Chapter 3

The pouring sunlight was exceedingly warm.

Winter hadn’t completely withdrawn, which would cause the bitter wind to strike my cheeks. However, I faced no such problems as I knew this and wore thick clothes.

I raised my head and observed the clock tower of the academy, which I had grown familiar with.

I stared at the familiar academy clock tower.

Is this already the third time I’ve entered this academy?

It was similar to taking the college entrance exam three times.

And then I would head back as soon as the exam results came out. Come to think of it, it’s better that way, right? At least I wouldn’t die.

“You must do well, My Lady!”

Anna, who couldn’t remove her eyes from me even the moment I exited the carriage, screamed with her face against the window.

This was also the third time I witnessed this scene, yet it was true I felt grateful every time as I could feel her heartfelt affection.

In Elinda’s life, whom she had only been used in, Anna had been the only person who had cared for her.

I proceeded to walk alone, leaving behind the estranged carriage.

As I despised being in the mansion and left early, the academy was currently bare.

“What will I do for the remainder of the time?”

I’ve never arrived this early, so I didn’t know. As I moved my head to observe the scenery, I noticed a familiar fountain.

This was where I had pushed Serena down. The drowning Serena couldn’t have looked any more lovely.

“Anything pretty is always the best.”

Besides, Serena is nice.

Honestly, no matter how handsome the crown prince was, his lack of personality prevented him from standing by Serena’s side.

Yeah, there’s a lot of men around Serena, and… they don’t have to be male…

“Even if it’s me…”

“Well, excuse me.”

“Ah?”

As I turned my head in surprise at the sudden voice, I made out a girl who had placed her hand over my shoulder.

I had no choice but to hold my breath for a moment. It was fortunate I didn’t bite my tongue.

Because it was Serena who spoke to me, not anyone else.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Were you surprised?”

Serena uttered with a much more perplexed look than mine. Her watery eyes were stained with embarrassment as much as mine did.

Did Serena originally arrive at the Academy at this time? I’m positive she had been the last person to enter the banquet hall in the original story.

Ah, come to think of it, Serena was inferior with directions. It was obvious that she fell victim to the academy since she had been the last to arrive at the banquet hall.

“No, no, no.”

Amidst admiring Serena’s face, I quickly waved my hands.

Stuttering in front of a pretty girl. Elinda Maleficent was not this type of character.

No, I’m just trying to live. Why does that matter?

There is no longer the Elinda Maleficent from the original.

“What can I do for you?”

So even this gentle smile is now allowed.

I interrogated with the brightest smile possible. Serena followed with a gentle smile and opened her mouth.

It was a very damaging sight for the heart.

“I’ve lost directions, so could you show me the way to the banquet hall?”

I came early in case I was late in addition to believing no one would be here, but I was currently in trouble.

She smiled as she softened her eyebrows.

This is extremely important, so I’m emphasizing it again, but it was very nerve-wracking to see Serena, who seemed like a celebrity, standing in front of me with such an expression.

It felt like talking to my favorite celebrity just a few centimeters away.

“Of, of course. Absolutely.”

So I couldn’t help stuttering like so.

I nodded foolishly.

I didn’t know the contents of the original work would change like this starting from the beginning. Even more so talking with Serena.

“I’m so glad.”

This time, Serena smiled purely, clapping her hands together. Soon after, she opened her bent eyes wide as if she had spotted something.

“Come to think of it, your badge is red.”

“Ye, yes.”

Alright, just what is it. Severely taken aghast by my vocabulary, I smiled awkwardly.

I felt like I would turn back in time if I could.

If so, instead of such a stupid reaction, I would naturally flirt with her and say ‘Oh, you’re my classmate. Would you like anything?’

We’d talk to each other, be friendly, and I’d be the one next to Serena instead of the damn Noah…

“Well, since you’re a classmate, could I drop the honorifics?”

“What?”

Have I ever spoken like this without thinking thoroughly?

When I opened my eyes wide at the unbelievable words, Serena smiled and asked once again.

“Why don’t we drop the honorifics? It’s fate we’ve met like this.”

Serena’s golden hair, blown by the wind, sparkled brilliantly under the sunlight. I stared blankly at the figure and immediately shook my head as I came to my senses.

I’ve never spoken to Serena properly before this life.

It was because the first time I played my part as a villain, and in the second life, I avoided her at all times so I wouldn’t get involved.

Thus, it was my first time sharing such a long conversation with Serena, in addition to facing her to this extent.

That was the reason I continued showing stupid reactions.

Let’s get it together. I can’t just show Serena this stupid look.

“Yes, it’s alright.”

I responded with a smile as naturally as possible. Then, Serena’s eyes curled gently.

No matter how much I think about it, I couldn’t have the spirit to hold onto myself while I was talking to someone who seemed like a celebrity in my heart.

However, it was also true that I didn’t want to seem like a fool in front of Serena.

“I’m Serena Eleanor. What about you?

“I’m Elinda Maleficent.”

