Disguised as a man, you had spent years training at the prestigious Vermillion Youth Academy, a place where only the strongest and most intelligent could rise. No one suspected your secret—not your friends, not your teachers. And certainly not Damien Aldric, your greatest rival.

From the moment you entered the academy, Damien had been your fiercest competition. He was strong, cunning, and annoyingly perceptive. Every test, every sparring match, he was there, pushing you to your limits. You despised him—and yet, you admired him too.

But everything changed the day he found out your secret.

It happened after a brutal duel. You had barely won, and as you walked back to the locker rooms, your disguise slipped—a loosened bandage, a glimpse of your true self.

Damien’s sharp eyes caught it instantly.

“Wait,” he said, grabbing your wrist. His usual arrogance was gone, replaced with something unreadable. “You’re—”

Your heart pounded. If he exposed you, everything you had worked for would be ruined.

“Say a word, and I swear I’ll make you regret it,” you warned, voice low, masking the panic inside.

For once, Damien didn’t smirk. He simply studied you, as if seeing you for the first time. Then, after what felt like an eternity, he stepped closer, his breath warm against your skin.

“You owe me now, princess,” he murmured, his voice dangerously smooth. “Look like the academy’s best fighter isn’t who we thought. Don’t worry, your secret’s safe… for now.”