Aurora hurried to the little courtyard behind the servants' quarters, careful not to be seen. The sun was warm, the fountain sprayed quietly, and the flowers smelled amazing. Most importantly, no one could spy on them here.
"Elise!" she whispered as she ran over.
"Finally! I thought you'd get caught wandering like a lost puppy," Elise said, smirking. "Come on, I have something to show you."
Aurora's eyes widened when Elise pulled out a stack of folded papers. "Are… those?"
"Love letters. From my fiancé," Elise said dramatically. "Apparently, he's worried I'm… too busy plotting. I'm flattered."
Aurora nervously looked at her own letters, folded neatly in her pocket. "Mine too… short, polite, but weirdly insistent."
Elise leaned back against the fountain. "We have to be careful. Both of us are engaged, the king is watching, and if anyone catches us meeting like this… we're doomed."
Aurora frowned. "And the fiancés… I feel like they're starting to notice something."
Elise grinned. "Probably. That's why we have to be sneaky. And maybe a little mischievous."
Aurora tilted her head. "Mischievous?"
Elise's grin widened. "Exactly. Watch and learn."
Before Aurora could ask how, Elise snatched a small ornamental ribbon from a passing noble's hat and tied it around a tree branch. When the boy tried to straighten it, it fell on his head with a tiny plop. Elise snickered. "Prank one: success!"
Aurora laughed so hard she almost dropped her tart. "You're impossible!"
"Exactly," Elise said proudly. "Now, let's plan. Sweets first, doom flags later."
The two girls pulled out their stash of chocolates, strawberry tarts, and tiny cakes. Between bites, they whispered about letters, fiancés, and the game's routes. They even shared gossip about nobles they weren't supposed to mention out loud.
Suddenly, a rustling noise made them freeze.
Aurora's heart jumped. "Someone's here!"
A golden-haired boy -her fiancé -stepped out from behind a bush.
"Elise! What are you doing here?" he asked, suspicious.
Elise clutched her letters. "Ah… nothing! I was… um… inspecting the flowers for… the king!"
Aurora panicked. "Yes! Very important royal flower… research!"
The boy raised an eyebrow. "At this hour? In the courtyard?"
Aurora nodded frantically. "Of course! Very… scientific."
Elise whispered, "I think he's buying it… maybe."
He leaned closer. "Sophia… why are you here alone? And why did your letters never reach me directly?"
Aurora stammered. "I… uh… caught a cold? Yes. Very bad cold. Can't get the papers wet."
Elise rolled her eyes. "Smooth. Works for me."
Aurora added quickly, "And I have… um… secret flower therapy! Only in the courtyard. Doctor's orders."
The boy narrowed his eyes but shook his head. "Fine… but I'll be watching."
As soon as he left, the girls collapsed against the fountain, giggling.
"That was way too close," Aurora said, still catching her breath.
Elise smirked. "Too close. But nothing says villainess life like sneaking letters, eating sweets, and making up ridiculous excuses."
Aurora grinned. "And pranks! Did you see the look on that noble boy's face?"
Elise laughed. "Yes! Pranks are a must. And climbing trees! I saw you trying to get that sweet tart from the top branch yesterday—classic villainess mischief."
Aurora giggled. "It's tradition! Nobles aren't supposed to climb trees or eat sweets in the courtyard, so it's… extra fun."
Elise pulled out more letters and notes. "We still have planning to do. Avoid doom flags, outsmart fiancés, survive the academy… and prank anyone who annoys us."
Aurora groaned. "Piece of cake… literally. I'm getting chocolate everywhere."
As the sun began to set, they packed up their things and slipped back inside, careful not to be seen. They had spent hours talking, plotting, eating sweets, and causing tiny bits of chaos.
Aurora sighed, smiling. "This… this is kind of amazing. I never thought being a villainess could be… fun."
Elise nodded her head. "Exactly. Who said nobles can't enjoy life? Sweets, money and beauty full faces… and maybe, we can even survive the fiancee or take advantage of them if they don't kill us."
Aurora schook her head."What do you mean they will eventually kill us and you want to take advantage?''
Aurora sighed,"maybe we just need to run away if we have enough money."
Elise nodded her head "So how do we get the money?"
Aurora taught about it and just climbed in a tree.
