In a vast chamber deep within the administrative sector of Vesillian Academy, a tense meeting was taking place. The most esteemed professors of the academy sat around a long table, their expressions hardened with doubt and concern

"Are we really going to let the students go there?" A middle-aged professor spoke up, his voice filled with skepticism "This invitation is far too good to be trusted"

"Exactly!" Another nodded in agreement "The excuse of ‘strengthening ties between the two continents’ sounds noble, but in reality, it’s far too naive. Do any of you actually believe it?"

A female professor crossed her arms, her gaze sharp

"I propose we decline the invitation. While there are no clear signs of danger, history has shown that anything too good to be true often comes with a price"

Her words were like a spark, igniting a heated debate. Voices overlapped as professors began arguing - some agreeing, others opposing. The room quickly descended into chaos

Amid the escalating tension, a deep, commanding voice cut through the noise

"Enough"

Silence fell instantly. All eyes turned toward the man seated at the head of the table

Murek Bovet, the most influential figures in the academy’s council, calmly set his pen down on the table. His sharp gaze swept across the room before he spoke in a measured tone

"I understand your concerns. Indeed, we have no clear explanation as to why the Calyst Royal Family is being so generous toward us." He paused for a moment, his expression thoughtful

"However, on the other hand, we also have no evidence that they intend to do us harm"

Murek’s gaze moved across the room, his voice carrying a sharper edge

"Calystria, ever since the Ragnarok Catastrophe, has maintained a composed and methodical approach - steadily rebuilding and strengthening itself. We all understand how they managed to rise from the ashes and become the most dominant continent in the world-"

He stopped briefly before continuing, his tone heavier

"The forces that hold power in Calystria… do not need to resort to petty schemes against us"

A subtle shift passed through the room. No one could argue against that fact; they all understood the vast difference in power between the two sides

"In fact, if we outright reject their invitation without a justifiable reason, that would be the true foolish act"

A few professors exchanged glances, hesitation creeping into their expressions. Seeing this, Murek pressed further

"Besides, the Royal Family has already agreed to let a Nova accompany our students on this trip. We are not sending them off unprotected"

A heavy silence settled over the room. No one could find a strong enough reason to object anymore

Murek Bovet scanned the faces before him one last time, then firmly declared

"The field trip will proceed as planned"

—

After finishing his class, Kaiser sat back, relaxing as he reread a book related to the lesson

A familiar voice called out from beside him

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"Take a walk with me"

Kaiser looked up to see Amelia standing with her arms crossed, tilting her head slightly as she gazed down at him with expectant eyes

He let out a small chuckle, closing the book in his hands

"Reason?"

Amelia shrugged, her tone casual, as if the answer was obvious

"Just felt like going outside. Will you come with me?"

Kaiser pretended to think deeply, as if weighing an important decision "Hmmm… let's see—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Amelia grabbed his sleeve, half urging, half commanding

"Come on, stop stalling"

Kaiser laughed, standing up

"Alright, alright. You’re pretty determined, huh?"

"Of course." Amelia smirked, crossing her arms confidently

"Who would ever turn down a walk with me?"

Kaiser glanced at her, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, who knows"

Without waiting another second, Amelia turned on her heel and started walking ahead, prompting Kaiser to quickly follow

—

Although they had been here many times before, every time they were free to stroll outside the academy, both of them felt a lot more at ease. The main street was bustling with colorful stalls, the smell of freshly baked bread mingling with the fragrance of flowers from the shops along the road. The locals chatted lively, and the sound of children laughing filled the air, making the atmosphere even more vibrant

Under the gentle sunlight, Amelia walked with a relaxed demeanor, but her eyes were still carefully observing everything around her. She wasn’t the type to often show her delight, but Kaiser knew well - she enjoyed places like this. The crowded streets but not suffocating, the modest stalls that weren’t too extravagant... They made her feel more at ease than the lavish parties of the aristocracy

Stopping in front of a grilled skewer stall, Kaiser bought two skewers and naturally handed one to Amelia without asking first. She took it, took a small bite, and chewed slowly

"Not bad" she murmured

Kaiser raised an eyebrow

"You seem quite pleased"

Amelia just smiled lightly, not responding

They continued to stroll, until Amelia suddenly stopped in front of a small jewelry shop by the road

Without saying a word, she pushed the door open and walked in, and Kaiser had no choice but to follow

Inside the shop, the light reflected off precious stones and metals, sparkling around them. But instead of eyeing the luxurious jewelry, Amelia stopped in front of a display of simpler designs - small silver bracelets and pendants with intricate engravings

She picked up a silver bracelet with an embossed floral pattern and gently traced her fingers along the lines

"Do you like this one?" Kaiser asked, folding his arms and leaning against the display case nearby

Amelia nodded, her gaze still fixed on the item

"Yeah. It's simple, understated, not too flashy"

Kaiser raised an eyebrow

"Interesting choice. I remember when you were younger, you liked more complex things"

Amelia chuckled softly

"Who hasn’t gone through a phase of wanting to show off?" She brought the bracelet to the counter, paid, and then turned to Kaiser.

"Let’s go"

The two of them left the store together

Just as they stepped out, a group of young aristocrats appeared in front of them

Although they weren’t dressed in overly extravagant clothes, their aura still radiated wealth and power. One of them, seemingly the leader, stepped forward with a polite smile

"Princess Amelia, what a coincidence to run into you here"

Immediately, Amelia's expression turned cold. The comfort in her eyes disappeared, replaced by the usual indifference she showed when facing such situations

She didn’t respond, only quickly took a step forward, grabbing Kaiser’s sleeve and pulling him through them without offering an explanation

The sudden action left the group of aristocrats frozen in place, looking both surprised and awkward

Once they had left the central area, Amelia finally released Kaiser’s sleeve. She didn’t say anything, only slowed her pace, her gaze distant

"Who were they?" Kaiser asked, his voice not overly curious but still with a hint of concern

Amelia sighed

"Just people always trying to connect with the royal family for their own benefit"

Kaiser wasn’t surprised. This wasn’t the first time Amelia had been bothered like this, but what caught his attention more was how she reacted—she chose to walk away rather than face them

He glanced at Amelia, noticing her shoulders were slightly tense, her eyes forward but with a hint of emptiness

"I don’t need them" Amelia murmured, almost as if talking to herself

Kaiser stayed silent

If it had been before, he might have dismissed it as just a temporary complaint. But now, it carried a deeper meaning

Suddenly, Kaiser remembered his plans for the evening

"I am going to stargaze with Mary tonight"

Amelia hesitated for a moment but quickly regained her composure

"Why are you telling me that?"

"Do you want to come with us?"

"Stargazing?"

"Yeah. No need to say anything, just sit quietly and look at the sky. No politics, no responsibilities. Just the stars"

Amelia stared at him for a moment, then the corners of her lips curved slightly

"...No, you and Mary go ahead" She turned her face away "I don’t want to ruin the atmosphere for you two"

"You’re overthinking it" Kaiser said

Amelia didn’t reply, only continued walking, a feeling she couldn’t quite express stirring inside her

They silently made their way back to the academy