If chaos had a schedule, it clearly revolved around me.
The moment Evelyn Ravenshade—yes, top ranker Evelyn Ravenshade, destroyer of academy property—finished her dramatic confession to Crown Prince Cassian and his equally dramatic entourage, she spotted Theo by the marble fountain.
Escape route: activated.
"Goodbye, your highness. Try not to interrogate anyone else today," I said sweetly, already halfway turning.
Riven Dastor snorted. "She runs fast for someone who just blew up a wall."
"Correction," I shot back over my shoulder, "a target. The wall was simply emotionally affected."
Claus Veridan adjusted his glasses like he was documenting my nonsense for future blackmail.
Theo looked up just in time to catch me jogging toward him.
"Sis? Done already?" he asked.
"Define 'done.' If you mean emotionally stable—no. If you mean finished with the exam—yes."
He blinked. "…I'm not asking further."
Smart boy.
---
Back at the Ravenshade Estate
The carriage ride home was quiet… for exactly five minutes.
Then I knocked out.
Apparently, I used Theo as a pillow.
Apparently, he also fell asleep on my head.
We woke up looking like a tragic sculpture titled Siblings Who Lost to Gravity.
"Elegant," I muttered.
"Dignified," Theo agreed.
---
The moment we stepped inside the manor, Mother and Father were already waiting.
"How was the exam?" Father asked, eyes sharp.
Theo answered smoothly, "Results are tomorrow."
Mother smiled gently. "Then eat, rest, and try not to collapse."
Too late for that last one.
Dinner was warm, rich, and comforting—exactly what I needed after accidentally committing magical vandalism.
---
Night Visit: The Interrogation (Featuring Kaelith)
I had just gotten comfortable in bed, my Luminox curled beside me in its adorable, fluffy form—tail flicking like it owned the place—when—
Flash.
Kaelith appeared.
No warning. No door. Just ✨dramatic teleportation✨ like always.
"Did you overdo it, Eve?" he asked, arms crossed.
…Of course he knew.
I froze.
Then I did what any reasonable person would do.
I pretended to be asleep.
Silence.
"…You think that works on me?" he deadpanned.
Drat.
I sat up slowly. "In my defense, they said 'strongest spell,' not 'reasonable spell.'"
He stared.
I looked away.
He sighed—the long, suffering kind.
"All that mana control training," he said, flicking my forehead, "and you still lose control when excited."
"Ow! That was controlled excitement!"
"That was a disaster."
"Stylish disaster."
"…Sleep."
Wow. Conversation over. Dismissed like a side character.
Still… he didn't look angry.
Just… concerned.
Weird.
---
Results Day: Drama Included (Of Course)
The next morning, the academy courtyard was packed.
Students crowded around the massive results board like it held the secrets of the universe.
Technically… it did.
My name.
My rank.
My survival probability.
No pressure.
I was this close to finding my name when—
YANK.
Someone pulled my hair.
Excuse me??
I turned, already annoyed.
Three girls. Fancy dresses. Attitude louder than their outfits.
Classic.
"Tsk. How dare you block Lady Virelle's path?" one of them snapped.
Ah. A villainess side quest. Lovely.
I crossed my arms. "There's enough space for ten people. You chose violence."
"How dare a commoner—"
She raised her hand.
Oh, she did not just—
Before she could finish—
A figure stepped between us.
"Lady Virelle," came a cold voice, "what exactly are you doing?"
Crown Prince Cassian.
Of course.
Her confidence evaporated instantly.
"This—this commoner—"
Cassian laughed.
Not kindly.
"Commoner?" he repeated. "How unfortunate. It seems your eyesight rivals your manners."
Ouch.
"That," he continued, gesturing to me, "is Lady Evelyn Ravenshade. Daughter of the Duke."
Silence.
Then panic.
"L-Lady Evelyn! We deeply apologize!"
I tilted my head, smiling sweetly.
"Oh? So your eyesight works now?"
They flinched.
"Interesting recovery."
Riven choked on laughter behind me.
Claus looked like he was trying very hard not to approve.
I leaned in slightly.
"If you need a physician, Doctor Aurelia is excellent," I added politely. "She specializes in sudden blindness."
They practically fled.
---
Top Rank… Of Course
"Didn't know you had that in you," Riven grinned.
"Oh please," I said, flipping my hair. "I've been holding back."
"Your name's at the top, by the way," he added casually.
…Excuse me?
I turned.
There it was.
1st Place: Evelyn Ravenshade
…Oh.
Oh no.
"I see," I said calmly. "I'm amazing."
Cassian smiled. "Naturally."
"Your highness?" I glanced at him. "Rank?"
"Third."
"Theo?"
"Fourth," he answered, appearing beside us.
Claus? Fifth.
Riven? Sixth.
Predictable overachievers.
---
The Real Horror: A Speech
At the registrar's desk, I received my uniform… books…
…and a death sentence.
"You'll be giving the opening speech tomorrow, Lady Evelyn," the staff member said cheerfully.
I froze.
"…Excuse me?"
"You ranked first."
"I regret that."
She smiled wider.
Betrayal.
---
Café Break & A Strange Encounter
We ended up at a café afterward—apparently the place for students.
It felt… oddly familiar.
Like Earth.
Like home.
My latte tasted exactly the same.
For a second, my chest tightened.
Cassian noticed. "Are you alright, Evelyn?"
"Yeah," I said quickly. "Just… nostalgic."
Riven, meanwhile, was already flirting with random girls.
Of course he was.
I quietly slipped away.
---
Alley Incident: Enter the Heroine
That's when I heard it.
A scream.
I turned a corner—
Three thugs surrounding a girl.
Seriously? In broad daylight?
I sighed.
"Gale Burst."
A sharp gust sent them flying like poorly written extras.
Problem solved.
I offered my hand. "You okay?"
The girl looked up.
Blonde hair. Blue eyes.
Wait.
Wait a second.
"I'm Aria Naiver," she said.
…
Oh.
Oh no.
The heroine.
Right here.
Right now.
Plot activated.
I smiled politely. "Evelyn Ravenshade… but you can call me Eve."
Her eyes widened.
Ah. Reputation working already.
We exchanged brief words before I left.
Because if I stayed longer, destiny might start monologuing.
---
Back Home: Celebration Mode
By the time I returned, Theo had already alerted everyone.
"I got first place!" I announced.
Mother and Father froze.
Then—
Chaos.
Hugs. Praise. Pride.
Theo: "I got fourth."
Also hugged.
Fair.
---
Kaelith's Reaction
I went straight to Kaelith's room.
Knocked.
He opened the door, already unimpressed.
"I got first place," I said.
Pause.
Then—
A small, rare smile.
"…Good."
He patted my head.
"I'm proud, Eve."
…
Excuse me, why is my heart reacting?
Illegal.
I hugged him before I could stop myself.
He froze.
Again.
This is becoming a pattern.
---
Final Scene: Feast & Foreshadowing
Dinner that night was a full celebration.
Even the staff joined.
Knight Seraphine joked nonstop.
Theo relaxed for once.
And Kaelith?
Quiet.
Watching.
Like he knew something I didn't.
And maybe…
He did.
Because tomorrow?
Academy life begins.
And if today proved anything—
It's that peace and I are not on speaking terms.