Millie approached the door thrilled to have the chance to walk with Seri to class. It was even better knowing that she wouldn't have to put up with those annoying boys and could have Seri all to herself.

She knocked on it and waited with a patient smile. The door opened revealing Mary. Her smile immediately left her face. Knowing she was scowling, she quickly put back on her smile. Her smile was gone for such a brief moment, Mary didn't even notice.

"Ah! Millie! Thank goodness you're here!"

She pulled Millie in rudely. Millie wanted to smack her, but refrained because she was a dignified lady... Also, she knew that Seri would he upset with her for being violent.

"What's going on?" Millie asked not even showing a trace of her true feelings.

Mary looked troubled, "Well... I like to be to class early, but Seri hasn't even got up yet. I'm afraid to leave her behind. What if she is late to class? Won't she get in trouble?"

Seri? Get in trouble? Knowing Seri, the teacher would try to discipline her, but then Seri would embarrass the teacher in front of the entire class. Then, the teacher wouldn't dare disciplining her after that.

At least, that's what usually happens.

Millie smiled, "It's alright. You can head to class."

"But..." Mary was hesitant, "She's not awake yet."

"I can wake her up."

"But her door's locked."

"I will shout."

"I already tried that. She didn't stir at all..."

Millie was starting to feel impatient. She snapped, "Just go."

Mary flinched and nodded quickly. She walked out too afraid to anger Millie further. Millie walked to Seri's door and knocked.

"Seri~ It's Millie. Won't you let me in?"

No response.

She tried the handle and found it locked. She only gave a chilling smile.

________

"..Eri"

I mumbled.

"Seri~ Wake up."

My eyes fluttered at the sound of the soft and comforting voice in my ear. I looked towards the source of the voice still blinking groggily.

"Millie?" My voice came out hoarsely as my throat had yet to wake up.

"It's me."

My sight became more clear. Sure enough, Millie was standing over me with a gentle smile. She really did look like an angel.

I rubbed my eyes, "Are you real?"

"I am."

"How did you get in here?"

"Mary let me in."

"No... I mean my bedroom..."

"Oh. Well through the door of course."

"But... It's locked..."

"Is that so?"

I could only blink at her innocent smile. Oh well. I must have forgotten to lock it then...

... Although I'm pretty sure I hadn't...

I sat up, "So what are you doing in here?"

"We have class today."

"Already?"

"Yes."

"Huh. Forgot about that."

She tugged on my arm gently, "Get ready. We will be late."

I nodded and got out of my bed. Usually Lona drags me out and I fight her all the while, but something about Millie being here brightens up my morning. I already feel like it's going to be a good day.

I went to my closet and started undressing.

"EEK!"

I jumped and looked at Millie with an eyebrow raised. She covered her eyes with her hands, but her eyes were still poking through.

"What's wrong?"

She blushed, "Why are you changing in front of me?"

"Uhhh. Because I need to get ready? I don't see what the problem is."

She fidgeted, "It's... It's improper..."

"But we've bathed together before. How is this any worse?" I replied flatly.

She blushed more, "W-Well that's when we were kids..."

I just shrugged and kept stripping. If she didn't like it, she could leave. It's not like I was forcing her to stay.

She didn't leave.

After I put on my dress, I struggled with tying it up. URG! This is why I want to wear pants!!! But noooo only when I'm in my Knight's training outfit could I wear pants.

Millie giggled while I struggled, "Here. Let me help."

She quickly did my dress. I was impressed, "Wow! You're good at that!!"

"Hehe. Thanks." She paused, "What about your hair?" She looked up at my monsters nest of a hair.

"Oh this? Nah. This is fine. I can go like this."

"At least brush it."

"Fine." I quickly brushed it, making it flail out more.

She frowned, "M-Maybe you should try fixing it up."

I pouted, "But I don't know how. Should I put it in a ponytail?"

She thought for a moment. She pushed me over to the vanity mirror to sit down. "Sit here. I will do it for you."

