After realizing that the other person really was staring at her, Sevitis decisively averted her gaze and pretended not to have seen anything.
‘Okay, she admitted it. In front of this girl, she really did chicken out.’
Yichen Adams was a seventeen-year-old girl who had inherited the true Adams bloodline, brimming with youth and vitality—but right now, that “youthful vitality” seemed to have been ignited, turning into rage burning toward her.
With just one look, Sevitis recognized her. Actually, it would be strange if she didn’t.
After all, on the surface she was her older brother, and they had genuinely lived together in the Duke’s Mansion for five years.
Though the relationship hadn’t been exactly pleasant…
Sevitis had originally planned to get along with her.
But probably because she had inexplicably parachuted in as the Duke Heir, this child had always taken a one-sided dislike to her.
Of course, if it were her own head suddenly getting a stranger as an older brother, she’d definitely be unhappy too.
But to be fair, she felt that over these five years, she hadn’t done anything particularly annoying… right?
That fiery gaze still lingered on Sevitis, making her sweat profusely.
‘What’s wrong with this girl today? Usually at the Duke’s Mansion, she always acted like I didn’t exist. Even if I took the initiative to greet her, she’d just nod disdainfully to brush me off.’
‘Could it be that my performance during the exams was too eye-catching and embarrassed the Adams family again? Or is it that my behavior as a girl has sullied the name of the Heir of Adams? She couldn’t have found out about the things I secretly did behind her back, could she?’
‘I just suggested to the Old Duke to hire her a few more magic tutors—why get this angry over that?’
Sevitis guiltily reflected on what she might have done to upset this little princess again, but then she suddenly realized something.
‘Wait, that doesn’t make sense either! She’s turned into this weird form now—how could the other party still recognize her? Not to mention the drastic shrinkage in height, just this childish face and long hair made it impossible for any old acquaintance to recognize her at a glance!’
—A certain scheming golden-haired girl named Olivier wasn’t human.
Although she had been going by the name “Sevi Adams” this entire time, she hadn’t done anything too flashy. News couldn’t have reached Yichen’s ears that quickly, right?
Sevitis firmly believed Yichen hadn’t recognized her.
Maybe this girl just thought the black-haired girl in front of her looked a bit like her annoying older brother, and out of curiosity, she glanced a few more times.
If she really had recognized her, she would have drawn her sword and charged over to settle accounts long ago.
‘Yeah, that’s it, absolutely.’
She was just a passerby who happened to look a bit like her brother, and a harmless little girl who had entered the Academy under the name “Sevi Adams” by pure coincidence.
Having made up her mind, Sevitis resolutely ignored the burning gaze behind her and stared straight ahead.
“Um, Boss…”
“Shh! Pretend you didn’t see it.”
“No, I mean to say…”
“Don’t say it, okay? Just line up nicely.”
Suddenly, a heavy palm pressed down on her shoulder.
Sevitis turned around impatiently:
“Oh, I told you to pretend you didn’t see it! Can’t you understand…”
Her voice cut off abruptly.
The red-haired girl had somehow already stood next to Sevitis, looking down at her with those amber-golden eyes.
“I was trying to say… she’s already walking toward you.” Su Ling, who had been squeezed aside, weakly finished the second half of her sentence.
…
The moment the black-haired girl appeared on the square, Yichen had already set her sights on her.
During the Second Test, Yichen had witnessed the girl’s formidable strength. So she wasn’t surprised that she became a new student at Contar.
What surprised her was that the girl actually entered the Academy using the name of her hateful brother.
The key point was that she succeeded. That meant the detestable brother himself hadn’t even signed up.
But the Examiners at Contar weren’t blind. They would never let a girl enroll under the Duke Heir’s name just on her word alone.
That could only mean she had something to prove her identity in hand—for example, the Adams Family Crest.
But why was the Family Crest in her hands? Where was the real Sevi Adams?
To solve these mysteries, she had to pry the truth out of this girl’s mouth.
Although Yichen really didn’t want to see her convenient older brother, as a bearer of the Adams Bloodline and to uphold the family’s honor, she had to make a show of it.
She had to get to the bottom of this.
Still, Yichen secretly leaned toward this being a misunderstanding.
Because this girl didn’t seem like some scheming villain.
Given her impressive strength that got her into the Academy, there was no need for her to impersonate her “good-for-nothing” brother.
‘She probably found the Adams Family Crest by accident and got swept up by the lure of fame and fortune. That’s why she did something so stupid.’
After carefully sizing her up with those golden eyes, Yichen reached the above conclusion.
Especially after meeting her gaze earlier, the girl immediately looked away guiltily.
That further proved that she recognized Yichen’s identity and knew that her impersonation was wrong.
That flustered little thought was impossible to hide. So, what bad intentions could such a young child have?
Yichen felt that as long as she talked to her gently, the other party would surely spill the whole truth.
If she could take the initiative to admit her mistake and hand over the Family Crest, Yichen wouldn’t mind magnanimously forgiving her momentary lapse.
Having made up her mind, Yichen stepped forward slowly.
First, she politely moved aside the girl’s stammering companion. Then she placed her hand on the girl’s shoulder.
The girl happened to turn around at that moment, swallowing the scolding words she had been halfway through saying.
It seemed she hadn’t expected Yichen to suddenly appear behind her.
The black-haired girl’s blue-violet eyes shot wide open, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
‘This startled reaction was way too easy to read.’
But looking this close, she really did resemble her older brother a bit—especially those clear, night-sky-like eyes.
Yichen collected her thoughts and asked the decisive question that would determine the girl’s fate.
Of course, to not frighten this “strayed” child, she didn’t put on the stern airs of a noble.
Instead, she smiled and spoke warmly:
“So, can you explain to me first… just who are you?”
As if caught off guard by such a direct question, the girl’s eyes darted around frantically.
She glanced at Yichen tentatively.
Then, as if suddenly understanding something, she took a deep breath, and her expression turned incredibly solemn and earnest.
Then she spoke:
“Whoever you think I am… that’s who I am.”
Yichen: ?