Asura Claremont

What did an average 13-year-old experience to have eyes like those?

That face… if I hadn't seen her eyes, I would've truly been fooled by the friendly and kind demeanor that made her look as if she was genuinely apologetic.

But, in truth, she wasn't sorry in the slightest.

I could tell.

I could see the arrogance, disdain, and smugness hidden reflected in her bright blue irises.

Perhaps it was because I've seen far too many of those types of eyes that I developed a flair for recognizing them.

All of the residents back in the palace—even the younger children—looked at me that way when viewing me through normal lenses, save for King Ernest, who didn't even spare me such courtesy.

Yet… there was another emotion in the girl's eyes that I haven't seen before.

Expectation. And a confidence that was different from arrogance.

Heh.

How interesting.

I don't believe that I had seen anything even close the expression this strange girl showed!

And I was stunned for a moment, unable to peel my eyes away.

But even when I had absentmindedly grabbed the outstretched hand in front of me and stood up, watching as the blue-eyed girl with her bouncy golden curls stride away in feigned elegance, I had remained in a daze, staring shamefully at her fading back.

It was only when I could no longer see the girl's silhouette that I snapped back to my senses, walking to my destination as if nothing had happened.

Around me, I could hear vague murmurs of—interestingly, not what I had thought I would hear.

Instead of mockery or ridicule, I heard helpless sighs of agreement as well as talks of gaining a new comrade.

???????????

Gaining a new comrade?

For a second, I was stumped.

… Did these people see the girl's strange expression and since they saw my face, they thought I saw the truth behind her as well and therefore felt that we were comrades? Or maybe… this group of people were secretly witches and somehow saw through my disguise?!

No, that can't be it. Then is there some sort of conspiracy that I'm not aware of going on at this school? Judging from that girl's attitude… this place indeed may not be as simple as it seems!

Wait.

I suddenly recalled that strange girl's features.

Her arrogant yet mesmerizing sapphire eyes, her exquisite sharp yet gentle eyebrows, her head of neat, golden hair as fine as silk, as well as that customized uniform that she wore…

My pupils dilated as I quickly came to a conclusion.

… Asura Claremont, the beloved daughter of Duke Claremont and the younger sister of the head of the royal guards and a cardinal of the Loenese church.