I let her and smiled, "Thanks Millie. But.. Are you sure? Isn't this a bit demeaning?"

"Oh no. It's my pleasure." As she fixed up my hair she mumbled, "Your hair smells amazing."

"What was that?"

"Huh? Oh nothing!!! All done!"

I looked at it with admiration. My hair was draped over my shoulder with sophistication and tied with an emerald hairpiece.

"Wow Millie! You aren't that bad at this! I ought to have you do this for me every day!!"

"Then I will start coming earlier."

I sighed in relief.

She gave me a wry smile, "Are you still sure you don't need Lona?"

I blushed, "Please don't tell anyone about this."

She giggled, "I won't. It will be our little secret."

We walked to class and I made sure to follow her instead of leading. She noticed this, "Do you know where your class is?"

"Not one bit." I responded bluntly. I gave a sheepish smile, "We are in the same class right?"

"We are."

I let out another sigh of relief.

Wait... Why does this feel so familiar?!

"You haven't changed." I looked at her in surprise and saw her face swarmed with happiness. I couldn't help but smile back.

"Not one bit. I'm still the amazing Seri you've come to love."

"Oh?"

"..." I paused at her response, "You love me right?"

She turned ahead and hummed, "I wonder."

My face dropped, "MILLLIEEEE!"

We got to the classroom and stepped in. The teacher looked at us harshly. He responded with a monotone voice, "You're late."

Millie blushed, "I'm sorry teacher."

I looked around completely apathetic. This class was much bigger than the classroom I was used to. Back then, we only had 8 students. But this class there's probably more than 20.

He shook his head, "Find the seat with your name on it."

"WHAT?!" I shouted startling everyone in the room, "There's assigned seating?! How unfair!!"

Millie giggled, "There's always been assigned seating. That's quite normal."

"Huh? Since when? Wasn't I always sitting next to you? Was that fate?"

She shook her head, "No... You just ignored the teacher and would kick the other student out."

"Oh..." I scratched my cheek, "I never realized that."

The teacher sighed, "Just sit down."

I nodded and went to my seat. It was in the second to back row. I frowned when I saw Mary's face right behind my seat.

Why is it that the main characters are always in the front or the back row?

Contrary to my face, she looked extremely thrilled, "I'm so glad I can sit so close to you!"

"I'm not." I growled back in annoyance.

I wanted to avoid you. How can I do that when you're literally right behind me?!

Ahh. Fate is cruel.

At least Millie was kiddy corner to my desk. She was further than an arms length away, but at least I know she is still close.

The teacher spoke in a monotone voice, "Since everyone is here, let's go around and have everyone introduce themself to the class."

Holy sh*t his voice is boring. I feel like falling asleep already.

Everyone in the room introduced themselves. I felt myself falling asleep.

Then I heard a fluffy voice, "Hello~ My name is Arthur, but everyone calls me Artie."

I looked at him. He sat in the row to the left of me by the window.

And of course, the third male lead is sitting by the window. They always do that, don't they? Make a love interest sit by the window to add to their allure.

Artie was a short statured boy with slightly baggy clothes that added to his adorableness. He had soft curly brown hair and sandy eyes.

Artie was the little brother kind of character. Super adorable, super upbeat, and super friendly. Always likes to eat sweets and looks like a fluffy hamster.

Yeah, you know the type.

Unfortunately, I know he's not like this at all!!!

This little bastard is incredibly two faced! Adorable on the outside, mischievous on the inside.

Although he was described as liking the female lead, I never really saw that. He would often bully her and play pranks on her. Sure some may argue that's his way of affection, but I disagreed.

Something about it seemed forced.

He noticed me staring with a rude expression and smiled at me.

F*ck. He sure is adorable though.

You know when you go to a store and see an uber cute chibi plush? Then you buy it and sleep with it every night because it's just too cute? Yup. That's what he looks like.

