"Anyways, I know you'll do well," he said with a faint smile. "But do you need any escorts?"
He was asking whether I wanted guards to accompany me. It was customary for noble houses to send one or two escorts with their children, yet, truthfully, it wasn't necessary. The territories under aristocratic rule were relatively safe—especially so within the domains of the Five Great Powers.
The Elder Council itself acted much like a kingdom, maintaining law and order across the continent of Axian. Its members were senior figures drawn from the Five Great Houses; even the former patriarch of House Kael now served as the council's Third Elder.
"No, I do not need any escorts," I replied firmly. "But I will take Charlotte with me. She may be able to study alchemy or literature—her memory is exceptional. With the right guidance, she could become a remarkable alchemist or scholar."
"Hmm, you are right," he said thoughtfully. "I will speak with the Patriarch of Zenithara regarding your admission, so you don't have to worry about that."
There was indeed an entrance test, but I was confident I could pass it—unlike in my previous life.
"Then, when do you plan on leaving?" he asked. "The entrance examinations begin next month. If you intend to participate, it might be better to head out a little earlier."
"Yes, I intend to do so. I'll be leaving next week," I replied with a nod.
"Hmm, that would be for the better." He returned the nod in agreement.
After that, silence stretched in the room. Vitra walked away from the window and lowered himself into the chair behind his desk. The weight of the conversation seemed to linger between us, yet neither of us spoke. I could see his expression settle into that familiar calm, the kind that hid more than it revealed. Thinking there was nothing more worth saying, I finally broke the silence.
"Then, I will take my leave."
"Yes," he replied, his tone brief but not dismissive, as though he understood that nothing more needed to be exchanged.
With a slight bow of my head, I turned and made my way toward the door. The soft creak of the hinges echoed faintly in the otherwise quiet office as I stepped out into the corridor.
The air outside felt lighter, though the conversation with Vitra still clung to me like an unseen weight. I had barely taken a few steps when I noticed Ronan approaching from the far end of the hallway. His pace was steady, almost casual, but the moment his eyes landed on me, he froze mid-step, visibly startled.
For a brief instant, his lips parted as though he wasn't sure what to say. Then, collecting himself, he straightened his posture and greeted me with uncharacteristic earnestness.
"Good morning, elder brother."
The sincerity in his voice was unmistakable, the kind of respect that came not from duty but from genuine regard. His eyes were wide, filled with that innocent light he had always carried since childhood.
"Mm." I acknowledged his greeting with a nod, allowing a faint smile to touch my lips.
Perhaps it was the smile that startled him, for it wasn't something I offered often—at least, not to him. His eyes flickered with surprise, and he seemed almost unsettled by the small gesture. Hastily, he bowed, his movements stiff with awkward respect.
"Goodbye," he murmured quickly, before continuing past me toward the office door.
I watched his back for a while, his figure shrinking with each step until he disappeared inside. There was a time when such simple exchanges would have meant little to me, but now they stirred something faint—something I couldn't quite place.
Letting out a quiet breath, I turned away and descended the stone steps at the end of the corridor. My footsteps echoed softly against the cold walls, steady and unhurried. As I walked, my thoughts drifted to the events of the past week, each memory rising unbidden, heavy with meaning.
The week had been long. Far too long.
"Sigh…" I exhaled softly, my thoughts circling back to the past week. Although the events had unfolded as I had anticipated, the core of my objective remained unfulfilled. I had ventured into that village for one reason—for that child whose talent rivaled Ronan's. Yet in the end, the plans twisted, circumstances shifted, and I failed to secure him.
True, I had gained more than I originally expected, but the absence of that child gnawed at me. No matter how thoroughly I searched, I couldn't find a single trace. Perhaps he had escaped in the chaos, or perhaps he had died when everything changed. Either way, there was nothing left for me to do.
My steps slowed as I lifted my gaze toward the distant palace of the First Lady. Its tall walls stood silent, a reminder of her current state.
"She hasn't recovered yet, it seems…" I murmured under my breath.
