Dorothea stepped forward first, making her way toward where Charlotte and Ian were waiting.
Meanwhile, Adela's progress was halted when an old acquaintance called out to her.
The man, who appeared to be around the same age as she was, immediately offered a warm smile before speaking in a tone that carried the familiarity of many years.
"You truly have not changed despite the passing of time, Adela. So, what do you say? Are you finally willing to reconsider the proposal I once made?"
"Do not waste my time, Dominik. Tell me plainly what you want. I do not have the leisure to entertain you."
"Still as rigid as ever."
"Speak."
Dominik released a short sigh and nodded.
For many years, he had tried countless ways to win Adela's heart.
Yet the woman before him had never granted him even the slightest opening.
"Your niece has become the center of attention on this floor."
"That is hardly worth discussing."
"Is it not?"
"Get to the point."
"Those sharp eyes of yours should have noticed the change in atmosphere within this hall. The mood was very different before you entered the registration office and after you returned."
"What are you implying?"
Dominik chuckled softly, clearly amused by the confusion that had appeared on Adela's face.
The shift in atmosphere throughout the third-floor hall was unmistakable.
However, Adela saw nothing unusual about the attention directed toward her niece and nephew.
Charlotte possessed striking beauty from birth.
Her distinctive pink hair naturally drew the gaze of anyone who saw her.
As for Ian, he was a handsome young man whose long black hair was always kept impeccably neat.
Not to mention the deep black eyes they shared.
A rare beauty seldom seen within the Thronheim Empire.
Together, they stood out effortlessly amid any crowd.
Adela turned her gaze toward where Charlotte and Ian were standing.
Sure enough.
One young man had only just finished speaking with Charlotte, only for another to appear shortly afterward, seemingly eager to try his luck.
The situation surrounding Ian was not much different.
Because of his calm and distant demeanor, the young ladies within the hall could do little more than admire him from afar, lacking the courage to approach him directly.
Even so, the interest in their eyes was impossible to conceal.
The tranquility reflected in Ian's handsome features possessed a unique charm of its own.
Was such a thing worthy of concern?
Of course not.
It was entirely natural for young people of their age.
Adela herself had experienced similar attention during her younger years.
"Look closely at the pink-haired girl. Charlotte, correct?"
"Yes."
"That young lady has just caught the attention of a highly influential noble from the Imperial Capital."
Adela's expression changed instantly.
Her relaxed demeanor vanished without a trace.
"A noble from the capital, you say?"
"That's right."
Adela fell silent.
Her thoughts immediately began moving at a rapid pace, assembling countless possibilities.
The sudden shift in her expression caused Dominik to shake his head slowly.
He knew Adela's niece well enough.
They had met on several occasions during his visits to the Handler Family estate in years past.
As an old friend and a trusted business associate, Dominik had no reason to withhold important information from her.
"There is no need to be so concerned, Adela. The nobleman is not nearly as troublesome as you are imagining."
"You sound remarkably confident."
"I am. Their conversation went rather well. Charlotte even accepted an invitation from him personally."
"An invitation?"
"You may ask Charlotte about it yourself later."
Adela let out a slow breath.
"Thank you for the information, Dominik. Once I return from the capital, I shall treat you to dinner."
Dominik's smile widened.
"For some reason, that reward sounds far worse than being rejected."
"That is because you always expect too much."
"I had hoped you would repay me by accepting my proposal."
The flat look Adela gave him was answer enough.
Dominik could only laugh bitterly.
After all these years, it seemed his chances remained just as hopelessly small as they had always been.
'Even now, you still cannot forget him. Franz... once again, I must admit defeat. This woman loves you far too deeply. Even after all these years since you left her behind, the place within her heart remains firmly closed, leaving room for no one but you.'
Dominik understood that bitter truth better than anyone.
No matter how hard he tried, there was always an invisible wall standing between him and Adela's heart.
Yet deep within his chest, a small spark of hope stubbornly refused to die.
He would continue trying.
Believing that perhaps one day, fate might finally favor him.
"What is the true purpose of your journey to the Capital with your daughter and your two nieces and nephews?"
"The Academy."
"For Dorothea or your niece and nephew?"
