Revolutionary army?
That word wasn't supposed to exist.
No, I was certain of it.
Such a dangerous organization never appeared in the webtoon.
But here it was—real, alive, and threatening everything.
Revolution?
Raising red flags, trying to overthrow the Empire?
Damn it.
This isn't how it's supposed to go!
My peaceful fantasy life—
It's in danger.
As soon as I heard that word, my pulse spiked.
Revolution.
A single word that could set the entire world ablaze.
And somehow… I had just stumbled right into the middle of it.
This was supposed to be a romance fantasy webtoon.
So why was something this dark suddenly popping up?
A revolutionary army? Really?
I ran a hand through my hair, forcing myself to stay calm. Let's not panic. Breathe.
After getting briefly carried away by the shock of that phrase, I took a deep breath and tried to cool my head.
Alright. Think it through.
I understood that there were rebels out there, people who dreamed of tearing down the Empire and starting fresh. That kind of group always existed, both in stories and in real life.
But could they actually pull it off?
Honestly… I doubted it.
Most nobles had their own private soldiers, well-trained knights, and access to powerful magic. The gap between them and ordinary citizens wasn't something that could be bridged with sheer passion alone.
In other words, unless everyone in the Empire rose up at once—nobles, peasants, soldiers—it would be impossible to topple the current order.
I let out a slow sigh. "Phew… I got scared for nothing."
Yeah, that had to be it.
Maybe the author just wanted to sprinkle in a few hints about future characters. Some setup for tension or worldbuilding.
Feeling a little foolish for jumping to conclusions, I glanced up again.
By now, Rain's memories had stopped flowing into my mind, and the glowing thread from the Dream Orb had completely merged into her.
The room, once filled with shimmering mana, was now still and quiet—almost serene.
I held my breath, watching anxiously.
And then—
"Grandpa…?"
"Rain…!!"
Vermut's voice cracked as he rushed forward, wrapping his granddaughter in a trembling embrace. Tears streamed down both their faces as they clung to each other, relief and joy spilling into the air like light after a storm.
I stood there for a moment, watching silently.
A faint smile tugged at my lips before I quietly slipped out of the room.
The corridor outside felt unusually cold. My thoughts drifted back to what I'd heard earlier.
A revolutionary army.
Logically, they didn't stand a chance. They'd be crushed before making a dent in the Empire's iron rule.
And yet—
That unease in my chest refused to fade.
It lingered, heavy and persistent, like a shadow at the edge of my thoughts.
Something about this felt wrong. Too sudden. Too real.
I exhaled and murmured to myself, "Maybe I should look into this… just in case."
Because even in a so-called romance fantasy, things were starting to feel a little too unpredictable.
----
A few days later, a letter arrived from the Academy.
They announced that the situation had been handled and classes would resume as normal.
Ah, what a pain.
So much for my short-lived vacation. My sweet days of rest were over.
With a sigh, I put on my freshly pressed uniform again and glanced in the mirror. The familiar outfit somehow felt heavier today. Maybe because I knew what awaited me—more work, more scheming, and more "harem interference."
When I stepped out of my room, Berno was busy organizing his luggage. I placed a rolled-up paper on the table in front of him.
He blinked, then picked it up. "What is this…?"
"A map of the Academy," I said. "Since we're heading back, you'd better memorize it."
Berno unfolded it, his brows furrowing as his eyes darted across the lines. "Do I really have to memorize all of this?" he grumbled.
I crossed my arms and gave him a look. "Yes. Every single part."
Honestly, this guy.
Despite being absolutely hopeless with directions, he somehow had the nerve to complain.
Where does that confidence even come from?
Of course, I doubted that memorizing a map would actually help him much—someone with zero sense of direction probably couldn't navigate a straight hallway without getting lost. But at least it might give him a fighting chance.
"Just do as you're told," I said firmly.
"…Understood," he muttered, deflating like a scolded child.
I smirked slightly and moved on, finishing up my own preparations.
Once everything was packed, Berno glanced at me. "Are you nervous?"
I tilted my head. "Nervous? About what?"
He shrugged. "You know… returning to the Academy. Classes. People."
I laughed softly. "People are the same wherever you go. There's nothing to be nervous about."
Still, a part of me felt uneasy—not because of the Academy itself, but because this was where I'd have to start acting.
From now on, I'd be stepping onto the real stage of this world. The part of the story where the harem chaos begins.
I wasn't much of a planner by nature, and just thinking about how to interfere with Edmond's tangled love life made me restless.
"I'm all ready," Berno finally said.
"Good. Then let's go."
Leaving behind the inn we'd grown comfortable in, we made our way toward the Academy.
The morning air was crisp, filled with the hum of carriages and chatter. The majestic towers of the Academy soon came into view, gleaming under the sunlight.
After passing through the main gate, Berno and I went our separate ways.
He headed to the dormitory to unpack his belongings, while I turned down the path that led to the classroom building.
I paused for a moment, watching him go.
With his sense of direction, there was a fifty-fifty chance he'd get lost before even finding his room. But I decided not to worry about it—he'd manage somehow.
For now, I had my own priorities.
The corridor ahead was spotless and polished, sunlight streaming through the tall windows. Everything looked new and orderly, like the start of a new chapter.
Finally, I reached my destination and looked up at the sign above the door.
[1-C]
A small smile tugged at my lips.
"Alright," I murmured. "Let's begin."
After checking the classroom number twice just to be sure, I pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The room was quiet.
Students sat stiffly at their desks, stealing glances at one another but too shy to start a proper conversation. The air felt thick with that first-day awkwardness every new class seemed to have.
Let's see… my seat should be by the window, right?
I scanned the rows until I spotted the small nameplate on the desk with my assigned number. Empty. Perfect.
I walked over and sat down, letting out a quiet breath.
From here, the view was incredible — the morning sunlight spilling over the academy courtyard, the spires of the central tower gleaming in the distance.
A window seat with a full view of the academy. Not bad at all.
I couldn't help but smile a little.
Maybe, just maybe, this wouldn't be such a bad start.
But then—
"Oh? Hello! Looks like we're desk mates."
A cheerful voice suddenly broke through my thoughts.
Desk mates?
I turned my head toward the source of the voice… and froze.
Standing there with an easy smile, sunlight catching in her golden hair, was none other than her.
"Nice to meet you," she said brightly.
Elena.
Her name echoed in my head like a bell.
For a moment, words completely escaped me.
Her hair shimmered like spun gold in the morning light, and her soft blue eyes sparkled with warmth — exactly as I remembered from the webtoon.
The heroine. The center of the story.
And now… my desk mate.