Congratulations, I’m Now a Social Outcast Too

The moment I stepped into the classroom, I knew something was wrong.

It wasn't the usual morning chatter. No idle gossip, no bored noble students complaining about how hard it was to be rich and important.

Instead, the entire room was buzzing with hushed whispers.

I barely made it three steps before I caught the first few words.

"That commoner… isn't that him?"

"The one who was with Lady Selene yesterday?"

"No way. Why would she—"

I sighed. Loudly.

Of course. The rumors had already spread.

I shuffled to my seat, firmly in the commoner section, ignoring the blatant stares drilling into my skull.

This was the worst-case scenario. I had only spoken to Selene for a few minutes yesterday. I had just handed her a stupid handkerchief. And yet, somehow, the noble students had turned it into a full-blown conspiracy.

I slumped into my chair, rubbing my temples.

"Just keep your head down," I told myself. "Stay quiet. Maybe they'll get bored and move on."

And for a moment, it seemed like they might.

Right up until the room went completely silent.

The kind of silence that only happens when something big is about to go down.

I didn't want to look.

I really didn't want to look.

But against my better judgment, I lifted my gaze—

Just in time to see Selene von Nachtwald walking straight toward me.

The room froze.

Every noble student, every commoner, every single person in the class stopped whatever they were doingto stare at the approaching storm that was Selene von Nachtwald.

Her heels clicked against the polished floor with an almost menacing rhythm, her long black hair flowing behind her like the cape of a conquering queen.

Her crimson eyes were calm. Too calm.

And worst of all?

She was walking straight toward me.

I fought every single instinct in my body that told me to get up and run.

No sudden movements. No eye contact. If I just stayed perfectly still, maybe she'd—

Selene reached my desk, pulled out the empty chair next to mine, and sat down.

The entire class collectively lost their minds.

"Did she just—"

"WHAT IS HAPPENING?!"

I felt the panic in the room before I even processed what had just happened.

Because Selene—a high-ranking demonkin noble, the former fiancée of the prince, the villainess of this world—had just sat down in the commoner section.

Next to me.

My brain completely short-circuited.

This—this wasn't supposed to happen.

Nobles never sat in the commoner section. It was an unspoken rule at the Academy. The seats were separated for a reason.

And yet, here Selene was. Sitting next to me like it was the most normal thing in the world.

I opened my mouth to say something—anything—but before I could, she calmly reached into her uniform pocket, pulled something out, and placed it on my desk.

A neatly folded handkerchief.

My handkerchief. The same one I had given her in the library yesterday.

Selene met my gaze, her crimson eyes steady.

"I believe this is yours," she said smoothly.

You could have heard a pin drop in the classroom.

The noble students were completely frozen. Some of them looked like they were about to pass out.

"Why is she returning a handkerchief?"

"Wait, was this—was this some kind of romantic gesture?!"

"DID THEY SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER?!"

I nearly choked on my own spit.

"What—NO," I hissed, whipping my head toward the idiot who had said that. "It was nothing like that!"

But it was too late.

The rumor mill was already spinning at full speed.

I could feel the nobles' judgmental stares stabbing into me like daggers.

Some looked horrified. Others looked ready to call an exorcist.

I, meanwhile, was having an internal breakdown.

Why? Why would she do this in front of everyone?!

I turned to Selene, lowering my voice. "You realize what you just did, right?"

She tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable. "I returned what was yours."

"Yeah, but did you have to do it here?! In front of everyone?!"

She blinked, as if she had only just now noticed the dozens of stunned students watching us.

Then she let out a soft, amused hum.

"Oh. I see," she murmured. "You're concerned about the rumors."

"No, I'm concerned about my life expectancy."

Selene merely smirked. "How dramatic."

I clenched my jaw. I was not being dramatic. I was being realistic.

In this world, noble politics were cutthroat. If people thought I was involved with Selene in any way—whether as a secret lover, a political pawn, or, god forbid, an enemy of Reinhardt—then I was done for.

Meanwhile, the class was still whispering.

