What the Hell Is This?

The strange atmosphere felt like something straight out of a novel… Was Cyrus actually developing feelings for me?

I knew it was an excessively self-centered thought. But if that wasn’t the case, what other reason could this arrogant man possibly have for closing the distance between us?

What should I do? Should I close my eyes?

Before that, wouldn’t our glasses bump into each other? Was that even okay? Why on earth was I worrying about something like this?

As all sorts of thoughts flooded Evey’s mind, he stepped forward and erased the remaining distance between them.

Evey instinctively squeezed her eyes shut.

Rustle.

What was that sound?

Whatever it was, it definitely hadn’t come from Evey’s lips.

Only then did she open her eyes, and her vision filled with a burst of color. Not in the metaphorical way people in love described it—literally.

“……”

In front of Evey was the printed handout she had made.

He hadn’t been leaning toward her at all. He had simply reached over and picked up the papers that had been carelessly tossed onto the bed.

Wasn’t this just wonderful! He was kindly showing her the “Dormitory Lights-Out Rules” right in front of her eyes!

“……I already know the rules.”

“Really? I thought you didn’t.”

Evey felt a surge of irritation but forced it down. After all, she really did owe Cyrus for helping her.

“Anyway, thanks.”

“I thought you didn’t know that either.”

He returned to his desk and sat down as he answered. Evey narrowed her eyes into sharp points and muttered back.

“I do know! I know, okay? I’ll just return the favor later.”

“Don’t bother. It’s annoying.”

“Ha, when have I ever annoyed you?”

He fell silent. She didn’t need to hear the meaning behind that quiet to know it meant right now.

“You really are the worst. You know that?”

At Evey’s accusation, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly as he stood and strode straight toward the door.

“Then you should stay away from me, shouldn’t you?”

It was a clear order to leave. Evey shot up from her seat. She slammed the graded printouts she had been marking onto his desk with a loud thud.

“Right. The worst should be avoided. How could I have forgotten that? Thanks for reminding me.”

“You’re welcome.”

Evey glared at his indifferent reply for a moment before storming out of Cyrus’s room.

Come to think of it, she wasn’t even that sorry about the bell incident anymore. It had happened while she was passionately trying to help him, after all.

And he hadn’t even seemed particularly grateful for her help!

I’m never speaking to that guy again. Never, ever again!

The only clear thought left in her mind was the firm decision to take first place as quickly as possible.

She couldn’t possibly marry someone that awful and ruin her entire life!

On her way back to her own room, Evey happened to run into her roommate, Joey, in the hallway. She must have just returned to the dormitory.

Just how much had she drunk? The smell of alcohol practically radiated from her clothes.

“Joey, hey.”

Evey approached her cautiously and spoke.

She smelled that strongly, so she must have had quite a bit. Evey wondered if she was okay.

“So now the class president is even playing dorm supervisor? You really are unbearable, you know.”

But Joey simply shot her a look and walked past with elegant, perfectly steady steps before disappearing into her room.

The next day, during a short break.

Evey called the owner of the phone that had rung in the early morning.

“Are you seriously trying to kick me out of here?”

She immediately launched into criticism. She hadn’t wanted to, but after what happened yesterday, she couldn’t help it.

A polite voice came through the receiver.

Evey quickly lowered the volume and glanced around. Fortunately, no one was nearby.

The person on the other end was Evey’s secretary, Owen Graham. Though his title was secretary, he was more like a nagging uncle who helped with all sorts of things despite having almost no official duties.

At Owen’s reply, Evey’s eyes widened and she adjusted her grip on the phone.

“Did you find the nanny?”

“Tell me.”

Before Owen could finish, Evey spoke first.

“It was a donation for the education of the children in the village, right?”

“Then it must be her again.”

Evey was confident. Her kind-hearted nanny had always been sincere about helping children—especially when it came to their education.

“Hey, Owen.”

As soon as Evey opened her mouth, Owen spoke first this time.

Whenever Evey discovered a donation that seemed to be from the nanny, she always followed up by donating a set amount herself.

And she did it in the name of “the Princess.”

That way the media would write articles about it, and perhaps the nanny would see them too.

“Does she still not know that I’m looking for her?”

It had already been five years since Evey started making donations in pursuit of her.

Though, to be fair, it was only once or twice a year.

“Or maybe…”

Maybe the nanny simply didn’t want to meet her. After all, losing the honorable position of “royal nanny” had been entirely Evey’s fault.

So perhaps it wasn’t just that she didn’t want to meet—maybe she actually hated her.

That would explain why she had vanished so completely.

“Anyway, thank you, Owen. Contact me again if you find out anything else.”

“Yes?”

Evey let out a small laugh. What a funny joke.

But he spoke seriously.

“I understand why you’re worried, but school life isn’t unbearable for me.”

Academically, it was actually quite enjoyable.

“Human relationships are a bit difficult, but I think that can’t be helped since I have things I need to hide.”

Evey spoke honestly. The reason she didn’t pay much attention to others was ultimately because she hoped others wouldn’t pay attention to her.

Getting close to someone and building a friendship under a completely false identity felt like cowardly deception.

And she wasn’t confident she could endure everyone’s anger once the truth came out.

Owen hesitated for a moment before continuing.

And then he added,

Evey didn’t have time to deeply consider Owen’s advice before she headed straight to the experimental chemistry classroom.

She arrived almost at the same time as Professor Chen, so she took a seat toward the back of the room.

Logan, who had claimed the blind spot in the back, turned to look at her and mouthed, What’s going on? It must have been surprising to see her—who always sat in the front—choose a different spot.

Her eyes briefly caught Cyrus Quinton sitting on one side of the classroom. He was already completely focused on the teacher’s words.

I can’t lose.

Evey widened her eyes with determination.

“Since we’ve covered enough theory and precautions this semester, next semester will focus primarily on experimental practice.”

Finally, actual lab work!

Evey was so excited her heart felt like it might burst out of her chest.

“However, all experiments will be conducted in pairs of two. Once partners are assigned, they cannot be changed for the remainder of the semester.”

Never mind. Experimental chemistry was officially the worst subject.

She was frowning at the thought when her eyes suddenly met the professor’s.

“Is there a problem?”

Plenty. That’s what Evey wanted to say.

The fact that group projects were the pinnacle of inefficiency and completely incompatible with human nature was something anyone could learn from taking basic history. She couldn’t understand why professors kept insisting on this format.

Evey quickly shook her head and buried her face in her notebook.

“Then feel free to form your own pairs before the break and post them on my bulletin board.”

This is so irresponsible. A partner’s ability was a critical factor that could determine an entire semester’s grade.

What were people without any friends supposed to do?

Evey found this situation incredibly uncomfortable.

It had been even worse ever since the basketball class where she couldn’t find a partner and ended up practicing passes alone by bouncing the ball against the wall.