After a grueling year of intense training, magic lessons, etiquette drills, and more dungeon dives than she cared to count, Rynhara stood on the steps of the prestigious Academy of Unified Arts and Diplomacy. Her trusty maid, Kaelira, stood beside her in a pristine uniform, complete with a frilly apron and a conspicuous dagger strapped to her thigh.
"I can't believe I'm doing this," Rynhara muttered, tugging at the high collar of her school uniform. The black and silver outfit was elegant, but it did little to hide her dragon wings, tail, and horns, which shimmered faintly in the sunlight.
Kaelira smirked. "Cheer up, Princess. How many people can say they get to attend school as both a dragon princess and a villainess?"
"Let's just get this over with," Rynhara sighed.
The grand courtyard of the academy was packed with students and their entourages. The opening ceremony promised to be a spectacle, as the academy catered to the elite: heirs, nobles, and even royalty from across the continent.
The headmaster, an elderly man with a long white beard and a suspiciously shiny bald head, stepped onto the stage. His robes sparkled with runes that flared as he raised his staff.
"Welcome, students, to a new year at the Academy of Unified Arts and Diplomacy!" he announced, his voice magically amplified. "Here, you will forge alliances, hone your skills, and prepare to lead the world into a brighter future!"
The crowd burst into polite applause.
Rynhara scanned the crowd, noting the various students. Some were surrounded by bodyguards, others by fans. Then there was her: alone, save for Kaelira, who stood slightly behind her with an expression of mild disinterest.
"Great," Rynhara muttered. "Off to a fantastic start."
The ceremony continued, introducing key figures. Crown Prince Alaric of the Radiant Empire, with his golden hair and a smile so bright it could blind someone. Princess Veloria of the Frozen Highlands, whose icy gaze made even the sun seem colder. And finally, the Demon Prince Razen, a tall, brooding figure with horns that curved like a crown.
When Rynhara's turn came, the headmaster hesitated slightly before calling out, "Rynhara, Princess of the Star Lightning and Heiress of the Dark Peaks."
The courtyard fell into an awkward silence. A few students whispered behind their hands, and Rynhara caught snippets like "villainess" and "spawn of the Dragon Queen."
As she stepped forward, trying to look dignified, her scythe (which she insisted on carrying everywhere after getting attached to it) caught the edge of the headmaster's robe, tearing it.
"Oops," she muttered, cheeks burning as the crowd erupted into muffled laughter.
"Perfect," Kaelira whispered with a smirk.
The rest of the ceremony was equally disastrous. The prince's lion-sized pet griffin escaped, causing chaos as it swooped down to steal snacks from the refreshment table. Princess Veloria's ice magic backfired during her introduction, encasing half the stage in frost.
And somehow, Rynhara got blamed for all of it.
"It's her aura!" someone hissed.
"She probably cursed the ceremony!"
"I heard her mother destroyed a kingdom just because she didn't like the weather."
By the end of the event, Rynhara was standing alone in the far corner of the courtyard, her villainess aura apparently warding off anyone who might have approached.
"Fantastic," she muttered. "I'm officially the pariah of the academy."
Kaelira appeared beside her, holding a small plate of snacks she'd pilfered. "Don't take it personally. Everyone's terrified of you."
"That's not comforting," Rynhara said, slumping.
When Rynhara returned to the Dark Peaks that evening, she found Tiamora lounging on her throne, sipping from a goblet of sparkling crimson wine.
"How was your first day, darling?" Tiamora asked, her tone entirely too smug.
Rynhara threw her bag onto the floor. "A disaster. Everyone hates me because of you!"
Tiamora's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Elaborate."
Rynhara crossed her arms, her tail flicking irritably. "The students think I'm a villain because of my title! Darkness Dragon Princess, Villainess, Incarnation of Evil—did you have to make me sound like I'm the final boss of a horror story?"
"Well," Tiamora said with a sly grin, "technically, you are my heir."
"And then there's the fact that half of them think I'm cursed! One girl said you destroyed a kingdom over bad weather!"
Tiamora's laughter echoed through the throne room. "Ah, yes, the Kingdom of Avaris. Their sun rituals annoyed me, so I may have relocated a few mountains. No big deal."
"It is a big deal!" Rynhara snapped. "Your over-the-top villainy is ruining my social life!"
Tiamora waved a hand dismissively. "Nonsense. You don't need a social life when you have power. Besides, if anyone dares to bully you, I'll turn them into a toad."
Rynhara groaned, burying her face in her hands. "You're impossible."
"Impossible?" Tiamora leaned forward, grinning wickedly. "No, darling. I'm legendary."
Kaelira, who had been quietly observing the exchange, muttered under her breath, "Like mother, like daughter."
Rynhara shot her a glare. "Don't you start."
As the moon rose over the Dark Peaks, Rynhara slumped onto her bed, determined to make the next day at the academy slightly less catastrophic. But deep down, she knew: with a mother like Tiamora, chaos was inevitable.