A new day had arrived at the academy.
In one of the female dormitories, a girl was waking up.
Her pajamas were a beautiful mix of white and red.
After getting up, she brushed her long hair that reached down to her back.
She put in eye drops because she stayed up late writing a letter.
She blinked several times; her beautiful plum-red iris was visible through her golden hair that partially covered her face.
After changing clothes and brushing her teeth, she went to the mirror for one last look at her outfit before leaving.
"Alright. Let's go to class."
The girl had been born into one of the seven most important cradles of the empire.
She was the only daughter of a duke's household; she was Elize von Rosenberg and she was the insufferable villainess and rival of the protagonist.
◇◇◇
Elize was in her classroom; it was the best classroom of all the first-year ones.
The reason was that only the best students who scored an average of 90 or above on the entrance exam could enter there.
In that classroom were only children from important households who got in through their knowledge, or by making a huge donation to the academy, like one of them.
"Today is just as boring as yesterday."
Said a boy dressed rebelliously with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
He was Bellange, son of a count household that has protected the border for generations and also one of the capture targets; beside him were the other game characters.
"Do you dare say that despite barely achieving the necessary score to enter this class?"
The one responding to Bellange was a boy who wore his uniform buttoned up and was reading a magazine.
He was Oscar, the son of one of the most important marquis households in the empire.
"Hahahaha, leave him alone, leave him alone. That guy is like that and won't change."
This time, the one addressing Oscar was a boy who was almost like Bellange; his shirt was untucked and his tie was poorly adjusted.
He was Jake, the heir of the second most relevant ducal household in the empire.
"Someone like you shouldn't say that, since you also got in with the minimum score."
Jake's mouth fell open when the boy next to him told him that.
"All of you are a bad influence on His Highness; stay away from him."
"Come on, come on, there's nothing wrong with him at least making an effort to get in."
The three watched two boys sitting and talking; one of them carried a wooden sword to class; the reason for that was unknown as to why he was allowed that.
He was Lambert, son of the oldest margrave household in the empire since its founding and also the childhood best friend of the boy next to him.
The main capture target, the third prince Regulux.
They were almost like brothers since they grew up together; in fact, Lambert spent half his childhood living in the palace; many consider him the true fourth prince.
"But Your Highness! These guys are truly disrespectful in how they speak and act; you shouldn't associate with them! Furthermore, I doubt that at least two of them actually managed to get that score."
Lambert pointed at the three; Oscar responded with a very annoyed face.
"Attley-dono, I ask you not to compare me with these two; I really studied to achieve my score of 97 points."
Regulux just laughed while watching the two fight.
"That's why, getting 97 points is very poor; if you had gotten 99 points like Rosenberg, I would have accepted your performance."
Oscar got more annoyed.
"Oh yeah?! What score did you get to say that!"
"100 points, just like His Highness, in fact. His Highness and I finished almost at the same time, with a difference of 0.04 seconds."
"That's too exact!"
The capture targets were having fun just like in the game.
The only different thing here was that the protagonist, who was the third person to score 100 points, was not present.
◇◇◇
Lily was in the second class, for those who scored from 75 to 89 points.
They were doing a partner activity.
"Uhm..."
"Don't bother."
"..."
Lily had no partner in this class even though the activity required two people.
It was normal for Lily to feel excluded and ignored by the other students.
The nobles felt disgust at having to share a classroom with a commoner.
Lily's face showed sadness, and she had to do the class activity alone.
◇◇◇
The first period had ended.
Elize was putting her books away in her bag to go to the magical practice classroom.
The capture targets stood up to leave; at that moment, Elize approached her fiancé, Prince Regulux.
"Your Highness, allow me to accompany you."
Elize wanted to spend time with her fiancé, but he...
"What for?"
He showed a strange cold side for a boy who is supposed to be friendly with everyone.
Elize made a complicated face as she responded.
"What for? Well, I'd like us to spend time together at the academy. Or... does my presence bother you?"
Regulux's mouth moved, and Elize felt a chill.
"It's as you say. It's annoying. If you want to spend time, organize a tea party and send me the invitation."
Elize tried to argue, but Lambert stopped her.
"Rosenberg-san, you're in the way. We'll be late for the next class."
Lambert's eyes always showed coldness, but when looking at Elize, they became darker.
"I-I'm very sorry for being a nuisance. If you'll excuse me."
She bowed and quickly left the classroom.
Bellange asked curiously.
"Prince, why did you reject her?"
Lambert was going to tell him it was disrespectful, but the prince himself stopped him.
"It's simple; she's really annoying."
