The grand dining hall of House Rosenfeld remained filled with warmth.
Golden chandeliers illuminated the ancient chamber while shadows danced gently across dragon-carved pillars and polished stone walls.
Outside—
The North slept beneath falling snow.
Inside—
The future of House Rosenfeld was quietly being discussed around a dinner table.
Aria's expression still carried traces of excitement.
The uncertainty that had troubled her moments ago was gone.
For the first time in months, she felt clarity.
The choice had finally been made.
Aetherial Institute.
The academy built upon an island beyond the eastern seas.
An academy that governed itself like a miniature nation.
A place where nobles and commoners studied together.
A place where future legends were forged.
The mere thought of it caused a small smile to appear on her face.
And naturally—
Everyone noticed.
Especially Duke Aktaris.
The ruler of the North slowly set down his wine glass.
His sharp eyes shifted away from Aria.
Toward Kel.
The dining hall gradually quieted.
Whenever the Duke asked a question—
People listened.
"Kel."
The young heir looked toward his father.
The Duke spoke calmly.
"So have you decided?"
A brief pause.
"Which academy will you attend next year?"
Several eyes immediately turned toward Kel.
The younger cousins looked curious.
The elders looked interested.
Even Aria focused completely on him.
Because unlike her—
Kel had remained silent regarding his own plans.
The future Count of the Frozen Coast calmly wiped his hands with a cloth before answering.
"Yes."
His voice remained steady.
"I have already decided."
The room became slightly quieter.
Duke Aktaris leaned back.
"And?"
Kel's answer came without hesitation.
"Aetherial Institute."
Several family members nodded.
The choice made sense.
After all, it was among the finest institutions on the continent.
Yet Kel wasn't finished.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
One that immediately made Sairen suspicious.
Inside his mind—
The Guardian of Scarder Lake sighed.
"There it is."
Kel ignored her.
Then calmly continued.
"But."
Several family members immediately exchanged glances.
Whenever Kel said "but"—
Something unusual followed.
And he did not disappoint.
"I won't enroll as a noble."
Silence.
Complete silence.
The younger cousins blinked.
The older nobles froze.
Even Aria looked stunned.
The Duke himself raised an eyebrow.
Kel calmly continued.
"I will enroll as a commoner."
The silence somehow deepened.
Several seconds passed before anyone spoke.
Finally—
Duke Aktaris asked.
"Why?"
The question was direct.
Simple.
Yet everyone present wanted the answer.
Kel folded his hands together.
Then spoke honestly.
"Because I want peace."
The response immediately confused half the room.
The younger cousins looked especially lost.
Peace?
What did that have to do with academy enrollment?
Kel calmly elaborated.
"If I enter as Kel Rosenfeld."
A pause.
"The future Duke."
Another pause.
"The heir of House Rosenfeld."
He leaned back slightly.
"Then I will never have a peaceful day."
Several elders immediately understood.
Their expressions shifted.
Because they knew he was right.
Very right.
Kel continued.
"Every noble family will attempt to approach me."
"Every student council election will become political."
"Every academy dispute will somehow involve me."
The younger generation slowly began understanding.
Kel's voice remained calm.
"I will spend more time dealing with noble politics than studying."
A faint sigh escaped him.
"And if my years as a student become filled with politics..."
His eyes reflected the chandelier light.
"Then what is the point of attending an academy?"
The hall became quiet.
Because his reasoning was sound.
Painfully sound.
Inside his mind—
Sairen laughed softly.
"Translation."
Kel already knew what was coming.
The Guardian continued.
"You don't want people bothering you."
Kel remained silent.
"Especially because you'll probably cause enough trouble on your own."
He ignored her.
Again.
Duke Aktaris tapped his finger lightly against the table.
The Duke clearly understood the reasoning.
Yet another question remained.
"And how exactly do you plan to enter as a commoner?"
The room became attentive once more.
Because that was indeed a problem.
Aetherial Institute was prestigious.
Admission standards were strict.
Kel answered immediately.
"You gave me a territory."
The Duke nodded.
Kel continued.
"My territory contains monster-infested regions."
"Guild operations."
"Research facilities."
