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Chapter : 1 First Meeting
Two years earlier, at the royal castle of the Kingdom of Ortigia.
Princess Elizia stared intently at a portrait. Next to a vase filled with light pink orchids on the table lay an admission letter from the Swena Neutral Kingdom Royal Academy.
It was the school she would enter in two weeks.
Her glossy hair flowed down over her shoulders like waves.
A soft jawline, a straight neck, neatly groomed nails. She was a refined beauty that anyone would turn to look at at least once.
But her tightly closed lips and slightly stubborn gaze clearly showed that, unlike her appearance, she had a strong personality.
Her nanny pointed at the portrait.
“Princess, remember this face well. This is the crown prince of the enemy nation. Make sure that even if you meet him at the Royal Academy, you do NOT get into any unnecessary fights!”
“Why would I fight him? I’m not even going to meet him.”
“…Well… the princess’s personality is… quite… you know…”
The nanny trailed off awkwardly. Elizia could guess what she was trying to say.
Something like “very intense” or “very strong-willed.”
But Elizia didn’t really mind.
“Don’t worry. I’ll behave properly as a proud princess of Ortigia.”
The person in the portrait was the crown prince of the Kastria Empire.
Nobila Herbe Karund, the first prince of the empire that once waged a bloody war against her kingdom, Ortigia.
After the war, the empire and the kingdom had remained in a ceasefire for nearly twenty years, but they had no real contact and remained bitter enemies.
Because of that, Elizia only knew the enemy prince she would meet at the Royal Academy through a portrait painted by the royal artist.
She glanced at it again.
A greasy-looking blond man with slicked-back hair, a large bulbous nose, and crooked teeth was smirking unpleasantly.
Two days after entering the Royal Academy
Elizia stood in the headmaster’s office of the Royal Academy, eyes sparkling.
Next to her stood a boy who looked like he was between adolescence and adulthood. He had a refined expression and stood very straight.
The headmaster gestured for them to come closer. The two moved forward slightly without much thought.
Twisting his white mustache with his fingertips, the headmaster smiled faintly and went straight to the point.
“Rakan. Elizia. The reason I called you here is… to inform you that you two have been assigned as direct senior and junior.”
“Yes!”
“…Yes.”
Elizia nodded lightly with a faint smile.
I’ve been assigned a direct senior…!
Thinking she had unexpectedly formed a connection with such a handsome boy made her feel a little happy.
On the other hand, the boy answered more slowly. His expression was somewhat dark.
At Swena Neutral Kingdom Royal Academy, there was a unique system of “direct seniors and juniors.” Seniors were assigned to newly admitted juniors for several months to help them adapt to academy life.
They would attend some classes together and sometimes meet during free time for tea.
Elizia glanced sideways at the boy called “Rakan.”
He was tall with broad shoulders, standing confidently with his hands behind his back.
She didn’t know which kingdom or region he came from, but he looked very self-assured.
The only strange thing was his slightly furrowed eyebrows.
What’s with him? Why does he look like that?
Elizia’s expression also hardened slightly.
Just moments ago, she had felt a small lift in her mood at having such a handsome senior—but that feeling quickly disappeared due to his unpleasant reaction.
Is he annoyed that I’m his junior? …Maybe he’s from the Empire?
That would make sense.
If he was from the Empire, it explained his attitude. Judging by his presence, he seemed like a high-ranking noble at least.
The headmaster, amused by their awkward expressions, smiled and concluded.
“I arranged this with intention, so I hope you two get along well. You may leave for today.”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
Elizia gave a short reply and bowed slightly before the headmaster. It was time to leave this unpleasant situation.
Outside the office, the two walked in silence. Since there was only one path, they walked one behind the other.
Elizia suddenly thought:
Come to think of it, does the headmaster usually personally introduce seniors and juniors? I thought we just got letters about it…
But she quickly brushed the thought away, assuming it was because she was royalty.
Outside, sunlight filled the hallway. Her vision brightened.
She stopped at the doorway and blinked. Sunlight touched her eyelashes, and the warm spring air brushed her face.