I had tried—tried to awaken her dormant desires with the Spring Tree Core, tried even to twist her will through subtle conditioning. It was only a half-success. At the very least, I had managed to confirm the existence of the artifact Bali. But the brainwashing itself never reached completion. Perhaps the Core was simply too powerful, its influence clashing violently with her mind, producing a backlash far greater than I had anticipated.
In the end, it backfired. She lost control, her thoughts fragmented, and her mind collapsed under the strain. Now she remained imprisoned within her own palace, her body alive but her spirit shattered, unable to take even a single step beyond those walls.
For all my careful calculations, for all the risks I had taken, that, too, was a failure.
Lost in thoughts of my recent failures, I eventually arrived at the door of my room and pushed it open.
I was just about to call for Charlotte, but it turned out to be unnecessary—she was already there, sprawled across the bed and fast asleep.
"Sigh… her laziness," I muttered to myself, shaking my head.
"Hey, Charlotte. Wake up."
She didn't stir, not even a twitch, as though my voice hadn't reached her. With a faint frown, I walked closer, picking up the water jug from the bedside table. She lay there soundly, drool running from the corner of her mouth, her expression oddly peaceful.
Cute, perhaps—but this wasn't the time to indulge such thoughts.
Without hesitation, I tilted the jug and poured the water across her face.
"Ahhh!" Charlotte shrieked, leaping from the bed like a startled kangaroo. She groaned loudly, her eyes bloodshot as she blinked around in confusion. Only after turning her head toward me did recognition finally dawn on her face.
"Why did you do that?" she demanded, her lips curling into a pout.
I didn't answer immediately. Instead, I shifted my gaze to the clock on the wall. The hands pointed clearly at half past eleven.
"It's 11:30," I said flatly.
"So?" she shot back, tilting her head as if that somehow excused her.
"Hmm?" I responded with nothing but a hum, then without hesitation smacked the back of her head with my palm.
"Ahh!" she yelped, collapsing face-first onto the bed while clutching her head.
"Why did you hit me?!" she glared up at me, her eyes blazing with indignation, the anger in them almost comical against her messy hair and tearful expression.
"You should be asking why you're still in bed at this hour," I replied calmly, folding my arms. "Sleeping like a pig while the sun is already high."
Her cheeks puffed up, and she slammed her fist into the mattress. "I was tired, that's all! Do you know how hard it is to—" She stopped herself mid-sentence, biting her lip.
I raised an eyebrow, curious. "To what?"
"N-nothing!" she huffed, turning her face away, her ears tinged red.
I couldn't help but sigh at her childish display.
Ignoring her pout, I narrowed my eyes and began scolding her.
"How many times do I have to tell you to wake up early and start reading a book? You know very well that since you lack talent in martial arts, the only path to earning respect is through study. So why aren't you concentrating on it? Do you want to end up as nothing more than a maid, spending your life doing chores?"
Charlotte straightened herself on the bed, wiping the water from her face. Her lips quivered for a moment before she spoke, her voice quiet but stubborn.
"Why? I can just become a wife, though."
Smack!
My hand landed on her head before I could stop myself.
"Ahhh!" she groaned, clutching her head again, her eyes welling up with tears. She sniffled, her expression crumpling into that of a child who had been wronged.
"That was for that ridiculous remark," I said coldly. "You may be a child, but that excuse is beyond foolish."
Her lips trembled, and soft sobs began to escape her. She buried her face in the blanket, the sound muffled but not enough to hide her pitiful state.
I let out a long breath, my irritation mixing with a hint of helplessness. Still, my tone remained firm.
"If you don't want another beating, then from tomorrow onward you will wake up early and start studying. No excuses. Is that understood?"
"Sob… yes," she finally replied between quiet sobs, her voice trembling.
"Good. Now go and wash up," I ordered, turning away from her and walking toward my study.
Behind me, I could still hear her muffled sniffles. After a moment, the bed creaked as she shifted, dragging herself upright. She rubbed her swollen eyes with the back of her hand, sniffling pitifully as she shuffled across the room.
Her small footsteps padded against the floor until the bathroom door creaked open. With one last huff, she disappeared inside, leaving only the sound of running water to fill the room.
I exhaled quietly and settled down at my desk, pushing aside the remnants of annoyance and focusing my mind on what lay ahead.