32

"I told you, at least I can tell if it's your real painting style, whether it's your true painting or not."

"You've never seen my painting before, how do you know it? By what standards?"

Raphael was quite agitated. It was true, too, that he painted in a mediocre, popular style, with elements that his clients might like. Because only in that way could he make money. He didn't paint with his own technique and style, which he was still inexperienced in. No, he was not very good at it. It was because he hadn't fully established his own identity in painting yet.

But this woman was saying that Raphael's paintings were fake. As if she had seen Raphael's real paintings.

"Because it's awkward. It's uncomfortable. It's too much."

"…!"

"That's an answer, right? Let go of me."

Elena shook off Raphael's hand violently with all her strength. Then she gave him a sideways glance as she stroked her red, swollen right wrist. Later, realizing that he had made a mistake in his agitation, Raphael spoke quickly.

"Just this once. Can I have your name? I apologize for what happened a while ago. So…"

"Are you curious about that? Then think about that."

Elena, who was offended, left coldly without looking back after leaving an answer.

When Raphael saw Elena moving away, he never thought of catching her. No, he couldn't move a foot.

Elena's words wandered in his mind. It was quite a while before Raphael's mouth, which had been standing firm for a long time, opened.

"What was I drawing?"

Sect 6. L

The Academic Institute opened its doors. Current students took both major and liberal arts courses that belonged to their department and visited the lectures to obtain the credits necessary for graduation. Some students went out of their way to find the courses they needed, but most of the aristocrats did not take the liberal arts courses because taking only their major courses would not interfere with their graduation.

On the contrary, the commoner graduates were also preoccupied with liberal arts courses in order to gain experience for their career path after graduation. In this context, it was enough for Elena to take classes in her major, Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. However, this was under the assumption that she did not take a leave of absence for the year.

Leabrick wanted Elena to acquire two years' worth of credits that could not be accumulated due to her absence from school. The connections and diplomas of academic institutions were important, but it was considered inefficient to waste two years or time. After discussing it with the dean, they would let Elena graduate early with all the credits she had earned for her third year.

But that's later. Currently, Elena had no choice but to take liberal arts courses to complete her grades, except for her major classes.

"Look, it's Princess Veronica."

"Wow, she does feel different when I see her up close. Maybe it's because we have different bloodlines?"

"You know, I'm so nervous I can't even make eye contact."

When Elena appeared in the "Continental History" class, the commoners couldn't take their eyes off her. The nobles and commoners attended different lectures, and it was too rare for them to overlap. It was the same as the first time that they listened to the lecture together with Princess Veronica of the Friedrich family, who was the head of the four great dukes of the empire.

'My shell is a princess, and I'm no different from them.'

It was very funny. The mere use of her name and status as Princess Veronica made them look up to her. After all, she was a fallen aristocrat who was no better than a rich commoner.

The back door of the lecture hall opened. The lecture began, and her gaze was particularly focused on the professor as she opened her book beforehand and solemnly waited for him to arrive.

"Wow, the lower ones are also passionate. You're trying to climb up somehow, right?"

Ren, with curly hair and a bad impression, clapped and laughed sarcastically at the students preparing for the lecture.

"That's R-Ren, isn't it?"

"Why of all people."

"What should I do? Should I give up my liberal arts degree?"

The faces of the students looking at Ren were tinged with despair. No matter how many commoner students had no contact with the nobility, there was no student who didn't know Ren, who was said to be the best ruffian in the academy. If they were to get into a fight with him, or if he were to hate them, life at the academy would turn into hell.

Ren was relentless in his torment. Last year alone, nearly ten students left the academy because they could not bear the pain.

Elena's expression was not good either. She didn't show it, but she was perplexed by Ren's unexpected appearance.

'How come? Ren didn't take this class. I remember clearly.'

Elena was troubled, but she had to admit. That her past life and reality had changed. Otherwise, the reason why Ren was now taking this course in continental history was never explained.

'I didn't want this.'

She had never dreamed that her first meeting with Ren, which had been twisted, would lead to this result and another thorny path.

Ren grinned and came over to Elena. He sat down at the desk of a student who was sitting next to Elena at the back of the lecture hall.

"I'm not very close to the professor. Aren't there a lot of vacancies elsewhere?"

