After Northern Duchess Sylvia Sky departed for her ancestral home—leaving behind a solemn promise to reunite with me before the winter snows—the airship suddenly felt a little emptier.
In her absence, Shade lost no time slipping into my quarters to claim some quiet, uninterrupted alone time. Yin Meng stood vigil nearby, keeping a watchful eye on our surroundings. The room we occupied was a massive suite adjacent to the first officer’s quarters. It stretched across the entire width of the vessel, serving as a physical barrier that blocked unauthorized access to the rear deck. This clever layout transformed the ship's aft terrace into a completely secluded back garden, reserved exclusively for the occupants of our two private cabins. Higher up, the command bridge sat perched atop these dual airship residences like a second story, granting the crew an unobstructed view of the horizon in every direction.
By the second day of our journey, the hum of the engines shifted as we neared our destination. Seeking a breath of fresh air, I stepped out into the ship's aft garden, where Marquess Steven Sky unexpectedly joined me.
Trickle.
Yin Meng, looking exceptionally elegant in her long-sleeved, high-skirted maid attire, poured black tea for the two of us with practiced grace.
"Thank you for the tea, Meng'er," I murmured, offering her a sly grin. I had recently discovered that teasing older, mature women with cute, affectionate nicknames was a highly entertaining hobby. Sure enough, a soft rosy blush crept onto her cheeks. She offered a quick, respectful bow and hurried away, leaving the terrace so we could speak without interruption.
"Now that my daughter, Shade, and the guards aren't lurking around, I can finally drop the fool act, Loki," Marquess Sky said, his voice instantly losing its usual eccentric pitch. "I’m genuinely glad Sylvia found a man she truly desires. I can overlook the fact that you're currently a bit weak, given your young age and the fact that you're just starting out on your path."
He took a slow sip of his tea, his eyes sharpening with a cold, calculating brilliance. "However, your latent potential eclipses even that of that old coot, Owen. Just between you and me, I’ve never been a particularly big fan of the King. But a crown is a crown, sigh... Regardless, the King isn't the immediate threat you need to worry about. The real problem is his spoiled third son, Prince Vali Balder."
I leaned forward, listening intently.
"You and Sylvia effectively paralyzed his ascent to power by severing his ties to my daughter," Steven continued. "He can't force her into marriage anymore, even if he manages to have you assassinated. On a brighter note, let me offer a toast to you for securing me a grandchild so incredibly fast. Cheers!"
My lip twitched slightly as I looked at the genuine, ruthless side of Steven Sky. Honestly, I liked him much better this way. I raised my cup and toasted the fact that I had managed to knock up his incredibly attractive daughter. Still, a stray thought crossed my mind: If this man knew I managed to do it in just a single pump, would he throw me off the airship in rage, or simply die of laughter?
"In any case, Loki... there is a specific reason Sylvia is systematically replacing every single servant at your capital mansion," the Marquess explained, pulling me back to reality. "The Prince has a nasty habit of bribing household staff, so we are completely flushing out the vermin before you arrive.
While you are physically inside the capital, your life is reasonably safe. The kingdom's Time Mages can effortlessly reconstruct crime scenes using <Area Time Utility> magic. Because of that, the Prince will have to be exceptionally careful about making any overt moves against you."
He leaned back, a reassuring smirk playing on his lips. "We have deep roots and plenty of Sky family assets embedded in the royal capital, including myself. You won't be entering the lion's den without significant backing. Based on the intelligence I’ve gathered regarding Vali and his younger sister, the First Princess Lana, my guess is they will attempt to target you through your brother, Thorin."
"A classic divide-and-conquer strategy," I noted.
"Exactly. Nothing fits a childish political plot quite like manipulating brothers into destroying one another—using one as a borrowed knife. However, I don't believe Thorin is foolish enough to fall for such transparent tricks... even if they try to honey-trap him using Princess Lana herself, haha."
