I woke up to the familiar creak of the dormitory ceiling fan. The room was quiet except for the faint hum of mana coursing through the walls. The academy spared no expense—every building infused with mana circuits for comfort and defense—but somehow, mornings always felt heavy.
I washed my face, straightened my uniform, and combed my hair until my reflection looked presentable enough. A meaningless ritual. No matter how sharp I appeared on the outside, the stares, the whispers, and the endless games of nobility followed me everywhere.
After fastening my coat, I left my dorm room and stepped into the mana-lift. Blue glyphs lit up around me as the platform descended. Several other students were already waiting in the lobby. Most ignored me, but I caught a few darting glances. Lips moved in hushed tones.
Again?
As I walked across the courtyard toward the classroom building, the murmuring spread like fire through dry leaves. Students standing in clusters stopped mid-conversation the moment I passed by, their eyes shifting in my direction. A few tried—and failed—to hide their smirks. Others looked away quickly, pretending to be occupied.
The stares were heavier than usual. That prickling sensation of being watched crawled across my skin. Normally, I'd dismiss such things. Rumors were common in the academy; today I seemed to be the center of them.
I ignored it all and climbed the marble steps to the lecture hall.
The moment I opened the classroom door, familiar voices filled the air.
As always, the so-called "main cast" had already gathered.
Kael Rivers—the protagonist—was seated with a bright smile plastered across his face, happily chatting with my former fiancée, Evelyne Auraldane. I wasn't surprised. Even in my past life, their bond had been forged through trials, danger, and shared missions. Back then, jealousy had consumed me. I tried everything to keep them apart, only to end up as nothing more than a stepping stone for Kael's rise.
Now? I looked at them and felt nothing. Let her be his lover, his wife, whatever. It didn't matter anymore.
My younger sister sat near the edge, quiet and composed as always, her gaze focused on the empty blackboard.
In the front row lounged Lucien Auraldane, Evelyne's brother, his lips curved into that infuriating smug grin. Born into nobility, dripping with arrogance—he embodied everything I once despised.
Not far from him, Theodore and Viviene Ashbourne—the Ashbourne siblings—were deep in conversation. Their voices carried that mixture of pride and subtle rivalry typical of their house.
Across the room, Seris Eryndor, the elf princess, sat with her usual aloof expression. White hair framed her delicate, pale face, her eyes cold yet mesmerizing, as if untouched by mortal concerns.
Beside her was Carmila Noctharyn, the vampire princess. Crimson eyes, flowing red hair, skin pale as porcelain—her beauty was enough to ensnare anyone. To others, her smile appeared divine and harmless, the kind that drew admiration and desire. But for me… it was different. One look at that smile, and goosebumps spread down my arms. There was something dangerous behind her charm.
Finally, Nymera Dravenholt, the lioness princess, radiated confidence from her seat. Proud golden-emerald eyes, posture regal, presence unshakable—she bore the air of a warrior heiress destined for command.
All of them, the so-called chosen figures of this generation, were gathered as if fate revolved around them. And me? An outsider. A shadow lingering among stars.
The moment I stepped into the room, conversations halted. Silence draped over the class like a suffocating blanket. Eyes turned. Some indifferent, some curious, some mocking.
I walked to my desk without acknowledging them.
Theodore Ashbourne greeted me with a polite smile. Kael, ever the protagonist, broke away from Evelyne and called out in a teasing tone.
"How are you doing, Mr. Apex?"
"I'm fine," I replied flatly.
Kael leaned back, grin widening. "I heard you went on a date with your girlfriend yesterday."
His words froze me. A date? With a girlfriend? I immediately turned to him, my voice sharper than I intended.
"Where did you hear this?"
Kael tilted his head innocently. "It's all over the forums. Pictures of you and Princess Carmila. Shopping together, walking side by side. Apparently, you two are closer than we thought."
Carmila.
I fumbled my phone from my pocket, my hands trembling. The screen lit up, displaying the academy's public forum. And there it was—post after post, filled with pictures of me and Carmila Noctharyn.
There we were, walking through the market district. Standing at shop counters. Bags in my hands. And worst of all, there was even a shot of Carmila clinging to me playfully, her expression mischievous.
She had laughed, then apologized, saying it was just a prank. But frozen in a photograph, stripped of context, it looked entirely different.
Students' comments filled the screen.
[Anonymous]: Wait, Apex is dating the vampire princess?![NobleDaughter77]: I saw them at the crystal shop! They looked so natural together![BloodMoonFan]: No way… Carmila actually smiled like that. That's reserved for lovers, isn't it?[LucienFTW]: Hah. So the cold Apex has a hidden romantic side. Pathetic.
Dozens of threads. Hundreds of comments. All at the top of the forum, impossible to ignore.
I stared, stunned, as whispers spread across the classroom. Heads leaned together, voices hushed yet piercing.
