As an Ordinary person (Why do I keep attracting Psychopaths?)

Yuna trudged along the stone-paved path toward the academy's massive cafeteria, her expression clouded with mild annoyance.

The cool evening breeze ruffled the hem of her black uniform, but she could still feel the weight of the obnoxious pink heart emblazoned on her chest. Every time she glanced down, it was there—a bright, saccharine mockery against the otherwise sleek and dignified black fabric.

Yuna gave a forlorn glance at Austin attire.

"I still can't believe this," Yuna muttered under her breath, tugging at the high collar as though loosening it would somehow make her feel better. "Black is fine. Black is great. But why the heart? And why pink? It's like they're mocking me."

The design felt almost cruel in its contrast—like wrapping a sharp dagger in a frilly ribbon. The fabric was nice, the fit was impeccable, but none of that mattered when she felt like she was cosplaying as a romance novel protagonist she never signed up to be.

She like reading action packed novels not romance!

With an exasperated sigh, she pushed open the towering doors of the Academy Cafeteria, expecting at least a half-decent meal after the exhausting day of sorting and dorm assignments.

She may not be able to eat it, but the tantalizing smell of food should at least soothe her irritation.

Instead, she was greeted with a cavernous hall—vast, gray, and eerily empty.

The long wooden tables stretched across the room, illuminated only by dim, flickering lanterns. The high ceiling and stone pillars gave the place a grand presence, but there was no warmth, no enticing smell of food, no soft chatter of kitchen staff preparing meals. It was just... bleak.

Yuna: "..???"

At the center of this depressing spectacle sat a single tray of food.

Hard bread. Stale, unappetizing, and about as welcoming as a brick.

Huh??.....

A hushed silence settled over the group of new students as they stood frozen at the entrance, their eyes flickering between the abandoned cafeteria and the sorry excuse for a meal. Then, almost in sync, their heads swiveled to the massive board nailed near the open kitchen counter.

"Students can procure their own meals. The academy provides only base rations. Additional ingredients may be obtained through hunting in the back forest."

For a solid five seconds, no one spoke. Then—

"Are they serious?!" A girl with short auburn hair shouted, throwing her hands up in disbelief.

"What kind of school makes students hunt for their own food?!" another boy exclaimed, his voice edged with frustration. "Are we being trained as knights or thrown into some survival game?!"

"This isn't an academy, this is madness!"

Yuna slowly blinked at the message board. Hunting? In the back forest? It sounded like a joke. She wasn't expecting some extravagant noble feast, but this was... beyond ridiculous.

Didn't the novel used to describe how academy cafeteria provides sumptuous meal? The types that could make people drool non-stop?

The script is wrong here ah…

"Let me get this straight," One boy drawled, arms crossed. "Not only do we have to suffer through questionable dorm arrangements, but now we're on our own for food too?"

Someone beside him scoffed. "Forget food! Did you hear about the dorm situation? Even the noble kids are stuck living with commoners and slum students on the same floor!"

Gasps and murmurs rippled through the group.

"I thought nobles would at least have private floors!"

"They don't?! That's insane! What kind of academy is this?"

"Wasn't this place supposed to be prestigious?!"

Yuna sighed and rubbed her temples. This academy was proving itself to be nothing like the refined institution it had appeared to be on paper. A ridiculous uniform, a cafeteria that was just for show, forced hunting, and now a dorm system that ignored social hierarchy altogether?

One thing was clear: Evigheden Academy had no intention of making life easy for anyone.

And Yuna also started to slowly realize why those student drop out of Evigheden Academy in the first week of admission.

Pulling Austin hand subtly, Yuna move discreetly towards the Crown Prince and the others to hear about their opinion. She wonder what they will feel about all these.

Hmm….not that she want to watch drama or the nobles being pulled down from their high horse or anything. Yes, it's not that.

As the reality of the academy's questionable policies settled in, the air around the cafeteria grew thick with frustration. The noble students, in particular, looked as if they had just been told to sleep in a barn rather than an esteemed institution.