Oscar responded.
"But, it's normal to spend time with one's fiancée, Your Highness. Isn't she your type?"
It was a normal question, but it was Jake, who for some reason acted conceited, who revealed it to them.
"That's because you don't know the truth about her household."
"Hey, that's not something you should tell just anyone."
Lambert glanced furtively at Jake, but Regulux stopped him.
"It's okay if it's them, but no one should know this; it would look bad for the imperial palace if ordinary people found out."
The boys had no idea what he was talking about until Jake said...
"As everyone knows, the Duke Rosenberg's household was the main ducal household of the empire. It's one of the wealthiest and most prosperous families in the country."
Oscar said.
"Anyone knows that; what's your point?"
Jake stopped smiling as he revealed something almost no one knew.
"More than five years ago, the Rosenberg Household fell into almost total ruin."
Bellange and Oscar couldn't believe what they were hearing; there was no one else in the classroom, and Lambert made sure no one was outside for Jake to continue.
Elize ran while a few tears could be seen on her face.
"I don't know the details very well, but it seems her family has a huge debt; my father told me that the Rosenberg duchy has lost more than 70% of its domains."
Oscar asked Jake, astonished.
"How could something like that happen?! Didn't the head of the household say anything?"
This time it was Lambert who responded.
"It was the head of the household himself who caused it."
The two boys were stunned.
"That's not all; he also fled the country before the tax collectors went to his house."
Now that Oscar and Bellange understood Elize's situation, Oscar asked the most important question.
"If that's true."
"It is."
"... Let me finish. If it's true, why does His Highness reject his fiancée?"
Everyone looked at Regulux's face as he said.
"It's because of that; she seeks to cling to me like a blood-sucking parasite. She seeks me out only to gain benefits from the imperial family and so that I'll pay the ridiculous expenses of her household's debt."
Lambert said.
"Since that problem occurred, she has been trying to approach His Highness modestly; of course, all those approaches are only to gain benefits. It's not a lie when I say her mother had to borrow money from the imperial family last year for tuition."
Despite taking an entrance exam, students had to pay 500 gold coins per month until graduation.
There was, of course, an agreement where students with limited resources had to divert half of their income from their households or part-time jobs or adventurer work to pay.
Razel went through the same thing, but thanks to Amy, he didn't worry too much about money because of the books that earned him a lot.
"I see."
Said Oscar.
"In that case, I think I understand His Highness in rejecting her."
"Yes, I wouldn't want my fiancée to bother me about money either."
"It's sad, but thanks to that, the Fitzclarence principality became the most important ducal household in the empire."
The boys talked as if Elize were the hideous woman she is supposed to be in the game.
"Are you forgetting we'll be late?"
Regulux said that from the door; the other four followed him and ran.
◇◇◇
The next class was on magical theory with Professor Manfred.
Elize was taking notes like the others; that's how it seemed, but actually...
(... I can't follow the lesson content.)
She couldn't keep up with the class pace.
She had written nothing but the class title.
Her hand trembled.
"Alright. Now I'll pick someone to solve this magical formula. Umm... Miss Rosenberg, please come forward."
Elize jumped slightly at being called to the front.
With a little fear, she walked to where the professor was.
In front of her was a floating magic circle.
"Now, try to find the problem in that earth summoning circle."
Elize took something similar to a blue chalk to write on the circle.
Seconds passed, then a couple of minutes.
"Is something wrong?"
Professor Manfred asked Elize, who was trembling because she didn't know what to do.
In the end, she lowered her hand and murmured to the professor.
"... I'm sorry, I don't know what to do. I'm sorry."
The professor looked at her and said. "I understand; you can sit down."
"I'm sorry."
Elize returned to her desk, lowering her head.
She heard some murmurs from some girls.
"Hey, why do you think she couldn't write something as easy as that?"
"I don't know. That exercise is one of the most basic ones you're taught in primary school."
"Hey, don't you think... maybe she didn't go to one? I mean, it's very strange that she couldn't solve that."
"Now that you mention it, I don't remember hearing that the Rosenberg daughter went to primary school?"
"I don't think that's possible, or is it?"
"Hahaha, how funny it would be that a duke's household couldn't send their daughter to one."
The girls let out small laughs.
Girls who were originally part of her entourage.
The strangest thing of all is that the one receiving these taunts in the game was actually Lily, and from Elize herself, for not knowing something so basic.
The class continued normally.
But Elize gripped her skirt tightly while holding back tears.
(Endure it. For your household.)
◇◇◇
The day's session reached the halfway point, which meant it was lunchtime.