"Charlotte and Ian."
"I see. What a pity. It seems our destinations differ this time."
"Oh? Where are you headed?"
"The Kingdom of Franka."
"A rather long journey. Be careful while you are there. Recent intelligence reports suggest that the princes of Franka are embroiled in a serious dispute. A civil war could erupt at any moment."
"Thank you for the warning, Adela. However, you should also exercise caution. The Capital is hardly a welcoming place, especially with Sir Ludwig and Viscount Rudolf still there."
When he mentioned those two names, Dominik's voice turned cold.
Exceptionally cold.
As though even speaking their names left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Adela felt a faint warmth in her heart upon hearing the sincere warning.
Dominik was not wrong.
Those two men were indeed notorious for creating trouble for her.
Whenever she set foot in the Capital, she almost always found herself dealing with schemes and intrigues of their making.
Fortunately, she still had several trusted allies there.
People capable of helping her suppress the disturbances caused by those two nobles.
The situation was certainly difficult.
But not impossible to handle.
"I shall remain vigilant. Besides, Elena and Countess Welser will not stand idle if I truly find myself in trouble."
"Ah, that is true. I had momentarily forgotten about the two of them. Even so, take good care of yourself. If you ever find yourself at a dead end, contact me immediately."
"Of course, Dominik. You need not worry about me to such an extent."
"Is it wrong for a man to worry about the woman he loves?"
Adela released a quiet sigh.
"Enough. I must return to the children. And do not forget my warning. Remain cautious once you arrive in Franka."
Dominik's shoulders slumped slightly in response to her firmness.
But only for a moment.
Soon afterward, he straightened himself once more and looked at Adela with eyes filled with warmth and sincerity.
"Very well, Adela. Please give my regards to Dorothea."
Adela gave a small nod before turning away.
Her steps carried her back toward where the children were waiting.
For some reason, a trace of bitterness crept into her heart.
Dominik was a good man.
Yet accepting his feelings felt like a betrayal of Franz.
More than that, Dominik and her late husband had once been the closest of friends.
Whenever she considered such a possibility, her heart became weighed down by a guilt she could never fully explain.
Meanwhile, Dominik continued watching the woman's retreating figure as she walked away.
His gaze lingered for a long while before he finally turned and made his way toward the corridor connected to his own teleportation gate chamber.
"I can always try again another time."
•
•
•
The moment Adela arrived, Dorothea immediately voiced the complaint she had been holding back all this time.
"Mother, why did you take so long?"
"My apologies, Dottie. I happened to run into an old friend."
"Was it Uncle Dominik?"
"You could tell, Dottie?"
"Of course, Mother. I could still see clearly from here. I recognized at once that the gentleman speaking seriously with you was Uncle Dominik."
A faint smile appeared on Adela's face.
She lifted a hand and gently stroked the top of Dorothea's head.
The warm gesture softened the young girl's expression slightly.
"Uncle Dominik sends his regards. He also said he would bring you a special gift the next time you meet."
"I do not want to accept it, Mother."
"Why not?"
Dorothea immediately put on an irritated expression.
"Uncle Dominik always asks me to call him 'Father' whenever he gives me a gift. I truly dislike that."
A brief silence followed.
***
Dominik Tucher, a man of the same generation as Aunt Adela, stood at the pinnacle of the Tucher Family hierarchy, the merchant house that controlled the largest textile and fabric trade in all of Glutenburg.
His influence extended deep into the heart of the Imperial Capital and had spread across numerous neighboring nations.
Behind his stellar reputation in the world of commerce, however, he harbored profound feelings for Aunt Adela.
The sincerity he displayed always reminded me of the way Father loved Mother.
Yet fate had treated them differently.
Father and Mother had been united in a steadfast marriage, while Dominik and Aunt Adela had remained confined within the boundaries of friendship from the very beginning, a barrier neither had ever truly crossed.
Ian and I had met him several times before.
Dominik was a kind, humorous, courteous man who placed great importance on treating others with respect.
He was also noticeably more relaxed whenever he spoke with Aunt Adela.
Dorothea's honest complaint left me silent for a moment.
I understood the lengths Dominik had gone to in his pursuit of Aunt Adela's acceptance.
