Chapter 2
Part 1. Calliope Verdi’s Lucky Day
Exactly three years ago.
There was one person who monopolized the front page of every imperial newspaper.
[First Transfer Student to the Imperial Royal Academy in 50 Years!]
[Passed All Advanced Magic Faculty Exams with A+ Scores]
[Academy Professor on the Interview Panel Calls Her ‘The Most Perfect Student I’ve Ever Seen’—A Hot Topic!]
[Calliope Verdi: A Strong Candidate for Top Graduate of the Magic Faculty Three Years from Now]
The special edition articles swept across the empire, selling like wildfire and breaking circulation records.
Part of the reason was the photo of her from the academy entrance ceremony, printed in a size as big as the headline.
“A once-in-a-century beauty.”
“So beautiful even the gods would take a step back in awe.”
Calliope Verdi’s meteoric rise sent the empire’s society into a frenzy.
The tragic story of how she lost both parents in an accident and was raised by her grandfather, the Marquess of Verdi, only added a human touch to her seemingly perfect image and further fueled her popularity.
She quickly became a muse adored by artists throughout the empire, a talent fiercely desired by the Academy, the Magic Tower, and the royal family, and the shining star at the center of high society.
And now—
As everyone expected, Calliope had grown into the perfect noble.
“That concludes my speech. Thank you.”
Calliope beamed as she finished her graduation speech.
For a moment, the assembled students stared blankly at her in a daze before erupting into thunderous applause.
Even the dull graduation gown couldn’t hide the mature beauty she had blossomed into upon reaching adulthood.
Her rich auburn hair and jewel-like violet eyes, along with her uniquely alluring aura, drew admiring gasps from the crowd.
Meanwhile, Calliope’s heart was floating with joy as she stood on the stage.
Giving the representative speech for the Magic Faculty was important—but what she had really been waiting for was something else entirely.
“To a future that shines for all of us!”
Graduates tossed their caps high into the air.
In an instant, the caps transformed into thousands of flower petals thanks to her magic, gently falling over everyone’s heads and shoulders.
“It’s finally over!”
Calliope savored the rush of emotion.
She had waited so long for this moment!
“Lady Calliope—no, should we be calling you the Marquess of Verdi now?”
“Oh my, that’s a bit premature. My grandfather is still in fine health.”
Calliope’s graduation speech had been a great success.
The crowd that surged forward to congratulate her as soon as she stepped down from the podium was proof enough.
As the Academy’s brightest celebrity, she greeted each well-wisher with a warm smile.
After all, the connections she made here would be powerful assets in the future.
“Everyone knows how much the Marquess dotes on his granddaughter.”
“Exactly. Didn’t he announce when she was just ten years old that she’d be his heir once she came of age?”
Normally, noble titles passed down only when the current holder died or became too unwell to perform their duties.
But Archibald had broken with tradition and declared early on that he would pass the title to his granddaughter.
He even took on her heir training personally.
The reason Calliope only transferred to the Academy at age 17 was because she’d spent the earlier years learning how to run the household.
“No matter what anyone says, you’re the next Marquess of Verdi. Soon to be one of the youngest heads of a noble house in the empire.”
The nearby graduates nodded in agreement.
Compliments and pleasant conversation filled the air, and as the mood lightened, laughter echoed louder and louder.
“It’s the perfect day.”
A smile bloomed on Calliope’s lips—
And then someone’s voice ruined it all.
“Well, looks like everyone’s having fun.”
The once-joyful atmosphere instantly turned icy cold.
“Looks like such a good time. Mind if I join in?”
The sudden appearance of an unwelcome guest caused Calliope’s mood to plummet.
A man with a lazy smile strolled toward her.
His tousled jet-black hair fell messily across his forehead, mirroring his loose, unruly personality.
Beneath that mess was an impossibly perfect face.
A straight forehead, sharp nose, well-shaped lips, and a jawline sculpted like marble.
A tall frame, well-proportioned body, firm muscles, and an aura that demanded attention were just the icing on the cake.
With a presence so languid it almost seemed bored, he was like a sleek, dangerous predator.
There was no denying that the man was drop-dead handsome.
But so what?
Calliope stared at the man before her, disgust welling up inside. It was a reflexive reaction she always had when seeing someone she despised.
Sure enough, those golden eyes glinted dangerously, like a beautiful yet lethal beast.
“Damn it.”
“His Highness the Seventh Prince never fails to dazzle.”
“His face is divine, and that wild energy… Look at that animal magnetism!”
Even today, he had his cravat half undone, exposing his neck.
Some even sighed at how seductive his adam’s apple looked.
But unfortunately for him, Calliope felt nothing.
For one, her own mirror reflection was not exactly lacking in looks.
More importantly, she’d clashed too many times with this man in that pretty shell to fall for it.
“Why the hell is that nuisance here again?”
At the very least, couldn’t he have had the decency to avoid her on graduation day?
Calliope shot a glare at Lerazier as he approached.
He let out a mocking snort and kicked lightly off the ground—
In a blink, the distance between them vanished.
Now standing right in front of her, Lerazier curved one side of his lips upward, his red mouth opening to speak her name.
“Calliope Verdi.”
“Son of a…”
Despite the curses in her heart, Calliope greeted him with a bright smile. Now was the time to flex her high-society experience.
“I greet Your Highness, the Seventh Prince.”
She folded her eyes into a graceful smile.
“Now that you’ve been greeted, could you kindly leave? I’m really busy, you know?”
Lerazier let out a breathless laugh of disbelief.
“What business do you have with me?”
“Can’t two old classmates have a chat? Do I need an official reason?”
Calliope was stunned.
Classmates? Did Lerazier really think they were on such familiar terms?
That “premium packaging only” man had too long a history of nonsense to be treated like a classmate.
No need to look far.
Just two weeks ago, Lerazier had tested the very limits of her patience.
That day was one of the proudest moments in Calliope’s life.
She had become the youngest recipient ever of the Magic Research Award.
But unfortunately for her, the ceremony had been held at the Academy.
True to his nature, Lerazier had shown up as the royal representative on behalf of the emperor—and of course, he had ruined everything.
In a way Calliope could never have imagined.
“Oh dear, how unfortunate.”
“Your Highness, please, not here…”
During the entire ceremony, Lerazier lay sprawled across the front table… asleep. Snoring.
No one dared to wake him—he was a prince, after all. And a notoriously wild one at that.
Naturally, he stole all the attention from Calliope, who was supposed to be the star of the day.
To someone like her—a perfectionist to the core—it had been a humiliating ordeal.
“If only he’d stayed asleep like that, why show up here at the Magic Faculty now?”
To Calliope, the Seventh Prince was nothing more than a bothersome, irritating pest.
Yes. Like a mayfly, buzzing around for no good reason.
