The golden scales floated in the air, swaying up and down on both sides, as if sizing up the mysterious person approaching.

Aurelian looked at the golden scales before her, slowly pondering:

In the legends, there was once a goddess with a strong sense of justice. She descended to the mortal world, using scales to weigh right and wrong among humans.

But the conflicts of the world eventually affected her. Constant wars made the deity lose all hope in humanity. Only the Goddess of Justice still wanted to believe in humans.

However, disputes continued endlessly. Humans showed no reflection and continued their meaningless self-destruction. In the end, even the Goddess of Justice gave up hope and disappeared with her scales.

But in the myths, it was never mentioned that the scales of the Goddess of Justice ultimately remained in Endymion.

Now it seemed that Endymion was under the protection of the legendary Goddess of Justice.

Aurelian's mind suddenly became much clearer.

It appeared that the Mage Council worshipped the Goddess of Justice.

Aurelian carefully examined the golden scales for a while.

But apart from seeing some residual magic power on it, she couldn't feel any other aura at all.

Aurelian shook her head. Perhaps the object before her didn't hold much attraction for her.

Such divine artifacts, unless recognized by someone, no one could take them away.

She glanced at the scales one last time, then turned and slowly left the dark tunnel.

As Aurelian left, the golden scales gradually balanced themselves.

The light on them also gradually dimmed.

......

Time passed quickly. Standing there for so long made Aurelian tired, and she didn't care if her clothes would get dirty.

She sat down on a floating rock, following the line of her long dress, watching the fantastical clouds in the distance constantly changing shape.

Aurelian found herself surprisingly captivated by the sight.

Soon, the color of the sky gradually darkened, and the swirling nebula had unknowingly climbed onto the curtain of night. Only then did Aurelian realize that she had spent a full day here.

"...Hm?"

So she had been away from the palace with her teacher for a whole day?

Before this, she had never even thought about leaving the palace overnight.

Aurelian yawned, lying on the floating rock, her gaze fixed on the dreamlike sky, her eyes seeming to sparkle with starlight.

"The feeling of freedom."

"It's really nice."

......

Clavenna Mansion.

Outside the courtyard gate, those royal guards in iron armor were still waiting for the princess's return.

They had been waiting here for a day and a night.

As long as the princess hadn't returned, they wouldn't leave for a moment.

At this time, Lia was sitting at her desk, one hand propping up her face, pondering troubledly, her mind full of confusion and incomprehension.

Where on earth had Viktor gone?

It was one thing for him to disappear, but how could he take the princess away too?

How were they going to explain this to the royal family?

She really couldn't understand what Viktor was thinking.

Sitting beside her, Gwen patted her shoulder, sighed, and tried to persuade her:

"Lia, don't worry too much."

"Last time Viktor did something similar, the princess came back safe and sound."

"After all, he is the princess's teacher. I believe he knows what he's doing."

Hearing Gwen's words of comfort, Lia glanced at Gwen quizzically and asked in return:

"Didn't you used to hate Viktor the most?"

Her eyes stared at Gwen, who was caught off guard by the question. She turned her head away and said in a very soft voice.

"Well... at least he seems normal now."

So you think he was very abnormal before, don't you?

Lia sighed slightly.

Last night, when Henie learned that Viktor had disappeared with the princess, she seemed very worried.

Even when she went to help at the prop shop this morning, she seemed a bit distracted.

Seeing Henie like that, Lia understood a lot.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

There were quite a few girls who had feelings for that bastard Viktor.

"Gwen."

Thinking of this, Lia looked at Gwen again.

Strictly speaking, she had always felt that Gwen and Viktor were not at all suitable for each other.

After all, the two had always looked down on each other since childhood.

Gwen disliked Viktor's hypocrisy, while Viktor disliked Gwen's sense of justice.

But now, it seemed there was some change in their relationship.

However...

"You don't seem worried at all."

Lia sighed helplessly.

"Worried? What should I be worried about?"

Gwen was a bit confused. She didn't understand what Lia meant.

Lia didn't say anything more, only complaining silently in her heart:

Viktor had left with the princess for a day and a night, and they had been alone together for a whole night.

Who knew what might have happened between them?

Viktor was really bold, daring to take the princess away from the capital, and not returning for a whole day.

If he wasn't deeply trusted by Emperor Oberon, arrest warrants would probably have been sent to their doorstep by now.

Even more terrifyingly, she might have already been arrested and thrown in jail first.

Now it seemed that the old emperor almost completely acquiesced to the princess's contact with Viktor.