However, while most of them openly voiced their outrage, Crown Prince Alaric Kaelar remained notably composed.

As expected of the Crown Prince, he sure can withhold himself.

If he didn't insist on joining Austin, he won't has to be subjected to this. But what can be done, the main character aura just have to attract them. Tsk..tsk…tsk…

Standing slightly apart from the others, the prince's tall, regal posture was unwavering, his midnight-black hair falling neatly against the high collar of his uniform. The dim lantern light reflected subtly in his amethyst-colored eyes, which held their usual unreadable sharpness as he studied the bleak surroundings.

He didn't say anything outright—Alaric Kaelar was not one to waste words on complaints—but his gaze flickered to the hard bread sitting pathetically on the tray, then to the message on the board. His lips pressed into a thin line, the closest thing to displeasure he allowed himself to show.

Beside him, Cailum Renhart, his closest friend and confidant, was not nearly as reserved.

"...What the hell," Cailum muttered, voice laced with disbelief. His vivid orange hair, slightly tousled, caught the lantern's dim glow as he turned to Alaric, searching for some kind of reaction. "You're seeing this too, right? The great Evigheden Academy—the most prestigious institution in the Empire—can't even feed its students properly?" He scoffed, throwing a hand toward the barren kitchen. "Hunting?! Is this a joke?"

Alaric remained silent, his gaze unreadable.

But before Cailum could prod him further, a sharp huff came from the side.

Enyo Arryn, with her wild, curly red hair and sharp crimson eyes, stood with her arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently. Her expression was one of absolute fury, her glare practically burning a hole through the message board.

"This is absurd," she bit out, her voice edged with barely restrained anger. "I refuse to believe that an institution that admits royalty, nobles, and high-ranking scholars would force us to hunt like savages."

'Well, they also admits commoner and those from the slum, the academy didn't force anyone to join them' Yuna retort in her mind.

Her brother, Alaster Arryn, stood just beside her—less openly furious, but clearly unimpressed.

His straight red hair framed his face neatly, his striking red eyes narrowed slightly in cold contemplation. He had always been the quieter of the two, his temperament less explosive than Enyo's, but no less intense.

"More importantly," Alaster said calmly, "the dorm arrangements." His gaze turned toward the other students, many of whom were still muttering about the lack of noble exclusivity. "You'd think they'd separate social ranks, but they've deliberately placed us all together. The Academy isn't just making things difficult—it's leveling the playing field."

This is far different from what they expected a prestigious academy would do. It is well-known that Nobles and commoner does not mingle well, the arrangement in this academy is encouraging students to make trouble and fight.

At that, Cailum clicked his tongue, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Ridiculous," he muttered. "This academy is supposed to shape the future of the kingdom, yet they treat the crown prince himself no differently than some kid from the slums." He shot Alaric a pointed look, but the prince remained impassive, merely listening.

Enyo crossed her arms tighter, visibly seething. "They expect us to share facilities, hunt for food, what's next? Making us scrub the floors?"

At this, Alaster let out a short, dry chuckle. "Wouldn't put it past them."

Cailum let out a sharp exhale. "If they wanted to strip us of privilege, they should've said so in the letter." He glanced toward Alaric again. "Well? What do you think?"

The crown prince finally moved. His gaze swept across the cafeteria once more, lingering briefly on the stale bread, then the students' unrest, before settling back on Cailum.

"...It is what it is," he said simply.

Cailum groaned. "That's it? No outrage? No complaints?"

Alaric's expression remained unchanged. "Complaining changes nothing. The rules are clear."

Cailum clenched his jaw, looking away with a frustrated tch. "Then you're fine with it?"

Alaric exhaled softly through his nose. "I didn't say that."

Enyo studied him carefully, a knowing glint in her crimson eyes. Unlike the others, she could see it—the minute shift in the prince's demeanor, the subtle narrowing of his gaze.

Alaric wasn't pleased.

Far from it.

But rather than waste energy on anger or protests, he was already calculating.

Observing.

Waiting.

Because one thing was certain—Evigheden Academy was playing a game. And Alaric Kaelar did not intend to lose.