The royal carriage, drawn by six four-winged white horses, glided slowly down the street. Atop the carriage, a golden eagle perched with wings spread, exuding an aura of majesty. Intricate gilded patterns adorned the carriage's sides, while a curtain of lustrous pearls hung from above, shrouding the interior in mystery and nobility.

Charles lifted a hand to pull back the curtain, peeking out eagerly, but he was quickly nudged back by a gentle jade hand.

Charles shot an annoyed glance at Leo. “Leo, I just wanted a quick look. This is my first time leaving the imperial capital.”

Leo let go of his hand, tousling Charles's hair with a smile. “Master Charles, don’t you think we’re a bit too high-profile? It’s dangerous to stick your head out.”

Charles laughed and let the curtain drop. “Don’t worry, Leo. I’m not about to meet my end on a simple journey.”

He tilted his head, resting it on Leo’s shoulder. His uncle rarely allowed him to be this high-profile, and with Leo as his escort, Charles’s safety was assured.

The coachman, a seventh-order Golden Eagle Knight, held the reins at the front. Even if there were a hundred guards, none could match the skill Leo possessed.

Leo would be Charles’s sole attendant, accompanying him to Violet Academy to manage his daily needs. As a legitimate son of the blue-blooded West family, Charles was not required to stay in the dormitories with other freshmen. Instead, the West family’s longstanding partnership with Violet Academy granted each of their heirs a private residence on campus.

However, rules were strict—servants were confined to the residence, and if found elsewhere, they would be dealt with harshly by academy enforcers. This policy ensured no undue influence disrupted students’ lives.

Charles had feared Leo might not want to join him, but to his surprise, Leo had smiled broadly and brought out his pre-packed luggage.

“Leo, you’ve been to the academy before, right? What’s it like?” Charles asked, his curiosity piqued.

Leo’s gaze turned nostalgic before he replied with a sigh, “Overall, it’s not so bad. I had three companions back then…”

----------------------------------------

“Master Charles, we’ve arrived at Violet Academy!”

Just as Charles lay comfortably on Leo’s lap, listening to his stories, the coachman opened the door and respectfully announced their arrival.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“So soon?” Charles sat up reluctantly and stepped out of the carriage.

A row of opulent carriages lined the entrance, and young men and women in fine clothes gathered in small groups, chatting with excitement.

Before them, two massive trees stood, their branches interlaced to spell out “Violet Academy.” Iron fences extended endlessly on either side, and beyond, grand castle structures dotted the landscape. Faint sounds of explosions echoed from the distance.

Even Charles, who had grown up surrounded by luxury, was impressed by the academy's vastness.

“Look, it’s the West family’s Golden Eagle carriage!”

“Ha, don’t get too excited—just half an hour ago, the North Princess’s nine-lion carriage arrived!”

“Miss Wilton was here yesterday. I’ve seen more blue-blooded nobles this week than in my entire life!”

“It’s truly the Violet Academy!”

Charles expected the nobles’ chatter and stepped from the carriage calmly, pulling on his white gloves with poise. Leo offered his hand, helping him down with elegance.

Although she was dressed in a maid’s uniform, Leo’s grace was unmistakable—her demeanor rivaled that of any noble lady present.

“Oh my! Such a beautiful maid—is she from a blue-blooded family?”

“Mom, I want a maid like that!”

“You? Maybe in your next life!”

Charles gave a slight nod to the coachman, who tipped his hat and drove away. While others watched him, Charles took the opportunity to observe them, noting that few among the young nobles had achieved the first sequence after enlightenment.

With this level of competition, it was unsurprising that someone like Leia had secured second place last semester. Charles couldn’t help but feel puzzled; in his eyes, his sister Fiona possessed far more talent and resilience, yet she’d only ranked third?

Perhaps the academy’s true elite were yet to arrive… or perhaps it wasn’t as impressive as he’d thought.

Charles greeted everyone he encountered with refined politeness. Each noble family had its unique etiquette, and he had mastered them all. His gestures, however, confused some onlookers; to the untrained eye, his movements seemed exaggerated, sparking a mix of jealousy and awe.

But then Charles noticed something odd: a group of young men and women with golden eagle badges were kneeling near the entrance, paying him homage.

These were members of the West family’s branch families, following the tradition of greeting the Duke’s heirs on one knee.

Beyond the kneeling crowd, however, stood another group also wearing golden eagle badges. They looked at him with mixed expressions—some appeared resentful, others uneasy, and a few even held an edge of defiance.

Counting quickly, Charles realized there were more standing than kneeling. A smirk played at his lips. It seemed his siblings had carved out their own factions within the academy.

But didn’t these branch members worry they might be aligning with the wrong side?

He made a mental note of their faces and flashed a charming smile, his sapphire eyes gleaming in the sunlight as his black bangs swept across his brow. Placing his hand over the golden eagle badge on his chest, he acknowledged them with a gracious nod.

Then, as if sensing Charles’s thoughts, Leo stepped forward and helped each kneeling family member up.

“Let’s go,” Charles said, taking Leo’s hand and stepping into the Violet Academy.

Not long after he entered, a carriage bearing a crown insignia rolled to a stop at the gates of the academy. The nobles gasped in surprise as it proceeded directly through the gates, bypassing the crowd entirely.