The Royal Academy was magnificent. Golden chandeliers hung from the ceiling, the floors were polished like mirrors, and the air smelled of expensive perfume and roses.

But to Elara, it looked like a trap.

‘Ugh, this is exactly like the opening scene of every romance novel,’ she thought, adjusting the sleeves of her elegant dress. ‘Everyone is here to find their destined partner and start a boring, dramatic love story. Not me!’

Elara Vance had a secret plan. She was beautiful, rich, talented, and naturally charming—all the attributes of a classic Heroine. But she hated it. Being a heroine meant working hard, being nice to everyone, and facing danger just for love. No thank you!

She wanted to be a Villainess.

Why? Because villainesses get to wear the prettiest dresses, boss people around, spend money like water, and when they get into trouble, they usually just get exiled or sent away to live a quiet life... with all their wealth! That sounded like paradise to Elara.

"Okay, Elara. Today is the day," she whispered to herself, taking a deep breath. "Time to unleash your inner evil!"

She walked into the main hall with her chin held high, trying her best to look arrogant and scary. She scanned the crowd.

‘First step: Find a weak-looking commoner or heroine and bully them!’

She spotted a girl with soft hair holding a stack of books. Perfect target!

Elara strutted over, deliberately stepping loudly. She planned to "accidentally" bump into the girl, make the books fall, and say something mean like, "Watch where you're going, you clumsy thing!"

She got closer... closer... BAM!

But right at that moment, someone blocked her path.

A tall figure stood before her. He was wearing the royal uniform, adorned with silver embroidery. His black hair was perfectly styled, and his eyes were as cold and deep as a winter lake.

It was Crown Prince Kael.

The entire hall went silent. Everyone knew the Prince was cold, dignified, and hated noisy or arrogant people. This was the Male Lead who was supposed to fall in love with the sweet heroine and punish the wicked villainesses.

‘This is even better!’ Elara’s eyes sparkled. ‘If I make him angry right now, I’ll be expelled immediately! My dream life of luxury and freedom awaits!’

She puffed out her chest, put on her most haughty expression, and looked up at him.

She raised one eyebrow and said in the snootiest voice she could muster:

"Well, well. What do we have here? A commoner blocking my path? Move aside. Can't you see I'm busy?"

She waited. She expected him to frown, get angry, or call the guards to kick her out.

Instead...

Prince Kael tilted his head slightly. The cold expression on his face didn't disappear, but his eyes seemed to warm up just a tiny bit. He looked at her flushed cheeks and her puffed-up chest, trying so hard to look intimidating.

A small, almost invisible smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Interesting," he said softly, his voice deep and smooth.

He took a step closer, leaning down until his face was just inches from hers.

"Most people tremble when they see me. Or they try to act sweet and innocent to win my favor."

He paused, his dark eyes locking onto hers.

"But you... you actually look like you want to eat me."

Elara froze. ‘Eat him?! What is he talking about?! I’m trying to be scary!’

Before she could retort, the Prince straightened up and looked at the crowd, then back at her.

"Don't go anywhere," he ordered, though his voice didn't sound angry at all. "I think... you are going to be very fun to watch."

He walked away, leaving Elara standing there in shock.

‘Wait... wait a minute! Why isn't he angry?! Why is he smiling?! Did my villain act fail?!’

She looked around and saw the other students whispering.

"Did you see that? Lady Elara is so brave!"

"She's not afraid of the Prince at all! She's so cool and confident!"

"I wish I could be like her~"

Elara almost fainted.

"Cool?! Confident?! I was trying to be EVIL!"

Her first attempt at being a Villainess... was a miserable failure.

Elara stood frozen in the middle of the hall, her jaw almost hitting the floor.

‘Cool? Confident? What is wrong with these people?!’ she screamed internally. ‘I was clearly being rude and arrogant! That is the definition of a villainess!’

She took a deep breath to calm her racing heart. ‘Okay, okay. Calm down, Elara. The first attempt failed, but that’s okay. Villainesses have many tricks up their sleeves.’

She remembered the standard plotline: The Villainess always bullies the poor but kind Heroine.

‘Right!’ she thought. ‘If I can’t scare the Prince, I’ll just bully the main girl! Then the Male Lead will definitely hate me! Mission accomplished!’

She scanned the room and quickly found her target.

In a corner, sitting quietly with a book, was Lia. She had soft brown hair, gentle eyes, and wore a simple but clean dress. She was the spitting image of the classic "Pure Heroine." Everyone loved her, and she was destined to end up with the Prince.

