Shadow Queen

Chapter 32

“I told you. At least I can tell you whether it’s your real style or not, whether it’s a true drawing or not.”

“You’ve never seen my painting before, how do you know it? By what standards?”

Raphael was quite agitated. It was true that he also drew elements that the client would like in an ordinary and popular style. That way he can make money. He has not yet painted with his immature technique or style of painting. No, he didn’t. He has yet to fully establish his identity in his paintings.

But this woman was saying that Raphael’s paintings were fake. As if she had seen Raphael’s real paintings.

“Because it’s awkward. It’s uncomfortable. It’s too much.”

“…!”

“That’s the answer, right? Let go of me.”

Elena gave her strength to shake off Raphael’s hand roughly. Then she stroked her swollen red wrist and looked back. Raphael, who belatedly realized that he had made a mistake due to his agitation, quickly spoke.

“Just this once. Can I have your name? I apologize for what happened a while ago. So…”

“Are you curious about that? Then think about that.”

Elena, who was offended, left coldly without looking back after leaving an answer.

When Raphael saw Elena moving away, he never thought of catching her. No, he couldn’t move a foot.

Elena’s words wandered in his mind. It was quite a while before Raphael’s mouth, which had been standing firm for a long time, opened.

“What was I drawing?”

Sect. 6 — L.

The academy opened. Students took major and liberal arts courses belonging to the undergraduate department and visited lectures to obtain credits needed for graduation. There were some students who deliberately found and took courses that they needed, but most of the aristocrats did not take liberal arts courses as they did not interfere with graduation even if they took only major courses.

On the other hand, a commoner also choked on liberal arts to gain experience for their career after graduation. In that context, it was enough for Elena to take classes at the Department of Education and Social Affairs, which is also her major. However, it was under the premise that she did not take a year off.

Leabrick wanted Elena to acquire two years’ worth of credits that could not be accumulated due to her absence from school. The connections and diplomas of academic institutions are important, but it is considered inefficient to waste two years or time. Had it been too long, she would have consulted with the dean and made Elena graduate early with a third-grade grade.

But that’s later. Currently, Elena had no choice but to take liberal arts courses to complete her grades, except for her major classes.

“Look, Princess Veronica.”

“Wow, she does feel different when I see her up close. Maybe it’s because we have different bloodlines?”

“You know, I’m so nervous I can’t even make eye contact.”

When Elena appeared in the lecture on ‘Continental History,’ the common people could not take their eyes off her. It was because it was so rare for the aristocrats and ordinary people to overlap because the lectures they take were different. Among them, it was the first time to take a lecture with Princess Veronica of the Friedrich family, the chief of the Empire’s four dukes.

‘The shell is the princess, and I’m no different from them.’

It was very funny. The mere use of her name and status as Princess Veronica makes them look up to her. After all, she’s a fallen aristocrat who’s no better than a rich commoner.

The back door of the lecture room opened. As the lecture began soon, the book was opened in advance and the attention was focused on the fact that the professor was waiting for him.

“Wow, the lower ones are also passionate. You’re trying to climb up somehow, right?”

Ren, with curly hair and a bad impression, clapped and laughed sarcastically at the students preparing for the lecture.

“It’s R-Ren, isn’t it?”

“Why of all people.”

“What should I do? Should I give up my liberal arts degree?”

The faces of the students watching Ren were filled with despair. No matter how commoner students are, they have no connection with the aristocracy. However, there were no students who did not know Ren, who is considered one of the schools’ heads. On a day when they get into a quarrel or disliked by Ren, their academic life would turn into hell.

Ren was as persistent as he was. Nearly ten students left the academy last year alone, unable to endure the pain.

Elena’s expression wasn’t good either. She was not revealed, but she was embarrassed by the unexpected appearance of Ren.

‘How come? Ren didn’t take this class. I remember clearly.’

Elena, who was confused, couldn’t help but admit. Her past life and reality have changed. Otherwise, it was not explained why Ren now took this Continental History course.

‘I didn’t want this.’

She had never dreamed that her first meeting with Ren, which had been twisted, would lead to this result and another thorny path.

Ren grinned and approached Elena. He sat at the student’s desk sitting next to Elena behind the classroom.

“I’m not very close to the professor. Aren’t there a lot of vacancies elsewhere?”