A knock on the door sounded, and Cecilia walked into the study.

She held a royal message in her hand, standing in front of Gwen, and began to read:

"Knight Commander Gwen, Chancellor Rachel has reported the whereabouts of Viktor and Her Highness the Princess."

"The Princess has been taken to the City of Magic by Viktor."

As a member of the Magic Council, Rachel naturally knew about the council's invitation to Viktor.

She had also received news from Haim that Viktor had arrived in Endymion with the princess.

However, recently, for some reason.

No matter how many messages he sent to Haim, he couldn't get any reply.

It was as if he was too busy doing something to spare any time.

Gwen said happily beside Lia:

"See, now you can relax."

But Lia still looked troubled, thinking.

Given Viktor's reputation, it was strange that no one dared to use this opportunity to cause trouble for the Clavenna family.

This didn't make sense.

Now it seemed that Viktor's actions could indeed be trusted. He had handled everything well.

Even when taking the princess away, he deliberately exposed all his actions to the royal family.

All this was to make the royal family completely trust him.

But there would always be people who wouldn't let this matter go, and this was something Viktor couldn't avoid.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The sound of iron cavalry hooves rang out outside the Clavenna mansion, in perfect unison.

Along with their horses stopping and neighing, a man in luxurious clothing slowly walked down from the carriage in the center of the iron cavalry.

Jace Resser.

Hearing the maid report the visitor, Lia narrowed her eyes.

Sure enough, how could there be no one coming to cause trouble at this time?

She wasn't sure if Jace Resser knew about Viktor taking the princess to the City of Mages.

But Lia was more inclined to think that Jace knew about this.

As a fellow merchant, Lia knew something about Jace.

His information network was very rich, and he must have come prepared.

Lia stood up and walked out of the mansion.

After all, that was the eldest son of the Resser family, and she needed to greet him personally.

Lia came out, smiling as she led Jace into the meeting room.

Lia and Gwen sat on one side, while Jace Resser sat alone opposite them.

"Long time no see, Miss Lia."

"You're getting more and more beautiful."

Lia interrupted Jace's flattery. She sat with her legs crossed, leaning back on the sofa, and said frankly:

"Let's be straightforward."

Jace Resser was a merchant, but so was Lia. She knew what Jace Resser wanted by coming at this time.

"If I'm not mistaken, those families who wanted to buy the blue potion a few days ago were prepared by you, right?"

"I won't be polite with you. After all, you know very well what grudge our two families have. Tell me, what do you want to talk about this time?"

Jace Resser responded with a smile.

"It's still about the sales rights of that magical mana potion. I just want to achieve a win-win situation with you, dear Miss Lia."

Lia laughed coldly, responding sharply:

"Merchants are driven by profit. I don't believe you would owe so much just to be a sucker and send money to our family."

Hearing her words, Jace laughed and said, "Ha ha." He stopped talking to Lia and turned his gaze to Gwen.

"This is Mr. Viktor's fiancée, right?"

Gwen didn't respond, just coldly looking at the person in front of her.

The aura emanating from Jace made Gwen feel very uncomfortable.

However, Jace Resser didn't shut up because of Gwen's attitude. He continued with a smile:

"If it was before, I would indeed have approached you with some prejudice and arrogance. I can admit that."

"But now it's completely different, Miss Lia."

Jace smiled very brightly.

"You might become royal relatives."

Lia's face darkened slightly.

So this was what Jace Resser was waiting for.

But she was also prepared and said calmly:

"You mean the princess? Then Mr. Jace should have known earlier."

"My brother, as Her Highness's teacher, merely took the princess to the City of Magic to study magic. His Majesty is aware of this."

"Moreover, Viktor has a fiancée."

She smiled slightly, her smile seeming somewhat dangerous.

As if indicating something, Gwen beside her gave Jace Resser a cold glare.

"Public opinion won't affect Viktor, Mr. Jace. He won't be swayed by public opinion, and neither will the royal family."

"If you want to use the fact that the princess and Viktor have been away for a day without returning as a reason, then I want to ask you."

Lia's aggressive words reached Jace's ears, making him frown slightly.

"Have you never had a teacher? Or did your teacher also admire your backside?"

Her words were very vicious, enough to make someone flush with anger and shame.

Although Lia's words were very sharp, Jace just looked at her calmly, chuckled lightly, and said slowly as if reminding her:

"Miss Lia, I never mentioned the princess. I just wanted to tell you."

"The Crown Prince, to this day, remains unmarried."