How much time had passed since she received word that the surveillance from the Covenant of Dawn was intensifying? Elicia Valentine walked through the corridors of the Royal Academy, her mind drifting back to last night's report from her attendant. The warmth of Lucian's hand. Estavaul's words: "Don't carry this burden alone." Both still caught in her chest. (Today, I'll just get through it normally. That's all.) She told herself this and pushed open the door to the lecture building. ——In that instant, a group of younger female students in the hallway turned their gazes toward her all at once. Elicia tensed slightly. In the past, those eyes held fear. When they crossed paths in the corridor, they would part ways, bow their heads, and hold their breath until she passed——those were the eyes she knew. But now it was different. They whispered among themselves, yet their gazes never left her. Not fear, but curiosity. Eyes that appraised, yet held no hostility. When one of them made eye contact, she hurriedly looked away and leaned in to whisper to her companions. "...Was the princess always like that?" "But did you hear about what happened in the courtyard the other day? She helped that old gardener, Vincenzo." "Really? Her?" It wasn't intentional. They were genuinely speaking in hushed tones, but the corridor's acoustics carried their words to Elicia's ears. (Ah, this is a pattern that doesn't exist in the game...) The results of her actions to avoid the destruction ending were slowly taking shape like this. Relief and something else——a tension that whispered not to let her guard down——both existed in her chest simultaneously. The theory lecture on luminous arts lasted the entire morning. Luminous arts——the technique of drawing in "luminous particles," the microscopic particles of light that drift through the air, into one's body and converting and releasing them through will——required a minimum of three years of training to master. Today's lecture was on "flame-type control and heat quantity calculations." Elicia took notes diligently throughout. As game knowledge, she understood the mechanics of luminous arts, but the physical sensations of reality were different. The drop in body temperature when releasing luminous particles from her fingertips, the sensation of consciousness fading with overuse——these were things the game's numerical values had never expressed. The student sitting next to her quietly slid a piece of paper over. "...I think this calculation is wrong here," she whispered. This would never have happened before. Elicia nodded slightly. "Thank you," she whispered back. Her fingertips trembled a little as she took the paper. ＊ In the afternoon, she stepped into the silent courtyard. The "Silent Courtyard"——the rose garden at the center of the academy was bathed in gentle afternoon sunlight today as well. The roses were past their peak, but deep red and pale pink petals still swayed in the breeze. Sitting on a stone bench, Elicia reflected on what had happened moments before. (What was I thinking, as the villainess in the game?) The game's villainess Elicia Valentine had thought only of protecting her status and power. She would obstruct the heroine Alice, attempt to prevent the crown prince's engagement, and ultimately face destruction——that was the scenario. Now that she knew this scenario, why did the kindness of others shake her heart so much? She couldn't explain it well. "[cold]You've changed recently." A low, quiet voice. Elicia looked up. Lucian Castelnoix stood before her. Black royal attire, silver hair reflecting the afternoon light. His 185-centimeter frame cast a faint shadow before the stone arch. The royal crest earring on his right ear glimmered. Icy blue eyes gazed at her quietly. ——These eyes belonged to the person who had grasped her wrist at dusk yesterday, though one couldn't tell from his appearance. The Lucian before her now wore his usual emotionally restrained expression. Elicia stood up immediately. "[serious]...Your Highness the Crown Prince. Are you taking a walk?" "[cold]I was merely passing through. ——Answer me. Do you have some purpose?" A probing question. Straightforward, typical of Lucian's direct approach. Elicia hesitated slightly. Should she speak honestly, or answer with royal propriety? But somehow, deceiving him felt wrong. "[serious]...I simply wish to correct my own mistakes. That is all." Lucian fell silent for a moment. He studied Elicia's eyes as if measuring something. Then, from deeper along the rose path, another figure appeared. Chestnut-colored short hair, warm amber eyes. It was Estavaul Valentine. The family crest tattoo on his left hand was barely visible on his rolled-up sleeve. Estavaul looked at both Lucian and Elicia, then smiled gently. "[gentle]Both brother and sister in the same place. ——We were assigned to investigate royal historical documents in the library tower today. Shall we do it together?" Lucian's eyebrows moved slightly. A subtle movement——not showing emotion, yet not completely indifferent either. Elicia felt the situation of the three of them walking together toward the library tower seemed somehow unreal. ＊ The library tower was a four-story stone structure built on the north side of the Royal Academy. It held approximately forty thousand volumes. The top floor had a special section accessible only to the academy director, who held the key to the underground forbidden archives. The three settled in the historical documents room on the second floor. Afternoon light streaming through the windows softly illuminated the dusty bookshelves. The scent of old parchment. A unique air mixing ink and the pressed leaves of long-dried flowers. The assignment was "The Evolution of Luminous Arts Management During the Five Hundred Years Following the Founding of the Fiorenza Kingdom." The three each took up historical documents and worked in silence for a while. The