CHAPTER 2: The Heroines Take Notice
"Kyaaaaah!"
"E-earthquake?! No, it's an enemy attack!"
"Guards! Where are the escort knights?!"
Just moments ago, the boys and girls who had been standing tall, debating noble etiquette, were now rolling on the floor, forgetting all pretense. Amid the chaos of screams and sobs.
Only one person remained standing, gripping nearby objects for support.
Princess Ardelia de Solarrium. Through the cracked glass window, she stared coolly at the rising plume of pale dust with her chilling red eyes.
Terrorism? No, the source of the explosion is inside the academy, on the first-floor practical exam hall.
It was a composure unbecoming of her thirteen years. But then, Ardelia was a regressor who had already experienced death once. Compared to the chilling, horrific sensation of the guillotine's blade pressing against her neck.
The mere shaking of a single building was nothing.
"Your Highness! It's dangerous—please evacuate this way!"
"Are you hurt anywhere?!"
A few of the panicking noble children snapped out of it late and rushed to Ardelia's side. Their shallow intentions to score points by "protecting" the princess were plain as day.
But Ardelia coldly ignored their fussing and elegantly shook out her skirt hems.
"Don't make a scene. There's no way enemies could infiltrate the heart of the Solarrium Academy. It must be some accident, so I'll go investigate the cause myself."
Her voice, laced with the princess's inherent dignity, echoed through the banquet hall. The noble children froze like they'd been doused with cold water, mouths clamped shut.
Just as Ardelia moved to step forward.
"It might be dangerous. I'll escort Your Highness too."
Vesperia von Edelgart approached and said so. Her voice held firm resolve to protect the princess, overriding any fear. With the duke's daughter taking the lead, the other noble heirs, who'd been watching for cues, clamored to join.
"I-I'll go too, Your Highness!"
"We'll protect Your Highness with our family's might!"
Ardelia shot an icy glare at the leeches trying to cling on.
"A mob of unnecessary people would only heighten the confusion. Only the Lady Edelgart will accompany me. The rest of you, stay here until the imperial knights arrive."
A firm command. No one dared object.
Ardelia gave Vesperia a slight nod before heading into the corridor.
The two girls hurried side by side down the empty academy corridor, hands clasped. Debris from the explosion littered the floor. Fortunately, it wasn't a direct hit, so nothing was too badly damaged. They could navigate carefully without issue.
"Be careful, Your Highness."
"Thank you, Lady Edelgart."
But their steps were unflinching.
Unnecessary personnel, my foot. It's all just an excuse anyway...
Ardelia, leading the way, gave a wry internal smile. Preventing chaos by limiting numbers was a plausible justification. But her true motive was utterly selfish and childish.
I just wanted to be alone with my little sister.
Ardelia's gaze lingered on Vesperia's profile beside her, their hands linked as they walked.
Vesperia. Her twin sister, erased from the family records due to the oracle of the Cursed Star.
In her previous life, Ardelia had lived oblivious to this fact. She learned the cruel truth on the day of ruin.
Vesperia, sacrificed as an offering to a wicked outer god by the cult. One of the cult's priests sneered at Ardelia, revealing it all.
How tragic. Born as the imperial twin princess due to the 'Cursed Star,' yet unable to even die as one.
Your other half's life and soul will serve us well, Princess.
The shock and despair had torn her heart to shreds. Vesperia's empty red eyes—her true form without the magic concealing her black hair—turned toward Ardelia as her breath faded. Only then did Ardelia recognize the face mirroring her own.
And after it all ended, in the cold, damp underground dungeon awaiting execution. Her father, driven mad, drove the wedge deeper.
Yes, that black-haired duchess is your sister. The 'Cursed Star' that will bring ruin to the empire. I abandoned her to save you, yet both of you disappoint this father! Hahaha!
That horrific laughter still echoed in her ears.
That night, Ardelia collapsed on the dungeon's cold stone floor, weeping blood tears through the darkness.
No... no...
Her twin, abandoned for a curse. Her poor half, offered to an evil god and slain.
In my previous life...
Ardelia's breath trembled faintly.
...I never even got to hold her hand properly.
She gently squeezed Vesperia's hand in hers. In her past life, her sister's hand had grown cold on the altar. But this one was so warm and soft. A vivid pulse of life throbbed through their joined fingers. That warmth melted the ice around Ardelia's heart.
"Oh?"
Vesperia looked mildly surprised at the pressure. But Ardelia didn't let go. Instead, she intertwined their fingers, gripping tighter.
Vesperia seemed flustered for a moment. Then her usual bright, warm smile bloomed as she squeezed back.
"Hee hee~"
"Fufu."
Through the windows, dazzling sunlight poured in. Imperial gold hair mingled with ducal black. The two girls walking hand in hand formed a picture-perfect scene. A tender sisterly bond blooming amid tragic fate. The air around them seemed to shimmer softly with romance.
Perfection incarnate.
But the moment they reached the first-floor special practical exam hall—the disaster site—that beautiful, romantic atmosphere shattered.
Utterly crushed by raw, violent reality.
"Wh-what on earth happened here?!"
Vesperia gasped in horror at the entrance, her linked hand twitching. Ardelia tried to stay calm. But even her trembling pupils betrayed her.
"I have no idea."
The academy's pride, the special barrier stone said to withstand up to 5-Circle magic, had vaporized into dust. Beyond it, the one-meter-thick mana-blocking outer wall gaped open like it'd been hit point-blank by a siege cannon. Blue smoke rose from the rubble. The melted stone floor bubbled grotesquely, reeking of burnt char.
This level of destruction... no student could do it.
Ardelia's mind cooled and spun at terrifying speed. No student could produce this power.
Did a professor mess up a demonstration? Or a visitor?
Turning her gaze, she spotted a group by the breached wall. The academy dean and senior professors. They stood dumbfounded, souls seemingly fled their bodies.
Her? The great mage Iril?
The 9-Circle elf great mage Iril. Ardelia hadn't expected her at the academy.
Chance! If she helps me, it'll be huge!
Ardelia stepped forward gracefully. Her heels clicked sharply in the silent hall: tap, tap.
"Dean."
Her calm, chilling voice. The soulless dean and professors jolted and turned. Panicking at the princess's presence, they bowed hastily and parted to clear her path.
"P-Princess Your Highness! Why are you here...!"
"We heard the explosion even in the waiting room. What exactly happened inside the exam hall?"
The dean sighed heavily at her words.
"Well... During the entrance practical exam, there was a slight... no, whew... a massive mishap."
His trembling fingertip pointed. Only then did Ardelia's eyes fix on the figure amid the shattered wall.
A skinny boy stood blankly, covered in pale dust. By her princess standards, cheap commoner clothes and malnourished sunken cheeks. But oddly striking features.
A commoner kid? Caught in the great mage's spell? A victim?
Ardelia instinctively assumed so. A great mage like Iril demonstrating magic for some reason, botching it. The poor commoner barely surviving.
Why he was here was a question for later. For now, duty as princess came first.
"Are you hurt?"
Ardelia asked softly, approaching. Vesperia eyed the boy worriedly too.
"You must have been startled getting caught in the great mage's spell. Don't be afraid. As the empire's princess, I will protec—"
"Y-Your Highness. That's not it..."
The dean cut in, face ashen.
"That boy... did it."
"...Pardon?"
Ardelia's elegant smile froze. Her step toward the commoner halted.
"That child just obliterated the barrier and the outer wall with a single 3-Circle flame spell."