Chapter 14

The school had been buzzing with excitement for days leading up to the “Academy's Heritage Festival” . It was a yearly event celebrating the institution’s history, its founders, and the thriving future of the academy. Students from all grades participated in a variety of activities, including performances, contests, and even some traditional competitions between the different houses.

It was also a time for some of the younger students to showcase their talents and, if they were lucky, get noticed by influential figures within the academy and outside it. However, not everyone shared the same level of enthusiasm.

Adrelo, sitting in his dorm, stared at the invitation that lay on his desk. Milo and Gareth had both invited him to attend, but he was in no mood for festivities. His mind still wandered back to his past interactions with the academy's students, including Lucien and Celine, who seemed to be a lot more involved in the school's social circles than he was.

"I’m not really interested in attending," Adrelo muttered to himself, tossing the invitation aside.

But as if on cue, Milo burst through the door with his usual bright smile, already in his uniform and holding two tickets to the event.

"Come on, Adrelo! It’ll be fun! You can’t sit here all day. We’ll have food, music, and activities! Trust me, you’ll like it!"

Gareth, who was leaning against the doorframe, added with a teasing grin,

"It’s a big deal, man. You don’t want to be the only one not showing up. You’ll get to see some interesting stuff. Maybe even meet some interesting people."

Adrelo groaned, reluctantly sitting up from his bed. Milo’s insistence was always hard to resist, and Gareth’s playful nudging didn’t help either.

"Fine, I’ll go," Adrelo said with a sigh, giving in. "But don’t expect me to enjoy it."

As the three made their way to the grand courtyard where the event was being held, the scene before them was lively and bustling with students from every grade. Stalls had been set up for games, food, and even a small performance stage. Music filled the air, and groups of students were mingling, chatting, and showing off their talents.

Adrelo found himself slightly amused by the display of school spirit, though he still felt like an outsider in all of it. Milo was already pulling him toward the food stalls, and Gareth was enjoying the sight of a few students trying to outdo each other in a friendly competition of magic tricks.

Just as they were about to grab some snacks, a professor took to the stage and raised a hand for attention.

"Excuse me, students!" the professor called out, his voice carrying across the courtyard.

"As part of today’s festivities, we have a special announcement. A few students will be transferring into the academy, and some are taking entrance examinations. These exams will take place in the coming hours, and we invite any of you who are interested to stay and witness it."

Adrelo paused, his attention instantly piqued.

He remembered the novel. The entrance exams for new students. This was the moment—the one where the female lead, whose name he could never quite forget, would take the entrance examination. His heart skipped a beat as he realized the significance of the announcement.

"Could it be today?"

Adrelo thought, his mind racing as he glanced around the courtyard. He couldn’t help but think of the potential chaos this might bring. With the female lead arriving at the academy, it wouldn’t be long before the other key characters started to show up too. Xaviel, Cielros, and the rest—he could already sense the turning of the tide.

Milo noticed his sudden shift in focus and raised an eyebrow.

"What’s got you so serious all of a sudden? You look like you just saw a ghost."

Adrelo blinked and quickly shook his head, trying to regain his composure. "Nothing," he said with a forced smile.

"Just… wondering what these exams are like."

Gareth chuckled, oblivious to Adrelo’s inner turmoil.

"I doubt anyone would be able to pass these exams without having the talent to back it up. This school doesn’t just let anyone in, after all."

Adrelo nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. He couldn’t stop thinking about the events that would unfold. The female lead, her arrival—this was the beginning of everything. The students who would eventually become the pillars of the story, the characters he was trying so hard to avoid, were starting to enter the picture.

He tried to push the thought out of his mind and focus on the present. But as he looked out across the courtyard, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something much bigger.

The rest of the day passed in a haze as Adrelo found himself torn between wanting to remain unnoticed and the growing sense that his presence here was no longer just about him. The academy was a place filled with potential.

****

Later that day, while wandering the academy, he heard some melodic sounds coming from one of the rooms in the hallway. Adrelo quietly approached the dance room, his curiosity piqued by the soft sound of music that drifted through the hallway. The melody was graceful, almost like a ballet, and it pulled him in.

As he peeked through the door, he was immediately struck by the sight before him.

The room was filled with six students, three boys and three girls, all moving in perfect synchrony. They danced with such grace, as if they were floating on air. The way their bodies flowed, their movements smooth as water, was mesmerizing. Adrelo couldn’t help but stand there, frozen, watching them dance.

And then, he spotted him—the fourth prince of the Breneille Empire, standing in the center of the group. Even though there were other students in the room, the fourth prince's radiance drew all attention toward him. His beauty was almost otherworldly, his elegance making every step he took look effortless.

Adrelo instinctively felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that the fourth prince was not someone to be trifled with.

Adrelo’s attention shifted back to the rest of the dancers. The movements, as graceful as they were, reminded him of a ballet style from his past life—a style he once admired. The students danced as if they were part of a story, every step filled with emotion and precision. It was hypnotic, and Adrelo was so absorbed in watching them that he didn’t even notice how much time had passed.

However, something—someone—caught his eye as he scanned the dancers again. A girl with striking red hair stood out among the others. There was something about her that felt familiar, almost too familiar. Adrelo's mind raced as he recalled her face and characteristics from the novel.

