In the Solar Class A classroom of Morningstar Academy, it was not yet time for class to begin. However, the students were already mostly seated, gathering in their respective small circles to whisper among themselves.
Lorraine rushed into the classroom, clutching a piece of paper in her hand with a look of utter disbelief. The moment she spotted Irene sitting by the window, she blurted out, “Erich is wanted?!”
This shout drew the gaze of the entire class. Irene's hand, which had been turning the pages of her book, froze. She raised her head, her face turning slightly pale.
Lorraine strode over to Irene's desk and slapped the paper onto it. “Have you seen this? Is it true?”
Irene shrank back slightly. “Yes... I heard it happened last night.”
“Who issued the wanted poster? What are they thinking? What about His Highness the Prince's investigation team? What are they doing?” Lorraine fired off a barrage of questions. The surrounding classmates also gathered closer. After all, as the class that had personally experienced the princess's assassination attempt, none of them could possibly remain indifferent.
Irene hesitated for a moment. “It was actually His Highness the Prince who issued it. Supposedly, a relevant source reported seeing Erich conspiring with someone.”
“Who is this relevant source?”
This question did not come from Lorraine. The voice came from behind them, exceptionally cold.
The young princess had walked over to them at some unknown point. She wore the same academy uniform as everyone else, but she looked more unapproachable than ever.
Under her gaze, Irene subconsciously shrank her neck. “Um... I don't know. It wasn't written on the notice.”
The young princess did not waste any time in the classroom.
“I am going to find my imperial brother.”
Lorraine quickly followed. “I'm coming too.”
Irene also chased after them, following Lorraine's lead.
The academy corridors seemed exceptionally long today. The young princess walked very quickly, and Lorraine and Irene had to jog to barely keep up. Occasionally, other students saw their formidable procession and quickly stepped aside.
Two guards in imperial uniforms stood outside Alen's office. When the young princess reached the door, she walked straight inside.
A guard reached out to stop her. “Your Highness, the Prince is currently...”
The young princess cast a glance at him, and the guard's remaining words caught in his throat. His hand instinctively retracted.
Lorraine and Irene also wanted to follow her inside, but they were stopped by the two guards on either side. Lorraine glared in anger. “You!”
“It's fine,” the young princess said as she pushed the door open and stepped inside. The door shut behind her, cutting off their view.
Lorraine and Irene exchanged a look and could only wait outside.
No lights were on in the office, and the half-drawn curtains made the room rather dim. Alen sat behind the desk, several documents scattered before him. He raised his head and saw the young princess walk in. Showing no surprise, he simply closed the document in his hand and set it aside.
“You've come.”
The young princess walked straight to the desk, pressing both hands onto its surface as she looked down at him.
“Is this the result of your investigation? Framing my savior as the murderer.”
Alen did not answer, nor did he look at her. He closed his eyes and leaned back against his chair. Only after a few moments did he speak.
“You were too panicked at the time to see the situation clearly. Besides, the captured attackers have already confessed that Erich ordered the hit.”
A cold light flickered in the young princess's eyes. “You would condemn my savior based solely on the words of a band of assassins? Yet you completely ignore what I have to say, is that it? Alen, since when did you become so... foolish?”
Alen finally opened his eyes. No emotion could be seen in his eyes, which bore some resemblance to the young princess's. After a long silence of staring at each other, Alen let out a long sigh.
“Erich will not come to harm, I promise you.”
The young princess stared at him. Alen did not avoid her gaze, but he did not utter another word either.
After a long while, the young princess turned toward the door.
“Then remember your words, Imperial Brother.”
Alen sat alone in the dim office, listening as the young princess's footsteps faded into the distance. He stared blankly at the map of the empire hanging on the opposite wall for quite some time.
At the same moment, in the northern border of the empire, Frostfire City.
The Edmond family mansion was situated on the highest ground in Frostfire City. Looking out from the study window, one could see the city's crisscrossing streets and the pale gray skyline in the distance. This city was famous for iron and fire, and even the wind carried a trace of metallic chill.
In the study, a middle-aged man sat in a chair by the window. He wore a suit of dark, casual clothes, but his long-held aura of authority made even the simple attire look distinguished.
An attendant stood before him, bowing slightly as he spoke.
“My Lord, Young Master... Erich has been put on the wanted list. The charge is attacking the princess, and the wanted poster was issued from Radiant City last night.”
The middle-aged man, Audric Edmond, Duke of the Empire's Northern Border and the current head of the Edmond family, did not respond immediately. His fingers rested on the armrest of his chair, tapping it rhythmically and lightly.
Only after a good while did he speak. “Do you think he did it?”
The attendant thought for a moment and shook his head. “After being exiled from the family, Young Master Erich has changed quite a bit. At least, he doesn't seem like someone who would do such a thing.”
Silence spread through the study. The attendant dared not raise his head, hearing only the whistling of the wind outside the window.
Audric finally spoke.
“Suspend a portion of the ore shipments to Radiant City. Cite weather reasons as the excuse.”
The attendant froze for a second. The magic-inscribable ore supplied by Frostfire City was one of the empire's most crucial resources. Halting it, even partially, would draw significant attention. However, he did not ask any questions and bowed his head in response. “Understood.”
Audric continued his instructions. “In addition, have Vivian go to Radiant City.”
The attendant acknowledged the order again without questioning. He did not need to know what it meant to send Miss Vivian, Young Master Erich's former maid, to Radiant City.
Audric spoke again, a slight trace of emotion slipping into his voice for the first time, though it vanished in an instant.
“Do not let Liana know. What Erich did to her was still far too cruel.”
“Yes, my Lord. I understand.”
Audric waved his hand. The attendant bowed and withdrew, gently closing the door behind him.
Audric was left alone in the study. He remained seated in his chair, his gaze falling back to the view outside the window.
In the courtyard outside the mansion, the branches of several old trees swayed wildly in the northern wind. Looking past those barren branches, one could see the layered rooftops of Frostfire City spreading along the terrain. Further in the distance lay the direction leading to Radiant City.
He watched for a long, long time. The wind outside never ceased, bending the barren branches down time and again, only for them to straighten back up each time.
Rate on N.U.
