Saint Maris Rainsa's enrollment at the prestigious academy was the only topic on everyone's lips. Rumors and gossip about the commoner-born Saint swirled through the halls like a tornado.
"Did you hear? The Saint actually enrolled here!"
"No way! I heard she turned down Prince Kai on her first day!"
"But isn't Prince Kai already engaged?"
"Yeah, to Lady Sarina of the Rainsa Duke family—Maris's stepsister!"
"So the Saint made a move on her sister's fiancé? How scandalous!"
"She might be a Saint, but she's still a commoner. Going after her sister's fiancé is so low."
Despite the murmurings, Maris moved through the academy with a serene smile, blissfully unaware—or perhaps entirely unconcerned—by the rumors. But as soon as people laid eyes on her, the whispers died down. Her radiant beauty and pure aura made even the harshest critics stumble over their words.
"There's no way she'd go after her sister's fiancé… just look at her!"
"Yeah, it's definitely Prince Kai who chased after her."
"Rumor has it, despite being engaged, Prince Kai begged the Saint to let him escort her. He's the one who's shameless!"
With the tide of gossip turning, Prince Kai quickly found himself the target of criticism. Though he continued his attempts to woo Maris, the growing disapproval eventually made him give up.
However, Prince Kai was only the first of many handsome lead. Soon, a parade of admirers—each more determined than the last—began their quest to win Maris's heart.
The first to approach was Alec, a rough, arrogant young noble with tousled hair and an ego to match. He strode up to Maris, a smirk plastered on his face. "Hey, Saint. Come with me. I've decided you're going to be my date to the royal ball."
Maris looked at him, then tilted her head slightly. "Oh, I'm sorry, did you just mistake me for your mother? Because the only person who can order me around like that must have changed my diapers."
Alec blinked, completely thrown off his game. "W-What?"
Maris gave him a sweet smile. "That's what I thought. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do than babysit overgrown toddlers." Alec's jaw dropped, and he watched in stunned silence as she walked away.
Next came Damian, the son of a wealthy merchant, known for his extravagance. He approached her with a gleaming smile, holding out a glittering necklace encrusted with jewels. "Saint Maris, with me, you'll never want for anything. Imagine a life where luxury is your constant companion."
Maris's eyes twinkled with amusement as she took the necklace from him, examining it closely. "Wow, this is impressive," she said, her tone completely serious. "It must've cost you a fortune."
Damian puffed up with pride. "Only the best for a lady of your caliber."
Maris nodded thoughtfully, then handed the necklace back. "Perfect. You can use the refund to buy some common sense. Trust me, it's priceless."
Damian's smile froze as Maris gave him a pat on the shoulder before walking off, leaving him standing there with the necklace dangling uselessly from his hand.
Lord Fabian, the academy's resident poet and hopeless romantic, was next in line. He approached her with a bouquet of freshly picked roses and began to recite a poem he'd composed in her honor. "Saint Maris, your beauty outshines the moonlight, your grace a melody—"
Maris held up a hand to stop him mid-verse. "Hold on, hold on," she said, taking the bouquet from him and inspecting it with exaggerated scrutiny. "Are these thorns?" She poked at one of the stems and winced dramatically. "Ouch! You're trying to woo me with a safety hazard!"
Fabian's face turned beet red. "I—I didn't mean—"
Maris sighed and shook her head, handing the bouquet back. "Next time, try chocolates. At least those only hurt if you eat too many."
Fabian opened his mouth to respond, but Maris was already gone, leaving him to clutch his bouquet like a scolded child.
After him came Sir Roland, a knight of renowned bravery and chivalry, who approached her with all the grandeur of a storybook hero. He knelt before her, armor gleaming in the sunlight, and declared, "Saint Maris, your light shines brighter than any star. Allow me the honor of protecting you, now and forever."
Maris raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching with barely contained laughter. "You're volunteering to be my personal bodyguard? That's cute, but…" She leaned in slightly, her tone conspiratorial, "Do you do laundry, too? Because I could really use someone to tackle my endless pile of temple robes."
Roland looked up at her, utterly perplexed. "L-Laundry?"
Maris straightened, patting him on the shoulder. "No? Then I guess I'll have to pass. I'm looking for someone who can fight grime and dust as well as they fight dragons." She gave him a wink and sauntered off, leaving Sir Roland kneeling in the courtyard, wondering how his noble offer had taken such a strange turn.