“Oh, the Crown Prince’s…”

Serena hastily blurred her words. I felt like I was reading her mind, but I could instantly recognize the words hidden behind her mouth.

The prince’s fiancée, the lady of the Maleficent family.

To be honest, I was the one who could not dare to speak to Serena, who joined this academy fortunately.

Not only Serena, but everyone else had a hard time with me. Excluding the Professor who made me run and Noah the Crown Prince.

“Never mind my background. We are inside the Academy.”

I’m not going to say it of course, since you are also my source of money.

I replied with the sweetest smile I could muster.

Only then did Serena soften her eyebrows with visible reassuring relief.

“You are very kind.”

No, that’s what I want to tell you.

When she made such an assessment of the villain in the original book, I felt like it was becoming a bit weird.

She would, too, because at first, I had persistently harassed her to return home. By my will, not anyone else’s.

“I’m not as nice as you think.”

“I have an eye for people. I assure you, you are a very good person.”

I think your eye has a bit of a problem choosing Noah, the Crown Prince, among the many male lead candidates.

I swallowed my words inwardly. Serena certainly had no eye for people. Of course, the male lead was sweet to the female lead, yet he was a crazy psychopath who killed his fiancee just because he hated her.

“What is your major?”

As we talked about this and that, Serena asked in a clear voice similar to that of a bell.

“I’m a magic major.”

“I’m a magic major, too! Then we’re in the same class, I’m very happy!”

She replied in an excited voice. She seemed sincerely happy, and her cheeks were rosy.

I’ve nagged you and avoided you as if you were dead, although you weren’t.

And now you say you like being in the same class as me.

Somehow, It was a bit awkward and strange.

Anyway, I’m not going to be like my old life anymore.

“I know. It’ll be nice.”

In reaction to my murmur, Serena drew a smile over her mouth.

A warm and tender expression, like the petals of a spring day.

Ah, that’s heroine Buff. How can a person smile so beautifully?

“This is the banquet hall.”

The distance from the fountain to the banquet hall was quite far, but after chatting about many things, I felt like we arrived too early. I pointed to the door of the banquet hall.

Serena grasped her luggage and clenched her mouth with a face that seemed determined.

Even that figure was adorable.

“We have plenty of time left anyway, so why don’t we take a look around?”

“I’d love that.”

I can show the whole Academy for you.

I could also introduce you to a dog hole you could sneak out from the academy if you wish.

Of course, Serena’s sincere personality didn’t require her to use the dog’s hole.

“Then let’s leave our luggage in the banquet hall.”

“Should we?”

Serena twirled her hair rapidly at my words. I felt very refreshed seeing this.

Our first relationship was bad, and the second one wasn’t for Serena, but it was substandard for me.

Yet, in this life, although we haven’t known each other for less than an hour, we were acting like lifelong friends.

No matter how much I decided to live my own life, I didn’t think this would happen when I talked to Anna earlier.

“We are probably the first to arrive, right?”

Serena replied, pulling the door to the banquet hall.

At that moment, I was able to face familiar eyes through the open door gap.

Yeah, come to think of it.

“Elinda Maleficent.”

A chillingly familiar voice echoed through the tranquil banquet hall.

“You’re the first person I’ve met here. That’s quite a surprise.”

His unique red eyes drooped.

It was Prince Noah Hensley von Edmund.

“Elinda, who’s there?”

I smiled at Serena, who had been clutching the doorknob all this time and gently shook my head.

“No, there’s no one.”

“Really? I thought I heard a man’s voice.”

“No, you must have misheard. By the way, I fear some bad guy might steal our luggage if we left it in the banquet hall. How about carrying it around?”

Serena, who seemed to be pondering my question for a moment, soon nodded her head.

“But is there no one there? I thought I heard a man’s voice.”

Soon after, Serena asked once again, releasing the doorknob she had been holding.

I folded my eyes and replied with a smile.

“No, maybe a dog barked somewhere.”

“Dog?”

“Yes, a piece of shit.”

There’s no human being here.

Before a ridiculous sigh sounded from the banquet hall, I swiftly slammed the door shut.

Oh, that’s refreshing. The prince’s face that gazed at me before the door closed was quite a sight.

“Let’s go, Serena.”

I held her small hand and walked briskly.

Becoming friends with Serena was a bit spoiling, yet it was in the same context as my last life.

I was not involved with Serena in my second life, however, I did live a completely different life from the original.

Since the result was also my demise, to sum it up, no matter how hard I tried, the date of my death remained the same.

In other words, as long as I don’t completely break the flow during this period, I wouldn’t die no matter what I did.

And I was going to take full advantage of this.

“Elinda, your complexion seems better than before.”

Serena replied, blinking her eyes. I hummed happily and nodded.

“Yes, I’m looking forward to my Academy life.”

I’m going to die anyway, so I’ll just keep the line.

I folded my eyes and laughed.

It was a beautifully sunny morning.

【☆】★【☆】★【☆】