Under the gaze of the welcome party and the guard escort, the first Princess and the fourth Princess officially met.
"Anything not alright, my dear sister? Look at your knees, trembling like that?" Vivian's voice cut through the air with cold amusement.
"I-I am not… trembling." Silva replied, trying to steady her voice despite obvious fear.
"Tsk. Seems to me, apart from your breast and your butt, you haven't grown at all." Vivian's words dripped with scorn as she clicked her sabatons with grand finality and stepped forward. "I'll say it again. Silva, you disappoint me!" Her iron-clad fist swung with lethal grace—
WHACK! A sharp, bone-breaking sound echoed across the plaza. Vivian's slap landed squarely across Silva's face.
"Sob…!" Silva staggered, but managed to stay upright, though the red welt bloomed rapidly as she clutched the side of her cheek.
Vivian stared coldly, her tone devoid of warmth. "...I've read the reports of the attacks. Roderika courageously protected the city, and that mysterious person who drive out the Necromancia—worthy of praise."
Zack stiffened. That person was me. He had worked side by side with Silva to defeat the monster.
"But what did you do? Even though Lancelot flew overhead, you just circled helplessly, didn't you?" Vivian's eyes narrowed with contempt.
Silva went silent, trembling more violently than before. Zack felt a surge of frustration—the details of their battle had been twisted or lost in translation. Without Silva's support, he would never have prevailed.
"Accept the punishment, Silva." Vivian's command was absolute.
The crowd paled as Vivian drew her broad sword. With the flick of a wrist, its silver edge gleamed in the sun, then arced toward Silva's chest.
"—!"
Air hissed around the blade; the force alone was terrifying.
Zack shouted, terrified."Princess Silva! Vivian has gone mad!"
Members of the welcoming party cried out in panic. Only Roderika, Shanon, and Clarisse remained unnervingly composed. Silva crumpled onto her butt—miraculously, no blood appeared.
Then her uniform suddenly shredded—peeling away in strips along with her underwear, collapsing to the ground as if the clothes themselves had been severed by the slash.
"Huh…?"
Silva stared, dazed, looking down at her exposed shoulder, the curve of her boobs and the bold contract inked on her pale chest—the fang mark—all laid bare to midday sunlight.
"Kyaa…!" She screamed, cheeks aflame, hands clutched to her chest.
"Princess!" Zack rushed forward, draping his jacket over her swiftly.
Vivian's cold gaze watched the act, then she sheathed her sword with deliberate calm. "Still crying, Silva? If you'd encountered this on the battlefield… would you just scream and hide your shame?"
Silva, tears in her eyes, could only silence herself.
"This is your true nature. Even with the air of a Dragonborn, you remain a useless blonde. You'd be better off chasing some conventional happiness."
Zack bristled with fury. He stepped forward, but Matt hissed warningly behind him.
Once again, Roderika remained silent.
Zack spoke through clenched teeth: "I may be just a student… but you weren't present during the actual incident. What are these baseless claims you're making now? On what facts are you basing this?"
Suddenly, a sharp blade pressed against Zack's neck. Camila—the escort captain—had drawn his sword, the cold steel at Zack's throat shimmering with menace.
"Uhh…!" Zack froze.
"Princess Camila. The person in question is just an ordinary student." Vivian corrected imperiously.
"Yes, Princess." Camila lowered his weapon respectfully.
Once the sword retracted, Zack stammered, panic in his heart. If that blade had been a true weapon, he might not be alive.
Roderika suddenly stepped forward, bowing to meet Vivian's gaze. "Long time no see, Princess Vivian."
Vivian's lips curved with cruel amusement. "Roderika. I had thought you'd be too busy for mundane school matters. Perhaps you should quit studies and join us."
Roderika stayed poised. "I declined for years. I only wish to cherish my identity as a student now."
Vivian tilted her head. "You've wasted your potential. And who is this… lively fellow by your side?"
Zack swallowed.
Roderika inclined slightly. "Yes, a fellow Student Council member."
Vivian's lips curved faintly as she signaled Roderika closer. Leaning forward, Roderika whispered something into Vivian's ear—and the princess's eyes flared with sudden recognition and intensity. Even Lainn, Mordred, Ico, and the other Dragonborns trembled at her gaze.
Society whispered a chilling rumor—that at the Orphan Ceremony, Vivian wasn't chosen as breeder because the Mother of Dragons found her eyes too terrifying for a child.
Vivian straightened. "No need to hunt him down myself. Camila—detain him."
"Yes, Princess." Camila clasped Zack firmly under his arm.
"Wh-What are you doing!?" Zack struggled, but Camila's grip tightened with unnatural strength—perhaps enhanced by Ark magic. Zack's limbs flailed, but he couldn't break free.
"I have many questions for you."
Vivian turned away from the group, cloak sweeping behind her, and strode toward the school entrance—the assembly left mostly paralyzed with fear and confusion.