If it's trivial, then it's just a trivial matter.
Taken at face value, it was simply a junior showing a bit of respect to a senior.
The hierarchy and order of the Academy, which had begun alongside the Empire's own history, were never taken lightly. A slightly excessive display of courtesy between juniors and seniors was never considered a problem.
However, the story changed a little when the people involved were the current imperial bloodline and the former imperial bloodline.
— It's rigid and formulaic, but not a bad move in its own way.
The House of Schwaben had been the imperial family for three generations now, but before that, House Armian had held the throne for nearly nine hundred years.
Erasing the great house—practically the embodiment of the Empire's history—from the minds of the people would take more than just a hundred years.
— Armian bowing to Schwaben?
One of the clearest ways to shatter that perception was through an official abdication.
Announcing that the throne had indisputably transferred to another, accompanied by multiple witnesses and formal evidence.
— Didn't they say House Armian, after losing the throne, had holed up in their remaining territory and never came out?
— Then it's no wonder you'd look like prey.
It might be insignificant compared to a true abdication, but all great things started from something small and unremarkable.
"What should I do?"
— What's there to ponder? Just do it.
Yet unexpectedly, Gardner accepted it without much fuss.
— For now, they are the imperial family. Denying the authority of the imperial house is no different than denying the very nation founded by the First Emperor.
After all, that was the current reality.
They still wanted House Armian to reclaim the throne someday, but that didn't mean there was anything inherently wrong with the current emperor being of House Schwaben.
— And besides, this is just a temporary handover. You'll be emperor again. I'll make sure Armian rises once more.
— If you can't endure even a moment of humiliation, then you have no right to be emperor.
— The late emperor once knelt to persuade the King of Berchef…
"Yes, it's an honor to meet you. I'm Aint Armian."
Sensing the conversation might get too long, Aint lowered his head slightly—not enough to seem excessive, but just enough to remain respectful.
And when he greeted politely, the reaction he received was equally measured.
"Yeah, good to meet you. Aint Armian."
Ludger smiled and lightly patted Aint's shoulder.
"Valoci Bienderk. Nice to meet you too. I've heard a few things about you."
"I've also heard a lot about you, senior."
"There's not much to hear about me."
"Placing second at the Academy, where the best talents from the continent gather, is certainly not nothing."
After that, Ludger began chatting with Valoci in a much more relaxed tone.
As the suffocating tension dissipated, sighs of relief could be heard throughout the area.
Just as the paused music began to flow gently once more, someone subtly slipped into the scene.
A man wearing a black mask that covered half his face.
Neatly dressed in fine clothes, with jet-black hair and a distinctive aura that no student failed to recognize.
'…Senior Fernan?'
The crowd naturally parted for him, and he locked eyes with Aint for a brief moment—but Fernan walked past indifferently.
He went straight to the prince's side, and the prince dismissed Valoci.
And as if that was a signal, murmurs and chatter once again filled the deck.
'He didn't even acknowledge me.'
— That means he's gauging the prince's reaction. You should do the same. It's not even hard.
"Understood."
— That Ludger guy's more disappointing than I expected.
"Disappointing?"
— Talks too much. A scared dog barks loudest, as the saying goes.
— If it were me, I'd have just told you to kneel.
Doing something like that in front of everyone seems like a strategic misstep.
"Aint. Let's go meet the others."
"Alright."
Aint turned and followed Valoci, who had conveniently arrived to fetch him.
"So that's why you arrived early. Makes sense now. How was it?"
"Not very entertaining."
Ludger poured himself a glass of blood-red wine.
"To think a so-called heir of the former imperial family would bow his head without a shred of pride."
"Was it you who summoned him?"
"I told Alcan to deliver the invitation. Figured if he gave it to Valoci, Aint would come along. They couldn't avoid each other forever anyway."
Given that they attended the same Academy, even if they were in different years, they were bound to run into each other at some point.
Especially since adjacent years sometimes shared joint classes.
"That's it?"
"What else do you expect?"
At Ludger's sharp tone, Fernan changed the subject.
"No, I mean, what was your first impression?"
"What do you think?"
Ludger shrugged.
