Chapter 11

Adrelo briskly walked down the corridor, his thoughts still reeling.

Two of the princes, he thought, his skin crawling. I just saw two of the Breneille princes. At the same time. In the same hallway.

He shuddered. The fact that they hadn't noticed him-or at least hadn't acknowledged him-was a miracle. If he hadn't bolted when he did, they might have crossed paths with him together. The very thought sent chills down his spine.

"The Crown Prince..." he murmured under his breath, his steps slowing as he processed what he'd seen. He hadn't even known the Crown Prince, Azekeian, was at the academy. But now that he thought about it, it made sense. The future ruler of the empire would surely attend the best educational institution.

As for the Second Prince, Luxecio, his presence wasn't surprising at all. He was a known regular at the academy, often seen socializing with students and professors alike. Adrelo had done everything in his power to avoid him since his arrival.

Adrelo sighed heavily. "This school is a death trap," he muttered, quickening his pace.

As he turned a corner, he collided with someone. Papers flew into the air, scattering across the floor like fallen leaves.

"Ow-! Ah, I'm so sorry!" a small, timid voice stammered.

Adrelo blinked, startled. In front of him knelt a boy-no, more like a delicate, doe-eyed creature-scrambling to gather the fallen papers. His soft features, messy light brown hair, and round glasses gave him an almost cherubic appearance.

Adrelo stared at him for a moment, dumbstruck. The first word that came to mind was cute.

The boy glanced up, his large eyes meeting Adrelo's. For a brief second, he froze, his expression shifting from surprise to pure terror.

Adrelo frowned, confused by the reaction.

"I-I'm so sorry!" the boy squeaked, bowing his head as if Adrelo were about to strike him. He hastily grabbed at the papers, his trembling hands fumbling in his haste.

Feeling a pang of guilt, Adrelo crouched down to help. "It's fine. I'll-"

"No!" the boy blurted, recoiling slightly as Adrelo's hand reached for a paper.

"I-I mean, it's fine! I can do it!"

Adrelo hesitated, watching as the boy scrambled to collect the rest of the papers.

"I-I didn't mean to bump into you, really!" the boy continued, his voice high-pitched and panicked.

"Please don't-uh-don't mind me!"

Adrelo blinked, taken aback. It took him a moment to realize why the boy was so terrified. Oh. Right.

I'm still the infamous trashy villain in this school.

The boy finished gathering the papers, clutching them tightly to his chest as he stood. He bowed deeply, his head nearly touching the ground.

"I'm sorry!" he repeated before dashing off down the corridor without waiting for a response.

Adrelo stood there for a moment, watching the boy's retreating figure. He couldn't help but notice how awkwardly endearing the boy looked as he hurried away, his small frame almost tripping over itself in his haste.

A quiet chuckle escaped Adrelo's lips.

"Well, that was... unexpected."

He shook his head, a faint smile lingering as he resumed his walk. For a moment, his panic about the Breneille princes was forgotten, replaced by the amusing image of the timid boy scurrying down the hallway like a startled rabbit.

"Cute," Adrelo muttered to himself, shaking his head.

****

Adrelo stepped into the classroom, the familiar hum of voices greeting his ears. Despite being accustomed to this routine, he felt an odd weight settle on his chest today. As he made his way to his seat near the back, he noticed the usual stares and hushed whispers trailing behind him.

Sliding into his chair, Adrelo glanced around, pretending not to notice the furtive looks. Students avoided his gaze as if locking eyes with him would summon a curse. He sighed inwardly.

No one talks to me anymore, he thought, a twinge of bitterness creeping into his mind. Not that they ever really did.

Except for Milo and Gareth, the only ones who dared to speak with him, his classmates had made a habit of steering clear. The silence around him had grown almost oppressive.

Adrelo crossed his arms on the desk, attempting to push the thoughts aside. To distract himself, he scanned the classroom. His eyes flitted from one student to another, observing their conversations, postures, and groupings.

But then, his gaze froze.

Wait...

Two students near the front of the class caught his attention. A girl with striking long pink hair sat with a poised yet relaxed posture, while beside her, a boy with vibrant green hair leaned back in his chair, his expression calm yet confident.

Adrelo's eyes widened, recognition dawning like a flash of lightning.

Those two... aren't they...?

His mind raced, piecing together the details. The pink-haired girl was undoubtedly one of the supporting characters from the novel. He remembered her vividly. Her strong personality clashed intriguingly with her ladylike beauty, making her one of the most memorable characters in the story. She was also a prodigy in archery and a genius in her unique ability, magic resistance, derived from her family's renowned heritage.