As she was enjoying the spring atmosphere, a pleasant deep voice came from above her.
“This wasn’t your doing behind the scenes, was it?”
It was Rakan.
“…What is this guy talking about?”
Elizia turned her head. Leaning against the wall near the entrance with his arms crossed, he looked down at her.
The height difference made him look like he was looking down on her, which she didn’t like.
“What do you mean, behind the scenes?”
“I mean, you didn’t arrange this on purpose just to create a connection with me, did you?”
Rakan said this with a crooked smile. His usual relaxed expression remained.
A connection? Arrange something?
Elizia looked closely at his face.
Soft spring light poured over his golden hair.
It wasn’t an ordinary ash-blond—it looked like melted gold. Beneath it were emerald-green eyes that were almost unreal.
He was extremely handsome—almost to the point of being “pretty.”
But his sharp nose, jawline, and piercing gaze made it clearly masculine.
A noble’s lazy confidence naturally drew attention.
For a brief moment, she could almost understand his insane self-confidence.
Elizia looked straight into his eyes.
“You’re from the Empire, aren’t you?”
Rakan nodded easily.
“Correct. And you’re the princess of Ortigia.”
“Right. Now I understand why you reacted like that. But a connection? A scheme? Ha! Don’t be ridiculous. I’m meeting you for the first time today, and you’re not my type.”
“Well, I don’t think my looks are something people ‘don’t like.’ And whether you like it or not, I’m your senior. So show proper respect, princess.”
“….”
What kind of narcissistic lunatic is this? And show respect? Me? To an enemy noble?
Elizia’s expression said it all.
Rakan continued calmly, unfazed.
“Also, let me make this clear—I have no intention of dating women. So don’t get any pointless expectations. For the next two months, we are nothing more than senior and junior.”
“….”
Elizia wanted to argue back.
But she held it in, afraid something undignified might slip out.
She took a breath. Honestly, she didn’t even know where to begin.
To her, everything he said sounded absurd from start to finish.
“Where does that ridiculous confidence even come from, Rakan? No, I mean… senior?”
“Money, power, status. And looks.”
“…Ha.”
A hollow laugh escaped her.
The best thing to do is avoid crazy people.
She nodded to herself.
Meeting an Empire man like this right from the start—what a disaster.
“I have absolutely no interest in whether you fall in love with teacups or pigeons. So stop talking nonsense and don’t pay attention to me either. I’m leaving. See you.”
With that blunt remark, she gave a short farewell.
Even though she didn’t like him, a senior was still a senior.
It was humiliating to use honorifics on a man from an enemy empire, but it couldn’t be helped.
If she didn’t like it, she could just kick his shin and leave the academy—but she had no intention of doing that.
Even though it was their first meeting, she understood immediately.
This man is the most irritating kind of Empire noble.
She turned away sharply and walked off.
As she hurried forward—
Her foot caught on a protruding stone.
“Ah!”
She stumbled, her dress catching as she lost balance. She flailed her arms but managed not to fall.
However—
RIP!
With a harsh tearing sound, the hem of her dress was ripped apart.
The fabric was so delicate it tore like seaweed.
What is wrong with everything today?!
Fuming, Elizia shook her dress in frustration.
Behind her, a laughing voice reached her ears.
“You told me not to pay attention to you, but anyone would think you’re begging for attention.”
Even without turning around, she could imagine his smirking face from his tone.
That bastard—
She angrily let go of her dress.
She stormed away.
Rakan watched her leave indifferently, then also turned away.
The princess of a kingdom and the prince of an empire—meeting for the first time, only to separate within less than an hour.
Just like the relationship between their nations.
On her way to the dormitory, Elizia kicked a stone and muttered angrily.
“Scheme? Dating? Ha! What kind of crazy woman would date a narcissistic bastard like that?”
Still unsatisfied, she kept grumbling.
“So what if he has a good face? I don’t know who ends up marrying him, but I feel sorry for her! Future wife! I hope you endure him well and find happiness!”
A passionate, unknown prayer of sympathy and encouragement.
But something was strange.
Her toe—the one that kicked the stone earlier—kept hurting.