"Yes? P-Please sit here."

The boy, frightened by the blatant threat, quickly shifted in his seat with his books. Ren, sitting in the empty seat, sat with his chin in a stiff position and looked at Elena.

"I know that look."

"…"

"It's the face you make when you're happy, right?"

Ren grinned. It was as if he was enjoying Elena's reaction.

Elena looked at him with a cold look.

"This isn't a coincidence, is it?"

"It's a coincidence. Planned coincidence!"

Ren didn't leave a smile on his lips that was pleasant. He was vicious by nature and enjoyed bullying and embarrassing people. Elena tried to maintain a sense of normalcy at this happy reunion. It bothered her, but as long as Ren didn't know that she was a substitute, there was no reason for Elena to be pushed around. Realizing this made her feel better.

"I hope you have a student's duty in that planned coincidence."

Elena spoke tastelessly and turned away. The professor in charge of continental history came into the lecture room and started his lecture. When he couldn't continue the dialogue any longer, Ren clicked his tongue and crossed his arms. Nevertheless, he didn't think that his gaze would leave Elena.

'To discuss the history of the continent, the story of the Gaia Church is essential. We must look back at the genesis of civilization achieved through myth and history and their relationship… but to do so…"

Throughout the lecture, Ren's eyes never fell off Elena. He turned the chair and stared at her outright. Elena was sick and tired of the persistent eyes.

'Let's not be conscious.'

Elena focused carefully on the lecture. History was a profound subject, and it was interesting to hear it again, even though she already knew it. In particular, perhaps because she had lived a bent life, she was able to see aspects of history from a different perspective than she had been able to at the time.

"That's all for today's lecture."

The professor closed the textbook and finished his lecture. As soon as the professor left, the students left the lecture room like an undertow. They were lingering, but she could see that they were in a hurry, as if they wanted to complain to Ren.

Elena, like them, rose from the chair. She ignored Ren, who was still looking at her chin, and tried to leave the classroom.

Abruptly.

Elena was walking by and Ren stretched out his legs.

"Huh? Uh!"

Even though she was about to lose her balance and fall, Elena quickly and tactfully grabbed the hem of her skirt and stretched her opposite leg out in front of her for support.

'That's what you do.'

She had been in trouble because she had been through this so much in her last life. Being calm with that nasty personality meant that he had a different dream.

"Oh! That's quick?"

Elena did not fall, but she lost her hold of continental history books. Elena pointed and snapped coldly at him.

"You'll pick it up, right?"

"Am I being threatened, now?"

"Pick it up."

Ren shrugged his shoulders and shivered.

"Is it okay to make me act like I'm under your roof?"

"Ha, I don't want to deal with you because you're childish."

Elena thought the conversation was a waste of time, so she bent at the waist and grabbed the book. She brushed the dusty cover from the floor with her hand and tucked the book into her waistband.

"You don't look familiar."

Ren stared at Elena with a suspicious look.

"I'm sick of you."

Elena struck back and left the lecture hall without even looking back. It didn't seem like he was following her, considering she couldn't sense anybody from behind.

"I have a pretty good memory?"

Elena looked to the side in surprise. Ren, who left the classroom, said, walking side by side.

"Wasn't your scar on the other side?"

"…!"

Elena did not budge from most provocations, but she had no choice but to breathe in.

"I definitely remember that."

Elena's palm, which had been holding the book, broke out in a cold sweat as Ren fell in persistent bites. Elena had also only heard about the scar and made it, but she wasn't sure if it was exactly on the left or the right.

When Elena arrived at the Grand Duchy, all the maids who were related to Veronica were already at work. In the meantime, Elena also had to be impatient. As for the others, if Ren found out that she was a substitute, Elena was sure that it would interfere with her planned project.

"The most uncertain thing in the world is human memory, right?"

"I've never heard of this."

"Then you can live in blind faith in your memory."

Elena didn't back down and had the guts. As soon as he showed signs of shaking or embarrassment, she knew it was over, so she had to go strong.

"Am I mistaken?"

"Yes."

Elena, who cut off the conversation with a single answer, hurried to leave because she did not even want to continue. Ren stopped chasing Elena and started walking slowly. He murmured as he saw Elena moving away.

"Well, since you insist… I'm confused too?"