A week had passed since the *Mana Crystal* incident at the practice grounds. My name had suddenly become the hottest topic of conversation throughout Luna Academy.
Of course, it wasn't because I was praised as a generous hero, but rather due to a rumor that *“The Cruel Villainess Rosel von Arcadelt Has Taken a Scholarship Student as a Pet.”*
*Pet my ass! I just taught her how to breathe properly!*
I sighed in exhaustion, resting my forehead on the cold surface of a library desk. It was currently recess. The quiet academy library, smelling of old paper, was my only safe haven away from the delusional Crown Prince and Chloe's hawkish gaze.
However, that peace lasted for precisely three minutes.
*Tap. Tap. Tap.*
Measured, silent footsteps approached my desk. A youth with dark blue hair tied in a low ponytail appeared from behind a row of tall bookshelves. He had a calm, handsome oriental face, wore silver-rimmed glasses, and carried a thick leather-bound black book.
Above his head, the system immediately displayed his identity.
[Primary Target 2: Genius Magician - Adrian von Silvershade]
[Plot Relevance: 88%]
*Ah. The Cold Bookworm.*
In the original story, Adrian was a rational genius magician who was devoid of emotion and would later become intrigued by Chloe's unique magic. He was the Crown Prince's fiercest rival for Chloe's heart.
"Lady Rosel," Adrian greeted in a flat voice, devoid of any expression. "Is this seat taken?"
"No. Feel free," I answered briefly, trying to act as normal as possible.
*Good. Adrian is an analytical type. He won't act weird like Leo.*
Adrian sat down opposite me, setting his book down neatly. For a while, the room was filled only with the sound of turning pages. I began to relax. Finally, a normal character in this circus novel!
Suddenly, Adrian slid a small piece of parchment toward me.
I frowned. "What's this?"
"The *mana* circulation pattern you taught that scholarship student this morning," Adrian stated, adjusting his glasses with his fingertip. "It's not part of the standard academy curriculum. You combined internal breath control with focus-point centralization."
"And?"
Adrian stared at me directly from behind his lenses. His dark grey eyes glinted with a strange light.
[Special Feature Unlocked: Reading the Male Lead's Hidden Thoughts!]
[Reading Adrian von Silvershade's Thoughts...]
*‘Remarkable... She hid such high-level theoretical magic knowledge behind a facade of being a shallow woman. She purposefully acts like a villainess so no one exploits her intellect... This woman... is fascinating. Her mind, her thoughts, her entire existence... I must have her for my lifelong research.’*
*HOLD ON. RESEARCH PARTNER OR A LIFE-OR-DEATH PROPOSAL?!*
I recoiled in shock, almost dropping my quill.
[User_OrangeCat]: "ROFL THE NERD GOT CHARMED TOO!"
[User_LocalObserver]: "Nerd guy logic: 'Your mind is so fascinating, let's get married for research purposes'."
[User_YuriSimp]: "Hey Glasses, get in line behind Chloe! Chloe is number one!"
[User_OlympicShip]: "The scent of Rosel's Harem is getting stronger LOL!"
"Lady Rosel," Adrian continued in the same emotionless voice that completely betrayed the insane thoughts in his head. "Starting tomorrow, would you spend your breaks with me in my private laboratory? There are many things I wish to dissect regarding you."
"In an academic sense, right?" I asked, double-checking while breaking into a cold sweat.
"Of course," Adrian replied softly. "Including your body's physiological reactions while being near me."
*CRAZY! THIS GUY IS JUST AS INSANE AS LEO!*
Before I could decline the crazy offer from this creepy scholar-faced magician, a shadow blocked the overhead lamp light above our desk.
An overpowering scent of lilies—far stronger than usual—crept into my senses.
"Lady... Rosel...?"
The voice was exceptionally soft, but carried a strangely low, trembling undertone.
Adrian and I turned simultaneously.
Chloe was standing there. She was holding a basket of cupcakes wrapped in pink cloth. However, her facial expression was far from her usual adorable self.
Her clear emerald eyes were dim, shadowed by dark circles underneath. She was staring at Adrian—specifically at his fingers resting near my hand—with a glare capable of burning the library to ashes in seconds.
[System Warning!]
[Main Character's (Chloe von Valois) Personality Shifting Extremes!]
[Status: Indicated Obsessive / Yandere Level 1]
*H-WHAT?! YANDERE?!*
"Chloe...?" I called out tentatively. "Why are you here?"
In the blink of an eye, Chloe's expression did a complete 180! That deadly glare vanished without a trace, replaced by a sweet, innocent, overly bright smile.
"I brought cupcakes I baked myself for Lady Rosel!" Chloe said as she stepped closer, purposefully squeezing herself between Adrian and me, shoving the bespectacled wizard aside.
Chloe placed the pastry basket in front of me and knelt beside my chair. Her hands gripped my skirt tightly—so tightly her knuckles turned white.
[Reading Chloe von Valois's Thoughts...]
*‘Who is this trashy glasses guy? Why does he dare sit so close to my Lady Rosel? Lady Rosel should only look at me... She should only teach me... If this man keeps bothering her, maybe I should slip paralyzing poison into his morning tea tomorrow...’*
*ARE YOU A HOLY PROTAGONIST OR A MAFIA MEMBER, CHLOE?!!*
I froze, goosebumps erupting all over my skin. The comment screen in front of me went wild with typed reactions.
[User_YuriSimp]: "HOLY SMOKES CHLOE TURNED YANDERE! GO CHLOE, DON'T BACK DOWN!"
[User_OlympicShip]: "Yandere Chloe x Panicking Rosel is the absolute best combination of the century!"
[User_OrangeCat]: "Rosel, your life is in danger LOL! Your choices are: Belong to Chloe or become a corpse together with Chloe!"
"Lady Rosel..." Chloe looked up, staring at me with emerald eyes sparkling with hidden darkness. "Please try the cupcakes. I baked them specifically... *only* for you. You won't share them with anyone else, right?"
I looked at the cupcakes, then at Chloe, then at Adrian who was still giving me a 'research gaze', and finally thought of Leo who was probably plotting another narcissistic scheme outside.
*God...* I lamented my fate internally. *Please take my life now before I die of emotional stress in this insane world!*