My older sister is a villainous rich girl.

Camille is a completely unremarkable person.

That's what she thinks.

Living in a family that is neither here nor there, growing up, and becoming a family member that is neither here nor there.

My father, a low-ranking nobleman, only held the title of baron, which he had won back from the border during the Battle of Brumaire. All he did at home every day, besides drinking, was scolding others.

She knew that her father's job was very unsatisfactory.

Simply because he was a general who surrendered to the Duchy of Milistan years ago, he has suffered constant ostracism from the kingdom's noble circles over the years.

"Camille, you and Miss Chris are in the same grade, right?"

That day, my father suddenly approached me with a beaming smile to talk about life at the academy.

Camille was really happy when he talked to her; she thought her father had finally noticed her, his daughter who had nothing special about her.

However, the words that came out of his mouth were so cold.

"Keep your eyes peeled at the academy! My career depends on you! You'll do anything to curry favor with that young lady!"

His eyes seemed to be flashing with fire.

What it contains is the ambition to climb to a higher position.

Camille smiled faintly.

So, that's all my father wanted to say.

"understood."

Perhaps due to her father's bloodline, she was born with a high affinity for magic, and there is a high possibility that she will awaken powerful magic in the future.

In addition to her own hard work, she was rated as "excellent" by the school teachers in the pre-enrollment qualification test, and finally passed the rigorous selection process of Seiki Academy.

Only by exerting so much effort can one sit in the same school and attend classes with those pampered young ladies who were born into wealth and privilege.

However, even so, her father could not see her achievements.

The only things that can gain his approval are fame and fortune right in front of him.

Following her father's instructions, she wanted to get close to the young lady who seemed to have everything in the world, the duke's daughter Chris Wincher.

Before this, Camille had heard many rumors about her from other acquaintances.

Why do I never wear the same piece of clothing twice?

I absolutely will not eat cake that has been left out for more than two hours.

She is destined to marry the Crown Prince and become a noble queen.

What others dream of is easily attainable for her.

The daily life of that young lady in the rumors was as unattainable to her as those legendary stories.

But for her father's sake and for the sake of her family, she had to flatter them.

Even if it's just to be a follower, or to be a source of amusement for that lady.

With a determination to give her all, she mustered her courage and waited by the roadside she always passed on her way to and from school.

"I'll go up and talk to her whenever she passes by."

Camille said to herself.

However, when Chris actually appeared, Camille realized that staying by that person's side was simply impossible for her.

Beneath the elegant and sophisticated top hat, there was a strikingly beautiful head of slightly wavy blonde hair that cascaded to one side.

The numerous rare and precious ornaments that could be seen on her body made Miss Chris's appearance even more radiant.

Chris Wincher was surrounded by a group of radiant young girls, who swarmed around her like crab legs as she moved forward.

"Lady Chris, please try this! This is a pastry I made myself, and it uses a special ingredient, a fragrant rose that my mother's family cultivates specially."

A petite girl held up a very delicate box of pastries and spoke enthusiastically.

Chris glanced at it, casually accepted it, and said, "Thank you for your kindness. I'll take it home and enjoy it with my family."

"Miss Chris, do you remember that dessert shop we went to last time? I heard they've launched some new items, and I'd like to invite you to try them again. Do you have time?"

The other girl clenched her fists and looked expectantly at Chris, who was walking in the middle.

But her words aroused dissatisfaction among the other girls.

"Molly, how could you do this! We should have been the ones to give Lady Yorkis priority!"

"Exactly! How could Miss Molly jump the gun all by herself?"

Camille just stared blankly.

They watched them pass by not far from them, completely unaware that there was an inconspicuous girl in the corner, secretly watching them.

Forget it, it's impossible.

She accepted the result with peace of mind.

"Useless! You're utterly useless! You can't even do this simple thing right!" Her angry father awaited her at home.

He roared at her, as if his lack of promotion was entirely due to Camille's failure to win over Miss Chris.

Camille just listened silently.

Endure it.

Because this is something I truly failed to do well.

After that, my father seemed to give up on this scheming approach and became more and more depressed day by day.

But he didn't make himself do anything else.

After all, he was more afraid that his good-for-nothing daughter would offend those rich and powerful people than trying to please anyone.

She thought that was the end of it.

However, things changed again this semester.

Duke Elliot, who wielded immense power within the kingdom, adopted a son. Miss Chris, renowned throughout the academy, gained a younger brother.

Perhaps it was fate's arrangement, but the child named Wayne was assigned to my class.

He was a boy with a gentle smile.

Although her father did not make any further demands, Camille found herself unconsciously paying attention to the transfer student.

He showed none of the timidity or caution that comes with being an adopted son.

Every time Camille went to and from school, she could always see him chatting and laughing with His Highness the Prince or Lord Goethe.

Even standing next to Miss Chris, his presence was in no way inferior.

It's no wonder he's the Duke's child; it seems he was born to thrive in such an environment.

Camille noticed that Wayne Wincher's personality was actually quite different from that of the great nobles.

He was very polite and never spoke disparagingly to anyone of low status. He spoke gently, and everyone who spoke with him felt pleasant and relaxed.

Moreover, unlike Miss Chris, he wasn't always surrounded by a group of followers. Instead, he was often seen lost in thought, seemingly pondering something.

He was neither enthusiastic nor indifferent, just like a glass of perfectly warm water.

To this day, Camille still doesn't know what she was thinking that day when she tried to talk to him.

"Wayne, um...may I touch it?"

Fortunately, his response was as gentle as his smile, and he gave himself the Bobby doll.

Guided by that voice, she did many things that she would never have imagined she would do before.

For example, add a crafts department.

For example, talking to that Miss Chris.

For example, after accidentally seeing his blank exam paper, he resolutely made most of the mistakes on the questions in other subjects.

Just for—

I want to get a little closer to him.