The green-haired boy wasn't any less notable. A genius in his own right, he excelled in multiple disciplines, earning a reputation as one of the academy's brightest talents.

Adrelo's heart sank as a realization struck him.

Of course they're here. Of course I'd be in the same classroom as the supporting characters or even the main leads of the novel. I was just too dense to notice them before.

He muttered under his breath, barely audible even to himself. "How could I have missed this...?"

Suddenly, the pink-haired girl turned her head, her sharp eyes locking onto his.

Adrelo froze, his body stiffening as their gazes met. For a split second, he felt like a deer caught in the hunter's sights.

Oh no.

Quickly, he averted his eyes, pretending he hadn't noticed her. His heart raced in his chest as he stared intently at the blank surface of his desk, willing himself to disappear.

He swallowed hard, trying to shake off the encounter. She probably thinks I was staring at her...

His mind raced through everything he remembered about her from the novel. She was not someone to mess with-her strong personality and immense talent were widely acknowledged in the story. Alongside the green-haired boy, she was one of the academy's most promising students, destined to play a pivotal role in shaping the empire's future.

Adrelo glanced around the room again, this time with a new lens.

This school isn't just a prestigious academy-it's a breeding ground for geniuses.

The author of the novel had crafted each character with care, bestowing them with extraordinary talents and powers that would one day change the empire. Adrelo realized with a sinking feeling that he was surrounded by the very people who would define the world's future.

And here I am, the infamous Adrelo-the villain.

The weight of his situation pressed down on him as he slumped slightly in his seat. He had always known the stakes, but seeing the pink-haired girl and the green-haired boy made it all the more real.

'I really need to keep my head down', he thought, clenching his fists under the desk. The last thing I need is to attract their attention.

But deep down, a nagging voice whispered, In a world full of exceptional people, how long can I stay unnoticed?

****

Adrelo tried to focus on the lesson as the professor's voice droned on about advanced spell formations. He tapped his pen against his notebook, but his attention kept slipping.

The reason? The pink-haired girl sitting a few rows ahead of him.

Her back was always in his line of sight, her long, silky hair shimmering faintly under the sunlight streaming through the classroom windows. She exuded a poised, confident aura, which only made her stand out more in the sea of students.

Adrelo frowned, tapping his pen faster. He wasn't staring because he was interested, he was staring because she unsettled him.

'Celine... what's her surname again? Oh, right-Velarien'

Celine Velarien was a name that had come up often in the novel, especially after she befriended the female lead. Though their bond formed later, Celine was fiercely loyal, and her fiery personality often led her to act on impulse when defending her friends.

Adrelo felt a shiver run down his spine as he recalled a particular scene from the novel.

In the original story, after Celine discovered Adrelo's harassment of the female lead, she had publicly challenged him to a duel. Adrelo-brash and arrogant as ever, had accepted, convinced he could win. What followed was an utter humiliation.

Celine, with her remarkable skill and stubborn determination, had unleashed her full strength. She came dangerously close to seriously injuring the original Adrelo during their match. Though she stopped short of causing permanent harm, the humiliation had been seared into the academy's collective memory.

Adrelo sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair.

That's not going to happen to me, he thought, glancing at Celine again. No way. I'll stay out of her way.

He shifted in his seat, trying to refocus on the professor's lecture. But it was no use. His thoughts drifted back to Celine's fiery personality and the confrontation she had with the original Adrelo.

After their duel, the original Adrelo had tried to demand an apology, as if he were the victim. But Celine had stood her ground, her stubbornness refusing to yield.

Adrelo grimaced, remembering how the story went further.

Celine and another student, likely her partner in crime, had confronted the original Adrelo and his sycophant in private. She warned them sternly to stop their foolish antics and leave the female lead alone.

And then, the cherry on top: Celine had hexed the original Adrelo.

A minor hex, but one that caused him to stumble and make a fool of himself in front of the other students. The resulting laughter from his peers had been a public blow to his pride.

Adrelo clenched his fists under the desk.

'Nope. Not happening. Not to me.'

He took a deep breath, determined to stay calm. The female lead hadn't even arrived at the academy yet, and he still had time to fix his reputation-or at least avoid the wrath of characters like Celine.

But as he glanced at her one more time, her pink hair swaying slightly as she turned her head, Adrelo's chest tightened.

Celine Velarien. I just need to stay out of her way. That's all.

He lowered his gaze, scribbling random notes in his notebook to distract himself.