[Obsessed by the Strongest People in the Empire.]

That is the title of the female-oriented romance novel in which this world exists.

As you can infer from the title, this novel begins with an ordinary yet beautiful girl entering the academy and becoming the object of obsession for prominent men in the Empire.

Initially, calling her ordinary wouldn’t be fitting, as she is beautiful.

By the way, it could be labeled as a male-oriented fantasy or even an academy story. Still, like other female-oriented romance fantasies, there aren’t any huge battle scenes.

Though, I’m sure the male leads will intervene if there is any trouble.

In short, it meant I could enjoy a comfortable and leisurely life without worrying about threats.

Living in a world with knights and magic and being talented myself, I could live as I pleased while practicing what I desired. Being the second son of an Earl and having a good relationship with my elder brother, who would inherit the family, there was no reason for succession disputes.

Could there be a more comfortable life than this?

Since the family would keep giving me money, I could leisurely learn at the academy, train my swordsmanship, and enjoy watching Sylvia and the male leads’ love story. At the same time, I could find my own partner, too.

By the way, when will the remaining male lead appear?

Thinking momentarily about the guy called the next hero, I blinked my drowsy eyes and cleared my mind.

I’m exhausted.

Returning to the dormitory after another grueling training session, I absentmindedly gazed at the sky.

Since the sun had long set, I could only see the dark sky and the faintly twinkling starlight. As I casually gazed at the sky that I hadn’t paid much attention to in my previous life, memories from my past life resurfaced.

What happened to me in my previous world?

Usually, events like transmigration have some sort of trigger, or they mostly occur after death. However, I didn’t experience any such thing.

I read a lot of novels, but it’s not like I only read those, and I actually preferred licensed novels.

I didn’t leave many comments, and I never left any hateful ones. So, am I dead? I don’t think so.

There were no signs of it whatsoever. Of course, there’s a possibility of sudden death, but…

“…I don’t know.”

Since pondering it did not change anything, I cleared my mind and continued making my way back.

I didn’t have any lingering regrets from my previous life. If anything, deep down, I earnestly wished for a transition to this kind of world.

It would have been better if it were a fantasy aimed at men rather than a romance for women… but that’s a trivial matter.

I was just going to live diligently.

Academy was where boys and girls 17 years old gathered. In this world, you’re considered an adult at 18, so everyone here is deemed to be on the threshold of adulthood.

Because of this, relatively many unreported ‘incidents’ occurred. Even though they were considered adults, their minds were still those of children.

For these reasons, the academy strictly separated dormitories for female and male students and rigorously managed interactions between genders.

Of course, there were loopholes in these internal academy rules.

“…What’s going on, Leon?”

Sylvia asked Leonhardt, who had taken her out of her room using his position as the Third Prince when all students were supposed to be in their rooms due to dormitory regulations.

He struggled to suppress his boiling emotions and gazed at Sylvia.

Leonhardt, the Third Prince of the Empire.

Selfish and self-centered, he had used his power and position since childhood to acquire everything he needed. Of course, his older brother, the Second Prince, and the tacit consent of the First Princess allowed him to do so. Leonhardt, unaware of this fact, believed the world revolved around him.

As a result, his personality became even more warped.

He had to have whatever he desired, whether it be objects or people.

To Leonhardt, Sylvia was the most captivating person he had ever seen among all the things he had encountered.

Beautiful.

No gem, no top martial artist in the Empire, no woman could compare to Sylvia’s beauty.

He couldn’t even think about comparing. Sylvia’s beauty was so exceptional that it stood alone.

It wasn’t just Leonhardt who knew this fact; everyone did. That’s why everyone desired her and spared no effort to win her favor.

However, Sylvia didn’t accept anyone’s advances. Looking at that, Leonhardt thought he was the only one who could stay by her side.

The shining one that everyone desires and that no one can possess.

He believed that only he could possess her.

That’s why he couldn’t help but feel anger.

“Leon…?”

Seeing his twisted face, Sylvia called him again with an anxious expression.

“Why aren’t you listening to me?”

“…What are you talking about?”

Sylvia blinked as she looked at Leonhardt, who was suppressing his anger.

Knowing Leonhardt’s personality and remembering their previous disagreements, Sylvia thought he wouldn’t easily give in to him, so she pretended to be nonchalant.

“I clearly told you not to get involved with that guy anymore.”

Leonhardt said, seizing the opportunity presented by Sylvia’s demeanor.

“You mean Felix?”

“Yeah, that guy who confessed to you without knowing his place.”

He did not go to every male student who confessed to Sylvia to issue a warning.

He was too busy for such unnecessary actions. At the same time, he had confidence that other male students couldn’t become his rivals.

There was only one person who bothered him until now.

Cain, the son of a duke.

He helped Sylvia, pretending to be on her side, desiring her like himself. With a background that didn’t even flinch at his status, Cain was an extremely difficult presence for him.

And then, another difficult presence appeared for Leonhardt.

Felix von Astria.

When he heard that the son of Earl Astria had confessed to Sylvia, Leonhardt didn’t pay much attention to it.

As always, Sylvia rejected his confession, so he thought he wouldn’t pay attention to him anymore.

The problem was that reality didn’t go according to his expectations. Sylvia did reject Felix’s confession.

But afterward, she inexplicably grew closer to Felix. Leonhardt didn’t like that fact at all.

While he could understand Cain to some extent, he knew how cunning that guy was,

But Felix was different in this case. He couldn’t understand why such a mediocre guy, at best the son of an earl, was occupying Sylvia’s side.

At the same time, Sylvia’s actions angered him.

“I clearly told you, Felix is my friend.”

To be precise, she might have been the only one who thought of him as a friend. Sylvia swallowed the rest of her words and looked at Leonhardt with narrowed eyes.

In this academy, whether someone confessed to her or not, she could make a few friends. He didn’t interfere in that situation.

On the other hand, just the fact that Leonhardt spoke ill of Felix made Sylvia’s eyes narrow and even her words… Everything irritated Leonhardt.

“Your friend? He just wants to have you. What kind of friend is that?”

“…Leon.”

“Listen to me. You’re not fit to associate with such a guy. You’re going to be the crown princess.”

The world revolves around Leonhardt himself.

He even disregarded his older brother and sister, the ones ahead of him in the fight for the throne.

In the end, she would belong to him, and he would ascend to the throne of the Empire.

Sylvia was his companion who would make him shine. She wasn’t someone who would be close to a guy who had no talents and was nothing more than an Earl’s child.

Leonhardt gripped Sylvia’s shoulders tightly and growled. Despite the uncomfortable grip on her shoulders, Sylvia forced herself to compose her expression and looked straight at him.

“Don’t say such things, and don’t act like that, Leon. I’m not your possession.”

“Sylvia…!”

“Stop it!”

Sylvia breathed out softly and calmly said, “Please stop. I don’t want to fight with you.”

Leonhardt’s shining blue eyes grew cold. He let her go, and as he watched Sylvia walk away as if she had said all she needed to say, he bit his lower lip.

“…Annoying.”

Because she was the one he wanted to have, the one he needed to have.

As Sylvia turned away, it felt like she was leaving him behind.

And he didn’t like that feeling at all.