Isolde Valmont.

She was a promising noblewoman from a marquis household, a minor villainess, though not as cruel as the original Adrelo. She had an unhealthy obsession with beauty and perfection, often falling in love easily with handsome men.

In the novel, she had developed a crush on the fourth prince, admiring him for his ethereal beauty. Her obsession with him grew to the point where she even tried to manipulate situations to get closer to him.

Isolde had aspirations of being engaged to Xaviel, the heir of Duke Raventhorn, but she also seemed to have a soft spot for Dennielle, the fourth prince, due to his beauty.

Adrelo recalled how the girl would later play a significant role in bullying the female lead, motivated by jealousy and resentment. She had been one of the characters who sought to hurt the female lead, feeling threatened by her growing relationships with the boys, especially the princes.

The girl would later team up with Adrelo to torment the female lead, but in the end, her manipulation would be exposed, and she would face the consequences of her actions.

Adrelo's gaze lingered on the red-haired girl, who seemed to have eyes only for the fourth prince.

Despite her grace and nobility, Isolde's character was spoiled, and she would soon become another thorn in the side of the female lead. Adrelo couldn't help but wonder how things would unfold this time, especially since he wasn't sure if he would play the same role as before.

Her admiration for him was painfully obvious, and it made Adrelo feel a sense of discomfort. He wondered how much of her behavior was an act or driven by real feelings. But what he knew for sure was that she was another piece in this complex game of power, beauty, and manipulation.

His attention snapped back to the dance as Isolde locked eyes with Dennielle, her gaze lingering just a moment too long, causing a flutter in Adrelo's chest. Maybe he was starting to notice too much about these characters.

As Adrelo’s gaze lingered, a sudden shiver ran down his spine. He noticed Dennielle had stopped mid-spin. His deep, piercing gaze was fixed on the door.

Adrelo froze.

Dennielle’s lips curled into a smirk as he tilted his head slightly, his eyes locking briefly with Isolde’s. He gave her a subtle, knowing glance before shifting his focus back to the door.

‘He knows I’m here’

Adrelo thought, panicking slightly.

The prince’s expression softened, but there was a playful glint in his eyes, almost as if he were thinking,

‘Snowy rabbit by the door, peeking at a world that isn’t his. How amusing.’

Adrelo quickly stepped back, retreating down the hall before anyone else could notice. His heart was pounding, but he couldn’t shake the feeling of the prince’s gaze still lingering on him.

****

Adrelo leaned against the wall outside the dance room, his heart still racing from the encounter. He had been careless.

"Snowy rabbit..." he muttered under his breath, shaking his head at the nickname he imagined the prince might have given him.

He started to walk away, determined to avoid further entanglements, but his thoughts kept circling back to Dennielle's smirk and that knowing gaze. That boy is dangerous, Adrelo thought. I need to stay out of his way.

As he rounded a corner, Milo appeared, a wide grin on his face.

"There you are!"

Milo said cheerfully. "I've been looking all over for you. First day of the Academy's Heritage festival is almost over, and you haven't even tried any of the activities yet!"

"I don’t see the point,"

Adrelo replied, trying to brush him off.

Milo pouted.

"Come on, Adrelo! There’s a fortune-telling booth that everyone’s been talking about. The professor running it supposedly has insight into your 'future path.' Gareth’s already in line. You should come!"

Adrelo hesitated. A fortune-telling booth sounded ridiculous, but Milo’s insistence made it hard to refuse.

"Fine," Adrelo relented with a sigh.

"Lead the way."

As they approached the booth, a small crowd had already gathered. Students were murmuring excitedly as one by one, their fortunes were read by a professor draped in flowing robes.

When it was finally Adrelo’s turn, he stepped inside the small tent. The interior was dimly lit, and the air was thick with the scent of incense. The professor, an older woman with sharp eyes and a mystical aura, gestured for him to sit.

"Let’s see what the threads of fate have in store for you,"

She said, her voice low and melodious. She held out her hand, and Adrelo reluctantly placed his palm in hers.

The professor closed her eyes, tracing the lines on his hand before drawing a deck of enchanted cards. She flipped the first card over.

Adrelo stared at it, confused. The card depicted a crown shattered into pieces, with a single figure standing amidst the wreckage.

The professor’s eyes opened, and she looked at him intently.

"You are walking a path that was not meant to be," she said.

"A path of destruction and rebirth. You are not what you seem, nor will you remain as you are. The choices you make will reshape not just your fate, but the fate of others around you."

Adrelo felt a chill run down his spine.

Before he could respond, the professor flipped another card. This one showed a phoenix rising from flames.

"From ashes, you will rise," she continued, her tone cryptic.

"But beware. The higher you soar, the harsher the winds that will try to bring you down."

Adrelo stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor.

"That’s enough," he said, his voice tight.

The professor simply smiled.

"Fate waits for no one, young man. But it will be interesting to see how you shape yours."

Adrelo exited the tent quickly, his mind reeling from her words. Outside, Milo and Gareth were waiting for him, both looking curious.

"Well?" Milo asked. "What did she say?"

"Nothing worth mentioning,"

Adrelo replied curtly, brushing past them. But deep down, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the professor’s words were far more significant than he wanted to admit.