The path before him was simply too difficult.
I knew the late Uncle Franz, Aunt Adela's husband.
He had been a gentle and thoughtful man.
The image of an almost perfect husband.
Many memories of him still remained with me from his visits to our estate, whether accompanying Grandmother and Aunt Adela or arriving together with Lucas.
Yet fate had chosen a different path.
Uncle Franz passed away before Aunt Adela had the chance to give birth to Dorothea.
He left behind a little daughter who never even had the opportunity to see her own father's face.
Aunt Adela released a quiet sigh upon hearing Dorothea's complaint.
Her irritation was not directed at her daughter's refusal to accept the gifts.
Rather, the source of her frustration lay in Dominik's persistent habit of seeking opportunities through Dorothea's innocence.
"Very well, Dottie. If you dislike it that much, you need not accept those gifts any longer."
"Of course, Mother. Unless Uncle Dominik promises never to ask me to call him 'Father' again."
"That is entirely your decision, my dear. Mother trusts your judgment."
"Yes, Mother."
Aunt Adela's gaze shifted toward me for a moment before moving to Ian.
Several seconds later, her attention returned to me.
"Dominik mentioned that you recently received an invitation directly from a young nobleman of the Capital."
"That's correct."
I signaled Ian to retrieve the envelope in question.
Without a word, he reached into his coat pocket and handed it to Aunt Adela.
She accepted it and opened the contents.
Silence settled over us for several moments.
Her eyes slowly moved across every line written within the invitation.
A faint crease appeared on her brow more than once.
At last, she lifted her head and looked at me with a far more serious expression.
"This..."
"Is something wrong, Aunt?"
"This formal invitation bears the seal of House Welser."
"House Welser?"
"Indeed. Countess Welser is both one of my business associates and a close friend. What was the full name of the young nobleman who gave this letter to you?"
Naturally, I was familiar with the name Count Welser.
They were one of the pillars of the Capital's aristocracy and possessed considerable political influence.
Rumors circulating throughout the Empire even claimed that the family stood firmly on the side of the Eastern Duke.
Furthermore, the Empress herself came from the bloodline of that ducal house.
The fact that Aunt Adela maintained a close relationship with Countess Welser made me realize something.
Her network of connections was far broader than I had ever imagined.
At first, I had assumed that our academy recommendation letters had been secured through Grandfather's assistance.
Yet hearing Aunt Adela mention Countess Welser so casually made me increasingly certain that her access to the academy stemmed from her own personal connections.
"The gentleman introduced himself as Fabian."
"Without mentioning his family name?"
"Yes. He appeared to be rather cautious."
"I see."
Adela fell silent for a moment.
"Fabian... as far as I can recall, there is no influential noble heir in the Capital bearing that name. With one exception."
I immediately caught the change in her tone.
"That person?"
"Aunt will try to remember more clearly. For now, let us continue our journey. The corridor ahead leads directly to the teleportation gate chamber we will be using."
Ian and I nodded almost simultaneously.
Ian had been unusually quiet this entire time.
Most likely, he was analyzing Fabian, or perhaps he had returned to contemplating the mysterious watcher who continued to shadow us from the darkness.
"Come, Sister! Hold my hand!"
"Here I am."
The little girl giggled cheerfully as her tiny fingers wrapped tightly around my hand.
We soon left the lobby behind and made our way toward our true destination.
Throughout the walk, Aunt Adela's words continued to replay in my mind.
Had she met Fabian personally before?
Or was his influence so significant that merely hearing his name had immediately led her to suspect a particular individual?
It was no simple feat for Fabian to build such a formidable reputation within aristocratic circles.
Without remarkable achievements or a significant incident to elevate his name, it would have been impossible for anyone to secure a firm foothold in a political arena filled with intrigue and competing interests.
"Charlotte."
"Yes, Aunt?"
"Regarding Fabian... you must be careful when dealing with him."
A warning to remain vigilant.
Naturally, I would commit Aunt Adela's advice to memory. After all, her experience in navigating political affairs far surpassed my own.
"I understand."
"Aunt has no intention of restraining you or limiting your freedom. However, if the Fabian you met today is the same man I remember, then caution is the wisest course of action."
