my favorite, however, I won't eat this If I don't hear from your mouth my name."

"Still Milad-!" I stopped her from saying the word Milady.

"Aren't we friends? then if we are friends we can call each other name, right Julie?" I acted cutely so she can call me by my name, then she gave in.

"Very well, s-s-Selena"

"Yes, Julie?" I smiled at her while she is blushing. After that short punishment with Julie, we started to eat the caramel pudding and the shortcake, I must say the caramel pudding is so delicious like no other! I even gave a state at the strawberry shortcake, still, the Caramel pudding won for me! I wish I could have these on the manor. Oh yeah, that's right, how could I forgot, Selena's brother is also here, but I don't see him not hear anything about him here at the Academy. Maybe Julie knows something, I might ask her, I know that I don't have to meet the brother, still, it makes me curious.

"Hey, Julie."

"Yes, Mi- oh! Selena?"

"Do you perhaps know where is my brother?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Well, He and I don't have any interaction with each other, Even if we live in the same manor, I don't see him that much, so I got curious about what he is doing here at the Academy." Well, to be honest, I am curious about what he looks like, if Selena looks like a maiden that came down from above the moon, I wonder what her brother looks like, I didn't pay much attention to the other characters because I was busy crying and drinking alcohol, I even vaguely remember the story of the game, to be honest, hehe...

"Well, if you said like that, as far as I know, every week there is what they call sword training at the training ground, you see, that every male here at the Academy are required to have sword training whether you are born noble or commoner. If my guesses are right then by tomorrow afternoon, there will be sword training for fourth-year students, your brother will attend for sure!"

"How come you are sure about it?"

"Because your brother is the top swordsman compare to the others the teachers even gave praise to your brother for having excellent swordsmanship, as far as I know, there is no one that could defeat your brother until now, so the other students are so eager to defeat your brother." Wow! didn't know about that, well, he is going to be the next duke, it will be laughable if his swordsmanship will be weak if he becomes the next duke.

"ehh~ I wonder what he looks like?"

"oh! isn't the lady that has a weird face!" I feel like I know that voice, we saw Johaness are coming to us, I immediately stand and ready to run away from him but Julie is excited and nervous at the same time.

"We meet again, Milady. By this time, I have to know your name" He smiled at me and feel unhappy about it.

"It will be rude if you going to refuse to me for the second time." Geek! guess I don't have any choice. I face him and said my name.

"My apologies, my lord. I am Selena Ascania, from the house of Ascania, it is an honor to meet you son of Count De La Rosa." To be honest, I don't want him to know my name and identity because I don't want to meddle too much with the character of the game.

"You sound displeased, but I like it." is he a pervert?

"I am not a pervert" Wha-what?! besides flirting among the ladies does he knows how to read minds?! I noticed the guy next to him, Why do I feel that I saw him before? without noticing, He saw me staring at him, I immediately took away my gaze at him.

"My apologies, Miladies, I am the personal side of the crown prince, his highness Calixious." Oh, he is his personal aide, huh...wait did I heard it right?! his personal aide?!

"Does that mean that snobbery guy is with you?!" Oh shit! I said it without thinking, I covered my mouth and dragged Julie away from them, If I don't, I may be beheaded if I stay there for longer. No! I have to save my *** away from them! I will not stay longer with those crazy bastards! Run Selena!

"Lady Selena?!!! slow down for a bit!"

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ON THE OTHER SIDE

"wow~ she ran so fast for a lady hahaha! oh! did you hear what she said? Calix is a snubber! hahaha! " -Johaness

"If I heard one more laugh that comes out from your mouth, I will cut it and slit your tongue, so you could never speak again." -Calix

"eek!! C-calix! you were there?!" -Johaness

"He is there from the beginning." -Gin

"So..." -Calix

"Yes, your highness?" -Gin

"oh?"- Johaness

"So I am a snubber, huh..."-Calix

" C-calix, you know that you are smiling but your facial expression said the opposite, you know." -Johaness

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...TO BE CONTINUED...

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