Some time later, the group arrived at an inn on the eastern side of the capital. With their scheduled report to the Royal Academy in the morning, Luke had chosen a place nearby for convenience.

  This was where Hilda parted ways with them. Due to her status as a minor noble, she was not permitted to enter the Royal Academy as a servant. Moreover, each student was only allowed a single attendant.

  Tears welled in Hilda’s eyes as she bid her goodbyes. Whether out of guilt or for some other reason entirely, Sebastian did not resist when she embraced him. It was a heartfelt moment—one that Luke observed with an amused smirk, barely suppressing the urge to chuckle.

  Once Hilda had departed, the remaining group was led to their rooms. Luke and Kayson were assigned one, while Victoria and Sebastian each had their own.

  "Drop your things off in your rooms and meet back here," Luke instructed Victoria and Sebastian. Only after they nodded in confirmation did he enter his own quarters.

  The room was modest, containing two single beds and a simple wooden desk in the corner. Compared to the guest house at the Viscount’s estate, it was far from luxurious, but it would suffice for a single night.

  Kayson followed suit, tossing his bag onto the bed closest to the window before turning to Luke.

  "What did you think of the Left Minister?" he asked casually.

  Luke took a moment to consider the question, his gaze sweeping the room. "Wait for the others—we’ll discuss it then."

  Kayson merely shrugged and bent down to remove his boots. The moment one came off, a musty stench filled the air. Even he recoiled, grimacing, before hurriedly shoving it back on. Crossing the room, he pushed open the window with a sigh.

  "I can’t wait to bathe…"

  A few knocks sounded at the door, and Luke called for the visitors to enter. Sebastian and Victoria stepped inside.

  "Take a seat wherever," Luke gestured, pulling the rickety wooden chair from the desk before settling into it. "We have things to discuss."

  The others exchanged questioning looks but did as they were told. Sebastian sat cross-legged on the wooden floor, while Victoria sauntered over to Luke’s bed and perched on the edge.

  Sensing their expectant gazes, Luke exhaled and began. "Everyone here is aware of my identity as the son of Viscount Nero," he stated, his eyes landing on Sebastian. “There is no need to hide this anymore.”

  For a brief moment, shock flickered across the older man’s face before he schooled his expression. He turned to Victoria, and for the briefest instant, Luke swore he sensed a ripple of murderous intent emanating from his butler.

  "S-Sebastian… It’s fine," Luke stammered, hastily trying to defuse the situation. "Victoria is someone we can trust. She warned us about Lhair infiltrating Valand City—she’s an ally." His voice held a note of conviction, though it sounded as if he was convincing himself as much as anyone else.

  Victoria flashed him a sweet smile, then winked playfully.

  If it had been any other woman, Luke might have felt embarrassed by such a gesture from a pretty girl. Yet instead, he felt only a faint sense of dread.

  Sebastian, however, remained silent.

  “I wanted to put this out in the open since we’ll need to work together,” Luke said, his tone steady. “From this point on, we will be in danger. I don’t even think we’ll find safety in the Royal Academy.”

  “Explain your reasoning.” Sebastian’s words allowed no refusal.

  Luke exhaled, choosing his next words carefully. “First and foremost, the invention of gunpowder has put a target on my back. Only two people in the entire world know the formula—myself and the alchemist Adam Searle back in Clayton City. Once the King learns that I’m in the capital, he will summon me. But it’s not the King I’m worried about…” His voice dropped as his gaze swept the room, searching for any hidden eavesdroppers.

  “Close that window for me,” he instructed, pointing to the one Kayson had opened earlier.

  Once the window was shut, Luke finally voiced his deeper concerns. “There’s a traitor within the kingdom.”

  Of everyone present, only Kayson visibly reacted, his brows furrowing. Meanwhile, Victoria and Sebastian remained unreadable, waiting for Luke to continue.

  “They would have to hold a high-ranking position,” Luke said. “Someone with the authority to control large military forces.”

  “So, someone like the Left Minister?” Kayson asked, his voice low.

  Luke nodded. “Or someone in a similar position. While the Left Minister may be both a fool and lazy, he isn’t a traitor. That man cares too much about his image and how others perceive him to take such drastic actions.”

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “The person we’re looking for is far more calculating.”

  “I’ve heard that the Right Minister is quite a shrewd man,” Victoria chimed in. “Apart from the King, no one in the Marxx Kingdom holds more power.” Her tone was serious, laced with unspoken suspicion.

  A heavy silence settled over the room.

  “It’s too soon to make assumptions,” Luke said, shaking his head. “For now, we need to be extremely vigilant. The invention of gunpowder is enough to change the entire landscape of war. If someone wants the Marxx Kingdom to fall, then keeping me alive would ruin their plans.”

  With that, he knelt beside his bag, unfastened the leather straps, and pulled out three folded pieces of parchment. He handed one to each of them.

  “This is the ingredient list for gunpowder, along with the steps to make it,” he explained, straightening up. “If anything happens to me… leave the Marxx Kingdom. Use this as a bargaining chip to seek asylum elsewhere.”

  The room fell into silence again. Kayson and Sebastian both frowned, their expressions tight as if on the verge of rejecting his words, yet neither spoke.

  Victoria, however, held the parchment with an expression of pure disbelief. Slowly, she lifted her gaze and peered deeply into Luke’s eyes—as if she could see straight into his soul.

