Callista opened the door to the Headmaster's Office and found Regan flipping through papers. He glanced up at her.

"Sit down. I have something to discuss with you," he said, motioning to the couch. She closed the double doors behind her before silently taking a seat.

"Why did you call me here?" she asked, her gaze fixed on him.

"I heard you fought with Viktor this afternoon," Regan replied, sitting on his desk.

Callista snorted. "Yes, what about it?"

"You say that as if you didn’t just do something wrong," he said, squinting at her.

She rolled her eyes. "He started it. He insulted this Empire’s Princess and questioned her very existence. I’d already reached my limit!" she exclaimed.

Regan sighed. "I understand your reason, Callista, but someone has already reported the incident to the Emperor, and he’s furious beyond words. I’ve dismissed Viktor and am waiting for Larry to return, but the Emperor won’t stay idle—and neither will Viktor."

Callista raised a brow. "Your point is…?"

"My point is that the Emperor is likely to punish not only Viktor but also the entire faculty for allowing something like this to happen to his precious daughter!" Regan groaned in frustration.

"This is all your fault. You’re the root of it all," he grumbled, eyeing her.

Callista’s lips twitched into an annoying smirk. "What can I say? Trouble likes sticking to me," she shrugged.

"And you’re proud of that?" he glared.

"But what do you mean by Viktor not sitting still?" she asked, watching as Regan sighed again.

"I’ve known Viktor since I took over managing this school. His pride won’t let him sit idle, especially after being humiliated in front of his class."

"Isn’t that his fault?" Callista remarked. "His mindset is complicated, even if his reasoning is intelligent. Still, he’s a little crazy."

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Yes, but I’m sure he’ll try something against you or Anastasia, which is why I’ve locked him in the Pedagogue Hall," Regan explained.

Callista recalled the earlier events, noting how Viktor had glared at Anastasia with hatred before shifting his ire toward her.

"Is that all?" she asked, standing up.

"Are you not even bothered by this?" Regan questioned, making her brow furrow.

"I’m not. I could deal with him in a snap, but it would be a waste of time," she replied.

"But aren’t you friends with Anastasia?"

Callista eyed him strangely. "I only stick around her because she’s always with Ignis," she said, walking out. Regan didn’t stop her, only sighing as she left.

That child… is lonely, just as you said. What am I supposed to do with her, Master Lea? Regan thought helplessly.

When the double doors closed behind her, she gazed out the window and murmured, Wendy.

A red butterfly appeared beside her, its wings fluttering. She smiled and extended a finger, letting Wendy rest on it. "Can you handle it for me?" she asked. The butterfly’s wings shimmered before it disappeared in a cloud of red dust.

---

Duke Alexander stirred awake as the bed dipped under another’s weight. His thick lashes fluttered open, and he saw someone sitting there, half-awake, the lights still on.

"What the—!" Alexander shot up. "Allister? What are you doing here?"

His brother smirked, swirling wine in a glass.

"Did I wake you?"

"How did you even get in here?!"

"Your butler welcomed me," Allister said, as though proud of himself.

"What? I—Whatever! I’m in the middle of sleeping!" Alexander exclaimed, exasperated.

"Oh, my. Don’t be angry, dear brother. You know you’re the only one who I can talk to," Allister teased, watching Alexander groan and lean against the headboard.

"Fine," Alexander grumbled. "What do you want?"

"Do you remember Sir Viktor?" Allister asked, sipping his wine.

"The Swordsmanship Professor at Lumin Academy? Didn’t he retire and move to his manor? I heard he spends his days buying women from pleasure houses and marrying them," Alexander replied, confused.

"Exactly," Allister smirked. "You know how he always spouts nonsense about women being useless?"

"What are you getting at? Did Viktor do something to make you angry?"

"He was assigned as a substitute professor at the Academy because his son’s wife was giving birth," Allister explained, his voice sharpening. "And he dared to question my daughter’s title as Princess."

Alexander watched his brother’s anger boil over, the wine glass shattering as Allister hurled it against the wall.

"Calm down, Allister," Alexander said firmly.

Allister’s breathing hitched under his brother’s warning glare. "I’m sorry," he muttered, forcing himself to calm down.

Alexander nodded in satisfaction. "We’ll deal with him, but calmly. We don’t need rash decisions."

"How about we summon him from the Academy, punish him, and check on Anastasia while we’re there?" Alexander suggested.

"Okay, I like that idea," Allister nodded, slowly regaining his composure.

---

In the Pedagogue Hall, Viktor anxiously bit his nails, dreading the Emperor’s wrath. "I can’t end like this… I can’t end like this," he muttered, his panic escalating.

"Do you want to live?"

The chilling voice made him whirl around. A man stood there, holding an elegant cane.

"Who… who are you?! How did you get in here?!" Viktor stammered, backing away.

"You want to get rid of the

Princess, don’t you?" the man smiled at him.

Viktor froze, his eyes widening. He was blinded by the desperation to survive, he was willing to take the risk to trust someone he had just met.

"Yes… yes!" Viktor nodded his head repeatedly.

Viktor dropped to his knees "I will do anything as long as you can help me!" he begged.

And that bitch... that bitch will pay! Viktor thought as he began laughing.

A mysterious glint made its way to the man's eyes "Then I may have something to help you."