Elize looked at the expensive dishes very hungrily, but had to console herself with the economical dishes.
She took out her purse and jumped slightly when she saw she had almost no money left.
She decided to buy a bottle of water.
While walking to the garden to wait for classes to start, she stopped to observe a certain figure shouting.
"Ahhhh, damn you, Cliff!"
It was Razel's voice, arguing with his friends at a small table.
Also at that table were Lily and Cid.
"Fufu, I'm very sorry, Razel-kun, but the dessert is mine."
"Bastard, I'll kill you!"
"Razel, don't behave like that over a flan."
"You don't understand, Cid. It's a super tasty flan at a reasonable price! Finding one is a miracle, and this bastard stole it!"
"Correction, I bought it from you, but you didn't notice."
"Dirty liar!"
Razel and his friends were having fun despite arguing.
For some reason, Lily was also there having fun, when she should be in a classroom listening to Oscar play the piano.
Elize only looked at one figure; anger reflected on her face, and her mouth twisted with rage.
(If only you hadn't appeared...)
◇◇◇
Bath time for the girls had arrived.
They could bathe at any time, but before 10 pm was allowed.
Elize was in a large circular bath.
Her beautiful hair floated, as did her large breasts.
The pink part in the middle was being covered by her hair, which looked like noodles in soup.
She was the last one to bathe; the reason was she didn't want to run into the other girls.
"It's only the second day, and I'm having a terrible time."
She lightly slapped her cheek.
"Eli, hang in there; don't give up. Otherwise, everything you and Mom have suffered will be in vain."
Her beautiful eyes were reflected in the bathwater.
For a moment, she visualized a small girl smiling.
"That idiot girl didn't know the hell her life was going to become..."
Suddenly, she heard footsteps; turning around to see who it was, she found Lily coming in, covered only by a towel.
They saw each other; this was their first encounter, but...
"I'm sorry, I didn't know it was occupied."
"Don't apologize; the bath is available to all students until 10."
No hostile event occurred like in the game.
Lily entered the tub near Elize; her hair was gathered in a large bun.
She made a strange awawawa sound as she relaxed.
Her large breasts also floated.
Elize laughed a little.
Lily immediately apologized.
"I'm so sorry!"
Elize turned her head in denial.
"No, you have nothing to apologize for; it's just that something like this is very rare to see."
Elize suddenly said something that made Lily scared.
"You're the commoner student, right?"
Lily hid her head as she responded.
"Yes. That's me."
"How is the academy?"
Lily seemed puzzled by this normal and gentle tone from the girl who is supposed to be a hideous and possessive woman.
"Uhh... even though some people make fun of me. I really enjoy it; I like being here."
"I see."
Elize stood up. Lily could see her sensual and slender figure.
Her long hair covered every revealing part except from the navel down.
"It's none of my business, your life, but if you decide to take advice from this stranger."
As she took a towel to dry herself, she said things that the Elize from the game never said.
"Don't let them intimidate you. Even if you can't defend yourself, ignore them. Ignore the comments about what others do to you. Lock them in a trunk that will never be opened and throw it into the sea. That's all I can tell you, speaking from experience."
While in her robe, Elize said goodbye and left the bath, heading to the female dormitory.
While walking down the hallway, she encountered a certain boy walking half-asleep, heading straight for the bath.
"... I don't want to bathe, but if I don't, the bed will smell, and laundry is only once a week."
Elize's relaxed face changed to one of anger, like in the afternoon.
Razel walked beside her; at the moment their shoulders accidentally touched, Elize said...
"It must feel good to live without worry every day, right? While others fear what tomorrow holds after being shamelessly spat on."
Elize turned around to look at Razel, but he kept walking without turning.
That only made her anger increase, and she threw one of her slippers at him.
Razel fell to the ground, and she walked away with one slipper missing.
"You really are the worst thing that has ever happened to my life! Razel, you bastard!"
◇◇◇
Elize was dreaming.
It was her 7th birthday party.
It was a large hall where servants, distant relatives, and above all, her parents were gathered.
She was waiting for a certain person to start.
She was sitting in a large chair, much too big for a girl.
Morning was almost over; she said they must be running late.
Afternoon had already arrived; she said traffic was horrible, so that's why they were late.
Night was almost falling; the servants went back to work; the relatives left their gifts and left.
Elize waited, sitting, watching her ice cream cake melt.
Finally, night fell.
Her mother wanted to tell her something, but at that moment, her daughter...
"I already know!"
She ran out of the room crying.
"Razel, you're an idiot, a liar, I hate you so muuuuuuuuuuuuch!"