His finger tapped lightly against the territorial documents beside him.
"Within a year."
His voice remained calm.
"I can establish enough achievements to earn recommendations."
Several nobles exchanged looks.
The idea was actually feasible.
Very feasible.
Kel continued.
"A major hunting guild recommendation."
"A research contribution."
"Regional achievements."
A faint smile appeared.
"Merit speaks louder than family names."
The room gradually fell silent again.
Because once more—
The plan made sense.
Inside his mind—
Sairen chuckled.
"You say merit."
A pause.
"What you mean is overwhelming achievement."
Kel internally replied.
"Same thing."
The Guardian laughed.
"No."
Before anyone else could respond—
A voice suddenly spoke.
Aria.
"I'll do it too."
Everyone looked toward her.
The silver-haired young woman sat upright.
Determination filled her eyes.
"If you're entering as a commoner."
She looked directly at Kel.
"Then I will too."
Several family members looked surprised.
The younger cousins seemed excited by the idea.
The elders looked skeptical.
Meanwhile—
Kel immediately shook his head.
"No."
Aria blinked.
"No?"
Kel's expression softened slightly.
Not because he disagreed.
But because he was concerned.
"You absolutely can."
His voice remained calm.
"No one here doubts your capability."
A brief pause.
Then he continued.
"But."
Aria immediately recognized the tone.
This wasn't criticism.
This was concern.
Kel looked directly at her.
"You were raised as a noble."
The statement was simple.
True.
And impossible to deny.
Kel continued.
"You have servants."
"You have guards."
"You have resources."
"You have influence."
Another pause.
"Most importantly."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You are accustomed to those things."
The room became quiet.
Aria lowered her gaze.
Because she knew it was true.
Kel wasn't insulting her.
He was stating facts.
Facts she herself understood.
Kel continued.
"A commoner's life isn't difficult because they're weak."
His voice remained calm.
"It's difficult because everything costs effort."
Several elders nodded silently.
Kel continued.
"If your clothing tears."
"You repair it yourself."
"If you're sick."
"You endure it yourself."
"If you need money."
"You earn it yourself."
Another pause.
"No family name."
"No influence."
"No authority."
The younger cousins listened carefully.
For perhaps the first time—
They were hearing someone explain what ordinary life truly meant.
Aria remained silent.
Thinking.
Processing.
Then she looked up.
"And you'll be able to do it?"
The question carried genuine curiosity.
Kel smiled faintly.
A rare smile.
One almost invisible.
"I've already done worse."
The room became quiet.
Because many here remembered.
The curse.
The years confined to bed.
The suffering.
The loneliness.
The struggle to survive.
Few nobles could imagine such things.
Kel had lived them.
Inside his mind—
Sairen quietly spoke.
For once—
Without teasing.
"She's worried about you."
Kel remained silent.
The Guardian continued.
"More than she realizes."
For several moments—
Kel said nothing.
Across the table—
Aria slowly lowered her eyes.
A strange feeling settled within her chest.
Because she suddenly realized something.
Kel wasn't choosing the commoner path because it was easy.
He was choosing it because he wanted freedom.
The freedom to be himself.
The freedom to grow without expectations.
The freedom to live as Kel—
Not as House Rosenfeld's heir.
And somehow—
That sounded incredibly lonely.
The conversation gradually shifted afterward.
The younger cousins began asking questions about academies.
The elders resumed discussing other matters.
Dinner continued.
The warmth of family returned.
Yet one thought lingered within several minds.
Especially Aria's.
Outside—
Snow continued falling over the North.
Far beyond the estate.
Far beyond the mountains.
Beyond the frozen seas.
Aetherial Institute awaited.
A city disguised as an academy.
A place where countless futures would be born.
And when the time came—
One student would arrive as Viscountess Aria Rosenfeld.
Another would arrive under a false commoner name.
Neither realizing that their academy years would eventually become the beginning of legends that would shake the entire continent.
And somewhere deep within Kel's mind—
Sairen laughed softly.
"You want peace."
A pause.
Then amusement filled her voice.
"For some reason, I don't think peace wants you."
Kel looked toward the falling snow beyond the window.
And for once—
He couldn't disagree