After surviving their mutual teasing, the group of six continued toward the cafeteria.
As they passed through the first-floor lobby, they noticed a crowd gathered in front of a bulletin board, whispering quietly. The atmosphere seemed tense.
“What's going on over there?” Rom craned his neck, looking over curiously.
“I'll go take a look,” Greg said, dodging another sneak attack from Victoria before running ahead. Victoria followed close behind.
The six of them squeezed through the crowd and made their way to the front of the bulletin board.
A fresh notice stamped with the Imperial Royal Family's seal was posted on the wall. The paper was crisp and clean, clearly having just been put up.
The title was written in bold: Notice Regarding the Disposition of the Fifth Imperial Princess.
“Huh? Didn't the Fifth Imperial Princess just return? What's the meaning of this notice then?” Greg's gaze swept downward.
The notice essentially stated that the Fifth Imperial Princess was suspected of colluding with the Demons and betraying the Empire. By order of the Emperor, she had been arrested and would be publicly executed by fire in the Imperial Capital Square in seven days to serve as a warning to others.
Below the notice was a portrait of the Fifth Imperial Princess.
Adele looked at it, sounding a bit confused. “I remember the Empire's Fifth Imperial Princess went missing half a year ago, didn't she?”
Kayla added, “I heard she only returned a few days ago. That's probably why the Third Imperial Princess, who was participating in the exchange, suddenly rushed back a few days ago.”
Rom scratched his head. “She's sentenced to death right after coming back, and on charges of colluding with the Demons... Doesn't that seem a bit off?”
Corwin nodded, sharing the same sentiment.
Victoria, meanwhile, studied the portrait closely. Because the person in the drawing was beautiful and highly distinct, a sudden feeling washed over her at first glance. Had she seen this girl somewhere before?
Just as Victoria tried to search her memory, she noticed something unusual about the person beside her.
“Hey, what's wrong? Do you actually know her?”
Greg's body had completely frozen.
He stared at the portrait, his mind going completely blank. The person in the drawing was none other than Wendy!
What on earth is going on here?
Greg was thoroughly bewildered. He had never known Wendy's true identity, only that Allie had picked her up from somewhere.
He never expected her to be a member of the Imperial Royal Family, let alone the Fifth Imperial Princess who had been missing for half a year. Now, he finally understood where all of Wendy's incredible skills had come from.
Greg's fingers slowly clenched. He glanced at the execution date on the notice—seven days from now.
Though time was incredibly short, he had to do something. Wendy was his Chief Steward; there was no way he could just stand by and watch her die!
“Sorry, something urgent just came up! Go ahead and eat without me, I have to go out!” With that, Greg immediately bolted toward the exit of the Magic Tower.
Adele looked at Victoria in confusion. “What's wrong with your boyfriend?”
“I don't know,” Victoria replied, turning her gaze back to the portrait.
Although she didn't know what Greg was planning to do, she had a strong premonition that whatever he did next would be connected to this Fifth Imperial Princess.
“What an idiot. Doesn't he realize how deep these waters run?” Victoria murmured softly.
...
Not long after Veronica avoided the crowds and returned to her room, a knock sounded at her door. It was a guard nun.
“Lady Veronica, Lady Silvia wishes to see you.”
“Silvia...” Veronica, sitting on a chair by the window, paused with her teacup mid-air.
She was somewhat surprised that the other girl had taken the initiative to visit her. Most people in the Church knew that Veronica didn't particularly care for this girl, whose faith in Lady Serafina was far from devout.
In Silvia, she couldn't feel the kind of soul-deep fanaticism and devotion she expected. Instead, there was only a near-secular kindness. To Veronica, who had dedicated her entire life to the Goddess of Light, this was an incomprehensible flaw.
Yet, despite this, the girl remained the next Saintess, designated by Lady Serafina's divine oracle. Veronica could dislike her, but she could not refuse her.
She set down her teacup, narrowed her eyes once more, and let her trademark gentle smile grace her lips. “Send her in.”
The door opened, and Silvia stepped inside. She wore an elegant white dress, her pink hair cascading softly over her shoulders. She looked like a quietly blooming flower.
Stopping in the center of the room, she gave a slight bow. “Sister Veronica, it has been a long time.”
“It certainly has been quite some time.” Veronica remained seated, making no move to stand. She simply smiled and gestured with her hand. “Have a seat. It is rare for you to seek me out of your own accord. Is something on your mind?”
Silvia sat across from her, her hands neatly folded over her knees in a poised and elegant posture. “Nothing of great importance. I simply thought that since we are in the same Magic Tower, it would be improper of me not to pay my respects to Sister Veronica.”
“I am pleased by your thoughtfulness.” Veronica's smile remained warm, but there was no warmth to be found in the depths of her narrowed eyes.
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries about their experiences during the exchange. The topics were light and ordinary, as if they were truly just two sisters catching up.
But beneath this seemingly harmonious facade, every single word was meticulously measured. The choice of phrasing, the tone of voice, the length of the pauses—all of it carried the weight of cautious probing and guarded defense.
Silvia lifted her teacup, taking a gentle sip. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she said in a casual tone, “Speaking of which, I didn't know Sister Veronica would be participating in this inter-academy exchange as well.”
Veronica smiled and replied, “I simply had a bit of interest, so I came to observe and learn. After all, the exchange gathers so many outstanding students; one can always gain new insights.”
Her tone was as calm as water, as if this truly were nothing more than a spontaneous trip.
Silvia nodded, letting the topic drop. But after a brief silence, she spoke again. Her voice was still soft, but it carried a subtle, sharp edge. “But then again, for Sister Veronica to personally attend the defense hall to observe today is rather unlike your usual habits. I thought you would be like the previous Saintesses you so respected, simply reviewing the results from behind the scenes.”
She raised her eyes, looking directly at Veronica, her lips still curved in that gentle smile. “Could it be... that Sister Veronica went there specifically because there was someone you cared about?”
Veronica's eyes, which had been narrowed all this time, slowly opened.
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