‘Perfect,’ Elara smirked mischievously. ‘Prepare yourself, Lia. Today is your unlucky day!’

Elara adjusted her skirt, put on her most intimidating glare, and marched towards Lia with heavy steps. Thump, thump, thump.

She arrived right in front of Lia's table and slammed her hand down loudly.

BAM!

Lia jumped in surprise, dropping her quill. She looked up with wide, innocent eyes.

"Eek! L-Lady Elara..."

Elara put one hand on her hip and pointed a finger at her, trying to look as fierce as possible.

"You!" Elara shouted. "What do you think you're doing sitting there? This table is obviously reserved for people of high status! Don't you know who I am? I am Elara Vance! How dare you occupy my space, you insignificant little bug!"

She waited for Lia to cry, or for someone to call her mean.

But...

Lia looked at Elara’s angry face, then at Elara’s hand which—unbeknownst to Elara—had accidentally moved the heavy vase away so it wouldn't fall on Lia's book.

Lia’s eyes filled with tears, but not from sadness.

"Lady Elara..." Lia whispered softly. "You... you moved the vase away so it wouldn't hit my book... You were worried about me, weren't you? Even though you act tough, you are actually so kind!"

Elara blinked. ‘Wha—?! I didn’t do that on purpose!’

"N-No! I was just—"

"You are so cool!" Lia suddenly stood up and clasped her hands together. "You pretend to be mean so you can protect people in secret! You are like a tsundere angel! I admire you so much!"

‘Tsundere angel?! What is that?! I’m a VILLAIN!’

Before Elara could argue, Lia grabbed her hands.

"Please, can we be friends? You are so strong and confident! I wish I could be like you!"

Around them, other students who were watching started nodding in agreement.

"Wow, Lady Elara is really nice deep down!"

"She just has a unique way of showing it!"

"She even protected Lia's book! So sweet!"

Elara felt her soul leave her body. She looked around desperately for help... or rather, for someone to scold her.

And that’s when she saw him.

Prince Kael was leaning against a pillar near the doorway, watching the entire scene with his arms crossed.

His face was still calm, but there was a distinct amusement dancing in his eyes. He looked like he was watching the most entertaining show in the world.

When their eyes met, Kael slowly pushed himself off the wall and walked towards them.

The crowd went silent again. Elara straightened up immediately. ‘This is it! He saw me bullying Lia! He’s going to scold me! He’s going to hate me! Yes!’

Kael stopped in front of them. He looked at Lia, then turned his gaze to Elara.

Elara puffed her cheeks out and tried to look as defiant as possible. "What are you looking at? Are you here to scold me? Go ahead! I don't care!"

She was practically begging him to get angry.

Kael looked down at her, his lips curling into that annoying, handsome smile again.

"Scold you?" he asked softly. "Why would I do that?"

"Because... because I was being mean to her!" Elara pointed at Lia.

Kael glanced at Lia, who was still smiling brightly at Elara. Then he looked back at Elara’s flushed, frustrated face.

He leaned down slightly, his voice low enough that only she could hear.

"Mean? On the contrary... You tried so hard to look scary, yet you still subconsciously protected her book. You are trying your best to be 'bad', but your nature is too pure to hide it."

He chuckled lightly.

"You are the worst villainess I have ever seen, Elara. And that is exactly why... I can't take my eyes off you."

He straightened up and addressed the room.

"Lady Elara has a unique way of interacting with others. Anyone who bothers her... will answer to me."

Then he turned and walked away, leaving Elara standing there, completely stunned.

‘Wait... wait! What just happened?!

He didn't hate me!

He protected me!

And he called me cute?! NO, he said I was a bad villainess! Which is true, but still!

Why is everything going wrong?! Why is my life becoming more like a romance novel the harder I try to avoid it?!’

Days passed, and Elara was getting desperate.

‘Why is nothing working?!’ she thought, staring at her reflection in the mirror. ‘I glare, I shout, I act arrogant... but everyone just thinks I’m “charming” and “strong-willed”! Even the Prince is following me around like a puppy!’

She glanced out the window. Sure enough, Prince Kael was walking in the garden below, looking up towards her window with that annoying, handsome smile.

"No! No more romance!" Elara declared, turning away. "I need a bigger plan. A classic villainess move! Something that cannot be misunderstood!"

She snapped her fingers. "Ah! I know! The Tea Party Incident!"

In every story, the villainess invites the heroine to tea and either spills hot tea on her, accuses her of theft, or brings out expensive things to humiliate her.

