NOVEL NEXT Chapter 19: "New Student"
I've always been an observer. It's what I do best—watching, listening, piecing together the puzzle of people's lives. I've learned to read between the lines of others stories. And today, as I watched Lila Rossi tell her grand tales, I knew I had to pay attention.
Mrs. Bustier had just introduced her, the same Lila I knew from my past.
At first, I wasn't sure what to make of her. In the original timeline, Lila wasn't nearly as skilled at the game of deception. She lied, sure, but it was sloppy, full of holes. Her stories had a tendency to fall apart when anyone with half a brain started asking the right questions. But today? She was something else entirely.
Lila wasn't just telling wild stories anymore—she was constructing whole worlds. And I wasn't just talking about words. No, she was showing them. Proving them.
I had been half-listening at first, my guitar resting across my lap, my fingers absently picking at the strings. But the more she spoke, the more I found myself tuning in.
"Oh, I've been to Paris before," Lila said, her voice smooth, and casual. "My mother's a diplomat, so we've traveled all over Europe. We even lived in Monaco for a few years. I met Ladybug there, you know. She's such a lovely woman, really. We had this amazing conversation about bravery."
The class around her hung on every word. But it wasn't just the words that hooked them—it was the details. The tiny details that made it seem… real.
She wasn't just describing a scene from a gala; she was pulling out a photo from her bag—one of those glossy, well-worn photos that looked old but not too old, like it had been taken at just the right moment. She held it up for everyone to see, and there it was: a picture of her, in what looked like an extravagant ballroom, standing next to a woman with dark hair and a red-and-black suit.
"Here's a photo from that event," she continued, tapping the photo lightly, as if that was all the proof anyone needed. "This is the one I took with Ladybug. She looked so beautiful that night."
I could see it now. The picture was virtually flawless. The lighting, the way the image was staged—it was seamless. At first glance, it could have been a candid shot, a moment captured between friends. But something about it wasn't quite right. It was almost too perfect, too staged.
I didn't even have to examine it closely to know it was photoshopped. I've spent enough time studying the art of image manipulation—no matter how convincing it seemed, the subtle tweaks were there if you knew where to look. The background, for instance, seemed a little too smudged around the edges, and the shadows didn't quite line up with the light source.
But the class didn't seem to notice. They were too entranced by the story, too eager to believe in this version of reality that Lila had so carefully constructed. No one questioned her. No one asked how a "diplomat's daughter" could have that kind of access to a superhero. Lila wasn't just telling a lie; she was selling a narrative that felt true. And that was the most dangerous part.
"Wow, Lila, that's incredible," Alya said, her voice filled with admiration. "You actually met Ladybug? I thought she only showed up to save Paris, like, always."
Lila smiled sweetly, her eyes glinting with the quiet satisfaction of someone who knew she had complete control. "Well, it wasn't like I expected it. I was just at the event, and there she was. She's just so down-to-earth, you know? We had this long chat, and she gave me some advice about… well, life in general."
She paused, then casually pulled out another item from her bag—this time a small trinket, an old-fashioned keychain that looked like it belonged to a fancy hotel. She handed it to Alya, who accepted it with wide eyes.
"This is from the charity event I told you about," Lila continued. "I won this for helping organize it. Ladybug signed it for me, as a thank-you for my work."
Alya's eyes widened. "No way. She signed that for you?"
Lila nodded, her smile practically glowing. "Yep, the signature's right here." She pointed to the small engraving, which appeared to have Ladybug's emblem etched into it. It looked genuine. Unquestionably so.
Alya held it up, inspecting it carefully, but didn't question it. No one did. They all looked at Lila like she had just handed them a piece of the extraordinary.
And it wasn't just this. Lila continued, spinning more and more tales as the class absorbed each one. As she spoke, she pulled out more "evidence"—photoshopped images, trinkets, even old tickets from supposed events that had "Ladybug" stamped on them. She made sure every story was as meticulously crafted as the last, and with each new piece of "evidence," she pulled them all deeper into her web.
I watched it all unfold, my fingers still strumming mindlessly at my guitar, but my mind was sharp, analyzing every move. She was good. In fact, she was better than I had imagined. I had assumed she was just another liar, trying to make her way into this world by fabricating a personality. But now? Now I realized that Lila wasn't just playing the game—she was the game. She had created a reality where she was the center, where her lies became truth through sheer force of will and conviction.
She was no longer just a student at this school. She was a force to be reckoned with.
I couldn't help but feel impressed by her sheer, well, competence. But also wary. Because I knew what was coming next. In the original timeline, Lila's lies would eventually unravel. She would get caught. Her world of stories would collapse, and she would be exposed for the manipulator she truly was. But this time? She was playing her hand much more carefully. She was prepared for the long game.
It was almost like she had learned from her past mistakes—and if she could learn that, then maybe there was more to her than just the lies. Maybe she wasn't as blind as the others thought.
As the class moved on, and everyone gathered around Lila, eager to hear more, I made a mental note. This girl could be useful. In this world of chaos, with Ladybug and Hawk Moth both fighting for control, there was power to be had. And Lila, with her mastery of perception and her ability to fabricate reality, was the perfect ally for someone like me.
I didn't just want her to join my side. I needed her. I knew she could be the key to turning a tide in battle. Because in this world, where the truth is constantly shifting, the ability to shape reality is the ultimate power.
And Lila? She already had that power in spades.