I thought enough time had passed for her to forget.
So please—let’s treat this like our first meeting.
Reina held no affection for Sophia. She had a poor impression of her and nothing to gain from any interaction.
“You.”
Reina, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.
The atmosphere grew cold.
There was no mistaking it—this was not a warm welcome.
“I’m not proud of it, but I have a decent memory. Haven’t we met before?”
“You mean that?” Sophia hesitated. “Mm… sorry. I can’t remember well…”
“Hmm.”
Reina narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
“If you only remember vaguely, then I suppose that’s all it was worth.”
Her tone was cold, but there was no confirmation—only doubt.
It was more a feeling than certainty.
“Well then,” Sophia continued, “is it alright if I sit with you?”
“Sit?” Reina seemed confused.
“Ah…that’s right,” Reina replied.
If Reina and Sophia could get along, perhaps Reina wouldn’t be left isolated.
Sophia wanted to use this opportunity to build some sort of connection between them.
But Reina’s next words shattered that hope.
“You don’t know the word ‘polite,’ do you?”
And with that, it seemed like all would fall apart.
***
[A Different Time]
Sophia walked with a book in hand, heading toward the garden—the same one she had during the Arcana Academy entrance exam.
Today, with no classes due to the ceremony, she looked forward to enjoying a quiet read under the warm sun.
But someone was already there.
A girl sat reading with poise, her platinum hair pulled back neatly.
She exuded an elegant charm, even in the simple act of turning a page.
Sophia found herself captivated.
‘I want to get to know her.’
It wasn’t strange for Sophia to think that.
Maybe they could talk about books. Maybe they could become friends.
She stepped forward.
“Hey—”
Sophia reached out a hand, attempting to get the girl’s attention.
But she stumbled—her foot caught in the grass—and fell.
“Ugh.”
Embarrassed, she swallowed her nerves and slowly lifted her head.
The girl had stopped reading and was now staring at her.
Sophia was momentarily entranced by her vivid, amethyst eyes.
“You’re the special student this year—Miss Sophia Eris,” the girl said.
It wasn’t surprising; Sophia had introduced herself during the ceremony.
Still, if she remembered her name, maybe that was a good sign.
Sophia began to feel hopeful.
But then came the words that crushed her.
“Even if you’re a special student from the commoner class, shouldn’t you at least know basic manners?”
Sophia froze.
“In some circumstances, touching the belongings or body of a noble without permission can be punished severely. Even here at Arcana Academy, where equality is emphasized, the social hierarchy doesn’t just vanish.”
The girl’s eyes were piercing—cold enough to send a shiver through Sophia.
“If you’re that ignorant of etiquette, perhaps a leave of absence would be appropriate.”
‘That’s too much.’
Sophia didn’t say it aloud, but the thought echoed in her heart.
Her fingertip had barely brushed the hem of the girl’s skirt.
Was that really worthy of such scorn?
“If you’re a special student, you should be even more aware of how others perceive you. Please take that to heart.”
The girl stood, gathered her things, and left without waiting for a response.
She didn’t even glance back.
Sophia was left with the harsh truth.
She was a commoner.
Most of the students were nobles.
No matter how talented she was, the wall between them remained unbroken.
***
“Miss Reina?”
“I don’t know who you are,” she replied coldly. “But if you want to ask for a seat, the polite thing would be to give your name first.”
“Oh, I’m Sophia—”
“I didn’t say I wanted to hear your name.”
Something felt off.
“Are you one of this year’s special students from the commoner class?”
“Yes. I’m the Light—”
“So you’re the one who got in as a special student and yet didn’t even learn the basics of etiquette. Impressive.”
Sophia blinked. No matter how she looked at it, something was wrong.
Reina had corrected her manners when they first met in the original story too. Her tone had been cold, her words strict—but there had been reason behind them.
Many readers even agreed with Reina’s stance.
Even when Sophia bumped into her at the market, Reina had maintained her cold tone.
But she never went this far.
Reina was harsh—but her severity came from a place of kindness.
She offered guidance to help others grow.
Sophia had come to understand that after spending time with her.
That’s why this felt so wrong.
“Or are you under the illusion that your title as a special student means you can do whatever you please? If so, that’s a coward’s excuse—hiding behind your own name.”
“It’s not like that…”
Reina’s words no longer felt like advice.
This was bullying.
“Otherwise, maybe you should apply for expulsion, since you’re so remorseful about your ignorance?”
“…Miss Reina?!”
Sophia couldn’t stop her voice from rising at Reina’s cruel remarks.
Reina turned to look at her.
“Yes, Young Master Ike?”
Her gaze was icy—devoid of warmth, of familiarity.
She wasn’t the Reina I knew.
This wasn’t a mistake.
Reina had changed.
She had been pushed too far, mentally and emotionally.
I had wanted her to soften—to smile more often.
And she had.
For a while, I believed things would be alright.
We exchanged letters for a month after the dance competition.
Nothing seemed wrong.
So why?
What happened in the last three years?
It felt like the world itself was determined to make Reina into a villainess.