"Anyone who accepts humiliation so easily is one of two things."
Either they're truly nothing at all—
"Or perhaps he's biding his time. But those weren't the eyes of someone who has nothing left."
Of course, Ludger didn't actually believe Aint or House Armian posed any real threat.
They may have fallen now, but they were a house that ruled half the continent for nearly 900 years—surely they had a few cards to play. But that was about it.
"If they really had something powerful enough to turn things around, they would've done it already."
Ludger muttered casually.
"What about you?"
"I felt the same. There's something there, but it didn't seem all that significant."
"If you say so, that makes it more convincing. Isn't that always the case? A merchant's eye knows how to judge people well."
Ludger chuckled, his eyes narrowing.
"You got to ask a question, so now it's my turn. You brought Ruina Berchef with you, didn't you?"
"She's the eldest daughter of House Berchef, and second in the knight faculty. More than qualified."
"And yet, weren't you the one who initially blocked her entry?"
Ludger swirled his wine glass slowly.
"You're not going to just forgive the debt now, are you?"
"That's not something I can decide on my own."
"Exactly. Which is why it's even more curious."
From the moment they became second-years, their relationship and attitudes had taken a 180-degree turn.
"What the hell happened over the break? Did the two houses agree to a political marriage or something?"
"Do I have to answer that?"
"That's what I'm hoping for."
"Hopes are worth more when they stay hopes."
"So you're not denying it?"
Fernan didn't react. If anything, denying it too strongly would just confirm it in Ludger's mind.
"Everyone seems to be aboard, so let's set sail."
"Do as you like. It's a yacht club after all—we should at least get out to sea."
"Set sail!"
"Set sail!"
At last, the massive cruise ship pulled away from the dock.
"..."
As soon as she boarded, Ruina—abandoned by Fernan—sat in a corner, blankly staring out at the sea.
The gentle waves calmed her. Looking out over the peaceful ocean made it feel like she was on vacation.
"Let's not let our guard down."
But today's purpose wasn't socializing—or vacation.
It was to capture the fallen ones. The traitors of humanity who served demons.
Ruina lightly traced the rim of her glass. The cocktail inside had a relatively low alcohol content.
"What are you doing alone, senior?"
Ruina looked up. Through the mask, she saw kind brown eyes. Behind them, golden waves shimmered.
"Aint Armian?"
"Yes, senior. It's nice to see you here."
Masked, Aint leaned casually against the wall beside her.
"Everyone's enjoying themselves—why are you alone?"
"I'm not used to this kind of thing."
She wasn't lying—she had little experience with social gatherings.
As someone who had lived as a dedicated knight, banquets felt a bit out of place for her.
"And what about you?"
"…It's not easy for me to mingle either…."
It was a similar feeling, though for different reasons. Ruina stayed away by choice, Aint by circumstance.
He may have been invited, but most students still kept their distance—still wary of Schwaben.
Valoci tried to accompany him, but the stares were suffocating, so Aint deliberately slipped away.
That's when he saw Ruina.
"I shouldn't have asked."
"N-No, it's fine."
Silence fell for a moment. Then, hesitantly, Aint spoke again.
"If it's alright… would you dance with me…?"
"Sorry to interrupt such a happy scene."
Someone suddenly cut in, breaking the flow of conversation.
It was Fernan.
"Aint Armian. I didn't know you were acquainted with Ruina."
"We only recently exchanged greetings, that's all."
"Yes. There's no real familiarity between us."
At Ruina's quiet words, a flicker of disappointment crossed Aint's face.
Fernan didn't miss it.
"So the bigger thread has diverged, but this part is proceeding as expected?"
True, whether or not it happened under moonlight like in the prophecy was unclear—but Ruina had indeed been alone, training with her sword when they first met.
That part hadn't changed.
And the moment of falling in love at first sight—that wouldn't be any different.
"If it goes as expected, Ruina's value rises."
Love, after all, could make people act foolishly.
If Aint's love for Ruina could be exploited well, she could become the ultimate card to play when the time came.
"Let's go, Ruina."
But that wasn't a matter for today.
"Right now?"
"Yes. I have something to say."
"Then I'll give you two space—"
"No need. Enjoy the ball."
