Chapter 13
After preparing a simple breakfast, Selina lightly filled her stomach.
Once she had washed her face and bathed, Luna was already awake, busily grooming himself on the bed.
“Finally, it’s today, nya.”
Seeing Selina towel-drying her hair, Luna spoke up.
“Yeah, it really is. Somehow it still doesn’t feel real.”
“Maybe because you haven’t gone to the academy yet, nya.”
“I guess so.”
“You’re supposed to meet Mie at nine, so hurry up, nya.”
When Selina looked at the clock, it was already nearing eight.
She began putting on the items she had prepared on the table the night before.
She wore her school uniform and tied a red necktie around her collar — the mark of a first-year student.
She checked herself in the full-length mirror, making sure everything looked neat and proper.
Before her stood a perfect image of a Perion Academy student.
A student. The word made her throat tickle with a strange excitement.
As Selina looked at her reflection, her gaze stopped on her red hair.
She suddenly seemed to remember something and went back to the table.
On it were her school bag, her robe, and the jewelry box that Bigster had given her.
Selina opened the box and unclasped the bracelet on her wrist.
“So, it’s time to say goodbye.”
It was the bracelet Stella had given her when she was four years old — and now, after twelve years, she was finally parting with it.
It was worn and frayed, as though it had endured all the storms of her life alongside her.
Twelve years of memories flashed through her mind like a passing lantern show.
Selina shook off the fleeting sentiment and picked up the jewelry box again, standing in front of the mirror.
When she blinked slowly and opened her eyes again, her true self was reflected back.
Her passionate, crimson hair was gone — replaced by soft, light-purple strands that shimmered faintly.
The color seemed to match her eyes perfectly — a gentle shade of violet mixed with white.
Though it had been a long time since she’d revealed her real hair, it suited her even better than the red she usually wore.
“Oooh, it’s been ages since I’ve seen that hair, nya. How long has it been?”
“Maybe… two years?”
Even though she always wore her magic device, there were times she had to remove it for repairs or other reasons — that’s when she’d occasionally see her true hair again.
“Still, I like the red better.”
Selina opened the jewelry box and put on a necklace with a small gem attached.
As soon as she did, her light-purple hair began turning red again from the roots.
She couldn’t remember when exactly she had started disguising her hair color.
When she was little, Stella had used a magical bracelet to hide her own hair color — and Selina had simply accepted it.
Red hair had become the symbol of a witch ever since Stella was called one.
So even people who had never met Stella in person whispered “witch” whenever they saw red hair.
Her real hair wasn’t red but lilac. She didn’t need to keep disguising it, especially since being called a witch only brought her scorn.
But Selina continued using the magic device, keeping her hair red.
Not because of any great reason.
She simply didn’t see why she should reveal her true color just to please others’ eyes.
If anything, she liked her red hair.
Because people often said it made her look like Stella — and that they looked like mother and daughter.
Selina looked into the mirror and tried to imitate Stella’s expression.
Of course, the result was nothing like Stella’s radiant smile — it was just awkward and a little ridiculous.
Luna frowned.
“What are you doing, nya?”
“…Ahem. Nothing.”
“Trying to become a witch, nya? If you make that face at the academy, everyone will run away.”
At Luna’s teasing tone, Selina shot him a glare, then turned back to the mirror, wondering if her face really did look that strange.
It did. She looked exactly like the terrifying witch from the rumors.
People really shouldn’t do things they’re not used to.
Selina shook her head and turned around.
“It’s almost time to go. Get in there, now.”
“It’s so cramped in there, nya…”
“You don’t have a choice. Go to the bathroom first if you need to.”
“Got it, nya.”
Selina gently coaxed Luna into his cage and covered it with a white cloth so he wouldn’t be seen.
The appointed time to meet Mie was near.
Clatter—
Selina opened the front door and moved her luggage outside.
Finally, she picked up the cage holding Luna and took one last look around her now-quiet home.
Sunlight streamed faintly through the windows.
“I’ll be back.”
She bowed to the photograph of Stella on the fireplace and closed the door behind her.