"Did she really sit there just to return a handkerchief?"

"Or maybe… she's interested in him?"

I almost slammed my head against my desk.

I just wanted to be an NPC. How did it come to this?!

The whispers weren't stopping.

If anything, they were getting worse.

Some of the noble girls looked scandalized, covering their mouths as they gossiped. A few noble boys were openly sneering at me, as if a lowly commoner sitting next to Lady Selene was a crime punishable by public execution.

I felt a headache coming on.

"Selene," I muttered under my breath. "You're making things worse."

She merely sipped her tea.

Where did she even get tea? This was a classroom.

"If the opinions of others trouble you so much, you should ignore them," she said smoothly.

"I would, but I like being alive."

Selene arched an eyebrow, as if amused by my suffering. "Surely, you're overreacting."

I wasn't.

But before I could argue, someone slammed a hand onto my desk.

I looked up—

—and found myself face to face with Iris von Edelweiss.

The noble daughter of Duke Edelweiss. Reinhardt's childhood friend. And one of the game's original love interests.

Her piercing violet eyes narrowed dangerously at me.

"What exactly," she said, voice sharp, "do you think you're doing with Lady Selene?"

Oh great. Another noble problem.

I sighed, forcing myself to meet Iris von Edelweiss's sharp violet gaze.

Unlike Selene, who carried herself with an air of quiet elegance, Iris had the confident posture of a noble who expected answers.

Her golden-blond hair, neatly tied into a half-up braid, only made her look even more intimidating.

The entire class had gone silent again, eagerly watching the confrontation unfold.

I slowly raised my hands in surrender.

"Listen, I can explain," I said.

Iris's expression remained icy. "Then explain."

I hesitated.

Because technically, I could explain.

I could tell her that Selene and I weren't friends. That we had only spoken once in the library. That the whole handkerchief thing was blown way out of proportion.

But before I could get a single word out—

Selene placed her teacup down with a soft clink and gracefully folded her hands in her lap.

"I don't recall needing permission to choose my own company," she said coolly.

The entire room shuddered.

Iris stiffened, clearly caught off guard.

I, meanwhile, buried my face in my hands.

Oh, for the love of—Selene, you are NOT helping!

Iris's jaw tightened.

"That's not what I meant," she said, her voice measured but firm. "I simply find it… unusual that you, of all people, would associate with a commoner."

I winced. Yeah, there it was.

She didn't even try to hide the sheer disbelief in her tone. Because from a noble's perspective, Selene and I sitting together didn't make any sense.

Selene, on the other hand, remained perfectly calm.

"Unusual?" she repeated, tilting her head slightly. "And why is that?"

Iris frowned. "Because it's beneath you."

The classroom went even quieter.

I immediately braced for disaster. Because if there was one thing you never said to a high-ranking noble, it was that they were acting beneath their status.

And sure enough, Selene's gaze hardened.

"Oh?" she murmured. "So now you dictate whom I may speak to?"

Iris's expression faltered for a brief second. "That's not what I—"

"Then perhaps you should focus on your own affairs," Selene cut in smoothly.

I watched in slow motion as Iris's eye twitched.

Selene wasn't raising her voice. She wasn't angry.

She was simply exuding the kind of effortless noble pressure that made lesser people wilt.

Unfortunately for me, I was caught in the crossfire.

Iris's fingers twitched slightly, but she held her ground.

"I am simply concerned," she said, her voice clipped. "You may not care about your reputation, Lady Selene, but surely you understand the implications of your actions."

Selene regarded her coolly. "And what implications would those be?"

Iris hesitated.

She was struggling to say it outright.

Because if she did, it would mean admitting that in noble society, just sitting next to a commoner was enough to damage someone's reputation.

Selene seemed to realize this too, because she slowly leaned forward, resting her chin against her hand.

"Tell me, Lady Iris," she said, voice light. "Do you believe my social standing can possibly fall lower than it already has?"

The tension in the air doubled.

Iris's expression flickered. The nobles watching the exchange held their breath.

Because Selene was right.

