The room was quiet except for the soft crackling of the fireplace.
Snow drifted gently outside the manor windows while I lay comfortably beneath my blankets hugging the pillow tightly against my chest.
Or more specifically—
The fake Leo.
His shirt still covered the pillow while the crudely drawn smiley face stared back at .
I smiled softly while tracing my fingers against the fabric.
"You know," I whispered quietly, "you looked really cute when you got embarrassed during my birthday."
The fake Leo did not respond.
Rude.
I hugged the pillow tighter anyway.
"I wonder what expression you’d make if I kissed you again..."
A faint warmth spread across my face at the mory.
His reaction had been adorable.
Completely frozen.
Confused.
Flustered.
I buried my face slightly into the shirt while smiling.
"You should just marry already..."
I lightly squeezed the pillow again.
"Then we could stay together forever."
The room remained silent except for the wind outside.
Eventually, my eyes slowly began drifting shut.
Still holding the fake Leo close—
I fell asleep.
————
The next morning, I arrived at the academy only slightly more exhausted than usual.
Mostly because I had stayed awake far too late talking to a pillow.
Not that anyone needed to know that.
The classroom itself was already mostly filled by the ti I entered.
Like yesterday, conversations imdiately quieted the mont people noticed .
I ignored them completely and walked toward my usual seat near the back beside the windows.
The lesson began normally enough.
Mana circulation.
Spell formulas.
Basic magical reinforcent.
Honestly, I barely paid attention.
Instead, I rested my chin against my hand while staring out the snowy window.
I wondered what Leo was doing today.
Maybe he was reading one of his strange books again.
Or wandering around the territory looking depressed while pretending not to be.
A small smile unconsciously appeared on my face.
I missed him.
The classroom door suddenly opened midway through the lesson.
Another teacher stepped inside before quietly whispering sothing into the instructor’s ear.
That imdiately caught my attention.
The teacher gave a small nod before turning toward the class.
"It appears we have a late addition to the first-year students."
Murmurs spread throughout the room instantly.
A late addition this far into the term was unusual.
The teacher gestured toward the doorway.
"You may enter."
Slowly—
A girl stepped inside.
She looked around nervously while clutching the edge of her uniform tightly.
Pink hair flowed down to around her shoulders slightly ssy from obvious nervous fidgeting, while soft ruby-colored eyes darted anxiously throughout the room.
She was pretty.
In a small and timid sort of way.
Unlike most nobles, her posture lacked confidence entirely.
She looked like she wanted to disappear.
"S-sorry for interrupting..." she stuttered softly while bowing awkwardly. "M-my na is Clara Vale..."
The classroom imdiately erupted into whispers again.
"A commoner?"
"She’s the B-rank?"
"No way..."
"I heard the principal personally accepted her..."
Ah.
So this was the commoner student people had been talking about.
Apparently she possessed a B-rank mana capacity.
Extrely rare.
Not as rare as mine obviously.
But still enough to completely alter soone’s future.
The poor girl looked monts away from fainting under everyone’s stares.
The teacher quickly cleared his throat.
"There’s one open seat remaining near the back."
Unfortunately for her—
That seat happened to be beside .
The girl froze slightly after noticing where she needed to sit.
Honestly?
Fair reaction.
Slowly, she walked through the classroom while avoiding eye contact with almost everyone.
The mont she sat down beside , I could practically feel how nervous she was.
The nearby students looked horrified.
Probably because they assud speaking to incorrectly would result in death or sothing equally dramatic.
The rumors surrounding were getting ridiculous.
The lesson resud shortly afterward.
Naturally—
I imdiately returned to thinking about Leo again.
I wonder if he’d like the capital.
Probably not.
Too crowded.
Too many nobles.
Too many annoying people.
He’d probably spend the entire ti complaining while secretly finding everything interesting.
A tiny smile appeared on my face again.
"...Um..."
I blinked slightly.
The pink-haired girl beside was looking toward nervously.
"S-sorry to bother you..."
She fidgeted awkwardly with her sleeves.
"I just wanted to introduce myself properly..."
Right.
Normal people did that.
"...Clara Vale," she repeated softly before giving a tiny nervous smile. "What’s your na?"
The nearby students imdiately froze.
One girl in front of us physically turned around in shock like Clara had just challenged a dragon to a duel.
Honestly?
Dramatic.
I looked toward the pink-haired girl quietly for a mont.
"...Lilith NightBane."
The mont I said my na, Clara’s eyes widened slightly in realization.
Then imdiately afterward—
Terror.
Ah.
There it was.
The usual reaction.
I turned away again and looked back out the window.
The snow continued falling softly outside the academy grounds.
After a few monts, Clara quietly lowered her gaze.
