On his way back to his room, Lusian ran into Andrew.
The prince walked with his hands in his pockets, wearing his usual carefree smile.
"Hey, Lusian."
Lusian barely glanced at him.
"I believe we have some unfinished business, Prince Andrew."
Andrew frowned.
"With me? I don't remember doing anything to you."
A faint smile appeared on Lusian's face.
"Really? I thought you'd remember saying, 'Don't overstep your bounds, Lusian Douglas.'"
Andrew let out an awkward laugh and scratched the back of his head.
"Oh... that? I was only trying to get Prince Leopold to stop bothering you. It wasn't anything personal."
"Then don't expect any mercy when we face each other in the tournament."
Lusian's voice was so cold that Andrew's smile instantly vanished.
"Hey, don't be so dramatic. Do you want me to tell my mother about your secret meetings with Elizabeth?"
Lusian stared at him in silence.
Useless prince.
For a few seconds, he seemed to consider the threat. Then he let out a sigh.
"Do whatever you want."
Andrew raised an eyebrow, surprised by the response.
Lusian took a step to leave, then stopped.
"Andrew."
"What?"
His expression changed completely.
"I need you to investigate the Denisse family."
Andrew blinked.
"What? Changing the subject already? I thought you'd at least beg me a little."
Lusian looked him straight in the eye.
"This isn't a game."
Andrew's smile disappeared.
"The Denisse family may be connected to the Demonic Cult."
Silence fell between them.
"..."
"Are you serious?" Andrew finally asked.
"Do you think I'd joke about something like that?"
Andrew swallowed.
"If that's true... then this is far more serious than I imagined."
Lusian nodded.
"I don't have enough evidence. If I did, I wouldn't be asking for your help."
"Then..."
"I need you to use the royal family's resources to find that evidence. I can only assure you of one thing."
His eyes turned cold.
"The Denisse family is a plague that has remained hidden for far too long."
Andrew remained thoughtful for a few moments before nodding.
"All right. I'll investigate discreetly. If I find anything, you'll be the first to know."
Lusian gave a slight nod before walking away.
From a distance, Leonardo had watched the entire conversation.
He waited until Lusian disappeared down the corridor before approaching his brother.
"Andrew."
The prince turned his head.
"What is it?"
"I need to ask you a favor."
Andrew immediately noticed the seriousness in his voice.
"I'm listening."
Leonardo took a deep breath.
"Help Isabella's family. I know they're innocent. I tried to convince Father, but he wouldn't even listen to me."
Andrew remained silent for a few seconds.
"I'll do what I can. I can't promise anything... but I'll look into it."
Leonardo let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you."
The following morning, Lusian headed toward the academy's dining hall.
Along the way, he found Jean and Adela chatting beneath the morning sunlight.
"My lord! It's good to see you."
Adela gave him a graceful bow.
Lusian smiled.
"So you've officially become Jean's bodyguard?"
Adela let out a small laugh.
"Someone has to protect Jean from bad influences."
"Then you're wasting your time."
Jean shook her head, laughing.
"Good morning, Lusian."
Lusian crouched down to pet Aureus.
The spirit companion proudly lifted his head.
"He's growing fast."
"Very fast," Adela replied proudly. "If Umber isn't careful, Aureus is going to take his place."
Umber answered with an unmistakably displeased growl, making all three of them laugh.
Taking advantage of the moment, Jean lowered her voice.
"I heard you're traveling to see Duchess Sofia."
Lusian nodded casually.
"I just have a few matters I need to take care of."
He said nothing more.
Jean understood that he didn't want to elaborate.
After saying goodbye, Lusian continued on his way.
The restaurant was crowded.
The moment Lusian stepped inside, his eyes found Emily sitting by a window.
She noticed him as well.
A bright smile lit up her face.
Without a second thought, she rose from her seat and walked toward him.
For a brief moment, Lusian felt his heartbeat quicken.
From a corner of the dining hall, two pairs of eyes followed their every movement.
Elizabeth watched the scene with an expressionless face.
Only when Emily stopped in front of Lusian did she mutter under her breath,
"That bitch."
Kara turned her head.
"What did you say?"
Elizabeth smiled as naturally as ever.
"Nothing."
Resting her chin on one hand, she continued watching the pair.
"By the way..."
Her gaze dropped to Kara's dress.
"Since when do you wear dresses? I could've sworn you hated them."