I just want to put him in my pocket...

Wait! Am I being swayed?! No! There's no way I'm being swayed!!!

I kept staring at him with a complicated expression. My face would smile at him lovingly, then turn back into a scowl as I tried to convince myself not to be moved by the adorable hamster.

I felt someone poke my back, "Seri."

I glared and responded harshly, "What."

Mary whispered, "It's your turn."

"Oh!" I slammed my hands on the table making everyone flinched. I stood up ignoring Artie's giggling.

I pointed to myself in an exaggerated motion. "My name is Seri. I'm the best person you'll probably ever meet. As long as you don't piss me off, we will get along nicely." I bowed, "You're welcome."

Artie broke into louder laughter. The others scoffed when they heard such a shameless introduction. But, the ones who attended the same school as me knew better than to laugh. They buried their heads in the sand quickly. They all knew better than to laugh.

The teacher sighed, "Mildred?"

Millie stood up, "Yes."

"WHO THE HELL IS MILDRED?!" I shouted, causing everyone to jump again.

Millie just giggled, "That's me."

My head exploded from this information.

"I thought your name was Millie?!"

"That's my nickname. My full name is Mildred."

I smacked my head on my desk. I sobbed, "My life is a lie."

The teacher sighed, "Please stop interrupting."

After Millie finished, eventually it was Mary's turn. Mary blushed from the attention. She spoke in a soft tone.

"Hello. My name is Mary. It's always been my dream to attend the Imperial Academy. I really look forward to spending the year with everyone. Let's see... A little about me? Hmm. Well, I really like sweets, cooking, and drawing."

She fiddled with her fingers and blushed more, "There's also someone I really admire. They are really brave... And strong... And they look good in anything they wear." Her eyes started to gloss over.

What the f*ck is wrong with this girl?

Was she really this much of an airhead in the novel?!

The teacher cut her off, "That's enough. Sit down."

After the introductions concluded the teacher nodded. "I also have an announcement to make. Every year, a lucky student is assigned to the student council. This is a very high honor to be selected. This year, there were not one, but two students selected. They are also from this class."

I yawned in boredom as everyone chatted in excitement. For some reason, everyone saw this as super awesome. Apparently the student council positions are highly coveted.

Don't ask me why. Who in the hell would want to do extra work and not benefit from it? That's just slave labor.

Even still, everyone wanted a position. Only the best of the best could get a seat. In order to be chosen, they had to be smart and catch the eye of the President of the student council....

... Which of course happened to be William.

I also knew who the teacher would reveal to be the two selected.

Artie and Mary.

The teacher spoke, "Artie and..."

Yup here comes the Mary.

"Seri."

I nodded. Then paused.

I screamed, "WHAT?!"

"Congratulations." He said completely devoid of emotion.

I stood up, "I refuse! There's no way I'm going to be roped into doing extra work!!! Hell no! F*ck that!"

I picked up my chair in a fit of rage, ready to send it through the window.

The teacher just sighed and pulled out a piece of paper. He was told to expect this kind of reaction. William wrote down a set of instructions for him to read from.

He read from it, "Oh? I see. You aren't capable enough for this position."

I froze before tossing the chair. I looked at him with a stubborn face, "Huh? Capable? I'm super capable! I could totally do it! I just don't want to!!"

He continued to read from the paper, "That's probably just an excuse. You are trying to get out of it because you aren't competent enough."

I put the chair down and stomped my foot, "Am not! I'm super competent! I'd be so competent you would cry from amazement!"

His eyes never left the paper, "No. No. I should find someone else. There must be a mistake."

I slapped the desk arrogantly, "Nope! It's my position. You already said so! You can't go back on your word now!"

He sighed and tossed the paper, "Then it's decided. After class, head to the student council room."

"Hah!" I sat down with a confident grin, "That's right. I will show you just who is capable."

Millie sighed, "Oh Seri...."

I froze.

Wait. What just happened?