Seraphina Bluewood.
She had attracted the attention of many since she first transferred to the Terranolia Empire Academy.
Of course, the initial reason for her attention was her captivating appearance.
In fact, other than that, what would make the young daughter of a re count from a small kingdom the subject of discussion?
Because of this, most of the people surrounding her at first were nobles who would try to woo her.
Even royalty and imperial family mbers, in fact.
However, as Seraphina grew day by day, many began to follow her for a different reason.
“When your graduation exam is over, will you not co straight to the Imperial Palace?”
Among them, the one most eager to recruit her was the Crown Prince of the Terranolia Empire.
“I’ll offer anything you ask if you will just naturalize into the Empire and bloom your dazzling talents...”
“It’s fine, Your Highness.”
“If I beco Emperor, I’ll grant you a title along with northern territories. Although they are barren and desolate lands, with your techniques, surely the monsters can be eradicated.”
The Crown Prince was making a seemingly bold offer, but it was clear he was subtly trying to offload a troubleso task.
The northern part of Terranolia was known for constant monster invasions, where the lord had recently passed away.
That land, no matter how power-hungry and greedy soone might be, would be rejected.
Because life would co first.
However, according to the Crown Prince’s proposal, Seraphina might be able to handle it.
She had the ability to analyze and deduce the thods to deal with even unfamiliar monsters.
‘But to receive a title from the Empire and spend the rest of my life hunting monsters in such a place?’
If Seraphina had been more ambitious, she might have accepted the offer imdiately, but she had no interest in that direction at all.
Her plans for the future, aside from Elodie, couldn’t be established.
‘Perhaps a title from the Animallia Empire would be different.’
The reason she had wanted to claim the title from the Bluewood Count’s family was rely a minimal safeguard to protect herself.
The ultimate goal was always to be with Elodie.
“I have soone I’ve promised my future to.”
“Then bring them along!”
“That person is destined for great things. How could I take them to such a cold and desolate land?”
At this, the Crown Prince, who had been following Seraphina, gasped in admiration.
“If you speak so highly of them, they must be quite an extraordinary talent, right?”
The Crown Prince’s eyes, which were fixated on recruiting talent, glittered with greed.
“Is the letter you’re holding from the person you ntioned?”
Is he targeting Elodie now?
At this, Seraphina, who had been indifferent all along, sharpened her gaze.
“You are worse than the professor who has been lurking, trying to drag into his laboratory.”
“Don’t compare! I’ve promised you /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ a title and land!”
“I’ll think about it.”
If she had rejected him outright, he would have stuck to her like glue, it was obvious.
Seraphina brushed off the Crown Prince’s persistent offer and continued on her way.
But it wasn’t just the Crown Prince who was after her.
“Would you co to my birthday banquet? We could have a deep discussion about your future...”
“Not being able to use magic is no flaw for a noble lady. Don’t forget, the gates of the Terranolia Imperial Tower are always open for you...”
As graduation drew nearer, it seed everyone was desperate to pull Seraphina into their own kingdoms.
Who wouldn’t want soone with excellent grades and exceptional, unique genius?
“Yes, I’ll think about it.”
But Seraphina remained resolute.
Right now, more than that...
‘I need to return to Valkyrisen as soon as possible.’
She looked down at the crumpled letter in her hand, which she had barely managed to flatten out.
She rembered that Elodie had written in the letter about raising a snake.
‘A harvest mouse raising a snake?’ she thought. While it seed strange from a human perspective, beastfolk were different from humans, and a snake was just a snake.
Even if Elodie were raising a lion instead of a snake, there would be nothing strange about it.
But...
‘If that snake isn’t just a snake, but a snake beastfolk, then it’s a whole different problem.’
And to think that all this ti, the snake had been pretending to be human and playing tricks on Elodie?
They even shared the sa room?
She even had her own blanket?
That alone was inexcusable, but now, the snake had the audacity to approach Elodie in human form.
The one Seraphina had to watch out for wasn’t the first, Edmund.