Kara shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"It was a bet."
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow.
"With Lusian?"
Kara's silence was answer enough.
An amused smile spread across Elizabeth's face.
"So he beat you again."
Kara snorted.
"That idiot has gotten way too strong."
Elizabeth let out a quiet sigh.
"Remember, the Four Great Houses of the kingdom aren't supposed to become entangled with one another. Keep your distance from Lusian."
Kara looked up with determination.
"I know."
Her fingers slowly tightened around the edge of the table.
"But one day, I'll beat him.
And when that happens..."
She left the sentence unfinished.
She didn't need to say the rest.
At noon, Lusian left the academy accompanied by Isabella.
Neither of them spoke during the journey.
She walked with her head lowered, clutching the edge of her cloak. Lusian kept his gaze fixed ahead.
That day, it wasn't enough to convince Laurence.
They had to prove the truth.
The Temple of Sangus stood majestically over the square, wrapped in an almost sacred silence. Its towering white columns and statues of the god seemed to judge everyone who crossed its threshold.
As soon as they arrived, they heard voices from the opposite side of the staircase.
Laurence and Sofia had just exited the temple.
The duke's eyes locked onto Isabella.
His expression changed instantly.
"What is she doing here?!"
He took a step forward, but Lusian immediately moved in front of Isabella.
Umber stepped forward as well, baring his fangs.
"Move aside, Lusian."
"No."
His answer was unwavering.
"You need to hear her first."
"That girl caused Caleb's death!"
"And that's exactly why I brought her."
Laurence clenched his fists.
"You don't understand what you're doing."
"I understand it better than you think."
For several long seconds, neither of them gave way.
It was Sofia who finally broke the silence.
"Enough, Laurence."
Her voice was calm, yet it was enough to stop him.
"We're in the Temple of Sangus. If the girl lies, the god himself will judge her."
Laurence took a deep breath before stepping aside.
"Very well.
Let her speak."
The temple's interior was bathed in a soft blue light streaming through the stained-glass windows.
An elderly priest walked up to Isabella.
Without saying a word, he placed a hand upon her forehead.
The air trembled.
A magic circle appeared beneath her feet, and a gentle blue glow slowly enveloped her body.
"Before Sangus," the priest declared, "every lie shall be punished."
A chill ran through Isabella.
She took a deep breath.
Then she began to speak.
She told them how Lorenzo Denisse had secretly arranged to meet her.
How a stranger had shaken her hand.
How her mind had gone completely blank.
And how she had awakened hours later with ink-stained fingers, unable to remember writing the letter that had led Caleb to his death.
As she spoke, the light of the spell never changed.
Not once did she hesitate.
Not once did it show any sign that she was lying.
When she finished, the temple fell completely silent.
Laurence never took his eyes off her.
His fists remained clenched.
But his anger was no longer directed at Isabella.
Slowly, he lowered his gaze.
He understood.
Caleb hadn't died because of that girl.
He had been used.
Someone had been pulling the strings from the shadows.
Without saying another word, Laurence turned around and walked out of the temple.
The sound of his footsteps echoed for several seconds before fading away.
Sofia looked at Lusian with the faintest smile.
She stepped closer and gently pinched his cheeks.
"You did well, my little one."
Lusian finally released the breath he had been holding.
"Will it make any difference?"
"Yes."
Sofia lowered her hand.
"Laurence is many things, but he isn't a fool. He now understands who the real victim was."
Lusian smiled in relief.
"Then Isabella..."
"Don't celebrate too soon."
Sofia's expression hardened once more.
She turned toward Isabella.
"Even though you were manipulated, you are still responsible for participating—even against your own will—in the death of a member of the Douglas family."
Isabella lowered her head.
"Noble law recognizes three possible punishments."
Sofia's voice carried the solemnity of a sentence.
"Death."
Isabella held her breath.
"Slavery."
Her hands began to tremble.
"Or indentured servitude."
The silence became unbearable.
Sofia held the young woman's gaze.
"I'll give you one week to decide which punishment you'll accept."
Isabella slowly looked up.
"I... get to choose?"
"Yes."
Sofia turned away.
"If you haven't made a decision within a week... I'll make it for you."
Without another word, she left the temple.
The walk back to the academy passed in silence.
Eventually, Lusian spoke.
"I'm sorry."
Isabella looked at him in confusion.
"I didn't expect my mother to be so strict."
