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At Ian’s flawlessly formal greeting, a glint of satisfaction gleamed in Cien’s eyes.

She had worried because he was the second son of a countryside Viscount, but, surprisingly, his manners were impeccable.

At the very least, it seemed she wouldn’t have to worry about any social blunders happening if he were to serve as her close associate.

However, the words that flowed from Cien’s mouth were brimming with humility, in contrast to her inner thoughts.

“You must be Senior Ian, right? Hehe, there’s no need to be so formal. Even if I am a princess, within the academy, I am just another student.”

With that, Cien gracefully bowed her upper body and flashed him a cutesy smile.

For most men, this would be the end. Boringly so.

After all, there hardly existed a man who could resist the allure of a sweet and beautiful woman.

However, this man proved to be the exception. There was no emotion visible in the fleeting glance he gave her.

His eyes were devoid of emotion, utterly vacant.

Cien felt a bit confused, wondering if this was his true nature, or whether he was just skilled at concealing his feelings.

However, she would soon find out. Her light gray eyes locked onto Ian’s gaze.

Now, she would see for herself.

Cien’s pupils briefly clouded, as if she were gazing into a distant place far from here.

But a moment later, her eyes widened in surprise as she rubbed her eyelids.

Huh? This can’t be right.

She couldn’t see it. Even when she tried again, it yielded the same result.

Cien couldn’t hide her flustered expression, because such occurrences had been extremely rare throughout her life.

However, regardless of Cien’s state, Ian seemed entirely unfazed. He simply asked in his distinct emotionless tone.

“…So, what brings Your Highness here?”

Despite her earlier request to be treated like a junior, Ian continued to use formal speech.

It seemed he intended to continue treating her as the princess without making it uncomfortable.

It was a commendable decision. His ability to gauge the atmosphere and expectations of those above him surpassed her expectations.

This pleased her even more. Deep down, she felt a yearning to possess.

Perhaps her ambition got the best of her, making her take a somewhat daring decision, deviating from her usual self.

After all, there was really no need to see it.

Her counterpart was the second son of a countryside Viscount, who had shown remarkable growth in the past two months. Naturally, there must have been a valid reason behind such progress.

A catalyst for his rapid growth.

What could be the driving force behind his motivations?

Human psyche is often predictable. It was typically desire, and humans generally desired what they lacked.

If there was something lacking in a second son of a countryside Viscount, then sure, it should be…

Power. Cien’s light gray eyes deepend as she arrived at this tentative conclusion.

“I’ve heard a lot about your achievements, Senior Ian. You defeated a demonic human not too long ago, didn’t you? Actually, I’ve come on behalf of the Imperial Family to discuss that matter with you.”

It was already an honor to have the beautiful princess visit on behalf of the Imperial Family. Especially for a low ranking noble like him, he would feel indebted at being treated so courteously.

If not, they might struggle to conceal their anticipation for the reward the Imperial Family would bestow.

Yet, surprisingly, the man displayed no reaction. He simply gazed at Cien with golden eyes, heavy with fatigue.

He certainly wasn’t devoid of desires, but he was likely used to concealing them.

Impressive. The princess smiled softly.

More and more, she longed to claim this man as her own.

An urge gripped her, akin to a predator that had found its prey after a long period of starvation.

“Considering your unprecedented accomplishments, the Imperial Family is facing a dilemma. We indeed want to reward you, but we’re at a loss as to what Senior Ian might want…”

With that, the princess gracefully approached Ian.

Rising on her tiptoes, her voice, like a whisper, reached the man’s ears.

“Just name it. Whatever it is, I’ll ensure it’s granted.”

“…Anything?”

Only then did Ian respond, his voice carrying a hint of interest. The sly smile on Cien’s lips deepened.

Indeed, no matter how great he might think himself to be, he was still just a human.

Each breath Cien took seemed sweeter.

“Yes, anything… but remember, I am the one granting this favor.”

A thoughtful ‘hum’ emanated from Ian’s lips.

Cien wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip. She eloquently made her proposition.

Given what she had observed, he was a man of few words. So, she knew that she needed to be direct.

“Perhaps, in the future, we might form a valuable connection? I can provide you with everything you desire. All you need to do is kiss my feet.”

Her words were indirect, but the implication was clear.

She was hinting at a pledge of loyalty. Kissing one’s feet represented the highest form of respect one could show their master.

Sure, he might feel a blow to his pride now, but once he tasted power, his perspective would inevitably shift.

Because no creature laid bare their desires like humans.

Cien believed it would be best to make such a straightforward proposition from the start, ensuring he would obediently follow her words later on. This was the fundamental art of manipulation that Cien had learned throughout her life in the palace.

Ian maintained his silence for a very long time.

Cien wasn’t concerned. After all, wasn’t he merely a second son of a countryside Viscount?

Despite his recent remarkable progress, opportunities for a low-ranking noble like him to join the Imperial Family were scarce.

Soon, he would willingly kiss her feet.

However, she sensed this alone might be insufficient, so the princess decided to press Ian further.

“…Perhaps, even succession rights?”

Having said that, Cien casually took a few steps back.

She could imagine the trials and tribulations he had likely faced as the second son of a countryside Viscount. Growing up, he probably lived in the shadow of his elder brother, and judging by his records, his brother had been the designated heir for a long time.

His recent rapid rise might not be unrelated to that.

Apart from that, his record was spotless.

He was a man who had sacrificed a demonic beast’s corpse worth 10,000 gold just to save a mere commoner girl.

At least, greed for money wasn’t his motivation. That left only the pursuit of power.

Of course, depending on the listener, Cien’s words could be perceived as an insult towards his family.