And somewhere in the palace, both golden-eyed fiancés were starting to notice that something wasn't right. Letters disappearing, girls sneaking away, and occasional suspicious dirt on the outfits and faces.
Aurora and Elise were still sitting in the tree branch above the courtyard, eating honey cakes and watching the nobles walk below.
Aurora swung her legs a little. "You know… this is actually really peaceful."
Elise nodded while reading a small romance novel she had hidden inside a history book cover. "Mhm. If we ignore the fact that half the people in this school could ruin our lives."
Aurora took another bite of cake.
Then she froze.
"Elise."
"Hm?"
Aurora slowly pointed down.
Walking across the courtyard was a tall boy with dark hair and sharp eyes.
Elise looked.
Then she froze too.
"…Oh no."
Aurora whispered, "Isn't that--"
"Yes," Elise whispered back.
"The duke's son."
Aurora's face went pale.
"In one route he literally helps expose me to the whole court."
Elise grabbed Aurora's sleeve.
"And in mine he helps arrest me."
Both of them slowly slid down the tree branch until they were lying flat on it.
Aurora whispered dramatically, "Why is every doom character attending this school?!"
Elise covered her face with her book. "I regret reincarnating."
Aurora groaned quietly and lightly hit the tree branch with her hand.
"This academy is cursed."
Elise nodded and lightly smacked the branch too.
Below them, the duke's son stopped walking.
"…Did you hear something?" he said.
Aurora and Elise froze.
Aurora stuffed half a honey cake into her mouth to stop herself from making a noise.
After a moment, he continued walking.
The two girls slowly sat up again.
Aurora whispered, "That was the scariest moment of my life."
Elise sighed and leaned her head against the tree.
"same."
Aurora suddenly started giggling.
Elise looked at her. "Why are you laughing?"
Aurora pointed at Elise's face.
"You have cake on your cheek."
Elise wiped it quickly and glared. "This is serious."
Aurora laughed harder. "The great villainess defeated by honey cake."
Elise grabbed a pillow-shaped cushion from her bag and lightly hit Aurora with it.
"Stop laughing!"
Aurora grabbed another cushion and hit her back.
Soon the two of them were quietly fighting with cushions on the tree branch.
From below, a few academy boys looked up.
"…Are those Lady Sophia and Lady Elise?"
Another boy blushed immediately.
"They're… kind of cute."
Aurora stopped hitting Elise and tilted her head.
"Why are those boys staring?"
Elise looked down and sighed.
"Because two powerful noble ladies are sitting in a tree throwing pillows."
Aurora frowned.
"That seems normal."
Elise shook her head. "For us maybe."
After a while they climbed down from the tree and returned inside the academy.
The moment they entered the hallway, they instantly switched back to their elegant noble expressions.
Straight backs.
Calm faces.
Perfect villainess posture.
Students whispered as they passed.
"They look so intimidating…"
"I heard they hate each other."
Aurora whispered without moving her lips, "They have no idea."
Elise whispered back, "Good."
Then suddenly--
Aurora saw golden hair at the end of the hallway.
Her fiancé.
She immediately grabbed Elise's sleeve.
"Elise."
"What?"
"Prince rovel."
Elise stiffened instantly.
Both girls stood perfectly straight as the prince approached.
"Sophia," he said calmly.
Aurora bowed politely. "Your Highness."
He looked at her for a moment.
"…Why are there leaves in your hair?"
Aurora froze.
Elise froze.
Aurora panicked inside.
Leaves?!
Without thinking, she smiled sweetly.
"I was… appreciating nature."
The prince blinked.
"…Nature."
Elise nodded seriously. "A noble hobby."
The prince looked slightly confused but sighed.
"since when did you two get along."
Aurora smiled perfectly.
"Been friends all the time."
He gave her a strange expression.
When he finally walked away--
Aurora grabbed Elise and dragged her into the nearest empty classroom.
The door closed.
Aurora grabbed a pillow from a chair and screamed into it.
"MMMMMMMM!"
Elise dropped to the floor dramatically.
"This is too stressful!"
Aurora punched the pillow again.
"He noticed the leaves!"
Elise lightly slapped the floor with both hands.
"This academy is full of traps!"
Aurora fell onto the floor next to her and clapped the ground in frustration.