The young woman slowly shook her head.
A weary smile appeared on her face.
"No, Lord Lusian."
Her eyes grew moist.
"Thank you... for giving me the chance to tell the truth."
Lusian said nothing.
For the first time since everything had begun, Isabella was still alive.
And for now...
That was enough.
As they walked back, Lusian promised that he would try to persuade his mother to lessen her punishment.
Isabella shook her head with a faint smile.
"Please don't."
"Why not?"
"Because you've already done more than enough for me."
They walked in silence for a while.
"If Lady Sofia believes I deserve punishment... then I'll accept it."
Lusian looked away.
"I don't like that answer."
"But it's the right one."
He let out a quiet sigh.
"At the very least, I'll try to make sure it's the lightest punishment possible."
Isabella glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
Ever since this nightmare had begun, Lusian had never stopped fighting for her.
He had protected her.
He had stood against his own father.
He had even brought her before the God of Truth to prove her innocence.
She couldn't help but wonder...
Was he doing all of this solely because it was the right thing to do...
Or was there something more?
She felt her cheeks grow warm.
Quickly lowering her gaze, she whispered,
"Thank you... Lord Lusian."
By the time they returned to the academy, the sky had begun to glow orange with the setting sun.
The moment Isabella stepped into the courtyard, two figures ran toward her.
"Big sister!"
Benjamin reached her first.
He grabbed her by the shoulders and looked her over from head to toe.
"Are you all right? That monster didn't hurt you, did he?"
Isabella smiled gently.
"I'm fine."
Corwin stepped forward.
"Why did you go with him?"
She took a deep breath.
"Because he wanted to help me."
The two brothers exchanged disbelieving glances.
"Help you?"
"He took me to meet his parents."
A brief silence followed.
"Maybe... we can still prevent a war."
A small sense of relief washed over Benjamin.
"What should we do?"
Isabella slowly shook her head.
"Nothing."
She smiled sadly.
"I'll be the one to pay the price."
The three of them stood beneath the evening sky.
None of them could find the words to break the silence.
Meanwhile, Lusian returned to the dormitories.
The hallway was completely empty.
Then—
Crack!
A bolt of blue lightning streaked past his back.
Lusian spun around on instinct just as a second electric projectile slammed into the wall.
Fragments of stone scattered in every direction.
Standing before him, still surrounded by the fading sparks of the spell, was Elizabeth.
Her arms were crossed.
And the look on her face promised trouble.
"Follow me."
It wasn't a request.
Lusian let out a sigh.
"You're in a bad mood."
"Not yet."
She turned around.
"But I will be if you keep me waiting."
They entered an empty classroom.
The door had barely closed when Elizabeth shoved him against the wall.
"What the hell are you doing with so many women?"
Lusian raised an eyebrow.
"Good afternoon to you too."
"Don't joke."
Her eyes burned with obvious irritation.
"Emily is your fiancée."
She raised one finger.
"Kara keeps following you around."
Another finger.
"And now you've disappeared for an entire afternoon with Isabella."
She crossed her arms.
"Start talking."
Lusian let out a tired laugh.
"Are you finished?"
"No."
"Then keep going."
Elizabeth glared at him.
"Idiot."
He smiled.
"Now you're finished."
For just an instant, Elizabeth's expression faltered.
She knew he was enjoying seeing her jealous.
That only made her even angrier.
Without warning, she stepped closer and gave his ear a small bite.
"So you'll stop smiling."
Lusian chuckled.
"Was that supposed to be a punishment?"
"Don't push your luck."
As Elizabeth tried to step away, Lusian gently caught her wrist.
She looked back at him.
This time, there was no anger left in her eyes.
Only uncertainty.
"Elizabeth..."
He slowly pulled her closer.
She didn't resist.
Their lips met in a brief kiss, filled with everything neither of them had the courage to say aloud.
When they finally parted, Elizabeth lightly pounded his chest several times, more embarrassed than angry.
"You're... a complete idiot."
Lusian smiled.
"Probably."
He gently caressed her cheek.
"But you know there's no one else."
Elizabeth's eyes trembled for the briefest moment.
All the anger she'd brought with her disappeared.
"Don't make me worry like that again."
Her voice no longer sounded angry.
It sounded hurt.
Lusian slowly nodded.
"I'll try."
Elizabeth rested her forehead against his chest and remained silent.
For a few precious moments, the outside world ceased to exist.