A mysterious young man named Lucien, a foreign prince with an air of enigma, was the next to approach Maris. He appeared before her, his eyes dark and brooding. "Saint Maris," he began, his voice low and smooth, "they say destiny brought us together. Perhaps we are meant to walk this path as one."
Maris blinked at him, then looked around as if searching for something. "Are you sure about that? Because I don't see any signs pointing this way." She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Are you sure destiny didn't mean the other Maris? There's a lot of us in this school, you know."
Lucien, usually so composed, faltered. "I—I don't—"
Maris gave him a sympathetic smile. "Don't worry, it's an easy mistake. But I think I'm on a different path—one that leads to the library, actually. They have this great new book on biology I've been dying to read." She patted him on the arm and breezed past, leaving Lucien staring after her, completely bewildered.
Next was Professor Dorian, a handsome teacher known for his charm and wisdom. He approached Maris with an air of sophistication. "Maris, have you considered joining the student council? We could use someone of your caliber, and you would be a perfect fit."
Maris looked at him with wide eyes, feigning shock. "Professor, are you sure you want me? I mean, I'm still trying to figure out how to manage my morning prayers without dozing off. I might bring down the whole council with my incompetence."
Dorian chuckled, clearly amused by her response. "I'm sure you're underselling yourself, Maris. With a mind like yours—"
Maris shook her head, interrupting him. "Nope, you've got the wrong girl. I'm more of a 'fall asleep in class and hope no one notices' kind of student. Besides, my after-school schedule is packed—can't miss my date with the temple brooms."
Dorianraised an eyebrow, fighting back laughter. "Temple brooms, you say?"
Maris nodded solemnly. "They get lonely, you know. Someone's got to keep them company." With a playful grin, she turned and walked away, leaving the professor chuckling to himself.
Next day, a short, animal-like cute boy bounded over to Reina with a big grin. "Maris sis, let's play together!"
Without waiting for her response, he reached out to hug her, but Maris stepped back, her expression turning stern. "Don't call me 'sis' when we're the same age. And attempting to hug a girl without her consent?" She gave him a disapproving look. "That's a one-way ticket to the disciplinary committee. Hope you've got your bags packed!"
The boy's eyes widened in panic. "W-Wait, I didn't mean—"
Maris signaled to a nearby disciplinary, and the boy was swiftly escorted away, his protests echoing down the hall as Maris continued on her way.
Next in line was an intelligent, glasses-wearing handsome guy, who approached Maris with a confident smile. "Saint Maris, it would be an honor if you'd join me for tea this afternoon," he said, his voice smooth and inviting.
Maris returned his smile with one of her own, though her eyes gleamed with mischief. "Tea, huh? Just you and me? What, do you have a special blend that's only for Saint-grade customers?"
The young man chuckled. "I just thought we could enjoy a private conversation."
Maris's smile widened. "I see. Well, I'll pass. I'm more of a 'share with the whole class' kind of girl. If your tea parties are invite-only, I'll just stick to my cafeteria brew. Thanks, though!"
The intelligent guy blinked, clearly not expecting such a response. "Uh… well…"
Maris waved him off cheerfully. "No worries! Maybe next time, just bring enough tea for everyone!" She walked off, leaving him staring after her, holding an empty teacup.
A mysterious young man named Kaisen, with a dark, brooding aura, was the next to approach. "Saint Reina," he began in a low, smooth voice, "they say being near me is dangerous. Stay away, or you'll get hurt."
Maris looked at him with an amused smile. "Oh no, not danger! Whatever shall I do?" She gasped theatrically. "Wait, are you saying you're dangerous? Because last I checked, the most dangerous thing around here was my schedule. Have you seen how packed it is?"
Kaisen's stoic expression faltered, clearly not expecting humor. "I—I meant—"
Maris nodded sagely. "Don't worry, I've got it covered. I'll just stay away from… what was it? Dangerous people?" She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "If it makes you feel better, I'll walk on the opposite side of the hallway from now on. Safety first, right?" With a playful wink, she walked away, leaving Kaisen standing there, baffled by her reaction.
As the academy continued to buzz with the latest tales of Maris's witty rejections, her reputation as an unattainable flower only grew stronger. Yet, her playful humor and sharp wit won her admiration from even the most skeptical students. Instead of feeling slighted, many of her would-be suitors found themselves laughing at their own expense, charmed by her unshakeable spirit.
Maris's circle of friends and allies grew, as did the respect others had for her. Her presence became a beacon of warmth and light at the academy.