As soon as the morning classes end, I head toward the portal, walking so fast I’m practically running. It’s been like this for days. I'm tempted to actually break into a sprint just to see if it improves my runner skill. If I did it, I would probably end up leveling it up. Might be a good idea to add short sprints to my weekend training.

  I teleport through the portal to the stones in my room, pick them up, and freshen up a bit before heading to the gardens. When I arrive, Ronan is already waiting for me. The guard—of course—had been standing outside my room and is now following me. He stays a few steps behind, but I’ll have to be careful about what we discuss.

  "My lady…" Ronan greets me with a slight bow as he rises from the bench where he was sitting.

  "Hey, Ronan," I smile and take a seat. He does the same. "So, I wanted to talk to you about something."

  Time to switch to mental whispers. The guard is a few meters away, but I’m afraid he might hear us.

  "I know you swore fealty to me, and that’s why you treat me with such respect, like I’m really your lady," I think.

  "Because you are my lady," he replies in the same way, stating the obvious.

  "Yeah, well, on paper. But I’m not exactly giving you orders."

  Not like I’d take advantage of the poor guy and have him doing all the assignments some of our professors give us.

  "Because you do not want to do so."

  "Right. Here’s the thing. Because of your isolation as a child, you behave a little… differently. The way you treat me—I think people see it as unusual. But with all this stuff about the boss, the elite chest, and the sword, I’d rather give Vincent some kind of explanation so he doesn’t get too suspicious of me. I don’t want him connecting any dots that might lead him to the contract with the divine beast. For now, I think you and the pup are the only clues that could take him there."

  "As you wish."

  Just in case the guard is listening, I ask Ronan a couple of questions out loud about our classes, and he answers. Then we fall silent again and continue our conversation mentally.

  Maybe we could have had this discussion from a distance, without meeting up here. But I prefer to see his face and reactions. Mental whispers are more impersonal and, at the same time, intrusive.

  "How about we tell him that you’re always watching over me because you’re seeking my help? That when you knelt before me, you were actually asking me to be your moral compass? That you’re worried about the influence dark magic might have on you?"

  Ronan stares at me, utterly perplexed, as if I were speaking another language.

  "My lady, if I may… I am not seeking your help. Quite the opposite, in fact. And I have no concerns about my morality. I know it is the correct one."

  "And what if you lose control and kill someone? Like your roommate…"

  "As long as it does not cause you trouble and I can continue serving you, I fail to see the problem."

  I roll my eyes.

  "Of course, it’s a problem."

  But I’m not about to get into a debate about why killing is wrong. I trust that he knows the difference. His morality may be a little skewed, but if he really wanted to go around killing people in cold blood, he would’ve done it by now—and he would’ve been caught. The only people he seems to truly despise are his parents, and as far as I know, they’re still alive and well in their barony.

  By the way, he’s looking at me, clearly waiting for me to explain why it’s a problem.

  "Forget it," I tell him mentally. "Can you think of any reason we could give Vincent for why you treat me this way?"

  "My lady, after this time, I have come to recognize that the manner in which I address you differs significantly from conventional discourse between individuals. My concern has been to ensure that I accord you the deference and reverence to which you are rightfully entitled. Indeed, I observe that even Vincent does not employ such formal literary diction in his speech, like in the books I have read, despite his royal lineage," he tells me with more elaborate language than what had lately been normal for him.

  I nod. We remain silent outwardly for the guard’s sake.

  "I have also noticed that Vincent looks at you strangely from time to time," Ronan continues. "I would say it seems like he is suspicious, but it is different, too. I can not quite explain it—it is just a feeling. In any case, my lady, I understand that to maintain your cover, I need to be more discreet. However, a sudden change in my behavior might actually draw more attention. If you prefer, I could do it gradually. That said, if you allow it, I would like to continue addressing you with respect in private."

  "That easy now?"

  Because before, nothing could make him change his mind.

  Ronan looks at me.

  "I have learned more about the world. My apologies if I made you uncomfortable. And if you need a reason for why I treat you differently, it is because you and Mary are the only ones who have shown me kindness since the beginning."

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  "Me? Kindness?"

  "In my eyes, you are an angel—a human worthy of commanding a divine beast of darkness, marked by a contract that makes you an extension of divinity."

  Uh…

  Why do I even ask?

  "Alright, I want to tell Vincent something. Do you think it’d be fine if I told him about the channelling? Or should I just let him see it ‘by accident’?"

  "My lady, I think you should stop overcomplicating things."

  "Overcomplicating?"

  I frown. If the guard is paying attention, all he’ll see is two friends sitting on a bench, enjoying each other’s company before dinner.

  "My lady, if Vincent truly wanted to know, he could pull the right strings to find out."

  Okay. He’s absolutely right about that. I don’t say anything else. We sit in silence for the remaining minutes before dinner—this time, for real.

  I decide to listen to Ronan and, at least for now, stop worrying about my friends. If Vincent ends up asking and learning about my powers, it’ll make dungeon crawling with him easier. And if he doesn’t, well, maybe I’ll have to reveal it when the time comes.

  There’s no point in overthinking it.

  "By the way, Ronan," I whisper in my mind just before we have to get up and head back inside. "The seed—the divine beast—warned me that there’s an even greater danger than other divine beasts hunting it down."

  Oh, right. I hadn’t told him that part either—the one with the divine beasts.

