"Saint Maria Academy... I’m back."

Inside the low-profile, luxurious black carriage, Ariel Bugalde lifted a corner of the curtain, her gaze drifting past the towering statues that guarded the main gate, locking onto the solemn buildings half-hidden in the depths beyond.

Saint Maria Academy.

One of the Empire’s top-tier academies, boasting an unparalleled faculty and abundant resources— a sacred land countless students dreamed of entering.

There was even a saying about Saint Maria Academy: Even a filthy toad who crawls through these gates will graduate a graceful, noble swan.

Of course, that was pure exaggeration. But still, it spoke volumes about the Academy's overwhelming prestige.

"Has it really been a whole year?"

Ariel’s eyes glinted with quiet sentiment.

A year ago, after her °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° mother’s illness claimed her life, Ariel had been brought back by her father, the Count—transforming overnight from a mere commoner into the Count of Bugalde’s third daughter. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

But becoming the Count’s daughter hadn’t made her life any better. Quite the opposite. Her status as an illegitimate child made her a prime target for ridicule among the so-called "pureblood" nobles at the Academy.

Especially him.

Muen Campbell.

The most detestable of them all.

Always picking fights, always laying traps—every time they crossed paths, he would sneer at her with that same line: “Filthy lowborn mutt tainted by cheap blood.”

But what made it truly unbearable—was that he was the fiancé of Her Highness, Princess Celicia.

How the hell does he deserve that?!

Celicia, with her cold elegance, her unmatched grace and brilliance—Ariel had long since reserved the position of "Crystal Palace Master" exclusively for her.

Muen Campbell? How does that bastard deserve her?!

It was infuriating. If not for the invincible halo of being a Duke's son wrapped around him, Ariel would’ve already scrambled his tofu-filled brain and kicked his crippled body off a cliff to keep him from polluting the environment.

Fortunately, even without her doing the honors, Muen Campbell was still a pathetic waste of space.

Arrogant, lazy, utterly incompetent, with his head so far in the clouds it was a miracle he could still breathe.

Rumor had it, over an entire academic year, the only magic he managed to learn was an Illumination Spell. The poor magic professor, Professor Pran, was so infuriated he couldn’t sleep for three nights.

Every time Ariel saw Muen flaunting his fiancé status to shamelessly cling to Celicia, she couldn’t help but laugh.

Keep acting, idiot. You can’t even see the disgust in Celicia’s eyes, can you?

Someone as icy as her probably hated clingy trash the most—especially the type that sticks like gum under your shoe and never lets go.

"If you want to win Celicia over, obviously you have to work hard like me—build yourself up, climb higher, and make your move when the time’s right."

Ariel's lips curved into her signature crooked smirk, irreverent and full of confidence.

"In just one year, I went from some ordinary commoner who’d never even seen real magic— to a powerhouse holding first place across the entire grade.

And during the short two-month holiday, I crushed my two idiot brothers and officially secured my status as the Count's successor.

I bet even Celicia won’t be able to ignore me for long.

It’s finally time. I can use swordsmanship lessons as an excuse to get close to her, brush up the favorability points, slip in a few casual touches...

Over time... heh, Celicia's mine, sooner or later!"

Balling her fists with excitement, Ariel couldn't help but quietly celebrate the perfection of her plan.

After adjusting the tie of her Academy uniform, she stepped off the carriage, carrying her anticipation and determination straight through the grand gates.

Unfortunately, her moment of joy was short-lived—shattered by a few brainless morons who didn’t know their place.

"Well, well, if it isn’t the filthy little lowborn mutt. No wonder the Academy's air suddenly reeks—it’s you."

Ariel’s expression darkened as she raised her eyes to the group of noble sons blocking her path.

Her tone went cold. "Eamon, here to bark on your master's orders again?"

Muen Campbell. The Duke's bastard with the infamous reputation that no one decent wanted to be associated with. And yet, there were always power-hungry mutts eager to wag their tails behind him.

Eamon here? The loudest one in Muen’s pack.

"Bark? Don’t like that word," Eamon sneered, stepping in close, using his height to tower over Ariel.

"Ariel Bugalde—still just gutter trash raised by peasants. No manners at all. Is that how you speak to your seniors?"

Ariel’s eyes flashed with thinly veiled disdain. "I speak human to people, dog to dogs. Fair, polite, equal treatment for all—that’s always been my motto."

The moment the word lowborn hit her ears, icy sharpness flickered in her gaze.

"So, senior, got anything else to yap about? If not, kindly get lost. Unlike you leeches, I don’t have time to waste on meaningless nonsense."

"Tch. Since you’re so eager, guess I won’t bother hiding it."

Eamon peeled off one of his gloves, smacking it down in front of Ariel with a crisp slap.

"I challenge you, Ariel Bugalde!"

"...Hah?"

Ariel blinked, dumbfounded.

Again?

How many times had these idiots challenged her already?

Three times last semester alone?

What, did they form a conga line to get their asses kicked?

"Hmph, last time we underestimated you—sent that idiot Gru to deal with you, never expected you’d have a breakthrough mid-fight.

But this time's different. I’ll personally deal with you. I’ll make sure you taste the humiliation of defeat—then the whole Academy will laugh at you!"

Eamon's vicious threat practically dripped with confidence.

Yeah, sure. You’re a fourth-year challenging a second-year. Even if I lost, no one with a brain would laugh at me.

But you, publicly challenging me like this—aren’t you the one embarrassing yourself?

Ariel mentally sighed.

She really wondered if all of Muen Campbell’s cronies had tofu for brains from hanging around him too long.

Here we go again...

"Poor Ariel, always getting harassed by those bastards."

"When will someone finally deal with that damn Campbell..."

"Shhh, keep your voice down, don’t let his dogs hear you!"

A crowd had started to gather.

Most of them were ordinary students who didn’t give a damn about her illegitimate status. Sympathy filled their eyes—some even quietly cheered her on.

"Ariel, you’ve got this! I believe in you!"

But of course, others weren’t so optimistic.

"Sigh... Ariel's in real trouble this time. Eamon's one of the top dogs in fourth year, they call him the ‘Campbell Wolf.’ His Blood Wolf Summoning is so refined even the professors praise him.

Even if Ariel beat Gru from third year, facing someone like Eamon... doesn’t look good."

"..."

Hearing those reasonable, logical analyses, Ariel's lips twitched.

Same script, different names. Haven’t I heard this lecture a dozen times already?

And every time...she shoved their words right back down their throats.

This time? No different.

A fire of battle-lust ignited behind Ariel's eyes.

Her blood boiled with the thrill of it.

The Campbell Wolf? Fine. Let’s test my training over the holiday break.

Besides, crushing a fourth-year as a fresh second-year? That'll definitely catch Celicia's attention.

Ariel smirked crookedly. "Alright, I accep—"

But before she could finish, a ripple of murmurs tore through the crowd. Someone whispered sharply:

"It’s Muen Campbell!"