Three days after the incident in the Arcadelt Vault, Luna Academy was wrapped in a festive atmosphere. Banners of gold and blue decorated the massive marble pillars of the central hall.
The annual Imperial Spring Banquet was approaching, and as the daughter of Duke Arcadelt, my attendance was mandatory.
I sat in the academy library, staring blankly at a pile of spell books detailing spatial magic. Next to me, Chloe was meticulously pouring fresh chamomile tea into a porcelain cup, her movements graceful and perfectly trained.
"Lady Rosel, please drink some tea. You haven't rested properly since your agreement with Master Adrian," Chloe said gently, her tone full of quiet worry.
"I'm fine, Chloe," I sighed, taking the cup. "I just need to figure out how to activate the secondary seal on the core before the banquet."
"About the banquet..." Chloe paused, her eyes dimming slightly as she kept her gaze on the tablecloth. "His Highness Prince Leo has sent a formal request to escort you as his official partner."
I almost choked on my tea. "He did what?!"
*Ping!*
[Reading Chloe's Thoughts...]
*‘That prince... He keeps trying to claim Lady Rosel in public. If he tries to touch her waist during the imperial dance, I will poison his wine... No, poison is too obvious. A sudden gust of wind to break his neck would look like an accident...’*
*CHLOE! THAT IS HIGH TREASON! STOP PLANNING ROYAL ASSASSINATIONS OVER TEA!*
Before I could calm Chloe down, the heavy wooden doors of the library burst open. Prince Leo himself stepped inside, flanked by two imperial knights. His blonde hair gleamed under the chandeliers, and his golden eyes swept across the room until they locked onto me.
"Rosel," Leo announced loudly, walking toward my table with an air of absolute confidence. "I assume you received my invitation?"
I set the teacup down with a cold *clink*. "Your Highness, breaking into the academy library with armed guards is hardly appropriate behavior for the Crown Prince."
"I am merely securing my future Empress," Leo chuckled, leaning over my table, his face dangerously close to mine. "You've been spending far too much time with that magician and this scholarship student. It's time the empire remembers who you belong to."
* **[User_OlympicShip]:** *LEO IS GOING FULL POSSESSIVE MODE!*
* **[User_YuriSimp]:** *CHLOE, GET THE DAGGER READY!*
I looked straight into Leo's golden eyes, feeling the heavy gaze of the entire library on us. The game was escalating faster than I thought, and the upcoming banquet was clearly going to be a battlefield.