"I shall remember that."
I fell into thought for a moment.
It would become troublesome if the Fabian Aunt Adela was referring to turned out to be a different person altogether. A mistaken identification would only lead our judgments further astray.
"Does the Fabian you mean have golden-blond hair and red eyes?"
"Yes, Charlotte. Within the Capital, there is no other son of a high-ranking noble who bears the name Fabian."
"I see."
I released a quiet sigh.
"It seems my knowledge of the Capital's nobility is still far too shallow. I should begin expanding my understanding so I do not carelessly accept invitations from strangers."
"That would be wise. You must begin taking the history and genealogies of the Empire's noble houses seriously."
A trace of regret gradually surfaced within me.
If the man truly was as dangerous as Aunt Adela implied, future complications could become far more troublesome than I wished.
I had never been interested in studying noble history or family lineages.
Memorizing names, bloodlines, and familial connections seemed unbearably tedious.
"Are you not curious about which family that man belongs to?"
"Of course I wish to know."
The corner of Aunt Adela's lips lifted slightly.
Beside me, Dorothea listened to our conversation with obvious curiosity.
The discussion was clearly too complicated for her to fully understand, yet her eyes shone with the unmistakable fascination of a child hearing a story unlike any she had heard before.
Aunt Adela then shifted her gaze toward Ian.
"And what about you, Ian? Can you guess which family he comes from?"
Ian nodded lightly.
His black eyes briefly glanced toward me before he answered.
"It is difficult to determine with absolute certainty. Every piece of information surrounding that man appears to have been deliberately positioned somewhere between truth and fabrication."
I was immediately startled by his response.
The same reaction appeared on Aunt Adela's face.
In fact, she spoke before I even had the chance to ask a question.
"Ian, are you suggesting that the identity we currently know as Fabian may be nothing more than a disguise?"
"Yes."
Ian's voice remained calm.
"Even if we disregard his true identity and focus solely on the Fabian known to the public, he remains an exceptionally troublesome individual. I cannot yet determine who is truly moving the pieces behind the scenes. Whether he built that position himself, or whether someone else prepared it for him from the very beginning."
"How did you arrive at such a conclusion? What makes you so certain, Ian?"
Ian stepped slightly closer to Aunt Adela.
His voice dropped to the lowest possible volume.
The travelers around us were far enough away that none could possibly overhear their conversation.
"I have accompanied Father on numerous journeys across different regions. Because of that, I developed a strong interest in gathering information, whether historical records or local rumors from every place we visited."
Ian paused briefly before continuing.
"And naturally, I did not waste the opportunity to examine various intelligence reports while staying in the Capital."
"Then what makes you so certain that Fabian is not the legitimate heir of the family he currently represents?"
Ian's gaze hardened slightly.
"I possess information that is far more sensitive."
"Sensitive?"
"Yes. The information is connected to a high-level case."
Our steps continued carrying us through the long corridor leading toward the teleportation gate chamber.
Yet the atmosphere between us gradually became far more serious.
"If Aunt truly wishes to know, I do not mind explaining everything now."
Ian cast a brief glance around the corridor.
"However, this place is far too dangerous for a discussion of that nature."
His eyes swept across the travelers passing by in every direction.
Ian leaned closer and lowered his voice near Aunt Adela's ear.
Thanks to the sharpness of my senses, I was still able to catch every word of the quiet whisper.
"Dorothea is with us. This confidential information concerns the death of the Grand Duke, His Majesty's younger brother. And that case is directly connected to Fabian and the Empress's inner circle."
"..."
"Fabian maintains close ties with the Eastern Duke. Aunt is aware that the Empress comes from the Eastern Duchy. Furthermore, Fabian and the Empress share the same hair color."
Aunt Adela's body stiffened instantly.
A restrained gasp escaped her lips.
"What?! Impossible."
I immediately placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, attempting to calm her.
"Aunt, please remain calm."
Truthfully, I was not much different.
The information Ian had just revealed sounded far too outrageous and far too dangerous.
When had he gathered so much intelligence?
And how could he possibly possess information of such a sensitive nature?
I knew Ian often traveled alongside Father.