With that, Fernan left with Ruina.
Aint, left behind, couldn't take his eyes off her back.
—
"They don't seem to be just casual acquaintances."
"They're each other's dance partners, and today Fernan personally brought her to the yacht club, right?"
"…Yes."
"Pull yourself together. That woman may be incredibly talented, but if there's a chance she and that nouveau riche brat will fall out, you must tread carefully."
"Yes. I'll keep that in mind."
At Gardner's words, Aint lightly slapped his own cheeks. His dazed eyes quickly regained focus.
"So, what were we talking about earlier?"
— Among the sailors' chatter, there was something about the route. Apparently, the ship circles around several islands near the Academy. One of those islands is where the previous emperor's arrangement is hidden.
It meant they were likely heading toward the place where the hidden arrangement was located.
— You can swim, right?
"To a certain extent, yes."
— If you see an uninhabited island with two peaks, pretend to fall overboard.
"Let's say I get what we're looking for—how do I get back?"
— Is that even a problem?
— A student from the Academy goes missing. You think they'll just sit on their hands?
— More importantly, you're an Armian.
That wasn't wrong.
Even if House Armian had lost its central political power, its symbolism still held weight and couldn't be ignored.
"Yeah… that's probably true—"
Aint stopped mid-sentence. He sensed someone approaching.
"Would you care for a drink?"
It was a crew member wandering the deck with a tray of champagne.
"Ah, thank y—"
As Aint reached for a glass, his neck stiffened up involuntarily.
A raw, primal sense of danger—instinctive and unexplainable.
— Aint!
Gardner's urgent voice confirmed the feeling was real.
KWAARRRR—
A massive wave erupted behind him.
KWAANG!
With a thunderous crash, the part of the deck where Aint had just stood was obliterated.
Rolling across the floor, Aint grabbed the fallen crewman and pulled him away just in time, as a tail smashed down again and shattered more of the deck.
"…Dear god."
It was only then that Aint realized what had attacked the ship.
It was a monster. No—monsters.
Countless sea worms—called Sea Worms, often referred to as the earthworms of the ocean—were surging toward the ship like a tidal wave.
DANG DANG DANG DANG—
Emergency bells rang out frantically across the deck.
The swarm of enormous sea worms began climbing aboard like a storm surge.
Even though Fernan had seen it in the prophecy book, witnessing it with his own eyes was an entirely different experience.
"Disgusting."
Fernan's face twisted in revulsion. Screams from the students echoed across the ship.
"Why are Sea Worms here?"
The Empire regularly maintained the sea routes to the Academy.
A sudden, large-scale sea monster attack was something no one could've foreseen—
Except Fernan, who had read the prophecy.
"Ruina. Stay near your friend and support him discreetly. Then fall back."
"Shouldn't we be fighting the monsters?"
"Have you forgotten why I brought you here?"
"…Don't tell me—"
"Yes. It's the work of the Fallen. They're after something bigger."
And that "something bigger" was obviously Aint Armian.
"Given the level of the students here, it shouldn't become a major issue."
"…That's true."
"Go."
"Yes!"
Ruina leapt into the battlefield.
But Fernan hadn't told her everything.
"The ship will sink."
The students were skilled—but none of them were trained for combat at sea.
The Academy didn't offer courses on naval combat.
And Fernan, despite knowing that, had made no arrangements to repel the monsters.
Because…
"The ship must sink."
That was how the prophecy would come true.
Aint would be left stranded alone on the island where the First Emperor's hidden arrangement was buried.
Then the Fallen would follow and attack him.
Everything would change from that moment on.
That was how Aint would gain a connection—witnessing the Fallen himself.
That way, Aint wouldn't end up suspecting pellenberg of being involved with the Fallen.
"That way, I won't end up a beggar."
"…Excuse me? What was that, sir?"
"Nothing."
At some point, Hyde had emerged like a shadow. Fernan merely shrugged.
"What about the other ships?"
"They're on standby not far from here. They'll come immediately once signaled."
"Good. The Fallen are one thing, but if the precious guests die, that'd be bad. You handle the cleanup as planned."
"Understood."
Fernan smiled.