Mirror of the Past: The Villainess' True End

CHAPTER FOUR:First Encounter with the Duke of the Northern Region

I could feel their eyes on me as soon as I entered the classroom. I couldn't tell if it was due to my new look or the fact that I had been gone for three days. I couldn't blame them, though, for their shocked looks; I had totally changed the Karina Azalena they knew. She used to wear plain, dark-colored sleeves and pants making her presence barely perceptible, her long hair partially covering her face, and she wore contacts to hide her stunning eyes. Her makeup was minimal, just enough to complement her warm ivory skin—a light touch of nude lipstick and a hint of powder, nothing to distract from her natural beauty. But right now, the Karina Azalena in front of them looked like a totally different person. In addition to cutting her hair short, I decided to change her style to fit my preferences: a cream-colored, belted jumpsuit that contrasted perfectly with my warm complexion, paired with a navy-blue turtleneck that matched my own skin tone. It brought out the subtle warmth in my features while adding an edge to my understated elegance.

"Good morning." I casually greeted them, something that the original Karina wouldn't do, as I strutted to a desk next to the window where she usually sat and stared outside the glass window while patiently waiting for the professor to come.

I looked around for a while when I felt eyes on me, and let out a chuckle when they looked away upon meeting my gaze, some even hunched on their laptops, typing away, while others flipped through their notes just to avoid my gaze. I assume that my sudden change is quite too much for them to handle, so I let my eyes drift back to the window glass beside me. Watching the little world beyond the window glass feels distant yet it provides a fleeting tranquil, distracting me from everything around me. Back in my world, I never had the leisure to watch the clouds slowly move across the horizon, shifting and stretching, as if dancing in the breeze. Since I came into this world, I find myself enjoying doing things that I couldn't before because of my obligations. Each moment feels like a small victory, as if I've unlocked parts of myself that were always there, but were locked up because of my standing.

Everyone took their seats as the professor entered the room, the door clicking shut behind him. I exhaled a deep sigh, holding myself back from chuckling as the realization hit me when the person who had just walked in looked strikingly familiar. Standing at the front was a man in his mid-forties, his sharp, analytical gaze scanning the room. His salt-and-pepper hair was neatly combed back, and thin-framed glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, giving him the distinguished air of an academic person. Dressed in a white collared polo shirt and beige chinos, he carried himself with confidence, as if letting everyone know that he is someone used to being in front of a classroom. It took only a moment before I recognized him—Eliott Hartman, the royal physician is 'her' favorite psychology professor whose lectures had once filled her afternoons with complex theories and probing questions.

Our eyes locked and all I could manage was a modest smile. He furrowed his brows as he looked at me, adjusting his glasses in the process. Some of the students followed his gaze and landed on me, which somehow made me feel a little uncomfortable. After a moment of contemplation, he finally asked the question that everyone in that room had been eager to ask since I enter the class.

"I believe that is my student—Miss Azalena's seat." In his deep voice, professor Eli's uncertainty was evident, as he struggled to recognize his student due to my sudden change. "Are you perhaps a new student of mine?" He added, clearly unsure.

"..." I opened my mouth to say something but ended up closing it again, unbale to articulate an explanation.

From behind me, a baritone voice spoke up for me in a sleepy tone, "She's Karina, sir. She just cut her hair, change the way she dressed, and reveal her pretty eyes." I turned my gaze to see who had spoken on my behalf.

I frowned as I realized I had no other memories of the person behind me, except for the original Karina's recollection of him. She had often seen him sleeping through every class, yet somehow, he always managed to score the highest on every exam. He's a man in his twenties with a relaxed, almost nonchalant demeanor that she always sees playing around with other students from different colleges, that contradicted his academic success. His jet-black tousled hair, often in disarray, and a slight stubble on his face gave him a laid-back, effortlessly cool appearance, making him look like he's easy to get along with. And despite being in an affluent family, he dressed up casually — distressed jeans, a classic white tee and sneakers. Despite his seemingly indifferent attitude, he had a sharp, observant gaze that hinted at his underlying intellect.