Professor Ivy.

"Karina… ah, there you are," Venzel whispered as he approached her, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Dear, I thought I lost you."

She was in the library, sitting in the farthest corner, her posture tense—as if she were hiding from someone.

Unfortunately for her, she had been found.

Venzel took a step closer, but then he noticed her trembling.

His heart clenched.

This…

He forced himself to pause, to rethink his approach. Rushing her wouldn't help.

Instead, he exhaled slowly and held up a book.

"Karina, you dropped this."

She blinked, her emerald eyes flickering with hesitation. She probably hadn't even realized she dropped one of her books.

Still, she didn't move to take it. She simply stared at the book, regret maybe.

Venzel didn't push her. Instead, he gently placed the book on the table beside her.

"You shouldn't be too clumsy." he turned and walked away.

Karina stared at the notebook for a long moment after making sure he had left, her fingers hesitating before she finally picked it up.

Slowly, she flipped through the pages.

This wasn't the first time Venzel had returned one of her notebooks. But back then, he never gave it back without marking it first—scribbles, crude drawings, mocking messages scrawled across the pages.

Half-expecting the same cruelty, she braced herself.

Yet… there was nothing. Not a single mark

Her grip tightened.

Is this another one of his pranks? Why is he doing this? What does he want?

First thing in the morning, and he was already unsettling her. Not with taunts, not with pranks like the usual, but with this scary display of kindness.

Karina let out a slow breath and turned toward the window, her gaze distant.

She no longer felt like studying.

___

Classes at Heart Academy were structured around the subjects each student wished to take. There were no mandatory classes.

Currently, Venzel was in his combat class. And among the many classmates, there was one girl who stood out, Angie.

It wasn't surprising to see nobles and aspiring knights here, but Angie? A cleric?

He had also once asked her during his past life, "Why take combat class when you're clearly a healer?"

Her answer had been simple—cheesy, even.

"Because you are also here."

He had smiled like an idiot for an entire week after hearing that.

That's on me.

He mocked his past self, yet he had to admit, making fun of his own stupidity was actually getting a lot more fun.

Just then, the professor's voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"Everyone, pair up in twos and report to the combat hall. We'll be conducting a test."

Professor Ivy.

She was the youngest instructor the academy had ever hired. Reports and rumours of nepotism surrounded her appointment, and well–they might have been true. It doesn't change the fact that she happened to be the best among all applicants.

A student raised their hand. "Professor Ivy, the class has 31 students. Someone will be left without a partner."

This was what Venzel had hoped for, he had teamed up with Angie in the past during the combat test eliciting jealousy or something else from Karina and which later escalated to Karina confronting Angie.

Venzel shot to his feet before anyone else could speak.

"Professor, can we team up?"

A murmur spread through the class.

Angie turned, visibly shocked as she thought.

Aren't you supposed to team up with me?

Professor Ivy barely spared him a glance.

"You're a prince, Venzel, but here, that doesn't mean much. You still need to learn your place like everyone else, behave."

Venzel nodded without hesitation. "Yes, Professor."

And just like that, he sat back down.

The classroom stilled for a moment.

Professor Ivy stared at him, her mind short-circuiting.

Wait. That's it?

She had expected resistance, arrogance—some sort of entitled rebuttal. But instead, he just… backed down?

This wasn't in line with what she had anticipated for.

Flustered, she cleared her throat.

"Umm… but I'll make an exception this time."

"Thank you professor." Venzel smiled.

In his past life, he might have been content with flaunting his status, with showing off his privilege. But now, every step felt like an effort to prove something deeper.

Not to the world, but to her.

There was no way he could afford to partner with Angie today. No place for unnecessary attachments, nor misunderstandings.

Karina, my dear, he thought to himself, I will make you fall for me. I'll prove to you how much I love you.

"His thoughts wandered back to Karina as the class continued, the memory of her distant eyes lingering.

Just as his mind was about to drift again, the professor's sharp voice broke through his reverie.

"Venzel. Venzel!"

He blinked.

Professor Ivy stood before him, arms crossed, eyes sharp.

"I know you're happy to be my partner for the test," she said flatly, "but at least don't daydream abou it during my class. Ahem let's move to the combat hall now."

Laughter rippled through the class at Professor Ivy's remark, but Venzel simply smiled.

Back in his past life, he wouldn't have thought twice about trying to charm her, making a teasing remark to earn the admiration of those around him. But this time, none of that mattered.

He had bigger priorities.

____

Soon the students reported to the combat hall and when everyone was accounted for.

Professor Ivy clapped her hands once more, bringing the class to order. "Alright, listen up. Today's test is simple—one-on-one sparring. No magic, only weapons. The goal is to disarm or pin your opponent within five minutes. If neither happens, I'll decide based on performance."

The students quickly began pairing off, while Venzel stretched his limbs.

No magic. That's fine.

His past self had always relied on magic to overpower his opponents. A prince didn't need to work too hard when he had overwhelming mana, right? But that arrogance had cost him everything.

"Ready, Your Highness?" Ivy smirked as she drew her wooden training sword.

Venzel exhaled and met her gaze.

"Ready, Professor."

The moment the signal was given, Ivy lunged.

And Venzel—moved.

He had expected Ivy to come at him fast.

She was skilled, Precise and equally dangerous.

But what he hadn't expected was how natural it felt to read her movements.

Every step, every swing—he saw it all.

His past life's battles weren't for nothing, It seems.

But rather than overpowering her with brute force, he adjusted. He parried, he dodged, he fought with technique, something the old Venzel had sorely lacked.

Ivy's eyes narrowed.

This wasn't the reckless prince she had heard about.

The match continued, each clash of wood against wood echoing through the training hall.

Students paused their own matches to watch.

Venzel wasn't overwhelming Ivy, but he wasn't losing either. He was adapting. Standing his ground against the professor!

A slow grin spread across his face.

With a sudden shift in movement, Ivy feinted to the left—but Venzel was already prepared.

He sidestepped, twisted his wrist, and—

*Clatter*

Ivy's training sword hit the ground.

Silence.

The students who had been watching gasped.

Professor Ivy stared at her empty hand, then at Venzel, who stood before her with a calm, composed expression.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Ivy huffed out a breath.

"Well. That was unexpected."

Venzel chuckled, lowering his wooden sword. "Guess I got lucky, Professor."

She picked up her weapon, inspecting him with curiosity.

"Luck, huh? We'll see about that."

But as she turned away, her thoughts swirled.

This wasn't the same prince they thought they knew anymore.

And she wasn't the only one who noticed.

In the crowd, Angie watched silently, her expression unreadable.