When it came to winning hearts, no one could match Miriel Adrian.

Her first impression was flawless in every way.

An objectively beautiful face.

The prestige of the Adrian ducal house.

And the title of second-year top student, proof of her capability.

Dare I say, she had every quality anyone would want to get close to. That alone gave her a head start in any relationship.

Even if someone didn’t fall for her at first meeting, it didn’t matter. Miriel understood better than anyone that human relationships were ultimately transactional.

Shower someone with unprompted kindness, plant a small debt in their heart, and they’d react somehow—gratitude, confusion, even wariness. Once the conversation started, it was Miriel’s stage.

Her greatest weapon was her unparalleled eloquence. Don’t underestimate the social finesse of a second child who grew up navigating the pressures between a perfect eldest sibling and a doted-on youngest, especially in a family like the Adrians, one of the empire’s pillars.

But.

Even Miriel couldn’t get a single proper word in with Lunaris.

“How perplexing…”

In the Linea Hall lounge, bathed in the glow of a crimson sunset, Miriel set down her teacup and muttered softly.

This was the first time she’d encountered someone who built an impenetrable wall. She had no idea how to approach someone who gave her nothing to work with.

Yet she couldn’t just ignore Lunaris.

Miriel knew.

The Third Princess, Celestina, who was subtly at odds with her, had her eyes on Lunaris.

If, by some slim chance, Lunaris aligned with Celestina, things would get messy. And not just because she was the top freshman.

Rumors were already circulating in the empire that she was a candidate for the youngest grand mage. Less than a month after enrolling, she was recognized as one of Elterion’s strongest—not just among students, but including teaching assistants, instructors, and professors. She was in the top handful, if that.

Miriel would’ve scoffed at mere rumors.

But she’d seen it with her own eyes.

Just days ago, at the Magic Exchange.

Lunaris was far beyond the level of a student.

And above all…

“…I want her.”

Miriel muttered blankly, her lips parting with a soft haah as the air escaped.

She recalled Lunaris’s languid gaze. Like a haughty cat that lazily dodged any attempt to reach out, as if it were too much trouble.

That finicky, arrogant attitude gnawed at her in a strange way. It thoroughly piqued her interest. The harder something is to obtain, the more desperately you want it.

But to approach her, she was told to do nothing?

What kind of nonsense was that?

Relationships are the product of constant investment and care. A relationship with no effort doesn’t exist—it’s just neglect.

…What on earth is the Third Princess thinking?

At that moment, a small commotion stirred at Linea Hall’s entrance. The Third Princess had just returned to the dorm, escorted by her knights.

For a brief instant, Celestina’s and Miriel’s eyes met.

“…”

Miriel didn’t miss the faint crease that formed on the princess’s delicate brow.

“Oh my, Your Highness. It’s an honor to see you.”

Miriel rose gracefully, smoothing her skirt and bowing with perfect etiquette—respectful, but not overly deferential.

Celestina briefly averted her gaze before forcing a strained smile toward Miriel.

“Pleased to see you, Senior Miriel.”

Beneath her polite smile, her voice trembled slightly. Her subtly stiffened jaw and hunched shoulders betrayed a hint of discomfort.

“I was just having tea alone. Would you care to join me for a moment?”

Celestina’s gaze swept the lounge briefly. After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded with a sigh.

“I have assignments, so I can’t stay long… but a short while should be fine.”

As if waiting for this, Miriel lightly signaled to the head maid, Odette. Truly befitting Elterion’s hostess—natural and dignified.

A new teacup was silently placed on the table. As a faint aroma spread, the two sipped their tea in silence.

After a brief pause, Miriel spoke first.

“How are your magic department classes lately, Your Highness?”

Celestina toyed with her teacup, choosing her words carefully and slowly.

“It’s a bit challenging to keep up, but I’m enjoying it.”

“You’d have had an easier time in political science. You could’ve taken the top spot without much effort.”

“The academy is a place of learning. I simply chose where I could learn the most.”

Celestina smiled gently at Miriel. Her voice was calm, but a subtle wariness glinted in her eyes.

“Well said, Your Highness.”

Miriel nodded smoothly, then added casually, as if it just occurred to her, “Perhaps the top freshman, Lunaris, was inspired by Your Highness’s profound intent and chose magical engineering over the magic department.”

Lunaris.

At the mention of the name, Celestina’s hand, lifting her teacup, faltered.

“…Why bring up Lunaris all of a sudden?”

“No particular reason.”

Miriel shrugged nonchalantly, then continued as if she’d been waiting, “I just recalled meeting Lunaris privately today.”

A flicker of alarm crossed Celestina’s violet eyes. Miriel didn’t miss that fleeting moment.

As expected.

The princess hadn’t fully won Lunaris over either.

Thinking back to the Magic Exchange, the princess’s gaze toward Lunaris had been etched with longing.

It was the yearning for something unattainable.

Even now, she was pretending to be composed, but deep down, she must be burning with anxiety.

“So… what did you meet Lunaris for?”

“Nothing special.”

Celestina’s question was cautious, probing. Miriel smiled leisurely and spun a plausible lie.

“She seems to find the academy’s administrative procedures and obligatory social events quite… bothersome.”

“…”

“As her senior, I offered to help so she wouldn’t be bogged down by such trivial matters.”

A talented junior shouldn’t be held back by petty things, right?

Her kind tone carried a subtle weight.

“I plan to meet with her regularly to guide her on various matters.”

Celestina listened silently, blinking blankly before letting out a soft pfft of laughter.

“You don’t know Lunaris very well, Senior.”

Miriel tilted her head, puzzled, and the princess continued with a lingering smile.

“Given her personality, she’d never welcome meeting someone regularly.”

A direct hit.

But Miriel didn’t flinch, calmly lifting her teacup.

“You make a fair point, Your Highness.”

However—

She let out a languid sigh, as if exhaling, and continued, “When the day comes that she needs help, won’t Lunaris think of me first?”

Celestina’s and Miriel’s eyes locked in the center. Invisible sparks crackled between them.

*

“Everyone, you may leave. I want to be alone. Let no one enter.”

Back in her room, Princess Celestina spoke to her guards in a voice she forced to sound casual.

The moment the door closed, the smiling mask she’d worn slipped away. In its place was a restless, anxious expression.

“I didn’t expect Senior Miriel to meet Lunaris privately…”

In the empty room, her voice trembled faintly.

At least Lunaris hadn’t fully fallen to that woman yet.

But she couldn’t relax.

This wasn’t good news for Celestina either.

If even Miriel, known as Elterion’s hostess, failed to win Lunaris’s heart, then Celestina—whose only claim was her royal title—wouldn’t fare much better.

From the start, Lunaris Evermoon didn’t care who she was dealing with. She’d boldly skip even important events if she didn’t feel like it. No way she’d be swayed by royal status.

“Haaa…”

Celestina clutched her head and let out a small sigh. She never imagined making one talented friend would be this hard.

No matter how she thought about it, Lunaris was dangerous.

She was likely to become not just the youngest grand mage but the greatest mage in imperial history. If her older brother or other siblings got to her first…

A horrifying future flashed before Celestina’s eyes. The thought of all those stars from the Magic Exchange raining down on her made her shudder involuntarily.

“This won’t do.”

Making Lunaris hers—or at least earning her favor—was no longer a childish matter of making friends.

This was a matter of survival.

“But… what am I supposed to do…?”

No answers came, no matter how she wracked her brain. Celestina buried her face in her pillow and let out a pained uuungh.

*

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