"WHY ARE ALL THE BAD ENDING CHARACTERS HERE?!"
Elise stared at the ceiling.
"…We're doomed."
Aurora sighed.
Then she slowly sat up.
"…Do you still have sweets?"
Elise immediately sat up too.
"…Of course."
She pulled out a small bag of strawberry candies.
Aurora smiled.
"Okay… maybe this academy life isn't that bad."
Elise nodded.
"As long as we avoid doom flags…"
Aurora popped a candy into her mouth.
"…and maybe cause a little chaos."
Elise grinned.
"Exactly."
Aurora and Elise were still sitting on the classroom floor, eating strawberry candies.
"This academy is exhausting," Aurora said dramatically.
Elise leaned against a desk. "We've only been here half a day."
Aurora sighed. "And we've already seen two doom flags and almost got caught in a tree."
Elise nodded. "Progress."
Aurora tossed another candy into her mouth.
Just then--
The classroom door suddenly opened.
Both girls froze.
Standing in the doorway was a tall boy with silver hair and calm grey eyes.
Elise went completely still.
Aurora slowly turned to her.
"…Who is that?"
Elise whispered very slowly.
"My fiancé."
Aurora's eyes widened.
"…Oh."
The boy stepped inside.
"Lady Elise," he said calmly.
Aurora whispered, "What's his name again?"
"Elise Falkreath."
"…That's you."
"I mean him!"
"Oh."
Elise whispered through her teeth, "Adrian. Lord Adrian Falkreath."
Lord Adrian looked at the two girls sitting on the floor.
"…Why are you both on the ground?"
Aurora panicked.
"UUuuuuh training."
Elise nodded immediately.
"Very advanced training."
Adrian blinked once.
"With candy?"
Aurora slowly hid the candy bag behind her back.
"…Energy supply."
Adrian looked mildly confused but didn't comment.
"I was looking for you, Elise," he said.
Elise stood up quickly and brushed off her uniform.
"I was simply… discussing academy matters with Lady Sophia."
Aurora stood up too and nodded politely.
"Yes. Very important matters."
Adrian looked between them.
"…Interesting."
Then he left the classroom.
The moment the door closed--
Aurora dropped back onto the floor.
Elise did the same.
They both lightly slapped the floor in frustration again.
Aurora groaned. "WHY ARE ALL THE FIANCÉS APPEARING TODAY?!"
Elise covered her face. "This academy is trying to kill us."
Aurora grabbed a pillow and punched it.
"This is worse than the game!"
Elise grabbed another pillow and punched it too.
After a moment they both stopped.
Aurora looked up suddenly.
"Elise."
"What?"
Aurora slowly pointed toward the hallway window.
Two boys were standing outside.
One had dark hair and sharp eyes.
Lucian Valmere.
The duke's son.
Next to him stood another boy.
Golden hair.
Golden eyes.
Prince Rovel.
Both of them were looking toward the classroom.
Aurora slowly lowered herself behind a desk.
"…They're watching."
Elise slowly crouched down too.
"…Great." she said ²with a sarcastic smile.
Aurora whispered, "Do you think they saw us hitting the floor earlier?"
Elise stared at the wall.
"…I hope not."
Outside, Lucian crossed his arms.
"…They've been acting strange today."
Prince Rovel looked thoughtful.
"They have."
Lucian raised an eyebrow.
"You're engaged to Lady Sophia, aren't you?"
Rovel nodded.
"And you're engaged to Lady Elise."
Lucian looked back toward the classroom door.
"…Don't you think it's odd that the two enemies suddenly seem… friendly?"
Rovel's golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"Yes."
Inside the classroom--
Aurora and Elise were still crouched behind the desk.
Aurora whispered, "This is bad."
Elise nodded.
"Very bad."
Aurora sighed and leaned her head against the desk.
"…I want more sweets."
Elise slowly pulled out another candy.
"You're unbelievable."
Aurora smiled.
"Stress eating."
Elise tossed her the candy.
Aurora caught it and grinned.
"Thanks."
Elise leaned back against the desk.
"…We just have to survive the academy."
Aurora nodded.
"Avoid doom flags."
Elise nodded.
"Avoid suspicious fiancés."
Aurora nodded again.
"And maybe…"
She smiled mischievously.
"…run away with money."
Elise smirked.
"Obviously."