Clatter, clatter—
Selina and Mie rode in a carriage that was far too luxurious for commoners, headed toward Perion Academy.
“See? Just being around you brings good luck! Cardinal-sama is the best!”
The carriage they were riding in had been arranged by Fraimon for Selina’s trip to the academy.
Mie could have ridden comfortably herself thanks to her own patron, but once she learned Selina was going with Fraimon’s help, she decided to join her.
Perion Academy wasn’t far from the capital.
From their home in Therion Street, it was less than an hour’s ride by carriage.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so nervous! What if I mess up? What if I can’t make any friends?”
“Shouldn’t I be the one worrying about that?”
“Ahhh! My heart’s going to pop out of my mouth!”
Selina shook her head as her friend continued to panic nonstop.
Nyaaa~
Amid Mie’s loud chatter came a faint meow.
Selina lifted the cloth covering the cage — Luna was staring up with round eyes, begging to be let out.
“Just a little longer.”
Nyaaaang!
Unhappy with that answer, Luna cried even louder.
“Just let him out. It’s only us in the carriage anyway.”
“But still…”
“He’ll have to stay in the cage again until the dorms are assigned. It must be suffocating in there.”
Nyaa~
Luna meowed as if agreeing. After a moment’s hesitation, Selina gave in and opened the cage.
Luna leapt out immediately and climbed onto Mie’s lap.
“Oh my! How adorable!”
Nyaang!
[Since you helped me, I shall allow you to pet me, nya.]
Luna’s voice echoed in Selina’s mind.
Mie, unaware of this, stroked Luna’s soft black fur with delight.
“Oh, right! Selina, did you hear?”
“Hear what?”
Mie, her face bright with excitement, leaned closer.
“There are tons of famous nobles among this year’s new students!”
“Really?”
“Yeah! Nobles entering the academy isn’t unusual, but this year’s different!”
“How so?”
“Even people outside noble circles — commoners, too — are talking about them!”
“Hm…”
Mie’s face was filled with dreamy excitement as she listed off names and rumors, while Selina responded with lukewarm interest.
“And guess what— kyaah! The Crown Prince himself is at the academy! Not as a freshman, of course, but still!”
Selina flinched involuntarily.
“The Crown Prince! As our senior! Can you imagine? It’s our one chance to see His Highness up close! They say he’s as handsome as the first emperor himself…”
Mie smiled slyly, almost drooling at the thought.
Selina looked away, recalling the prince’s face in her mind.
Yes, he was handsome.
“All those people are famous, but no one compares to them! The two from House Hailers!”
“Two? You mean the twins? Or cousins?”
“If they were cousins, they’d have different surnames.”
“So twins?”
“Wrong! Not twins — they’re the same age, but a brother and sister!”
“How’s that possible?”
Not twins but same-aged siblings? Unless one was born in January and the other in December, it seemed unlikely.
“One of them’s adopted. The Marquis’s second wife’s daughter, to be exact. When he remarried, she was the same age as his own son.”
Selina’s expression froze.
“It’s a well-known story! The current Marchioness is his second wife — the first one passed away. The Marquis met the second while grieving, fell in love again, and when they married, he officially adopted her daughter too!”
Mie clasped her hands dreamily.
“Isn’t it so romantic? Nobles usually care so much about bloodlines, but he accepted a child not of his own blood — all for love!”
“…”
“And the best part! That adopted daughter is loved just as much as the real one! Any noble who insults her gets banned from House Hailers’ social circles!”
The more she heard, the more familiar it sounded — the same story Luna had told her just last night.
“In fact,” Mie continued, “the Marquis’s daughter is famous even beyond that. Not just because of her story, but because she’s said to be unbelievably beautiful — the kind of beauty that could make a blind man see!”
“What’s her name?”
“Silvia Hailers — the Crown Prince’s fiancée. Some even call her the Saintess.”
Mie whispered as though sharing a great secret.
Silvia.
The same name Luna had mentioned yesterday —
and the protagonist of the original novel, I Shall Become the Saintess.