I couldn't help but smile at his optimistic assessment of my sibling's character. "Actually, Marquess, I've seen portraits of the Princess before. Knowing my brother, I believe he will absolutely sell me out—at least on the surface, until he extracts exactly what he wants from them. Thorin might be a bit slow in certain academic areas, but when it comes to playing the game..."
I chuckled, rubbing the back of my neck. "When we were children under the age of eight, I constantly tricked him into committing all sorts of naughty misdeeds, leaving him to take the fall. That's exactly why he plays those ridiculous pranks on me now, like orchestrating that whole panty-thief jail incident, cough."
The old fox pointed a finger at me, letting out a genuine, hearty laugh. "In that case, you owe your brother a massive debt of gratitude. If he hadn't maneuvered you into a prison cell, you would have never crossed paths with my daughter given her high social standing. She explicitly confessed to me that she fell for you on the spot purely because of your incredibly unfortunate imprisonment."
"Yeah, that sounds about right," I agreed with a grin. Then, looking at him curiously, I added, "By the way, Father... why do you constantly clown around and act so senile in public? I much prefer you when you're being direct like this."
His expression softened into a profound, weary smile. "When you reach my age—eight hundred and ninety-one years old, mind you—life becomes incredibly monotonous. You start inventing ways to spice up the daily grind. Furthermore, it keeps my enemies convinced that I've gone completely senile in my old age. They underestimate me. If those old dogs realized I was actively waiting in the shadows to strike..." He paused, the unspoken word rebellion hanging heavily in the air. "...they would be far more wary of me, wouldn't they?"
I nodded slowly, realizing that even I had been thoroughly deceived by his public persona. "So, when we're in public, I have to deal with the eccentric version of you?"
"Precisely! I’m only sharing this with you because Sylvia places absolute faith in your character. Otherwise, you would be sitting squarely on my own list of dangerous opponents to watch out for. So, play along with the act, brat."
I flashed him a definitive thumbs-up. To show my appreciation for the invaluable political warnings, I reached into my storage and presented him with one of my finest bottles of aged wine.
An hour later, right around noon, the massive airship began its final descent, touchdown occurring just east of the royal capital at the heavily fortified military airfield reserved for large-scale vessels.
Before disembarking, I summoned Shehuang from her pocket dimension. She, in turn, summoned Taki Tsuki out into the open. We had devised a clever stratagem to deceive the Royal Academy's inspectors, but the ruse required Taki to physically exist in the real world beforehand.
Biting her finger, Shehuang used her own blood to meticulously draw a single-use <Talisman of Summoning>. This specific artifact was intrinsically tied to Taki Tsuki, engineered to allow me to initiate a "Fake Summon" of the Dark Elf as though I were Shehuang herself. In reality, the talisman didn't actually conjure a creature; it was a highly advanced, one-way spatial portal designed to swap positions instantly.
The magic worked flawlessly because Shehuang technically counted as my primary Summoner. Under normal circumstances, these specialized talismans could only be activated by her direct summons—such as Yin Meng calling Taki, or Mamba pulling Shehuang to safety during a dire emergency. To execute the trick, all I had to do was conceal the paper talisman inside my sleeve or pocket, channel a precise burst of my own magical power into it, and point toward the target area.
Since Western Mages standardly neglected the intricate art of Talisman Creation, they wouldn't be looking for an Eastern trick of this nature. Naturally, I would still have to chant a few fake, theatrical incantations aloud to make the performance believable, but for now, the setup was watertight. Even if a high-level Western Mage attempted to cast a Banishment spell on Taki Tsuki to test her, the magic would register her exactly as a true Summoned entity.
Once Taki Tsuki was safely stationed at my side, I permitted Shehuang to return to the comfort of her personal pocket world. Before she left, I made sure to leave her with a few comforts: a functional jukebox loaded with hit music I vividly remembered from Earth, and a collection of complex, single-player board games to keep her entertained.