"This time," Elara grinned evilly. "I will definitely succeed!"

That afternoon, Elara organized a grand tea party. She invited all the noble ladies, and of course, she specifically invited Lia.

Elara prepared everything. She wore her most expensive, sparkling dress. She placed the most delicate, expensive teacup in front of Lia.

‘Plan A: I will "accidentally" spill this very hot tea on her dress. She will cry. Everyone will see how cruel I am. The Prince will hear about it and finally hate me!’

Lia arrived, looking shy and nervous as she sat down. "Th-Thank you for inviting me, Lady Elara..."

"Hmph!" Elara crossed her arms, looking down her nose at Lia. "Don't get the wrong idea. I just wanted to show you how different our worlds are. Look at this tea set! It costs more than your entire house! You probably don't even know how to hold a cup properly, do you, you peasant?"

‘Yes! That was perfect! So mean! So villainous!’

But instead of crying, Lia’s eyes went wide with admiration.

"Wow! You are so elegant, Lady Elara! And you speak so confidently! It's like watching a movie star! You are so cool!"

The other ladies nodded in agreement. "Yes! She's so charismatic!"

Elara almost choked on her own saliva. ‘Is "cool" the only word these people know?!’

"Enough talk!" Elara stood up. "Time to drink!"

She reached for the teapot, pretending to lose her balance on purpose. "Oops! My hand slipped!"

She tilted the pot, aiming the hot stream of tea directly towards Lia’s dress.

‘Goodbye, Heroine status! Hello, exile and peaceful life!’

SPLASH!

...But at the very last second, Elara’s instincts kicked in. She couldn't actually bear to burn someone!

She twisted her hand violently, and the hot tea splashed... directly onto her own beautiful, expensive dress instead!

"AHHHH!"

"Lady Elara!" Everyone screamed.

The tea burned slightly against her skin, and the beautiful silk dress was ruined. Elara stood there, dripping wet, looking like a sad wet cat.

"Oh no! Are you hurt?!" Lia jumped up, frantically trying to help wipe the mess with a handkerchief.

"I'm fine! Don't touch me!" Elara shouted, tears of frustration pricking her eyes. "I did it on purpose! I wanted to ruin the dress! See? I'm wasteful! I'm bad!"

"You must have done that to protect me!" Lia cried, genuinely moved. "You were going to spill it on me, but you changed your mind at the last second and sacrificed your own dress! You are so selfless! You are an angel!"

"I AM NOT AN ANGEL!"

Just then, the doors to the garden terrace burst open.

Prince Kael stood there, looking elegant and tall. He had apparently been waiting outside, and had seen the whole thing.

Elara’s heart leaped. ‘Finally! He saw me being violent! He saw me wasting money! He will definitely punish me now!’

She puffed out her chest, ignoring the wet stain on her dress. "Well? Are you happy now? I'm a terrible person! I almost hurt her! Expel me! Send me away!"

She waited for his anger.

Kael walked slowly towards her. His expression was unreadable. He stopped right in front of her, ignoring everyone else in the room.

He looked at her wet dress, then at her angry, flushed face, and then... he laughed.

It wasn't a mocking laugh. It was a deep, warm, genuine laugh that made his eyes crinkle at the corners.

"You really are something else," he said, shaking his head.

He took off his own royal cape, which was made of the finest velvet, and gently draped it over her shoulders to cover her wet clothes.

"You tried so hard to be bad," he whispered, leaning close to her ear so only she could hear. "Yet you still couldn't bring yourself to hurt anyone. You burned your own dress just to save her, and you're still trying to claim you're a villain?"

He pulled back and looked into her eyes.

"Elara, you are the purest, most adorable person I have ever met. Even when you are trying to be evil, you are just... cute."

He turned to the stunned crowd and declared loudly:

"Anyone who says Lady Elara is 'mean' or 'bad' can leave this Academy right now. In my eyes, she is perfect exactly as she is."

Then he took Elara’s hand.

"Come. Let's go get you changed. And then... you can tell me what other 'evil plans' you have for tomorrow. I want to help you execute them."

"H-help me?!" Elara stammered, completely brainwashed by his sweetness.

"Yes," Kael smiled mischievously. "Because if you're going to be a villainess... I want to be your loyal sidekick."

‘My life is over.

I tried to be bad.

I burned my own dress.

And now the Prince wants to be my partner in crime?!

Why is this romance plot getting thicker and thicker?!

Someone save me from this love!’