But what of it? Cien was a princess, while Ian was merely the second son of a countryside noble. Moreover, if he harbored any ambitions of power, he might even take delight in her words.

It was an acknowledgement of his desires, after all. Most people, even as they feigned indifference, yearned to have their darkest desires acknowledged.

The princess was confident that by now, Ian must have been at least somewhat swayed. Despite hearing her audacious offer, instead of showing anger, he had maintained his composure.

So, she pressed him once more.

“How about it, Senior Ian? Have you thought of anything?”

“…Actually, I do have one wish.”

Finally! A fleeting look of delight swept across the princess’s eyes.

All that remained now was to seal the deal. Feeling as if she were threading the hook through a baited fish, Cien beamed with a blooming smile.

“Go on, tell me. Whatever Senior Ian desires, anything at all…”

It was then that the warm atmosphere was splashed with cold water.

A stream of water sprayed through the air.

Ian had swiftly uncapped a canteen, pouring its contents directly towards the princess.

The sudden turn of events caught everyone off guard.

Not only Cien, but also her Imperial Guards standing behind her, and even the onlookers who had been eagerly eavesdropping on their conversation, were all equally taken aback.

With a plop, the water cascaded, drenching Cien from head to toe.

Caught off guard by the unexpected move, Cien remained frozen, her earlier smile still etched on her face. Her Imperial Guards, standing resolutely behind her, mirrored her shock.

Seeing her in this state, Ian asked with a hint of amusement in his voice and a smirk on his face.

“…Was the water refreshing, Your Highness?”

Pwah, Cien audibly gasped with wide eyes. A mix of surprise and shame rippled through her eyes.

She had never been treated this way before.

Had she ever, in her life as a princess, faced such humiliation?

And that act served as a trigger.

The first to react was Irene. Her hand moved like lightning to grasp the hilt of her sword.

And just as she was about to draw it…

A chill ran down her spine. Instinctively, her eyes sought the cause.

A pair of golden irises locked onto hers. The man’s eyes, ablaze like fire, were fixed on her.

Irene froze in place.

It was strange. Her knight’s intuition, refined over a lifetime, was sounding an alarm. There was only one implication to this.

The man before her was formidable. An adversary not to be underestimated.

Cold sweat began to form in Irene’s palms. Her breathing became labored.

Without taking his eyes off her, the man issued a quiet warning.

“Knight Irene… retract your hand from your sword, unless you wish to regret it.”

His tone was naturally commanding. As if when dealing with Irene, this was the only fitting way to speak, and it didn’t sound awkward at all.

It was at this moment that Irene snapped back to reality.

She felt foolish.

Her opponent was, at best, a third-year student at the academy. She was a member of the Imperial Family’s personal Knight Order, where only the finest academy graduates could join.

There was no way Irene could be outmatched by a mere student like him.

As she recalled this, a blush crept onto her pale face. She felt ashamed that she had allowed herself to feel intimidated by Ian, even momentarily.

And soon, that shame quickly transformed into hostility directed at Ian.

Grinding her teeth, Irene drew her sword.

“All Guards, prepare for battle!”

And then, the resounding clash of metal signaled that every guard behind Irene had drawn their swords.

All the knights were experts or above in combat. While they couldn’t wear armor due to academy regulations, their bodies were essentially weapons themselves.

The blazing aura around them was proof of their capabilities. It should be normal for them to overpower a mere third-year academy student in an instant.

Nevertheless, in Ian’s eyes, there wasn’t a hint of emotion or concern.

His demeanor wasn’t what one might expect when facing formidable opponents. There was no trace of fear or tension on his face.

All that reflected in those golden eyes was deep fatigue, as if every other emotion had been burnt away.

To Irene, this was deeply unsettling.

The man didn’t exude arrogance or excessive confidence. Instead, he appeared as if he was dealing with opponents hardly worth the effort.

In the end, Irene clenched her teeth, trying to reassure herself against the mounting unease.

It didn’t add up. He was merely a third-year student from the academy. There was no way he could overpower four of the Imperial Palace’s elite guards.

Still, despite her lingering unease, Irene finally made up her mind.

Right, she would just settle this with a display of skill.

The brief standoff was over. Unable to restrain herself any longer, Irene’s foot stamped the ground.

In a split second, literally in the blink of an eye…

It was as if space itself had folded, and suddenly Irene was charging directly at the man.

The air cleaved with a delayed shriek. Even the shockwave took its time. Her blue hair fluttered wildly in the wind.

By then, Irene’s sword was already thrusting towards Ian’s heart.

It was a sharp thrust. Yet, Ian showed no movement up to that point.

He didn’t even attempt to draw his sword. Amidst the seemingly slow passage of time, Irene felt a profound relief.

It had been a needless worry. Indeed, her opponent was nothing more than a rookie, a mere third-year student at the academy.

Not only did refrain from counterattacking, he couldn’t even react to her surprise attack.

But in the very next moment…

Irene’s eyes widened in shock.

Within the suspended time, the man’s hand seemed to press the blade of Irene’s sword, deflecting it. It was an action only possible if one fully understood the flow of force. The aura itself twisted, following a smooth trajectory.

Irene’s sword stabbed the empty air. Before she realized it, Ian’s arm had wrapped around her outstretched shoulder.

Her mind went blank.

How… How was this possible?

Before she could even voice such a question, a deep voice echoed in her ears.

“…I warned you not to do something you’d regret.”

And then, suddenly, Irene’s world turned upside down.

Bang!

The female knight crashed into the ground, making an explosive sound, almost like a cannon’s blast. Shards of broken rocks and gravel scattered in every direction.

Dust soared high into the sky, creating a dense haze. It was evident that the strike carried an immense amount of force.

The breaths of many went still in that very moment.