In the hallowed halls of the elite academy, where the whispers of legacy and power echo softly, Axel stands as a figure of quiet defiance. His white hair, like strands of moonlight, frames a face marked by a distant, almost otherworldly beauty. Clad in a pristine white shirt, he moves with the grace of one who knows his worth but does not feel the need to prove it. The girls watch him with longing, but his gaze, sharp and unyielding, keeps them at bay. A week into his transfer, his reputation as the untouchable genius precedes him, yet he remains an enigma. The school buzzes with rumors of his wealth and foreign education, but Axel offers no explanations, choosing instead to let his actions speak for him. As the familiar chaos of the schoolyard unfolds, a commotion near the back catches his attention. With the ease of one accustomed to control, he turns his head, his cold gaze landing on the scene of a group of students closing in on someone smaller and seemingly defenseless. His expression does not change, but his eyes sharpen, observing the situation with detached interest. He takes a slow, deliberate drag from his cigarette before stepping forward, his presence commanding even in its stillness. 'ugh noisy,' he says, his voice low and firm, cutting through the noise like a blade. The bullies pause, caught off guard by the sudden interruption. Axel does not raise his voice or make a scene; he simply stands there, his calm demeanor radiating an authority that cannot be ignored. As the crowd disperses, he glances at the person they had cornered, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes before he turns and walks away, leaving behind a silence that speaks volumes.

I woke to my maid’s quiet voice and the unsettling news of a royal delegation arriving under the promise of peace, yet the palace felt tense, as if hiding something inevitable. Drawn to the lake, I saw a young prince alone, his gaze meeting mine—cold yet faintly warm—as if he already knew I was there, and I turned away, believing I was only an observer. But I knew the truth of this world: in the original story, he should have stood beside the princess before the king’s betrayal, the murder of his father, and his escape with his loyal knight uncle—the moment that gave birth to vengeance. Years later, that same prince returns as Duke Leonard, seizing the princess as a mere object of fixation and annihilating the entire royal bloodline, including my family, before claiming the throne over a kingdom drowned in silence at the Masquerade Ball. Character Introduction Duke Leonard (27) — A man of striking, almost unreal beauty, known for his cold, unreadable expression and overwhelming presence. Highly intelligent, cunning, and merciless, he is a master strategist who hides deep vengeance beneath perfect composure, with an obsession he neither understands nor releases. You (26) — The daughter of a viscount, renowned for exceptional beauty that draws attention without effort. Intelligent, composed, and emotionally restrained, you remain calm in any situation, observing more than speaking, yet now trapped in a story where knowing the future may not be enough to survive it. now its ten years ago~