"Rest well, Your Highness. If you require anything, please do not hesitate to summon me."

With a graceful bow, Miyuki Kazane, a maid adorned with brown eyes and her mustard-yellow hair elegantly fashioned into a low side tail, took her leave.

Charlotte took note of Miyuki's youthful appearance amidst the palace staff, recognizing her as the youngest maid in attendance. Ingrid shared that despite Miyuki appearing only slightly older than Charlotte by a year or so, Miyuki had already served the palace for a considerable duration, and as of today was chosen as Charlotte's personal maid.

Charlotte collapsed onto her bed, her gaze fixated on the ceiling as her mind drifted on.

The room sprawled expansively, its grandeur accentuated by the contrast of stark white and opulent gold hues. Every intricate detail gleamed beneath the resplendent glow of enormous chandeliers, casting a luminous ambiance. It stood in stark contrast to the dark and cramped confines of her room in her previous world.

Upon her arrival, a sumptuous bath awaited her, accompanied by a meticulously prepared change of attire.

Adorned in a flowing white muslin dress that cascaded gracefully to the floor, Charlotte found herself seated at the dinner table, though her appetite was notably absent.

By then, Ingrid had departed, leaving Charlotte with the simple directive to rest, assuring her of a comprehensive briefing on the events to come the following day. Meanwhile, Kuro was nowhere to be seen.

The maids' respectful and welcoming demeanor towards Charlotte felt oddly out of place, given her sudden emergence and lack of inherent connection to the Golden Royalty. Despite this, they made genuine efforts to engage her in small, amiable conversations, their gestures of hospitality masking an underlying sense of curiosity and intrigue.

With a languid grace, Charlotte raised her hand towards the ceiling, allowing it to hover before her eyes as she drew in a long, deep breath.

"Too bright," she murmured softly, the overwhelming radiance of her surroundings momentarily eclipsing her senses.

She rose from the bed, making her way towards the switch. With a decisive flick, she extinguished the light, casting a glance forward into the dimness.

Better.

This familiar darkness brought Charlotte a semblance of comfort, however slight.

Charlotte glanced at the clock. It was past 1 am, yet sleep eluded her entirely.

Draping the white shawl over her shoulders, Charlotte embraced its soft warmth, and opened the arched glass door to the balcony, welcoming the eager embrace of the chilly breeze. Her bare feet met the cool surface as she stepped outside, immersing herself in the serenity of the night.

The moon hung in its celestial glory, casting a serene radiance upon the world below. Standing at the vast expanse of the balcony's edge, Charlotte gazed upward, captivated by the moon's pristine and elegant presence. Its reflection shimmered within her clear, tranquil eyes, offering a moment of respite amidst the remnants of the day's trials. In the tranquil embrace of the night, a sense of genuine peace enveloped her, soothing her weary soul.

Her hair danced in the gentle caress of the wind as she softly shut her eyes. Leaning against the balcony rail, her hands secured the shawl in its place as it fluttered in the air.

Beneath the balcony sprawled a garden adorned with countless known and unknown flowers, their vibrant hues illuminated by the moon's gentle glow. With each passing moment, they exhaled a refreshing breath that ascended towards the balcony, infusing the air with an invigorating essence.

Lost in a moment of contemplation, her gaze turned vacant, fixated on her hand as she absentmindedly flexed it before her eyes.

Blinking hard as if to dispel the fog in her mind, a sudden recollection surged within her—she possessed newfound powers, and the extent and boundaries of these powers remained a mystery even to herself.

"When you intend to employ your magic on a particular target, it's advisable to reduce the risk by directing your focus and pointing your hand toward that object," the Emperor advise came to her mind, "otherwise, you may inadvertently affect the entire vicinity."

"Point with your hand," Charlotte murmured softly to herself, her gaze distant yet determined. With a slight turn, her hand reached forth, fingers extending as she focused her concentration. She paused, deliberating, dismissing the idea of summoning flames since there was no suitable object on the balcony. Her thoughts flitted to the garden below, yet attempting there felt too perilous.

Facing those friendly maids and servants, their tears turning to blood, due to her accidentally torching up the entire garden would certainly make for an unforgettable introduction.

"If not fire, then..." Charlotte murmured, her eyes closed in deep concentration. With her focus honed to a keen edge, she felt a surge of energy rippling through her veins, electrifying her entire being. Opening her eyes, she released the surge of her power.

The air crackled with imminent power as from Charlotte's palm surged forth an unstoppable force. A deafening *KRAAACK!* reverberated through the air, accompanied by the sharp and chilly *SWOOOOSHH* of the wind. With a fierce thrust, the air split with an ominous *SCHHHHIING*, echoing sharply around her as her newfound abilities manifested with startling intensity.

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"....Oh wow.." Charlotte's voice resonated, though it sounded anything but impressed, for in truth, she wasn't.

With a sigh of annoyance, she realized that despite putting in more effort and concentration than she had this afternoon while summoning fire, the results were far from what she expected.

Instead of the controlled power she had hoped for, chaos had ensued. More than half of the balcony was now overtaken by an expansive, piercing creation of crystalline frost. Charlotte could only watch in dismay as her intended creation didn't turn out how she had envisioned. The icy tendrils had spread out with relentless determination, transforming the serene night into a frozen spectacle beyond her control.

It was as though a colossal chunk of the unyielding Antarctic glacier had been plucked and carelessly hurled upon the balcony.

"Wait, does Antarctica even exist here?....well anyways," she muttered, "what am I supposed to do with this mess?"

Charlotte tilted her head as she crossed her arms.

The dazzling ice crystals bore the mesmerizing dual-toned blue glint of her own eyes. It was an enthralling spectacle, one that would have ensnared her gaze for an indefinite span if not for the massive and menacing size of it.