  A strange sensation settled over him. He felt awkward under her scrutiny, yet for some reason, he couldn’t look away.

  Thankfully, Kayson stood up, breaking the tension. “Brother, I’ll hold onto this for you. But make no mistake—nothing will happen to you. I won’t allow it.”

  Sebastian rose to his feet as well. “He’s right, young master. As long as this old heart still beats, I will protect you to the best of my ability.”

  At their words, warmth bloomed in Luke’s chest. He shifted his gaze to Victoria, who seemed lost in thought, before turning back to his closest allies.

  "Of course, I trust you guys completely. But it never hurts to have a backup plan in case everything goes to shit," he said with a grin.

  "Speaking of shit, I am in dire need of a bath." Kayson lifted his robe and took a sniff before pulling a disgusted face.

  "I’ll join you. I haven’t felt this filthy since we rode out to Xiu Fortress," Luke replied.

  As he was about to leave the room with Kayson and Sebastian, Victoria suddenly stood and tapped his shoulder.

  "Do you have a moment?"

  Luke hesitated, a faint unease settling over him. Still, he told the other two to go ahead and closed the door behind them. He exhaled lightly before turning around—only to flinch.

  Victoria was close. Too close.

  He could feel the warmth of her breath on his skin, see the faint sheen of her lips in the sunlight filtering through the window. Her striking brown eyes, like polished gems, locked onto his with an almost unsettling curiosity.

  "H-How can I help you?" Luke stammered. His back was pressed against the door, leaving him with nowhere to retreat. For some reason, he felt incredibly nervous in front of her, though he couldn’t quite place why.

  "You are much kinder than I first thought," she said softly, her gaze never wavering. "But what I don’t understand is… what is your goal?"

  "My goal?" Luke blinked. The question caught him off guard. No one had ever asked him that before. Up until now, he had joined the Academy because of the system, before being thrown into war and political strife.

  Up until now, he hadn’t had time to consider such a thing.

  "Yes." Victoria raised a delicate finger and traced it slowly down his chest. "What is it that drives you, Luke Drakon? Tell me what you hope to achieve."

  The sensation sent an unexpected shiver through him, making him feel oddly uncomfortable. It was hard to think, especially when she stood so close, her shapely figure nearly brushing against him.

  "I want the wars to end," he answered.

  Victoria let out a soft, amused laugh. "That seems unlikely… Tell me what you really want."

  Luke frowned. He was telling the truth. If returning to Earth was impossible, then the next best thing would be making this world livable—one without endless bloodshed. That meant ending war and bringing peace to the continent.

  "You mean to tell me that you truly wish for the wars to end?" Victoria asked, her amusement fading into genuine surprise. She stepped back slightly, her brows furrowing.

  Even with such an expression, Luke thought she looked breathtaking.

  "If that’s your goal, then why join the Academy?" she questioned. "Why create something like gunpowder if your ultimate aim is to put an end to war?"

  She tilted her head slightly, studying him with open skepticism. "It seems completely counterproductive."

  At that, Luke let out a harsh laugh. “You think peace can be achieved by a scholar? This world only listens to the strong.” His voice carried an unmistakable edge of disdain.

  "So what? You plan to create peace by conquering the other countries?" Victoria asked, her frown deepening.

  "If it comes to that, yes," Luke replied without hesitation. "If all are united under one banner, then war will become unnecessary."

  Victoria scoffed. "You underestimate the greed of men, Luke Drakon. Where there is greed, there will always be war. Even if the Marxx Kingdom were to conquer the other lands, the King and his subjects would never be satisfied. They will always want more."

  "Then I will build my own empire."

  Luke stepped forward, closing the distance between them. The words had left his lips before he even had time to think them through, but there was no taking them back now. His heart pounded, yet he felt no regret. "I will rule as a Sovereign and usher in an era of peace."

  This time, it was Victoria who took a step back. For the first time in their conversation, she seemed truly caught off guard.

  Only then, in the silence that followed, did Luke fully grasp what he had just declared. If he didn’t know better, he might have thought the system was speaking on his behalf.

  Victoria lifted a hand to her mouth, her shoulders shaking before a soft giggle slipped past her lips. That giggle quickly grew into a laugh, rich and velvety, filling the room in a way that sent an unexpected shiver down Luke’s spine. It scratched an itch he never even realized he had.

  Her emerald eyes sparkled with amusement, and Luke wasn’t sure whether to laugh along or groan in frustration.

  "Sorry," she said between chuckles. "It’s just… sometimes you seem so hesitant, like a skittish little noble, and then, in moments like this, you speak with such conviction. I never imagined you’d say something so treasonous—and in the royal capital, no less."

  Luke cursed inwardly, only now realizing just how reckless he had been. Anyone within earshot could have overheard him. He really needed to be more careful in the future.

  Victoria’s laughter softened, and she gave him a knowing smile. "Well, it’s not like you don’t raise some good points," she murmured. Then, to his surprise, she leaned in—her body lightly brushing against his chest as she reached forward.

  The click of the door handle interrupted his thoughts.

  "Let’s chat more about this another time," she said, her voice teasing as she stepped back. Another soft chuckle escaped her lips before she turned and walked out, leaving Luke standing there, his thoughts tangled.

  [DING]

  [Potential subordinate detected.]

  [You may now view Victoria’s subordinate tier.]

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