After yesterday's public humiliation, after being discarded by Reinhardt like an inconvenient footnote, she was already the most socially untouchable noble in the Academy.

Her reputation couldn't get any worse.

Which meant—

She had nothing to lose.

And I had everything to lose.

I groaned and slumped against my desk. Oh, fantastic. She's fully embracing social exile. And she's dragging me with her.

Iris's lips pressed into a thin line.

She wasn't stupid. She knew she had no real counterargument. Selene was already at rock bottom in noble society. There was no further damage that could be done to her reputation.

But me?

I was just a commoner.

A nameless nobody who had somehow gotten tangled in noble politics.

If this kept up, it wouldn't just be rumors and whispers anymore. People would start seeing me as a problem.

And in this world, when a commoner became a problem…

I didn't want to finish that thought.

Iris exhaled sharply and shot me another glare.

"This has nothing to do with you," she said coldly. "So why are you involving yourself in Lady Selene's affairs?"

I blinked.

Wait. Me? Involving myself?

I gestured vaguely at Selene, then back at myself. "I'm pretty sure I'm the one being involved."

Selene, ever so gracefully, took another sip of her tea.

Iris looked like she wanted to strangle me.

Unfortunately, before she could, the professor finally walked into the classroom.

"Take your seats," the elderly instructor called. "We begin at once."

Iris sent me one final glare before storming back to her seat.

Selene, of course, remained right next to me.

As if nothing had happened.

I sighed, slumping back in my chair.

This is going to be a long day.

Class started, but I barely heard a word of the lecture.

Not because I wasn't paying attention—though, let's be honest, I wasn't—but because I could feel the stares burning into me from all sides.

The noble students weren't even being subtle about it.

Some were stealing glances between pretending to take notes. Others were straight-up whispering behind their hands.

"Why is she still sitting with him?"

"Is he blackmailing her?"

"Maybe he's her secret lover—"

I choked on my own spit.

Selene, completely unbothered, simply turned a page in her textbook.

I leaned slightly toward her, lowering my voice. "You hear them, right?"

She didn't even glance up. "Obviously."

"…And you don't care?"

Selene finally looked at me, crimson eyes calm. "Should I?"

I sighed, rubbing my temples.

Okay, so she really was fully committed to ignoring noble society at this point. Great. Fantastic.

Meanwhile, I was over here trying to figure out how to not get murdered in my sleep.

But before I could even think of a strategy—

The professor's voice suddenly cut through the room.

"Ah, before I forget—there is an important announcement for today."

I slowly lifted my head. What now?

The professor smiled. "As many of you already know, the Academy's first major event is approaching."

My stomach dropped.

Oh no.

No, no, no—

"The Annual Dueling Tournament will take place in two weeks!" the professor declared proudly.

The room erupted into excited chatter.

And I?

I was too busy trying not to pass out.

I froze.

The Annual Dueling Tournament.

A major event in Eternal Lovers Academy. The first real test of skill between students, where nobles competed for honor and recognition.

And if my memory served me right…

This was also the first event where the protagonist, Reinhardt, completely crushed his opponents and cemented himself as the Academy's strongest student.

Oh, fantastic.

The professor continued, oblivious to my growing horror.

"As always, participation is encouraged! Students, this is a chance to demonstrate your abilities and bring prestige to your house. Even commoners are welcome to participate, should they wish to test their skills!"

A noble boy near the front scoffed. "Hah! As if a commoner could ever match a noble in combat."

Laughter rippled through the noble students.

I slid lower into my chair.

Nope. Nope. I refuse. I am not getting involved in this.

Selene, meanwhile, was completely calm, sipping her tea like nothing was happening.

I nudged her lightly. "Tell me this is a bad dream."

She glanced at me, bemused. "Why? Do you wish to participate?"

I nearly choked. "Absolutely not."

Selene smirked.

"Oh?" she mused. "That's unfortunate."

I frowned. "Why?"

She delicately set her teacup down.

"Because now I'm curious how well you'd fare in a duel."