As I walked down the boarding ramp, flanked by Yin Meng acting as my attentive maid and Taki Tsuki posing as my loyal Summon, Shade stepped up beside me.
"I need to remain at the docks for the rest of the day," she explained quietly. "While the airship undergoes standard resupply, I have to coordinate directly with the capital's governance members. I'll make my way to the Sky family mansion tonight. I can stay with you for two nights before I absolutely must head back to the northern territories."
I leaned in and caught her by surprise with a swift, affectionate kiss, causing a brilliant crimson blush to erupt across her face.
Waving farewell, I smiled. "Alright, I'll see you tonight, Wife. We need to go register at the Royal Academy now, and then I'll head straight to the mansion to wait for your arrival."
After parting ways with her, I navigated the busy airfield to locate Thorin so we could collect our mounts and proceed to the academy registration together. Marquess Sky took charge of the newly hired staff, heading out ahead of us to oversee the security sweep and preparation of the capital estate while I dealt with school bureaucracy.
Thorin had been efficient. By the time I found him, he had already gathered Brown Sugar—a majestic, all-white Clydesdale designated for Yin Meng—alongside my notoriously uncooperative, troublemaking stallion, Sleipnir. A handful of traveling companions Thorin had befriended during the voyage were currently bidding him warm goodbyes, shouting promises about hitting the local taverns for drinks later in the week.
Catching sight of me approaching with two exceptionally beautiful women in tow, Thorin waved enthusiastically. "Hey, Loki! Over here! Let's hurry up and sign our names at the academy. I'm too excited to wait around!"
Just as Yin Meng and Taki took hold of the white horse's reins and I secured a firm grip on Sleipnir's lead, the heavy, rhythmic clatter of approaching hooves echoed across the cobblestones.
Clop. Clop. Creak.
An incredibly lavish carriage, adorned in rich crimson velvet, lacquered black wood, and gleaming gold accents, rolled to a stop nearby. The prestigious royal crest of the Balder family was proudly emblazoned across the side panels. A disciplined vanguard of heavily armored, mounted knights flanked the impressive six-horse team drawing the vehicle.
Thud. Click. Creak.
The moment the carriage ground to a halt, the liveried driver leapt down from his perch, swiftly unlatching the crested door to allow the high-ranking passengers to step out into the crisp afternoon air.
While my two companions sat gracefully atop their respective mounts, Thorin and I stood watching the open carriage door, curious to see who was arriving with such immense theatricality.
Step. Step.
The first individual to emerge was a young man nearing his twenties, standing at a sharp, commanding five-foot-eleven. He wore the striking red-and-black uniform of the upper elite, heavily adorned with intricate gold epaulets and a glittering array of military medals. In this kingdom, gold detailing represented the highest tier of nobility, silver denoted mid-ranked lords, bronze signified the lesser gentry, and commoners wore no insignia at all.
His long, pale grey hair was gathered back into a neat, low ponytail, framing a undeniably handsome face with piercing blue eyes. I had to give credit where credit was due—the guy was almost as good-looking as my brother and me. Whistle.
His calculating gaze swept over the immediate area, shifting into a warm, practiced smile when he locked eyes with Thorin. However, when his eyes continued tracing the crowd and landed on me—catching me watching him with an unbothered, amused smirk—his eyebrows knitted into a subtle frown. He completely looked past Yin Meng, dismissing her as a foreign servant, but his posture visibly stiffened when his eyes fell upon Taki Tsuki. A look of profound unease crossed his face as he observed the dark-skinned elf sitting atop a royal stallion with her eyes serenely closed.
"Brother, what is the delay? Is Sir Thorin Sky not present out there yet?"
A sickly-sweet, honeyed voice drifted from the dim interior of the carriage, causing our hearts to skip a beat in sudden anticipation. I had an immediate, undeniable hunch: this was none other than the First Princess of the Balder Kingdom, Lana Balder.
"He is right here, sister," Prince Vali replied smoothly, extending a chivalrous hand to assist her descent. "Come out and greet your future champion."
