'Merias Goldwyn' Amelia immediately recognized the person standing before her

'The daughter of Goldwyn family' Kaiser recalled a few rumors associated with this person.

"So? May I sit here?" Merias asked again, her bright eyes sparkling with a radiant yet subtly provocative smile

Amelia glanced at Kaiser, hoping he would say something, but he remained silent, showing no inclination to respond. Realizing she had to take charge, Amelia spoke up, her tone polite but distant

"To be honest, we're not really close. Why don't you sit somewhere else?"

Merias tilted her head, her smile unyielding "Oh, but it seems all the other seats are taken. This is the only empty table"

Amelia quickly glanced around the cafeteria, and just as she thought, plenty of empty tables were scattered throughout. She frowned, her voice turning colder

"At the very least, you could try to make your words sound believable"

Without waiting for any form of consent, Merias set her tray down on the table and sat with ease, as though this seat had been reserved just for her. Her relaxed demeanor and unwavering confidence only fueled Amelia's irritation further

"Honestly, Merias" Amelia said, trying to keep her emotions in check "This isn't the kind of place where anyone can just plop down. We were hoping for a quiet meal"

"Oh, but so was I" Merias replied, her tone light and even laced with a hint of humor

"Besides, I think a quiet meal is far more enjoyable with company around. Don't worry, I promise not to be a bother"

Amelia crossed her arms, her displeasure evident. She turned to Kaiser as if seeking an ally, but he merely sighed, took a sip of water, and stayed silent

"Listen, Merias" Amelia began, struggling to maintain her composure though her tone had lost its initial gentleness "We are not friends. In fact, I don't understand why you insist on inserting yourself into everything"

Merias tilted her head again, her smile as undaunted as ever

"Then let's start from here" she said, her tone light yet brimming with confidence

"I know you don't like me, Amelia. But hey, I'm not that bad. And for the record, I'm pretty good at making friends"

Amelia hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond to Merias's casual yet provocative attitude

Finally, Kaiser broke the tension, his voice low and succinct

"If she wants to sit here, let her sit. It's not a big deal"

Amelia whipped her head toward Kaiser, her eyes filled with frustration

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"Seriously? You're taking her side?"

Kaiser merely shrugged, his usual calm demeanor intact

"It's just a meal, Amelia."

Amelia let out a frustrated sigh, clearly displeased but unwilling to escalate the argument further in front of Merias. She turned her attention to her tray of food, annoyance evident in her movements, while Merias smiled as if she had just secured a small victory.

"Thank you, Kaiser" Merias said cheerfully, her tone brimming with satisfaction, as if entirely oblivious to the discontent etched on Amelia's face

"I promise I'll make sure this lunch is far from boring"

Amelia said nothing, taking a deep breath before shaking her head "I can't believe I'm agreeing to this"

"I'm thrilled to be sharing a meal with the two of you" Merias chimed in, her voice bright and confident "Even though we might already know each other's names, I suppose we haven't had a proper introduction. I'm Merias Goldwyn"

Kaiser glanced up, mildly surprised at her initiative

"I already know" he replied in his usual calm tone "Even though you're new to the academy, your reputation precedes you"

"Oh? And what have you heard about me?" Merias tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes "I hope it's nothing too terrible."

"How could I not know about the only daughter of the Goldwyn family?" Kaiser replied, meeting her gaze

"Especially since you're set to inherit your family's legacy with your possession of Special Mana"

"You flatter me" Merias said with a dismissive wave, though her smile remained. "I'm not as famous as you make me out to be. Besides, it's not every day I get to share a table with someone as extraordinary as yourself - someone who reached the Master level at just the age of 15"

Hearing the compliment, Kaiser has a small smile on his face

"You can call me Kaiser" He said gently

Noticing his expression, Amelia quickly interjected to introduce herself

"I'm Amelia Zephis. Just call me Amelia"

"It's an honor to meet the princess of this continent" Merias responded smoothly, her tone carrying just the right balance of respect and charm

"It's a pleasure to meet both of you" Merias said, her smile growing brighter

"I hope we can understand each other better in the future. After all, we're all students here at the academy. Perhaps going through challenges together here will make us a more cohesive team"

Amelia furrowed her brow, her eyes flashing with skepticism

"I don't think everyone here shares the same view as you, Merias. Not everyone wants to work in a team"

Merias simply shrugged, unaffected "Maybe so, but I believe that when the opportunity arises, we can all learn something from each other. I used to think I could do everything on my own, but the moments I've gained the most have been when I opened up to others"

She paused for a moment, then added softly "And I also believe we can learn a lot from one another. What about you, Kaiser? Have you ever felt that making friends could help you go further?"

Her question caused Kaiser to fall silent for a few seconds

"Maybe," he replied, his voice deep but no longer as cold as before "But I usually don't seek out friends. Relationships like that… they take time to build."

"Time, I have plenty of" Merias said, her eyes gleaming with determination. "So, we can start from somewhere. I'm very eager to understand you better, Kaiser"

Amelia couldn't stop herself from speaking up now

"I don't understand why you care so much about Kaiser. He's clearly not the type of person who likes to interact with strangers"

"That's exactly why I want to try" Merias turned to Amelia, her smile unwavering "I believe that the quiet ones are often the most interesting. They have depth and stories worth hearing. Kaiser, isn't that right?"

Kaiser raised an eyebrow, feeling as though he had been dragged into an unwanted conversation "Are you trying to flatter me?"

"No" Merias quickly replied "I'm just speaking the truth. You're the one who piqued my curiosity. I can't pass up the chance to learn more"

Amelia sighed, feeling like she had lost control of the situation

"Alright, Merias. If you really want to be friends with Kaiser, then go ahead. But I'd advise you to prepare yourself. He's not exactly the easiest person to get close to" She says

"Thanks for the warning" Merias responded, unfazed. "But I like challenges. And I believe Kaiser could be a great ally if we get to understand each other better"