Nor the second, Zenovia.
It was the third, Karon!
‘Of course, it had to be a snake beastfolk.’
To have spent four years pretending to be a snake to gain familiarity and then approach in human form... How vile.
Seraphina wanted nothing more than to rush over and deal with the snake beastfolk right away.
But...
I want to give Seraphina a bouquet at her graduation!
Elodie said this, but Seraphina couldn’t just drop everything and leave.
She had wanted to go to the academy, and after much waiting, the idea of abandoning everything just before the graduation exam seed... impossible.
‘I can’t show such a disgraceful side.’
Moreover, since Elodie wanted to give her a bouquet, didn’t she, as the student representative, need to be the one to stand on the stage?
For that reason, the graduation exam was of utmost importance.
‘Everyone stakes their life on the graduation exam after all.’
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
Although, for Seraphina, the academy’s grades weren’t that important.
"Lady Bluewood."
It was then.
Seraphina's eyes briefly widened, startled by the familiar voice. She had been frowning, thinking it was another unwanted recruitnt attempt.
At that mont, her expression imdiately shifted to one of annoyance.
"Prince Chazare."
Chazare, surrounded by nobles, noticed Seraphina and approached her with a gentle smile.
"Congratulations on being the top of your class. Haha, I can’t keep up anymore."
"...I only just barely surpassed them this year."
"You transferred late, but still managed such an achievent. You should be proud."
Who do you think you are?
Seraphina swallowed the words that almost escaped her mouth and stared at Chazare silently.
Seraphina had a certain ability.
An ability that others lacked—an extraordinary talent.
The talent to grasp the core of things and see through how to destroy or nullify them.
That was why, as graduation season approached, she found herself being pursued by the powerful.
And...
Seraphina was also the only one who had uncovered Chazare's cheating, sothing even the kingdom of Silvaria's heir had been trying to cover up.
She had felt sothing odd about him ever since she first saw him. For soone who was supposed to be the top of their class, he had felt completely empty.
He looked impressive on the outside, but...
‘I should probably report this.’
Seraphina wrestled with herself.
The common-sense judgnt to expose the wrongdoing, and the thought of never wanting to get involved with that sly and persistent prince, collided in her mind.
‘But there’s no evidence.’
She was certain that if she just made an accusation, Chazare would slither away like a clever serpent.
After much internal conflict, the graduation exam finally ca...
‘I must definitely get proof this ti and report it.’
But Seraphina still secretly hoped he would take the exam fairly.
She had no ti to waste on Chazare.
However, if he was cheating, she wasn’t about to turn a blind eye.
"Lady Bluewood."
At that mont, Chazare spoke again, as though his business with her was finished.
"Do you still have no intention of accepting my feelings?"
"..."
Still?
"You must have given so room with that magnificent proposal of yours, right?"
Seraphina’s irritation grew, not just from Chazare, but from the nobles whispering around them, casting lecherous glances at her.
Of course, Chazare had been making advances toward her since the first ti they t four years ago.
But not once had Seraphina ever felt sincerity from him.
She had received all the love she could from Elodie in just a few months—a love that would last a lifeti.
So she understood.
Chazare never saw her as anything more than a trinket to enhance his own image.
‘He’ll never truly love anyone in his life.’
In that regard, Seraphina did feel a bit sorry for him, but that was all.
He was far too arrogant and reckless to pity.
‘So why is he saying all this to ?’
It had been three years since he first got angry at being rejected by a woman.
She had thought he had given up long ago, so hearing him say this now was strange.
Was there so ulterior motive?
"I have no feelings for you, Prince Chazare. And I never will."
"Well, I can wait forever. If you ever decide to co to , I’ll gladly accept you."
With those words, Chazare gave her a wistful look as if he were a grand lover, then walked away.
What’s he saying, that cheater?
Seraphina watched as he disappeared with his entourage and quietly flipped him off with her finger.
‘I should hurry up and write a response.’
Ignoring the prince, Seraphina quickened her pace, but she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that lingered.
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