  "I know the divine beast has to stay hidden. As for this other danger, my friend mentioned something—just vague notions. I do not know what we are up against. I only know that it is my duty and my pleasure to assist you."

  "Come on, let’s go eat," I say out loud.

  "All I know is that at level 20, the other divine beasts will be able to locate the seed," I think as we stand up.

  "My lady," he replies in my mind, "we must strengthen your empire."

  For a moment, I stop dead in my tracks, even though I had already started walking. To the guard, I make it look like I simply lost my footing.

  "I'm not building an empire."

  "What do you call the goblins and the bears, then?"

  I was about to reply—mentally—that I’m just helping them. But then, I realize I might be lying to myself. It’s not just helping. They are my vassals, my responsibility. I want them to live peacefully in the forest without harming humans. But let’s be honest, they are the foundation of, if not an empire, at least a kingdom.

  Should I marry the crown prince and try to integrate them so they aren’t attacked?

  I bring my hand to my head.

  "Are you alright, my lady?" Ronan asks aloud.

  "Yes, I might’ve overdone it with training. I’m just a little tired. Nothing a good dinner won’t fix," I force a smile at him.

  We keep walking. I think this approach of taking problems one at a time, putting out fires as they come, might not be working for me. I’ll have to rely more on Ronan’s advice. But after what happened with Damien, I’m not sure that’s the best idea.

  When we step into the dining hall, I have no appetite, my stomach twisted in knots from all this uncertainty about the future.

  The rest of the day passes uneventfully. I keep looking for an opportunity to confront Sol alone, but every time I run into her, she’s flanked by her two shadows—Bianca’s former friends.

  The next morning, Berta comes to see me in my room early.

  Let’s be clear: I dress myself. As a woman from Earth, I refuse to have a maid’s help, especially for putting on a school uniform that isn’t complicated at all. For the ball, if I have to wear one of those corsets with laces in the back, I’ll let her help—same with my hair. But for my day-to-day, Berta has little work to do when it comes to me. Keeping the room tidy along with Judith’s maid, and that’s about it. I think they occasionally get assigned tasks from the academy, but I’m not too sure. In the otome, if you played as Lily, your maid would organize tea parties for you. That’s not my case—my room isn’t private, and even if I wanted to host one, I wouldn’t have anywhere to do it.

  What brings Berta to my room this morning is to deliver two letters. One from my fiancé and the other bearing the royal seal. I thank her and tell her she may go. She looks a bit disappointed, as if she’s curious about what the royal family could want from me.

  Judith, quiet as always, keeps to herself and doesn’t ask anything.

  Alright, I sit on my bed and open them. First, Marco’s letter. Looks like I have a date for the ball. Of course, I’m not going to say no—he is my fiancé, after all. I need to talk to my parents. I don’t want them to marry me off as soon as I graduate in less than three years. With my status as an exceptional student, I think I can convince them that we can aim for something better. I’ll tell them to leave it to me, that I have several interested suitors, and that way, they might relax and stop pressuring me.

  The ball, when I see them then, will be the perfect opportunity.

  As for the bracelet, I put it on. It would be rude not to. I have to admit, it’s pretty. I don’t love the heart detail, but the bracelet itself has a simple, elegant design.

  Holding the second letter, I hesitate for a moment before opening it—long enough for Judith to finish getting ready, bid me farewell, and leave the room.

  Alright, the royal family… It could technically be from Vincent, but I doubt he’d send me something so official. For a brief moment, I recall the royal representative and feel a chill. This isn’t about that ridiculous idea of marrying the crown prince, is it?

  I break the wax seal and open the letter.

  It is from the king and queen.

  To the noble and esteemed daughter of House L’Crom, Bianca L’Crom:

  By the mandate of His Majesty King Thalador and Her Majesty Queen Eleanor, you are summoned to appear at the Royal Palace on the 12th day of the month of Alondra of the current year.

  The Crown requests your distinguished presence to discuss matters of great importance concerning both your house and the kingdom. We trust in your prudence and diligence to attend this summons with the urgency it deserves.

  You are encouraged to travel accompanied by those you deem necessary for your safety and comfort. The palace teleportation gates will be open for you.

  May the light of wisdom guide your path and fortune favor you.

  By the grace of the Crown,

  His Majesty King Thalador.

  Her Majesty Queen Eleanor.

  Oh, shit. This doesn’t smell good at all. It has to be about my sword. I quickly call for Berta.

  Today’s the day they summoned me. They didn’t specify a time, but since it’s Their Majesties, I’ll have to go as soon as possible. However, I’m not going to wear my school uniform. I need to wear something more fitting for a count’s daughter.

  Alright, now I do need Berta’s help—both to choose a dress and to get dressed and styled properly.

  "I have to go to the palace. The monarchs summoned me. I don’t know why. I won’t be going to class." I think, directing my thoughts to Ronan.

  At least he should know, even if I don’t have time to let the others know. Well, my professors will find out regardless, since I need to use the academy’s portal. Showing the letter should be enough to get me through without trouble—assuming the headmaster doesn’t already know.

  And about traveling with company… Since I’ll be using portals, I don’t need an escort for the journey. I’ll just bring my maid. That part of the letter is probably more for nobles who want to parade around with their entourage for status.

  My gosh... I can’t deny it—I’m nervous.

  It’s not every day that an ordinary girl from Earth gets summoned for an audience with the king and the queen.