Elize ran crying straight to her room.
◇◇◇
A couple of days passed after that.
Elize and her mother were at the door.
"Come back soon, dear."
"Take care, Dad."
Her father, the head of the household, said he had to leave urgently due to some problems at a factory that belonged to them.
"Thank you; I'll be back soon. Barbara, I left you a letter that you must open after I return."
"Yes, I don't understand the reason, but don't worry."
Her husband kissed her on the cheek and then crouched down to see his daughter.
"Eli, as the heiress of this house, it is your duty to take care of your mom."
"Yes, I will!"
Her father smiled as he looked at them both.
"Goodbye, you two."
His farewell tone was very sad, but they thought it was just painful to be separated from his family.
◇◇◇
Two days passed since the head of the Rosenberg Household left.
Elize was walking in her pajamas to go have breakfast; normally a maid would do it, but none were present.
Then, she heard shouts.
"Something like this is impossible to be true?!"
Elize was startled by the shout; it belonged to her mother.
She came down the large stairs and, in the reception area, found a terrifying scene.
A diverse group of men in black suits were inside the house.
They were going through it as if they were the owners.
In the middle of them all was her mother, who suddenly fell to her knees.
As she did, several papers also fell.
Elize ran to her mother.
"Mom!"
Her mother noticed her presence.
"Eli? Don't come!"
When Elize almost reached her mother, her foot stepped on a yellow paper.
The paper had a magic circle showing black letters and a photo.
Elize was horrified to see the photo of the person there.
"Huh? Dad?"
It was a wanted poster, dead or alive; her father was on it.
There were also several descriptions of crimes and a large reward for his capture.
Elize didn't understand what was happening until one of the men in suits knelt down to tell her painfully.
"Little girl, I'm truly sorry, but your dad is a man wanted by the empire."
"Huh?"
Elize lifted her face and looked at the man with fear.
"As unbelievable as it may seem to you and your mom. Your father for years has been evading taxes, committing fraud, buying illegal merchandise from the lawless city, among other things."
Elize's face contorted due to the horror of hearing that her loving father was a horrible person.
"Two days ago, your father was sent a notice stating that he must appear at the palace to give an explanation for this. Since he didn't, because some relatives said he was busy with his daughter's party, the palace gave him one more day, but that ended, and they sent us to look for him."
At that moment, a group of knights entered the house.
Elize and her mother didn't know what to do; at that moment, Barbara ran to her husband's study to open the letter he had left.
Upon opening the letter, she began to cry.
She dropped the letter and collapsed against the table.
The crying of a married woman was heard.
Elize approached to see; the men in suits entered the room to check the documents. One of them asked Elize's mother for permission to read the letter.
Upon reading it, the man said.
"That dirty bastard. Apparently, he confesses what he did and that he escaped to the Ideal Empire."
"There's nothing we can do, then."
"Worst of all, he's laughing at us, the scoundrel."
Elize heard horrible things.
That day ended badly. She and her mother went to the palace to find out the cost of the debt they had to pay.
The amount was so large that Elize, who still didn't understand monetary value, couldn't comprehend why her mother clutched her dress.
As the days passed, things from the mansion were sold. Then, they had to leave the mansion and hand over half of the duchy to the empire.
The duchy belonged to her husband's family. For several generations, it was one of the most prosperous territories of all.
Now, that territory was gradually being handed over to the empire to pay the debt.
Elize never got to go to a primary school or have any more birthday parties.
They moved to a small mansion in the imperial capital; they didn't do it because they wanted to; it was an order from a minister who said they could also escape.
Upon hearing the news, the other relatives, including Elize's grandparents, also fled.
In a few days, the Rosenberg Household had only two family members left.
Elize had a thought.
(Everything is his fault.)
She cursed someone with all her heart.
(If only I hadn't met you, none of this would have happened.)
She knew that wasn't true, but that wounded heart didn't want to be healed.
(I curse you until the end of my days, Razel! I swear I will never forgive you for destroying my household!)
It was the tantrum of a hurt child.
In the end, Elize turned 16, the age the game dictated for everything to begin.
That was what her heart had kept for so many years.
◇◇◇
A new morning came.
Elize opened her beautiful eyes; it seems she had cried all night.
She gave herself a few light slaps and proceeded to live her life.
The only thing motivating her to keep going was that by being engaged to the prince, her family would not fall into total ruin.
Unfortunately, the game would not allow her to be happy nor receive her punishment. That was the role of the horrible villainess daughter. A poor girl who wanted to revive her destroyed household.