// content warning: age gap, skip if you are uncomfortable //
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As I was walking back, lost in my thoughts and not paying attention to my surroundings, I accidentally bumped into someone.
"Oh! Sorry—" I began to apologize, only to freeze mid-sentence when I saw who it was. My jaw nearly hit the ground, but I managed to keep my composure. After all, this wasn't just anyone.
Standing before me was the Cassiel Valmont.
Cassiel Valmont: the noble with an air of effortless elegance, Camille Winter's future husband in an arranged marriage, and one of the central figures in this story. His dark, wavy hair framed his sharp, refined features, and his orange-brown eyes held a warmth that felt disarming, yet there was an undeniable sharpness behind them. His tailored attire, adorned with sapphire-blue gemstones, reflected his aristocratic status, and he carried himself with an air of casual grace that somehow made him even more intimidating.
And here I was, the notorious villainess, face-to-face with him. Great.
"Don't worry about it. I wasn't paying attention either," he said smoothly, his voice rich and calm. Then, to my utter shock, he added, "Ah, you're Sera Vandren, right?"
He knew me? My brain scrambled for an explanation.
"Y-yes, that would be me," I replied, doing my best to sound casual, even though my heart was racing.
Cassiel's lips curved into a polite smile, tinged with something akin to amusement. "Camille mentioned you. She told me she felt bad that you didn't join her Drama Club." He chuckled softly, the sound warm and almost teasing. "She seems to think highly of you."
My mind stalled for a moment. Camille... felt bad about me not joining? That was news. And why did it feel like there was an undertone to his words?
"Well, she's very... enthusiastic about her club," I managed to say, keeping my voice steady.
Cassiel nodded, clearly picking up on my awkwardness but gracious enough not to comment on it. "Anyway, I'm Cassiel Valmont. It's nice to meet you, Sera."
He extended his hand toward me, and for a brief moment, I hesitated. Was this a trap? Was this the part where the male lead subtly asserted his superiority? But his expression remained open and friendly, so I took his hand, shaking it lightly.
"Nice to meet you too," I said, though I was painfully aware of how stiff I sounded.
His grip was firm but not overbearing, and his smile didn't falter.
"Unfortunately," Cassiel continued with an apologetic tilt of his head, "I'll have to cut this conversation short. Camille's waiting for me—apparently, I'm one of her actors now. She's going to have my head if I don't get there on time."
I blinked, unsure whether to laugh or pity him. Camille as a director sounded... intense, to say the least.
"Don't let her scare you too much," I said lightly, though internally I was thinking, Good luck surviving that hurricane.
He chuckled, a soft, genuine sound. "I'll try my best. Anyway, I suppose this is goodbye for now. See you around, Sera."
With that, he gave me a small, almost playful wave before turning and walking away with the confidence only someone like Cassiel Valmont could pull off.
As I watched him disappear into the crowd, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.
Of all the people I could have bumped into, it had to be him. The male lead. Camille's fiancé.
"Right," I muttered to myself, shaking my head. "Just my luck."
Thankfully, I hadn't joined the Drama Club. At least the plot was unfolding as it should, more or less. A quiet sigh escaped me as I continued walking, hoping for a peaceful rest of the day.
But, of course, fate had other plans.
"Hey, Sera!" a familiar voice called out behind me.
I froze mid-step and turned to see none other than Vivienne Roselle, one of my teachers, approaching with her usual graceful air. Her jet-black hair was pinned up elegantly, and the crimson accessory she always wore caught the light, making her presence all the more striking.
"Can you help me out a little bit?" she asked, her voice soft but commanding in its own way.
I blinked, caught off guard. "Uh, yeah, sure. What do you need help with?"
She gestured to a small pile of boxes stacked nearby. "Just these," she said with a faint smile. "I need to carry them back to my classroom, but my hands are already full. Can you grab those two on the top? They should be light."
"Yeah, of course," I said quickly, stepping forward and picking up the boxes she indicated. The moment I lifted them, though, I realized she had completely lied. Light? These things felt like they were filled with bricks!
She must have noticed the slight strain on my face because she tilted her head with an amused smile. "Thank you, Sera. You're a lifesaver."
"Y-yeah, no problem," I managed, doing my best to hide my struggle as we started walking together.
The trip to her classroom wasn't far, but with every step, the boxes seemed to get heavier. Meanwhile, Ms. Roselle carried her share with effortless poise, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor.
When we finally reached her classroom, I couldn't hide the small sigh of relief as I set the boxes down on her desk.
"There we go," she said, placing her own stack down with the same grace she always seemed to exude. "Thank you so much, Sera. I don't know what I would have done without you."
"Happy to help," I replied, brushing off my skirt. "But next time, maybe warn me about the weight?"
She chuckled softly, her ruby-red lips curving into an amused smile. "I suppose I could have. But then again," she added, leaning lightly against her desk, "you handled it so well. I figured you'd manage just fine."
I raised an eyebrow. "You have a lot of faith in me, Ms. Roselle."
"Of course I do," she said smoothly, her tone laced with a hint of something playful. Her dark eyes seemed to glimmer with intrigue as she studied me. "You're more capable than you give yourself credit for, you know."
I felt a flicker of warmth at her words but quickly brushed it aside, shifting awkwardly under her gaze. "Well, thank you. I just try to help where I can."
She straightened, walking around to the other side of the desk and lightly brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "That's an admirable trait. Not many people would go out of their way to lend a hand without expecting something in return."
"I mean... it's just the right thing to do," I said, trying to sound casual.
"Still," she murmured, her tone softer now, "it says a lot about you, Sera."
The way she said my name sent a small shiver down my spine, though I wasn't entirely sure why. I cleared my throat, eager to change the subject. "So, um, what's in the boxes anyway? They felt like they weighed a ton."
Vivienne's lips curved into a mysterious smile. "Just some supplies for my lessons—books, equipment, a few artifacts for demonstrations. Nothing too interesting."
Artifacts? That sounded very interesting, but I decided not to press further.
She stepped closer, her gaze never leaving mine, and I suddenly felt like I was caught in the spotlight. "I'll have to repay you for your help sometime. Perhaps tea? Or maybe something sweeter?"
My eyes widened slightly, and I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out.
She laughed softly, a low, melodic sound that made my heart skip a beat. "Relax, Sera. I'm only teasing."
Were you, though?
Before I could respond, she moved to the side of the desk, her fingers lightly brushing over the polished wood. "But truly, thank you. If you ever need anything—anything at all—you know where to find me."
I nodded quickly, feeling heat creep up my neck. "Y-yeah, of course. Anytime."
Her smile deepened, and she leaned slightly closer, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "Good. I'll hold you to that."
With that, she turned back to her desk, gracefully organizing the boxes I'd just carried.
I didn't wait around to see what else she might say or do. Offering a quick goodbye, I all but fled the room, my mind racing.
Vivienne Roselle was dangerous—charming, cunning, and far too good at leaving me flustered. Moreover, she was also my teacher! And for some reason, I'm seeing some similarities between her and Diana.
But I can't let my guard down, Vivienne was also involved in taking down Sera Vandren in the novel. Was she trying to get close to me to let my guard down? That is absolutely not happening!
As I walked down the hall, I made a mental note to avoid getting roped into her errands again. Not because I didn't want to help, but because I wasn't sure my sanity could handle another encounter like that.