“What? P-Please sit here.”

Frustrated by the blatant threat, the boy took his book and quickly moved. Ren, sitting in an empty seat, sat with his chin in a stiff position and saw Elena.

“I know that look.”

“…”

“It’s the face you make when you’re happy, right?”

Ren grinned. It was as if he was enjoying Elena’s reaction.

Elena looked at him with a cold look.

“This isn’t a coincidence, is it?”

“It’s a coincidence. Planned coincidence!”

Ren didn’t leave a smile on his lips that was pleasant. By nature, he was a vicious person who enjoyed the appearance of bullying and embarrassment. Elena struggled to keep her composure at this unwelcome reunion. It bothered her, but there was no reason for Elena to be swayed unless Ren knew she was a substitute. She felt at ease when she realized that.

“I hope you have a student’s duty in that planned coincidence.”

Elena turned her eyes to the front when she spoke bluntly. This is because the professor in charge of continental history entered the lecture room and the lecture began. As it became difficult to continue the conversation anymore, Ren relented and folded his arms. But his gaze didn’t fall from Elena.

“To discuss the history of the continent, we must talk about the Gaia Church. We need to look back on the origin of mythology and history and civilization that we have achieved in that relationship. Then…”

Throughout the lecture, Ren’s eyes never fell off Elena. He turned the chair and stared at her outright. Elena was sick and tired of the persistent eyes.

‘Let’s not be conscious.’

Elena focused neatly on the lecture without paying attention. History was mysterious and deep, so it was interesting to hear it again, even though she already knew it. In particular, the aspects of history that were not seen at the time seemed to be different, perhaps after living a curved life.

“That’s all for today’s lecture.”

The professor finished the lecture by covering up the textbook. As soon as the professor left, the students left the classroom like a low tide. They seemed to be in a hurry because they were worried that they would get into a quarrel with Ren.

Elena, like them, rose from the chair. She ignored Ren, who was still looking at her chin, and tried to leave the classroom.

Abruptly.

Elena was walking by and Ren stretched out his legs.

“Huh? Uh!”

Even in situations where she could lose her balance and fall, Elena quickly held up her skirt and extended her other foot forward to support herself.

‘That’s what you do.’

She had been in trouble because she had been through this so much in her last life. Being calm with that nasty personality meant that she had a different dream.

“Oh! That’s quick?”

Elena did not fall, but she lost her hold of continental history books. Elena pointed and snapped coldly at him.

“You’ll pick it up, right?”

“Am I being threatened, now?”

“Pick it up.”

Ren shrugged his shoulders and shivered.

“Is it okay to make me act like I’m under your roof?”

“Ha, I don’t want to deal with you because you’re childish.”

Elena bent down and picked up the book, thinking that talking itself was a waste of time. She shook the dusty cover of the floor with her hand and put the book in her waist.

“You, lower.”

Ren stared at Elena with a suspicious look.

“I’m sick of you.”

Elena, who responded, left the classroom without looking back. He didn’t seem to follow her, given that she couldn’t feel anything behind her back.

“My memory is pretty good, right?”

Elena looked to the side in surprise. Ren, who left the classroom, said, walking side by side.

“Wasn’t your scar on the other side?”

“…!”

Elena did not budge from most provocations, but she had no choice but to breathe in.

“I definitely remember that.”

When Ren fell with persistent bites, Elena’s palm, which was holding a book, was covered with cold sweat. Elena only heard that there was a scar and that she was injured, but she couldn’t tell exactly whether it was left or right.

When Elena came to the Grand Park, Veronica’s maids had already changed. Elena had to be nervous as well. It was obvious that Elena’s plan would be disrupted if Ren found out that she was a substitute for her.

“The most uncertain thing in the world is human memory, right?”

“I’ve never heard of this.”

“Then you can live in blind faith in your memory.”

Elena didn’t back down and had the guts. As soon as he showed signs of shaking or embarrassment, she knew it was over, so she had to go strong.

“Am I mistaken?”

“Yes.”

Elena, who cut off the conversation with a single answer, hurried to leave because she did not even want to continue. Ren stopped chasing Elena and started walking slowly. He murmured as he saw Elena moving away.

“Well, it’s the rainy season… Am I confused too?”