Struggling as a Villain

Eleanor and Emily arrived together, just a few minutes earlier than Richard and Amelia.

Looking at the board, Emily felt relieved that she was in the top twenty-five and could be in the same class as Ethan. For some unknown reason, despite failing the hunter's course test, Ethan was in the top twenty-five, meaning he would be in the first section just like Emily.

Eleanor was a genius, so Emily knew she would be in the top ten; however, when she glanced at her friend, she found Eleanor frowning and looking at the notice board intently.

Emily was unaware of what could have aroused such an unpleasant reaction from the girl, so she followed Eleanor's gaze and checked the leaderboard again.

"Eh?" Emily instantly exclaimed, seeing the top ranker of the list, and it wasn't Eleanor, as Emily and the person herself expected.

Eleanor was on the second rank with 3290 points while Richard rested on the top with ten points more than the violette.

Eleanor clenched her fist before mumbling under her breath, "He cheated."

Emily sighed, recovering from her shock instantly, before she informed her, "Fooling the instructors and the security is barely possible."

Holding Eleanor's hand, she pulled it back and forth and continued, "We both know that Richard is an exceptional mage, and we both know that he has changed, so he must have trained for this, no?"

"I can't believe that the rich and arrogant Scarlette Richard suddenly got so good in every field that he scored that high." Eleanor seethingly spoke as she began to walk away.

Emily chuckled and followed the girl, "Why are you grumpy? You are in the top three you know?"

"Emily." Eleanor suddenly paused and turned towards the blond, and so did the latter, before the Alchemist spoke, "Any spot below the first is a failure to me."

With a grin, Emily asked, "So...are you dropping out of the academy?"

Eleanor narrowed her eyes before continuing her walk.

Emily didn't tease her anymore and the duo soon reached the classroom assigned to them.

Each floor of the building was given to each year and the fourth floor was where most faculty's office was located, along with the headmaster's chamber.

Each class consists of twenty-five students minimum and a forty maximum. The merit of being in the top section is that every student gains fifty points every week for just existing in the top section.

That's why every three months, a re-evaluation happens, and the students rotate through sections throughout the years.

As Emily and Eleanor passed through the corridor, they gathered many gazes in their direction.

Eleanor easily became famous because of her exceptional performance during the assessment. Not to talk about she even argued with a Professor when they tried collecting her method related to Alchemy.

Rumours spread fast that's why Eleanor was hailed as the 'Thorny Genius'

And as of Emily, then along with her beauty that oozed with innocence and an attractive charm, she is the daughter of Count Cravenford. Naturally, among the low-ranking noble children and the commoners, she looked like a celebrity.

Regardless, neither of them ever were hungry for attention, nor they ever would be.

Entering the classroom, Emily and Eleanor slowed down and ran their eyes through the classroom...only to find their Prince, sitting in the back.

Naturally, Ethan also noticed the two lilies walking inside the classroom and glancing at him. He had a mixed reaction in exchange.

For a moment, he thought he should smile and greet them...but then he refrained and focused back on his book(he didn't know what he was reading, but the pictures were cool, so he was pretending to be a scholar).

Emily was struck at her position, seeing him coldly ignoring her. However, Eleanor pulled her away before Emily could block the others' way.

The two sat on the first desk rather than choosing to sit with Ethan making him even more uncomfortable.

"We can start new with friendship and then develop it in..." Emily slowly mumbled; expressing her wishes weakly.

However, Eleanor made it clear, "To start new, we should do one thing, and that is not to pester him."

Emily reluctantly nodded before she looked over her shoulder and gazed at Ethan once again before she also took out a book and mindlessly began to read it.

Slowly other students also began to take seats based on their choices. Since only ten minutes were left, most of the students have filed in.

Amidst the growing silence, suddenly, the classroom door again opened, and naturally, everyone turned to look at the new arrival...and suddenly, many of them gasped in astonishment.

Pale blue hair that fell down her shoulder and reached her mid-back provided an ethereal glow to the girl when she walked inside. Her droopy eyes looked innocent and gave an urge to the people, to always protect the girl.

Most of all, her long ears caught everyone's attention as they instantly realized that she was the one who, for the first time, was sent from the elven society to socialize with the humans.

Emily looked at Nora with a smile and the girl returned the smile after seeing her friend for such a long time.

Nora was about to approach the two when suddenly,

"You....!!" Suddenly, the silence in the class was broken by a loud slam on the desk and the accusing voice of Ethan echoed throughout the classroom.

Nora, Eleanor and Emily, the three of them widened their eyes as Ethan kept his finger pointed at Nora and his eyes became blood-red in agitation.

That face...it can't be anyone else!

"Quiet down you fool. Pointing at someone like that is rude." Someone from the students called out to Ethan, which broke the boy out of his daze.

Turning his eyes Ethan found it was the swordsman whom he saw during assessment.

Slowly, everyone started murmuring about his sudden outburst, and when Ethan glanced back at the girl who trapped him the last time, all he could find in her eyes was shock.

'Of course, she would be shocked that I am still alive...' Sitting back down Ethan crossed his arms and decided to deal with the girl later.

"Nora, sit down." Eleanor's voice brought Nora's attention to her as she anxiously asked the violette,

"But El...h-he-..." Nora was beyond devastated for being disliked by her beloved even though this was the first time they were meeting. Or was it that Ethan retained his memories? But that wasn't possible...

"No, he hasn't been reborn like us, so stop pondering over it and sit down." Eleanor's stern voice made Nora nod in assent before she glanced at Ethan one last time and sat down beside the duo.

Eleanor was about to tell Nora about the whole thing that happened in the Capital when suddenly the homeroom teacher entered the classroom...and along with her was the person who instantly made Eleanor's eyes narrow.

Richard.

"Ah..."

"Is it him...?"

"Yup...no doubt."

"The top ranker..."

"His mom is her, no?"

"Blud got that slicing jawline."

"Waah...he is hot. Hey, how do I look?"

Numerous students began to murmur upon seeing Richard in the class as the said teenager walked in while conversing with the teacher.

Emily looked at Richard with complex emotions...and couldn't help but admit in her heart that he looked good in that uniform. Better than the previous lifetime, truth be told.

After conversing with her, Richard walked down the aisle and chose to sit two seats before Ethan. He wasn't in the far corner or the front.

"Hey, how are you doing?" Richard asked the Protagonist who clearly looked annoyed after seeing Nora in the class

However, while facing Richard Ethan didn't show his anger and calmly responded, "Doing good, I guess. Oh yes, congrats for being the top scorer."

Richard nodded before he focused back on the class.

---------**---------

In a different classroom, situated on the third floor, a boy hurriedly entered the class and found his friend sitting in the back.

Hopper, Kevin's lackey, looked quite nervous as he approached Kevin, and after dropping his bag, he asked him, "Why did you do that?"

Kevin frowned hearing that voice as he asked, "What did I do?"

Hopper pinched the bridge of his nose before clarifying, "The incident with the Scarlette kid...why did you go to his mansion yesterday?"

Kevin was now genuinely getting annoyed as he spat, "Have you gone insane?! Why would I trespass into that property when I know it is well guarded?"

Hopper frowned, "Then who was the one that put Richard into that spell?"

Kevin shrugged, "How would I know? I ain't got any mind fucking spells. Now just zip it and sit down before I break your legs and make you."

Hopper closed his mouth and did as Kevin said.

It wasn't like Kevin didn't know about what happened last night, but he genuinely was unaware of the true perpetrator.

Then...who appeared in Richard's room last night?

----------**----------

A/N:- Ahaha...this would be fun.