Charlotte couldn't afford to be entranced by the spectacle before her, not when she needed to find a solution to the predicament she inadvertently created.

Perhaps, she could retract these powers?

With a tentative gesture, she extended her hand, lost in contemplation when a low voice resonated in the air.

"Your highness?"

Charlotte snapped out of her reverie and pivoted towards the voice, her hand instinctively securing her shawl in place as it fluttered in the wind.

There he stood, the source of the voice, down in the garden among the flowers, his dark hair and cape billowing in the wind. His attire, a dark grey knight's ensemble, stood out starkly against the vibrant blooms surrounding him.

"Kuro-san..."

Kuro gazed up at Charlotte, his understanding of the situation evident without any need for explanation.

"May I come up there, your highness?" he asked respectfully.

Charlotte nodded, stepping back a little to make room.

With a graceful leap, Kuro ascended to the balcony, his landing as effortless and light as a feather.

"Can everyone do that here?" Charlotte's vague question prompted Kuro to regard her with a slightly confused eyes.

"Jumping up like there's no gravity."

"...Ah, that...it requires practice and experience, Your Highness. And well.." Kuro glanced at the magnificent mess of crystalline frost, "Shall I get rid of that?"

"I'm sorry about that. I was attempting to undo it myself by retracting the power. Is that possible?"

"It is. Would you like to try?"

"In that case..." Charlotte extended her hand once more, her eyes narrowing in concentration.

Drawing a deep breath, she muttered to herself, "Concentrate, focus, Ch-!"

*SCHHHHING!!* *CRAACKK!!*

Before Kuro could step forward to intervene, the damage was already done.

"...Oh wow, really?" Charlotte mumbled to herself with a sigh, then glanced at Kuro.

Right now, she stood there, with her right hand outstretched and frozen. It looked like she was wearing an ice glove.

Fortunately, the ice on the balcony had vanished, but unfortunately, Charlotte's hand up to her upper arm remained frozen.

"Um... what shall I do?" she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Charlotte's calm voice snapped Kuro from his stupor, prompting him to hurriedly step forward, offering an apology. Despite her composed demeanor, Kuro realized he had forgotten that the frozen hand must be causing her immense pain.

Holding both hands aloft, Kuro channeled a melting power onto Charlotte's clenched fist, effortlessly performing his magic. The ice began to thaw under his gentle touch, gradually releasing Charlotte from its icy grip.

It happened in a split second, almost too fast for Kuro to register.

As Charlotte concentrated, the aura of power surrounding her remained calm, but just as she was about to utter her name, her focus shattered, and the power wavered.

The ice on the balcony surged menacingly towards Charlotte, its blade-like spikes glinting ominously and venomously. But in a swift reaction, Charlotte clenched her hand, dispersing the spikes but inadvertently freezing her own hand in the process.

Could she have already known how to disperse it?....No, it couldn't have been, considering it had only been less than half a day since she had come into her powers. It was purely an instinctual reaction, Kuro thought.

If Charlotte hadn't dispersed the ice then....

Unaware of the peril narrowly averted, Charlotte twisted and flexed her hand, oblivious to the fact that her instinctive clenching of her hand had spared her from imminent danger.

Kuro glanced at Charlotte contemplating whether to inquire about the source of her disrupted focus. However, she spoke before he could voice his curiosity.

"My apologies for the disturbance."

"No need to apologize, Your Highness. But if I may ask..."

"Yes?"

"..Nevermind, it's nothing."

Charlotte didn't delve further and simply bowed, thanking Kuro for his help.

"Good night then, Kuro-San."

"The scar appears to be quite profound," Kuro remarked, voicing a different train of thought.

Their words collided in the air simultaneously, creating a momentary pause as they both realized they had spoken at the same time.

Kuro's gaze briefly flickered to Charlotte's left arm.

Had he seen it while melting the ice? Charlotte had forgotten about that scar.

"I got it playing around when I was young," Charlotte answered with nonchalance, her tone casual and practiced. Without giving it a second thought, she repeated the same response she had offered to anyone who happened to glimpse the scar by chance.

"It will fade away with time," Kuro muttered softly.

Kuro had caught a glimpse of the scar while he was in the garden below the balcony. As Charlotte had turned to face him upon hearing his call, the scar briefly came into view before being concealed once more by her fluttering shawl.

The jagged, deep scar that marred the inner side of her left upper arm was an unmistakable mark of profound pain.

"I wonder. It has been quite a long time, yet this scar has yet to lighten," Charlotte spoke without much concern.

'Just like the other ones,' she thought to herself.

"My healing process has always been slower than what's normal, after all," Charlotte mumbled quietly to herself, her words barely audible. However, they didn't escape Kuro's sharp hearing.

"The kin of Royalties possess extraordinary power, capable of enduring injuries that would swiftly claim the life of a simple human being. No matter how deep the wound, the scars never remain," Kuro remarked calmly, his tone tinged with confidence. After all, he was the one who had always stood beside the Emperor, witnessing firsthand how Theodore's deepest of wounds healed without leaving a trace of a scar.

"I'm not," Charlotte interjected calmly.

"Pardon?"

"I'm not from the Royalty. I am a simple human being," Charlotte clarified, her gaze steady as she met Kuro's eyes, devoid of any discernible emotion.

It had been a long time since he had encountered someone with such calm and inscrutable eyes, like the Emperor he served and....her.

To Kuro, Charlotte seemed anything but a simple human being.

"Now that you've entered this realm and bear the power of the Golden Royalty, you stand among them," Kuro stated with solemnity, placing his hand over his chest as he bestowed upon her a knightly bow. "It's late; you should rest, Your Highness. Good night."

Charlotte's gaze lingered on Kuro for a fleeting moment, before she bid him farewell and retreated into her room.

It had indeed been a long day.