I stared at Selene, waiting for her to laugh or say she was joking.

She didn't.

Her crimson eyes were perfectly calm, perfectly serious.

"…You can't be serious," I muttered.

She tilted her head slightly. "Why not?"

"Because I have zero interest in getting my face rearranged by some overpowered noble."

Selene hummed, as if considering my words.

"That's a shame," she said lightly. "I thought you might want to prove yourself."

I squinted at her. "Prove myself to who?"

She took another sip of tea, looking far too entertained.

I sighed, dragging a hand down my face. "Look, just because I helped you out once doesn't mean I'm some hidden powerhouse waiting to be discovered."

Selene smirked faintly. "No, I don't think you are."

"Good, then we're on the same page—"

"I just think it would be amusing to watch you fight."

I gaped at her.

She wanted me to fight for her own entertainment?!

Before I could protest, I felt another stare burning into me.

Slowly, I turned my head—

And met Reinhardt's piercing blue eyes from across the room.

Oh no.

Oh no, no, no—

I recognized that look.

That was the look of a protagonist noticing his rival for the first time.

I broke eye contact immediately.

Nope. Nope. Not happening.

I was not about to become Reinhardt's rival. I was not getting involved in this stupid dueling tournament. I was not—

"You should enter," Selene mused beside me.

I turned to her, horrified. "Absolutely not."

She smirked. "Why not? You could surprise people."

"Surprise them by what? Dying on the first hit?"

Selene chuckled softly. "If you're that weak, perhaps I should start training you."

I froze.

Wait. What?

I stared at her, but she simply rested her chin on her hand, looking completely serious.

"…You're joking," I said flatly.

Her smirk widened slightly.

Oh no.

She was not joking.

Before I could argue, the professor clapped his hands.

"Well then! I expect to see some strong performances in the tournament," he announced. "Now, let's return to today's lesson."

The class finally turned back toward the front.

But as I sat there, I could still feel Reinhardt's gaze on me.

And Selene's amusement.

I buried my face in my arms.

I just wanted to be a background character. How did it come to this?!

Class resumed, but I barely heard a word of it.

Because two very big problems were now looming over my head.

Problem One: Selene had apparently decided that I needed combat training.

Problem Two: Reinhardt had now officially noticed me.

Both of these things were bad.

I sank lower into my chair, my mind racing. How do I get out of this?

Maybe I could just refuse to duel. If I stayed out of the tournament, everything would blow over, right?

I peeked at Selene out of the corner of my eye.

She was still watching me, an amused glint in her crimson eyes, as if she could read my mind.

I had a sinking suspicion that if I refused to duel, she'd just drag me into something worse.

I exhaled slowly. Okay. New plan: Survive.

Class continued, and eventually, the professor dismissed us.

The moment he did, I stood up immediately, ready to escape—

But Selene smoothly rose to her feet beside me.

I froze.

She glanced at me. "Going somewhere?"

"…No?"

She smiled. "Good. Then follow me."

She turned and walked away without waiting for my answer.

I stared at her retreating form.

…I have a very bad feeling about this.

I didn't move.

Maybe—maybe—if I stayed completely still, Selene would forget I existed and leave me alone.

…Nope.

She paused at the door, turned slightly, and arched an eyebrow at me.

"Well?"

I sighed. There was no escaping this, was there?

With the weight of regret and poor life choices on my shoulders, I dragged myself after her.

I could feel the other students staring—some horrified, some intrigued, and some (Iris) probably considering throwing me out of a window.

As soon as I stepped out of the classroom, Selene continued walking down the hall, her pace unhurried.

"So," I said cautiously. "Where exactly are we going?"

She didn't look back. "To the training grounds."

I blinked. "The… what now?"

She finally glanced at me, her crimson eyes gleaming with amusement.

"If you're going to survive in this academy," she mused, "you'll need to learn how to fight."

I stared at her.

No.

No way.

She wasn't seriously—

Selene smirked.

"Consider this your first lesson."

I groaned, dragging a hand down my face.

I should have stayed a background character.