The first bell had only just finished ringing when Vivienne and Claire stepped out of West Hall.
The campus looked entirely different from yesterday.
The quiet courtyards they had wandered through the previous afternoon were now alive with students making their way toward the orientation hall. Freshmen walked in small groups, some chatting excitedly, others clutching maps as though they were afraid of getting lost. Upperclassmen wearing Student Council armbands stood at every intersection, directing newcomers with practiced smiles.
"It’s much busier today," Claire remarked as they joined the steady stream of students.
Vivienne nodded.
"It feels like the university finally woke up."
Claire laughed.
"I suppose yesterday was only move-in day."
Together they followed the crowd beneath rows of towering maple trees. Morning sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting shifting patches of gold across the stone pathways.
As they walked, Vivienne couldn’t help observing everyone around her.
Some freshmen wore nervous smiles.
Others walked with surprising confidence, as though they had been waiting their entire lives for this day.
Several noble families were easy to recognize. Their chauffeurs remained parked along the roadside, while impeccably dressed attendants fussed over forgotten luggage and offered last-minute reminders. Nearby, students from wealthy business families said their goodbyes with considerably less ceremony, though the luxury sedans lining the avenue made it obvious they were no less affluent.
St. Albion truly gathered the country’s brightest and most privileged young people under one roof.
...Just like the novel.
Without realizing it, Vivienne began glancing from face to face.
Could Evelyn already be here...?
A girl with chestnut hair passed by.
Vivienne looked for a second before quietly shaking her head.
No... too tall.
Another walked by with long black hair.
Not her either.
Then a petite blonde freshman hurried across the courtyard carrying far too many books.
Definitely not.
She smiled to herself.
She wasn’t searching frantically.
She was simply curious.
Evelyn Sinclair.
The heroine she’d rooted for throughout five entire seasons.
The girl she’d affectionately called "the lucky, lucky girl" only two mornings ago—though that felt like another lifetime now.
What would she really look like?
Would reality resemble the illustrations?
Or would she be completely different?
"...Vivienne?"
Claire’s voice pulled her back.
"Hm?"
Claire tilted her head.
"You’ve been looking around ever since we left the dorm."
Vivienne blinked.
"Have I?"
"A little."
Claire smiled knowingly.
"Are you looking for someone?"
For the briefest moment, Vivienne froze.
She certainly couldn’t answer—
"Yes. I’m trying to find the heroine of the romance novel we’re all currently living in."
Instead, she laughed awkwardly.
"Not really."
Claire raised an eyebrow.
"You don’t sound very convincing."
Vivienne smiled sheepishly.
"...Maybe I’m just people-watching."
"I’ll accept that answer."
The two girls laughed together before continuing toward the heart of campus.
As the orientation hall gradually came into view, Vivienne suddenly remembered something.
Right...
Evelyn wasn’t introduced until after the welcoming ceremony.
She lightly tapped her forehead.
I’m getting ahead of myself.
She had reread The Duchess’s White Moonlight so many times that she could almost remember the order of every important event.
Almost.
There were little details she had forgotten.
After all, it had been years since the first season.
Soon, they reached the university’s Grand Assembly Hall.
Vivienne stopped walking for a moment.
"...Wow."
The building was magnificent.
Its soaring stone façade was framed by elegant arches and towering stained-glass windows that reflected the morning sunlight in brilliant shades of sapphire, crimson and gold. The entrance alone was wide enough for dozens of students to pass through side by side.
"It’s even bigger than I imagined," Claire whispered.
Vivienne nodded in agreement.
"So this is where the first orientation took place..."
"What was that?"
"Hm?"
Claire blinked.
"I thought you said something."
Vivienne smiled innocently.
"Oh... nothing."
If anything, the inside was even more breathtaking.
Rows upon rows of polished wooden seats stretched across the enormous auditorium beneath a vaulted ceiling supported by white stone columns. Above them hung an immense crystal chandelier, while the crimson-and-gold banners of St. Albion University draped elegantly behind the stage.
Freshmen steadily filled the hall.
The occasional burst of laughter echoed through the room before quickly fading beneath the growing hum of conversation.
Claire glanced around before pointing toward the middle section.
"Over there."
The two girls found empty seats beside one another.
Vivienne quietly set her satchel beneath her chair before taking another look around.
Still no sign of Evelyn.
Not that she’d expected to recognize her immediately.
The heroine wasn’t exactly wearing a name tag.
"Good morning, everyone."
A professor stepped onto the stage, his voice carrying clearly through the hall.
Almost instantly, the conversations died down.
The professor smiled warmly.
"On behalf of the faculty and administration of St. Albion University, I would like to welcome all of our first-year students."
Polite applause echoed throughout the auditorium.
"We are delighted that each of you has chosen to begin this new Chapter of your lives with us."
After a brief introduction, he invited the university principal onto the stage.
The elderly gentleman adjusted the microphone before smiling at the sea of new faces before him.
"Good morning."
"It brings me great joy to welcome you to St. Albion University."
"As many of you know, our university was founded over two centuries ago with a single purpose—to educate the future leaders of the kingdom."
He spoke about the university’s history.
Its traditions.
Its values.
The generations of scholars, statesmen, entrepreneurs, military officers and nobles who had once walked the same halls the freshmen now occupied.
Vivienne listened attentively.
Some parts she remembered from the novel.
Others were entirely new.
The original story had never spent much time explaining the university itself.
Living inside this world, however...
She was discovering countless details that had never made it onto the page.
The principal continued.
He introduced the four academic colleges.
Explained the residence halls.
Spoke briefly about student organizations, campus traditions and the annual Founder’s Festival that every student eagerly anticipated.
Claire leaned over ever so slightly.
"I suddenly want to join every club."
Vivienne smiled.
"I thought you already did yesterday."
"...Fair point."
The principal’s speech gradually drew to a close.
"...Finally," he said, smiling warmly across the auditorium, "before we conclude today’s welcoming ceremony, I would like to introduce the students who will help guide and represent St. Albion University throughout the coming academic year."
A quiet murmur spread through the hall.
Claire straightened in her seat.
"The Student Council."
One by one, students began walking onto the stage.
The vice president.
The secretary.
Year representatives.
Committee heads.
Each received polite applause before taking their place.
Vivienne watched them with interest.
She recognized several names from the novel, though seeing them in person still felt wonderfully surreal.
Then...
The principal smiled once more.
"And last..."
His voice carried effortlessly across the silent auditorium.
"It is my pleasure to introduce the Student Council President."
For reasons Vivienne couldn’t explain...
The atmosphere changed.
The whispers faded.
Even the freshmen who had been quietly chatting a moment earlier instinctively turned toward the stage.
Claire leaned over ever so slightly.
A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
"...Everyone’s been waiting for this."
Vivienne looked toward the stage.
Her heartbeat quickened.
Not from surprise.
She already knew who would appear.
She had known ever since she woke up inside this world.
Still...
Knowing something...
And witnessing it with her own eyes...
Were two completely different things.
The principal smiled.
"Please welcome..."
"...Mr. Anthony Ashford."