Kael watched me carefully, a glint of amusement in his eyes.
"I didn't expect the cold, indifferent Apex to have such a side. And with Princess Carmila, no less. Is she really your girlfriend?"
The entire room leaned in.
Even Evelyne's expression darkened as her gaze sharpened toward me, listening intently.
I clenched my jaw and spoke. "She is not my girlfriend. We were not on a date. She dragged me along to carry her things."
Kael raised his phone, swiping to another picture. "Oh? And what about this? Look at yourself—you're smiling. Doesn't look like someone being 'dragged around' to me."
The image was of me carrying bags, a faint smile on my face. The one slip. The one moment I let down my guard.
Heat rose to my cheeks. Embarrassment, not affection.
My eyes flicked toward Carmila. Her crimson lips curled into a smile, subtle, triumphant. That was all the confirmation I needed. She orchestrated this.
I snapped my phone shut and glared at Kael. "There is nothing between us."
Kael chuckled. "Right, right. Nothing at all. Who are you trying to fool, Apex?"
Laughter rippled through the class. I ignored them all and sank into my seat, cold silence wrapping around me.
Thankfully, the professor arrived soon after, and the whispers faded beneath the weight of her lecture. But I could feel the glances. The rumors had taken root.
Hours later, the final class ended.
I gathered my belongings quickly, intent on escaping before anyone else cornered me. But as I stepped toward the door, a voice stopped me.
"Wait."
I froze. That voice…
Turning, I found Evelyne Seraphina Auraldane standing there. My former fiancée.
Her eyes wavered, filled with a mixture of hope, regret, and guilt.
"What is it?" I asked, my tone cold, indifferent.
She flinched at the sharpness of my voice. Once, I had spoken to her with warmth, my affection obvious in every word. Now, only frost remained.
"I…" She hesitated, then lowered her gaze. "Do you have some time? Please."
I studied her trembling figure, the way her hands clenched at her sides, her lips pressing together as if fighting tears. I already knew what she wanted to say.
"Yes," I replied.
Relief softened her features. A fragile smile spread across her face.
We walked in silence until we reached a quiet courtyard, away from curious eyes.
Evelyne turned to me, her eyes shimmering. She bowed her head deeply, voice trembling.
"I'm sorry."
I crossed my arms. "Sorry for what?"
"For not helping you when you needed me most," she whispered.
"And?"
"For ignoring you."
"And?"
"For hurting you with my cold words."
"And?"
"For taking your affection for granted."
"And?"
Her shoulders shook, tears trailing down her cheeks. "For everything I've done to you. Please… forgive me."
She stood there, bowed and broken. The once-proud daughter of House Auraldane, the woman who had turned her back on me.
Inwardly, I laughed. Laughed at the pathetic dog I had once been, wagging his tail for scraps of her attention. She had taken everything for granted, and in the end, she killed me alongside the protagonist.
Now, looking at her trembling figure, I felt nothing. No love. No longing. Not even hatred.
"I don't care about the past," I said, my voice steady, unyielding. "The things you did mean nothing to me. I look only to the future. The past is dead. My old, weak self is dead. Don't waste my time—or yours—on regrets."
Her tears fell harder, but I turned away. Without another glance, I left her standing there.
Back in my dorm, I collapsed onto my bed. Thoughts swirled—rumors, her apology, the laughter in class. Slowly, darkness claimed me.
When I woke again, two weeks had passed since my enrollment in the academy.
Sunday. A free day.
No lectures. No obligations. Just a city waiting beyond the gates.
I left my room and stepped onto the mana-lift, descending to the lobby. Students streamed out of the dormitory, eager to enjoy their day off. I blended into the crowd, ignoring the stares that still followed me.
The rumor hadn't died. It had spread like wildfire. Now, whispers of me and the vampire princess clung to every hallway, every corner.
I knew what came next. It was inevitable.
In the novel, when Kael and Evelyne's relationship blossomed, countless idiots challenged him out of jealousy. Duel after duel. And I had been among them.
How laughable. I wished I could go back and slap my former self for being such a fool. Fighting for a woman who only gave me cold gazes. Throwing myself at danger, only to become Kael's stepping stone again and again.
Not this time.
I reached the academy gates. Ahead, the teleportation portal pulsed with blue light, glyphs circling lazily. It would take me directly into the city.
As I stepped closer, I caught the stares of other male students. Resentment burned in their eyes, envy twisting their faces. They whispered among themselves, voices dripping with jealousy.
"So he really thinks he can steal the vampire princess?""I'll challenge him myself. Let's see how long his arrogance lasts.""Tch. Acting cold only makes him look more pathetic."
I ignored them all and placed my hand on the portal's frame. Mana surged, wrapping around my body.
Light swallowed me.
And when my vision cleared, I realized I wasn't alone.
Someone was waiting for me.