Chapter 3
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The atmosphere at the Royal Academy had shifted.
Evelina could feel it the moment she stepped onto the Academy grounds that morning.
The whispers were different.
Before, they had been mocking.
People used to talk about her obsession with Prince Cassius, about how she clung to him despite his obvious disinterest, about how pathetic she was to chase a man who barely tolerated her existence.
But now?
Now they weren't mocking her.
Now they were watching her.
It was subtle, but she could feel the weight of their stares as she walked through the courtyard, her steps slow and measured.
It was the same feeling as standing in the middle of a chessboard, surrounded by pieces that were suddenly unsure of their moves.
And Evelina?
She was the only one who knew what game they were actually playing.
---
She took her usual seat in the lecture hall, flipping through the pages of an old military strategy book she had pulled from the Academy's archives the day before.
She wasn't actually reading it.
She was waiting.
Because the real battle wasn't in the pages of the book—it was in the movements of the people around her.
And sure enough—
Someone sat down beside her.
Leon Valcrest.
Evelina didn't react immediately, but she knew why he was here.
Leon was not an idle man.
He was a warrior, a future leader of the kingdom's most powerful knights. He did not waste his time on people who did not matter.
And yet, today, he had chosen to sit beside her.
She could feel his eyes on her, studying her.
Waiting.
She took her time, letting the silence stretch before finally closing her book with a soft thud.
Only then did she turn to him, meeting his gaze.
"Something on your mind, Sir Leon?"
Leon's expression remained neutral, but there was something unspoken in the way he looked at her.
"You're different," he said simply.
Evelina smiled. "Am I?"
Leon tilted his head slightly, his sharp gray eyes searching for something.
"You didn't react to Seraphina yesterday," he continued. "You didn't insult her. You didn't challenge her."
Evelina hummed lightly.
"And that concerns you?"
Leon didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he leaned back slightly, fingers tapping against the desk as if he were piecing something together.
"You're either planning something," he murmured, "or you've changed."
Evelina arched a brow. "Which do you think it is?"
Leon held her gaze for a moment longer.
Then, to her surprise, he smirked.
"I'll let you prove it," he said.
Evelina's fingers stilled against the pages of her book.
She had expected suspicion.
She had not expected interest.
---
By the time class ended, the tension had only grown stronger.
Seraphina was noticeably quieter.
She sat near the front of the class, her posture rigid, her golden eyes flickering toward Evelina more times than she probably realized.
Evelina didn't acknowledge her.
She didn't need to.
Seraphina was already losing control.
She could feel it slipping from her hands—the story that had always belonged to her.
And Evelina?
She had barely lifted a finger.
But the real battle was coming.
Because next was combat training.
And Evelina already knew this was supposed to be Seraphina's moment.
---
The training grounds were a wide, open space surrounded by tall stone walls.
A cool breeze swept across the field, rustling the banners bearing the royal insignia.
Noble students stood in neat lines, their wooden swords in hand, awaiting the start of the lesson.
Evelina sighed inwardly as she picked up her own training sword.
It felt awkward in her grip.
Heavy in a way she wasn't used to.
She had always avoided physical training.
She had preferred battles fought with words, with influence, with well-placed whispers that could ruin reputations faster than any blade.
But now, she had no choice.
Because the instructor had already noticed her.
And today, he had decided she was going to participate.
"You've been slacking for years, Lady Evelina," he said, his gruff voice carrying across the field. "Time to fix that."
Evelina forced a polite smile. "I assure you, I am perfectly fine with remaining a strategist rather than a fighter."
The instructor tossed a second wooden sword to Leon Valcrest.
"You'll be sparring with Sir Leon today," he announced.
The students gasped.
Evelina… froze.
Oh.
Oh, no.
---
Seraphina couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Leon was supposed to spar with her.
He was supposed to be impressed by her hidden talent, leading to the first real moment of recognition between them.
But instead—
He was standing across from Evelina.
His sword already raised.
Seraphina gripped her own weapon tightly, her nails digging into the wood.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
This wasn't how it was meant to be.
---
Evelina exhaled slowly, adjusting her stance.
Fine.
If she had to fight Leon Valcrest, she would at least make it interesting.
The moment the match began, he struck first.
Fast. Precise.
Evelina barely dodged, shifting out of the way at the last second.
The wooden blade swung past her, missing by inches.
She could feel the air shift around her, hear the murmurs of the students.
"She dodged?"
"Is she actually… holding her ground?"
"Wasn't she supposed to be awful at this?"
Leon's gaze flickered with amusement.
"Not bad," he murmured.
Evelina smiled. "I try."
He lunged again—faster.
She twisted away, her breath steady, her movements deliberate.
She wasn't fighting to win.
She was fighting to surprise him.
And judging by the way his grip on the sword tightened slightly—
She already had.
---
By the time the match ended, the whispers had completely changed.
Evelina had gone from being mocked to being watched.
Leon wiped sweat from his brow, his smirk unmistakable.
"You're dangerous," he murmured.
Evelina tilted her head. "Oh? A compliment?"
Leon chuckled.
"Maybe."
And then—
From across the training grounds, Adrian Everhart's gaze met hers.
He hadn't fought today.
He had only observed.
But now, he was watching her with an unreadable expression.
Seraphina's moment had been stolen.
And Evelina?
She had just won again.
---