Seraphina Vale stepped into the grand hallway of the Academy like she owned the world.
And she had—in her past life. But now, even though the chandeliers still sparkled above her head and the marble floors still echoed her heels, everything felt different.
She wasn't here to impress anyone.
She wasn't here to win the prince's love.
This time… she was here to win back her dignity.
And maybe a certain book-carrying, awkward boy who kept vanishing around corners every time she looked his way.
---
"Seraphina!"
A sugary voice rang through the hallway. Seraphina didn't have to turn around to know who it was.
Lady Clarisse Hemwick.
Her so-called "best friend" in her first life.
A wolf in pastel-colored skirts.
In her first life, Seraphina would have stopped to link arms with her, laugh politely, and pretend not to hear the snide comments Clarisse whispered behind her back.
This time?
Seraphina turned with a lazy smile and raised eyebrow. "Oh. Clarisse."
Clarisse's smile faltered at the cold greeting. "You didn't wait for me at the gates this morning. Are you feeling unwell?"
"No," Seraphina replied sweetly. "Just finally cured of something."
"…Cured?"
"Yes. Stupidity."
Clarisse's eyes widened, her cheeks twitching in shock. Around them, a few other noble students turned to stare. Some giggled quietly behind fans.
Seraphina tilted her head and stepped closer, voice low and sharp like a knife wrapped in velvet.
"Tell me, Clarisse… did it hurt your heart when you backstabbed me in front of the entire court? Or was that your favorite part?"
Clarisse paled. "I—I don't know what you're talking about—"
"Mm. Of course not. And I don't expect you to. I just wanted to see your face when I said it." She smiled with bright eyes. "It was even more satisfying than I imagined."
And just like that, Seraphina turned on her heels and walked away, leaving Clarisse frozen in place like a statue with her mouth hanging open.
---
Across the hallway…
Darian Ravenshade blinked slowly from where he was half-hidden behind a pillar, a forgotten book slipping from his hand.
"…She's terrifying."
But his lips curled slightly at the edges. A smile. Just a small one.
---
Later in Spell Theory Class…
Seraphina sat by the window, the sun catching in her curls. The seat next to her was empty—until the professor called out:
"Ravenshade, take the seat next to Lady Vale."
He froze. Seraphina turned her head.
Their eyes met again.
He opened his mouth—then closed it again. Slowly, awkwardly, he shuffled to the desk and sat beside her without a word.
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
"Still pretending we've never met?" she asked softly, hiding a smirk.
He kept his gaze on the desk. "I don't think someone like you would remember someone like me."
"I remember the people who matter," she replied without missing a beat. "And I told you—I'm watching you now."
His ears turned bright red. "W-Why?"
Seraphina rested her chin in her hand, her tone soft.
"Because you looked at me like I was a person… not a prize."
He turned his head slightly, blinking in confusion. She didn't explain further.
But his fingers gripped the edge of his chair tighter.
---
During Practice Session...
"Today, we'll practice illusion magic. Pair up."
As always, no one dared approach Seraphina.
Well—except Clarisse, who smiled fakely and moved toward her. "Shall we pair—?"
"Sorry," Seraphina said sweetly. "I'm already partnered."
"With who?" Clarisse blinked.
Seraphina turned her head. "Darian?"
He looked up, shocked. "Me?"
"You're not going to abandon me now, are you?" she said with a playful pout.
He opened his mouth. Closed it. Nodded stiffly.
Clarisse was left standing there, her hands curled into fists.
---
As they began the illusion casting practice, students around them fumbled with basic spells. Seraphina created a small dancing firebird in the air, elegant and shimmering. Darian created a quiet moonlit garden—simple, but breathtakingly detailed.
"Your magic is beautiful," she murmured, watching the illusion. "You should show it more."
"I don't… like being seen," he muttered, not looking at her.
"I used to crave being seen. But all I got was pain." She smiled faintly. "Now, I just want to be seen by the right person."
He stiffened beside her.
And then—BOOM!
A magic trap in the classroom sparked out of control. A student accidentally activated a mirror illusion—shards of false glass shot through the air.
"Watch out—!"
Before Seraphina could react, an arm wrapped around her shoulders and pulled her close.
She landed against a warm chest, the scent of old books and lavender flooding her nose.
Darian's voice was breathless in her ear. "Are you hurt?"
Seraphina blinked up at him, shocked.
He was protecting her. Again. Just like before.
She smiled slowly.
"No. You caught me."
He quickly let go, stumbling back, cheeks scarlet. "I—I didn't mean—"
"Too late," she teased. "You already saved me. That means I owe you now."
"…You don't owe me anything."
Seraphina's smile grew a little softer, less teasing this time. "I know. But I want to repay you anyway."
He finally looked at her—really looked.
And for a moment, there was something intense in those storm-gray eyes. Not just shyness. Not just surprise. But something deeper.
Longing.
But just as quickly, he looked away, his fingers tightening around the edges of his robes.
"You don't have to. I'm not… important."
Seraphina's heart twisted unexpectedly. That familiar pain in his voice—it echoed something she knew too well.
Being invisible. Being overlooked. Being the background character in someone else's story.
"No," she said softly, almost in a whisper. "You're the most important person I never noticed… and I won't make that mistake again."
---
After class...
As the other students filtered out, Seraphina gathered her books slowly. She glanced up—and smiled when she saw Darian still hovering by the door, pretending not to wait for her.
She stepped beside him. "Walk with me?"
He blinked. "Are you sure? I don't exactly… fit your reputation."
"That's the point," she said, looping her arm through his before he could escape. "I'm tired of being who they expect me to be. Let me be someone new."
Darian stared at their linked arms, frozen. His heart was thumping loud enough to echo in his ears.
"You're really strange today," he mumbled.
She laughed. "Good. I plan to be even stranger tomorrow."
---
And as they walked down the hall together…
Every pair of eyes followed them.
The golden villainess and the invisible boy.
Together.
Talking. Laughing. Walking side by side.
It was the first crack in the perfect script the world had written for her.
But Seraphina had no plans to follow their script anymore.
This time, she would write her own story.
And it would start… with him.