"...Sorry," she whispered softly.
Smart girl.
She seed to understand I wanted to be left alone.
Which ant—
I could finally return to thinking about Leo in peace.
Classes finally ended as the evening sun began dipping beyond the academy walls.
Students slowly poured out from the buildings in groups while noble carriages lined the roads outside the campus gates.
I quietly walked through the courtyard alone toward the NightBane carriage waiting outside.
The entire day had been exhausting.
Too many people.
Too many whispers.
Too many pointless conversations.
I just wanted to go ho and think about Leo in peace.
But as I walked down one of the quieter stone pathways near the side gardens—
I heard sothing.
A small whimper.
Followed by laughter.
I paused slightly.
The sound ca from behind one of the academy’s side buildings.
Curious, I walked closer before turning the corner.
Several noble students stood gathered around soone on the ground.
And in the middle of them—
Was Clara.
Books and papers were scattered everywhere across the stone path while the pink-haired girl sat on the floor trying desperately to wipe tears from her eyes.
One noble girl scoffed loudly.
"A commoner with a B-rank mana capacity? Please."
Another crossed his arms mockingly.
"She obviously slept her way into the academy."
"That’s disgusting..."
"I heard the principal "personally" accepted her."
Clara flinched at every insult thrown toward her.
Honestly?
I didn’t really care.
This kind of thing happened constantly within noble society.
Commoners with talent were always hated by nobles.
Especially weak nobles threatened by soone stronger than them.
So without saying anything—
I simply turned away.
Not my problem.
I took several steps toward the academy gates before glancing absentmindedly toward the evening sky.
The clouds glowed softly orange beneath the setting sun.
And naturally—
My thoughts drifted back toward Leo again.
I imagined telling him about my day once winter arrived.
The academy.
The students.
The capital.
Then—
For so reason—
I imagined his expression if he found out I ignored Clara.
A small frown appeared on my face.
...Leo would probably hate that.
No—
Not hate.
But he’d definitely look disappointed.
And sohow—
That thought bothered far more than it should have.
I paused mid-step.
Then another thought suddenly appeared.
If I saved Clara dramatically...
That would make a really good story.
I could already imagine it.
Leo listening carefully while I explained how I heroically rescued a bullied girl at the academy.
He’d probably look impressed.
Maybe even proud.
And then—
In my imagination—
Leo suddenly got down on one knee.
"Lilith," Leo said dramatically inside my head, "please marry ."
My face instantly exploded with heat.
I slapped both hands against my cheeks aggressively.
"N-no, stop thinking weird things..."
Several passing students stared at in confusion.
I ignored them imdiately.
After calming down slightly, I turned back toward the alleyway.
Right.
Heroic rescue first.
Marriage proposal later.
The group of nobles were still surrounding Clara when I stepped back around the corner.
I didn’t even raise my voice.
"...What exactly are you doing?"
The mont they heard —
Every single student froze.
Slowly, they turned around.
And the instant they recognized —
Their faces lost all color.
"L-Lady NightBane?!"
"I-it’s not what it looks like!"
"We were just—"
"Leave."
My voice remained completely calm.
Yet sohow—
That alone terrified them.
The nobles imdiately began apologizing over one another in painfully squeaky voices before practically tripping over themselves trying to escape.
Within seconds—
They were gone.
The alleyway fell completely silent afterward.
Clara remained sitting on the ground staring up at with wide eyes.
She looked shocked I even intervened.
I glanced down at her briefly.
"...Don’t let it happen again."
That was all I said.
Then I turned and walked away before she could respond.
Behind , I heard Clara hurriedly trying to gather her scattered belongings.
"...T-thank you!" she called out softly.
I simply waved one hand slightly without turning around.
Because...
I hadn’t done it for her.
I had done it for Leo.
————
Later that night, I lay comfortably across my bed hugging the fake Leo tightly against my chest.
A massive smile refused to leave my face.
"I saved soone today," I whispered proudly while rolling slightly across the blankets.
The fake Leo stared back at with his poorly drawn smile.
"I bet you’d be impressed..."
I hugged the pillow tighter.
"I was really cool too."
In my imagination, Leo looked at with admiration shining in his eyes.
"Lilith," fake Leo whispered lovingly in my head, "you’re amazing."
A small squeak escaped .
I buried my burning face into the pillow imdiately.
"This is definitely going to make you love more..."
I rolled across the bed again happily while kicking my legs slightly beneath the blankets.
I couldn’t wait until winter break.
Before finally drifting off to sleep, I gently pressed a small kiss against the fake Leo’s smiley face.
"...Goodnight, Leo."
Still hugging the pillow tightly—
I slowly drifted asleep.
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