Yet those journeys had never lasted particularly long.
Then...
I understood.
His clones.
He had left Shadow Clones behind in every region he visited.
In that way, Ian could continue gathering information even after his true body had already departed.
Ian was clever. Despite traveling with Father and me on numerous occasions, that possibility had never once crossed my mind.
All this time, beneath his calm exterior, he had been moving silently within the shadows.
He was frightening.
Fortunately, Ian was my younger brother.
After several long breaths, Aunt Adela finally regained her composure.
Her gaze settled upon Ian once more.
This time, her eyes were far more serious.
"Forget it. Aunt has no desire to learn, much less retain, information that sensitive. Whether it is true or merely propaganda, I have no intention of becoming involved."
Her attention then shifted toward me.
A warm smile appeared upon her face, as though attempting to dispel the tension that had briefly settled between us.
"Remember this well, Charlotte. You must keep your distance and exercise caution around Fabian. As Ian has just explained, that young man is not someone you can deal with carelessly. Do you understand?"
"I understand."
I lowered my head slightly.
Beside me, Dorothea looked utterly confused.
Several times, the little girl appeared on the verge of asking a question, only to decide against it.
We quickly changed the subject.
Fabian's name was removed entirely from the conversation.
Before long, we arrived at our destination.
A magnificent altar stood before us.
Above a gleaming silver stone platform floated an enormous ring covered from end to end in mysterious ancient engravings.
Father once explained that the structure had been forged from a special metal with an exceptionally high capacity for absorbing magic force.
At the very center of the ring floated a massive blue crystal that served as the teleportation gate's core.
If the magic crystals used in street lamps could be compared to ordinary stones, then the crystal before us was pure gold.
They belonged to the same classification.
Yet their quality, purity, and energy capacity existed on entirely different levels.
The colossal ring hovered gracefully above the altar.
Whenever the teleportation system was activated, the ring would rotate continuously.
The engraved spell formations covering its surface would blaze with light, synchronizing perfectly with the waves of magic force emitted by the core crystal.
After receiving final instructions from the chief attendant, we promptly ascended the altar.
The personnel stationed around the area were all professional magicians.
Several stood at designated positions along the altar's perimeter, serving as overseers prepared to intervene should any complications arise during the spatial transfer process.
Not long after we stepped onto the altar, the tower attendants carrying our luggage began placing it within the designated storage section.
The moment I saw that, I immediately regretted one thing.
Three large suitcases.
I had brought three enormous suitcases.
Why had I packed so much?
Had I known the process would be this troublesome, I would have brought only the necessities.
A growing sense of embarrassment slowly crept over me.
Only a few days ago, I had criticized Ian for bringing nothing more than a modest amount of clothing and personal belongings.
Now the situation had completely reversed.
The three suitcases were not particularly heavy.
Yet imagining myself dragging all of them beneath the gaze of countless strangers felt like a direct assault on my dignity.
Aunt Adela seemed to notice exactly where my thoughts had wandered.
Her gaze shifted toward the pile of luggage being moved.
"We shall hire a private carriage as soon as we arrive at our destination station. You need not worry, Charlotte."
"Thank you very much, Aunt."
It was certainly a reasonable solution.
Unfortunately, it did not solve the real problem.
Once we reached the academy, I would still have to haul all these suitcases to the dormitory.
The image of myself dragging three oversized suitcases alone was mortifying.
The cadets would not laugh at me, would they?
Forget it.
There was no point dwelling on it now.
Besides, I could always ask Ian for help later.
Once every safety procedure had been completed, the magicians surrounding the altar collectively turned their attention toward Aunt Adela, the authority overseeing our journey.
The decision to activate the teleportation gate rested entirely in her hands.
Aunt Adela looked at each of us in turn.
"Is everyone ready?"
"Dottie is ready, Mother!"
Dorothea answered enthusiastically.
Ian and I nodded at the same time in agreement.
Seeing our response, Aunt Adela finally gave the order in a firm voice.
"Begin."
Almost instantly, the enormous blue crystal at the center of the altar burst into brilliant light.
Waves of magic force flooded the air around us.
And the colossal ring suspended above the altar began to rotate slowly.