silence was awkward, but strangely not unpleasant. Estavaul spoke as he turned pages. "[gentle]It's surprising how much time passed between the Frost Moon Campaign and the establishment of the Luminous Arts Management Edict. Nearly three years." The Frost Moon Campaign——a three-year war one hundred twenty years ago when the Verzalia Duchy invaded the northern regions of Fiorenza. The royal family's luminous arts proved decisive in that campaign, and the ideology that "luminous arts should be managed by the royal family" became established. "[serious]It took time to negotiate with the Nobility Assembly. According to the records from that period, fourteen sessions of deliberation were necessary before three neutral-faction dukedoms shifted to conditional approval." The words had slipped out naturally. A beat of silence fell. Estavaul looked at her with a slightly surprised expression. Lucian's hand stopped on the page. "[cold]...Why are you so well-informed about this?" A low, quiet question. But within that quietness, something was taut. Lucian's blue eyes slowly turned toward Elicia. "It's unusual for a princess to have read the assembly records in such detail. That content isn't part of the standard Royal Academy curriculum." Something cold spread through Elicia's chest. (I made a mistake. I answered without thinking deeply enough.) Information that existed in her mind as game knowledge had naturally slipped from her lips. But she had no explanation for why she would know it——not in her current situation. "[serious]...I have been studying it personally of late. I thought understanding the background of the Luminous Arts Management Edict was important for comprehending the current political situation." Her words came slightly faster. She recognized it as her habit when defending herself. Lucian didn't respond. He simply continued to look at Elicia. His gaze was probing, yet not condemning——as if trying to confirm something. Elicia's hand almost reached for her necklace, but she stopped it. (I mustn't show my nervous habit of touching it.) Estavaul gently spoke up. "[gentle]Sister has always been an avid reader since childhood." Whether it was a cover or genuine——either way, that single statement softened the pressure of Lucian's gaze somewhat. Lucian returned his attention to the documents. "Let's continue," he said simply, turning the page. Elicia exhaled quietly. She hadn't completely deceived him. Lucian's suspicion hadn't disappeared——she understood that. But for now, he didn't press further. Outside the window, a bird cried out and flew away. ＊ As the investigation continued, the atmosphere among the three gradually shifted. The awkwardness didn't completely vanish. But working on the same task together, words naturally increased. Estavaul voiced questions, Lucian answered matter-of-factly, and Elicia indicated where documents were located——this repetition created a small current among the three. At one point, Estavaul looked up and gazed at Elicia. She was spreading out an old document, comparing two historical records side by side. Light from the window caught her jet-black wavy hair. Just one lock on the left side was silver-white, distinctly different from the rest. Estavaul watched her profile for a moment. (She looks like she's fighting something alone.) He had felt this way in the courtyard the other day as well——but today especially, he felt it. She maintained her posture as a princess, yet inside, she seemed desperately trying to organize something. That was the kind of profile he saw. "[gentle]Sister." Elicia looked up. "[gentle]...Are you carrying something alone?" A quiet question. Not criticism. Not concern either——just the feeling of having been observed. Elicia froze slightly. She tried to say something, but the words wouldn't come. It would be easy to answer "I'm fine." But doing so felt like painting over something precious with a lie, so she couldn't say it. Instead, she smiled a little. It might not have been perfect, but it was a genuine smile. "[serious]...You've seen through me." Estavaul returned a smile that warmed the chest. Lucian kept his gaze on the documents and said nothing. But——his hand, turning pages, remained still for a while. ＊ At dusk, Elicia returned to the Chamber of Dawn. The east wing, third floor of Celestia Palace——her private quarters. The night view of the royal capital Reveria spread beyond the window. Luminous lamps——lighting fixtures that sealed in the light of luminous particles——began to glow throughout the city, and from a distance, it looked as if stars had been scattered across the ground. Elicia gazed at that light while organizing today's events in her mind. Lucian's suspicion. Estavaul's words: "Are you carrying something alone?" The cold sensation the moment her game knowledge slipped from her lips. "[whispers]...That was close." Her whisper was absorbed into the quiet room. (But perhaps——I'm building trust, little by little.) That thought spread through her like warmth. Lucian still suspected her. The Covenant of Dawn continued its surveillance. But the protective instinct she saw in Estavaul's expression, and the moment Lucian stopped pressing further in the library tower——neither was complete rejection. A knock sounded at the door. Her attendant's voice. "Your Highness, there is a letter from Lord Ortan." Elicia took it. She unfolded the paper and found brief writing. ——There has been a change in the movements of the Covenant of Dawn. Today, Senior Councilor Duke Ule made contact with multiple faculty members within the academy. The content is unclear, but it is highly likely to be information gathering regarding Your Highness's actions. Ortan——the highest-ranking position as chief lady-in-waiting, overseeing all palace attendants. The only person within the court whom Elicia truly trusted. That she conveyed information this way meant the situation was moving significa