Scarlet leaned back in her chair.

Her body was in the classroom…

But her soul had already left it.

Morning training with her grandfather had nearly killed her. The lectures afterward felt like someone slowly draining the last drop of energy she had left.

Her eyes were half-closed.

Her mind blank.

A walking corpse.

Tap.

Something touched her shoulder.

Her soul immediately rushed back into her body.

Scarlet flinched and turned around sharply.

Behind her stood a girl.

The girl smiled brightly.

"Hey! I'm Lilina Astler. Nice to meet you!"

Scarlet blinked once.

The girl had soft brown hair tied into a loose ponytail and bright, friendly eyes. Her uniform was perfectly neat, and her expression looked completely harmless.

Too harmless.

"You're new here," Lilina continued cheerfully. "So if you ever need help, you can ask me anytime!"

Scarlet stared at her for a moment.

Is this kind of person… real?

Or acting?

Her instincts were quiet but cautious.

So she replied coldly.

"Okay."

Lilina didn't seem bothered at all.

Instead, she casually pulled a chair and sat beside Scarlet like they had known each other for years.

Then she placed something on the desk.

A chocolate bar.

Scarlet looked down at it.

Then back at her.

Lilina pushed it closer with a smile.

"For you."

Scarlet coughed awkwardly.

"You need something?"

"No!" Lilina quickly waved her hands. "I just wanted to be friends."

Friends.

The word felt strange.

"You might have trouble here since you don't know anyone," Lilina continued. "So I thought maybe we could help each other."

Scarlet didn't reply immediately.

Her gut instinct whispered quietly.

Don't get involved too much.

Something about this girl felt…

Too eager.

Too fast.

But Lilina kept smiling innocently.

She pushed the chocolate again.

"Take it."

Scarlet hesitated for a moment before awkwardly accepting it.

"...Thanks."

Lilina looked strangely happy about such a small reaction.

Scarlet narrowed her eyes slightly.

Interesting.

Most students in this school had either watched her cautiously or whispered behind her back.

But this girl walked straight up to her.

Bold.

Or foolish.

Or calculated.

Scarlet couldn't tell yet.

Lilina stood up and grabbed her bag.

"Well! I'll see you tomorrow then, Scarlet!"

She waved cheerfully and walked out of the classroom.

Scarlet watched her leave.

Her fingers slowly turned the chocolate bar over.

"Lilina Astler…"

She murmured the name quietly.

First day.

First classmate to approach her.

And yet—

Her instincts still hadn't relaxed.

Scarlet slipped the chocolate into her bag.

For now, she would observe.

After all…

The sweetest things could sometimes hide poison.

She again resting her head on her folded arms.

The classroom was almost empty now.

Most students had already left for lunch or club activities.

Her body still felt heavy from the morning training.

Just as she was about to drift into another half-dead state—

Tap.

Someone knocked lightly on her desk.

Scarlet sighed internally.

Did that girl come back already?

She slowly lifted her head and turned around.

But it wasn't Lilina.

It was Blake Ralnar.

He stood beside the desk, calm as always, hands casually resting in his pockets.

"I told you I would come after class," he said.

Scarlet straightened slightly.

"Oh… right."

Her brain had temporarily forgotten that part.

Blake glanced at the nearly empty classroom.

"Ready for the school tour?"

Scarlet grabbed her bag and stood up.

"Sure."

They walked out of the classroom together.

Students in the hallway subtly moved aside when they saw Blake.

Scarlet noticed it immediately.

So he really has influence here.

Interesting.

After walking for a few minutes, they stopped in front of a large open hall.

The smell of food drifted through the air.

The cafeteria.

Blake turned toward her.

"Have you eaten?"

Scarlet blinked.

"No… not yet. My classes just finished."

He nodded once.

"Then we'll eat first."

He walked inside without another word.

Scarlet followed behind him, quietly observing.

This person…

Not only was he ridiculously handsome—

Sharp jawline, composed expression, tall posture—

But he was also considerate.

Most people in a position of authority wouldn't even think about something so small.

Yet he had asked first.

Scarlet tilted her head slightly while watching his back.