Thorin and I both unconsciously tilted our heads to the side, completely driven by a mutual, basic curiosity to get a first look at the legendary royal beauty.
Step. Step.
As the Third Prince gripped his sister's hand, a pale, remarkably delicate hand emerged from the carriage, followed immediately by a beautifully sculpted leg adorned in exquisite, gold-woven footwear.
Gulp.
I practically burst out laughing right then and there. Thorin had audibly gulped the exact moment her face came into view, staring at her as if he had never encountered a beautiful woman in his entire life. Observing my brother completely lost in her immediate charm, Prince Vali’s smile blossomed into a triumphant grin. This was precisely the intoxicating effect he had engineered for Thorin to experience.
Princess Lana stood at a graceful five-foot-five, her features anchored by dazzling, crystalline blue eyes. However, what truly arrested my attention was her hair—it literally shimmered and gleamed in the sunlight as if it were woven from threads of pure, spun gold. Seeing her bangs cut straight across her forehead felt like a minor stylistic tragedy, but there was no denying reality: she was breathtakingly beautiful.
Thump.
A sudden, treacherous spark ignited in my chest. She was precisely the type of high-status, alluring woman I would thoroughly enjoy stealing away from another man... not that I would ever actually stoop to doing something like that. Would I?
The academy's red-and-black uniform, tailored meticulously with gold trim, hugged her hourglass figure flawlessly. I let out a quiet, internal sigh.
Thorin was completely, utterly doomed to fall face-first into this gorgeous temptress's trap.
Lana took in my brother’s remarkably handsome features—his striking blonde hair and vibrant aqua eyes—and instantly concluded he was a flawless match for her aesthetic standards. A genuine sense of satisfaction washed over her; her father and brother wanted her to court this legendary, dual-element Full Knight, and looking at him now, the assignment wasn't a chore at all. Her smile grew entirely radiant and real.
Then, the universe decided to ruin her perfect moment.
As her eyes drifted past Thorin to scan the rest of our party, her gaze unexpectedly locked right into my deep green eyes. My vibrant red hair fluttered casually in the ambient breeze. The moment our eyes met, a look of profound, paralyzing shock fractured her beautiful features.
Step. Slip—Thud!
Prince Vali suddenly lost his grip on her fingers. Lana completely missed the carriage's wooden step, losing her footing entirely as momentum carried her forward. She dove through the air, face-planting directly into the wet airfield dirt and mud.
Neigh!
Sleipnir’s dark eyes widened to the size of saucers at the sudden spectacle. The troublemaking stallion let out a massive, booming snort of pure, unadulterated horse laughter. Beside me on the white Clydesdale, the closed-eyed Dark Elf’s lips curled into a rare, highly satisfied smirk.
Prince Vali stood frozen on the carriage platform, completely stupefied, staring down at his sister face-down in the mud as if his brain had short-circuited. My brother twitched, instinctively wanting to charge forward to rescue the damsel in distress, but strict royal protocol regarding uninvited common contact anchored his boots to the floor.
When Lana finally lifted her head from the ground, her pristine, angelic face was thoroughly caked in dark brown airfield mud. Through her crushing humiliation, her eyes immediately sought me out.
Looking right back at her, I raised my hand and offered her a highly supportive, comforting thumbs-up—delivered alongside a smug, mocking smirk that absolutely deserved a severe physical beating.
I silently mouthed the words: [I saw nothing. Carry on.]
I casually turned my head away, looking up at the sky and whistling a cheerful, innocent tune. I honestly had no idea that my passive, overwhelming charm had completely shattered her concentration and caused the fall in the first place.
All I knew was that behind me, I could practically hear her royal ego violently exploding into a volatile mixture of blinding rage, utter speechlessness, and profound shame. She looked entirely ready to burst into tears.
I really didn't know her undignified crash was technically my fault. But damn, it was funny as hell to watch live.
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