The Beginning of Resentment

Fifteen years earlier...

The playground of Daehan Elite Academy shimmered under the early morning sunlight, a world of privilege wrapped in gleaming marble and gold-plated school emblems. Cherry blossom trees lined the pathways, their delicate petals drifting through the crisp autumn air, painting the ground in soft hues of pink and white. The laughter of children—children born into dynasties of power—echoed through the vast courtyard. They moved in perfectly arranged groups, their friendships dictated by status, their hierarchies set before they had even learned to read.

In a school where last names carried more weight than personality, there were two types of students: those born to rule and those who existed to serve.

And Kang Hari was the latter.

Dressed in a slightly faded, second-hand uniform, Hari clutched the straps of her backpack, her knuckles white with tension. The fabric of her sleeves was a little worn at the cuffs, a stark contrast to the spotless, tailor-made uniforms of the students around her. Even the air felt different here—thick with entitlement, a place where a child’s worth was measured in stock shares and bloodlines. This was her first day at Daehan Elite Academy, and she already knew she was an outsider.

Her mother’s words echoed in her mind: "Keep your head down, work hard, and don’t get involved with the rich kids."

Sound advice, but easier said than done.

Hari inhaled deeply, pushing back the weight of nerves pressing down on her chest. If she could just make it through the day unnoticed, everything would be fine. She just had to avoid unnecessary attention—

Thud.

A sudden impact jerked her forward, knocking her slightly off balance.

She barely had time to react before a sharp, shrill voice cut through the air.

“Hey! You stepped on my shoe, you little rat!”

A hush fell over the playground, like a switch had been flipped. The rhythmic chatter ceased, and dozens of eyes turned toward the scene, eager for a show. The atmosphere shifted—silent anticipation swirling like a storm cloud.

Hari turned slowly, dread curling in her stomach like a cold knot.

Her gaze dropped to the ground first, where a flawless, imported leather shoe sat dusted with the faintest trace of dirt.

Then, she looked up and met the sharp, glinting gaze of Jang Seohyun.

Even if she hadn’t recognized him, she would have known from the way the other students instinctively straightened their backs, from the way their eyes darted between the two of them, barely containing their amusement.

Jang Seohyun, the school’s prince. The heir to Jang Group, one of Korea’s largest conglomerates. A boy whose arrogance was as striking as his appearance. Golden-brown hair, neatly styled. Piercing dark eyes filled with disdain. A smirk that barely concealed his superiority.

Seohyun didn’t just own the school—he ruled it.

And Hari had just stepped into his crosshairs.

Her fingers curled around the straps of her backpack, her throat dry as she tried to form words. “I-I didn’t mean to,” she stammered. Her voice was small, barely above a whisper.

Seohyun scoffed, tilting his head slightly, as if considering whether her excuse was even worth acknowledging. He exaggeratedly dusted off his shoe, his expression twisting into mock disgust. “Do you even know how much these cost? Probably more than your entire house.”

Laughter erupted from the students around them—sharp, biting, cruel.

Hari felt her face heat, the humiliation settling deep in her bones. She wanted to disappear, to shrink into the ground, but she refused to let them see her break. Not here. Not in front of them.

A voice inside her whispered: Apologize again. Just apologize and walk away.

But another voice—smaller, angrier—burned inside her.

Why should I?

Why should she let them humiliate her when she hadn’t even done anything wrong?

She took a slow, steady breath, willing her voice to remain calm. “I said I didn’t mean to.” This time, there was no stammer. No hesitation.

Seohyun’s smirk faltered, just slightly.

Then, a flicker of amusement danced in his eyes, as if he had just discovered something interesting. A challenge.

He stepped forward, closing the distance between them, his towering presence casting a shadow over her. “Did I just hear you talk back?”

The crowd gasped. No one—no one—talked back to Jang Seohyun.

Hari’s heart pounded against her ribcage, but she stood her ground. “I just think you’re overreacting,” she said, forcing her voice to remain steady. “It’s just a shoe. You can clean it.”

Another round of gasps. Some students even turned to each other, whispering in disbelief.

Seohyun stared at her for a moment, something unreadable flickering across his face. Then, he laughed—a low, mocking chuckle that sent a chill down Hari’s spine.

“You’ve got guts,” he mused. “I’ll give you that. But you should learn something, Kang Hari.” He took another step closer, lowering his voice just enough so that only she could hear. “People like you? You don’t belong here.”

Hari’s fingers clenched around her backpack strap, but she said nothing.

Seohyun straightened, flashing a careless smile at the crowd. “You guys saw it, right? She stepped on me first.”

His words were all it took.

The verdict had been passed.

Hari had just made an enemy out of the most powerful boy in school.

From that day forward, Jang Seohyun became her worst nightmare. The boy who never let her breathe, who made sure every day at Daehan Elite Academy was a battlefield.

And yet, despite everything, she became the only person who dared to challenge him.

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