Her steps came to a sudden halt.
Mahina looked at Oz. “What do you mean? You’re becoming a Duke before you even graduate?”
Faced with Mahina’s questioning, Oz’s expression remained exceptionally calm, as if she had long ago accepted this fate.
“I am an adult, am I not? In fact, there are quite a few people who inherit their titles immediately upon coming of age.”
Mahina wanted to say something, but the words died in her throat. Her gaze turned cold once more. “Then… that has nothing to do with me anymore.”
Although she said that, the tangled mess of thoughts in Mahina’s mind finally began to connect. ‘So that’s why…’ The interception of the letters between her and Merlin back then had only been the catalyst, though resolving that had been satisfying. Otherwise, how could Lucia, who usually didn’t get along with her, have been kind enough to help her resolve the issues with the Talan family for free? As expected, it wasn’t that simple.
Mahina, even in her teens, did not know exactly when the Moon Church had split into two factions; neither side had clear records. The Capital, the North, and the East formed one faction that worshiped the Full Moon. The Southern Region, the Western Region, and the vassal states further south favored the New Moon. In reality, the New Moon and the Full Moon represented the confrontation between Imperial Power and Divine Power, as well as the struggle between two rival forces. Within the Empire, these two powers maintained a delicate balance.
However, Colin, the Head of House Taran… or should he be called the former Head of the Family now? From the moment Mahina joined the Talan family, she had sensed from Colin’s every word and action that his personality leaned more toward the New Moon. He might have already defected to the other side. In the North, where local traditions and customs were highly valued, Colin’s behavior had always seemed out of place. Therefore, when Mahina proposed severing ties with the Talan family, she refused to believe any of Colin’s claims of “familial affection,” no matter what he said.
Colin simply wasn’t that kind of person. He was a thorough egoist at his core, and his way of thinking was more suited to the South. When his personal interests weren’t at stake, he would act like a traditional Northerner—gentle, charitable, and family-oriented. But once his interests were threatened, he became a completely different person. Although Mahina had only been an executor for the Talan family all those years, she had noticed that Colin placed his personal interests above those of the family and the North. Perhaps others didn’t understand this side of him, but as his former adopted daughter, Mahina had observed his every move. Sometimes, even she couldn’t understand why he made certain choices.
While Mahina was lost in thought, Oz’s voice rang out cautiously, interrupting her memories. “As a friend… can’t you even attend my succession ceremony?”
“Friends?”
“I’ve invited other classmates from the Academy as well. And, of course, Princess Merlinlia.”
Mahina remained silent for a moment. She looked down at the teacup placed in front of Oz, catching a glimpse of Oz’s uneasy expression in the reflection of the tea. Indeed, Oz was more like a traditional Northerner. Even though Mahina had left the Talan family, Oz still viewed her as a sister and had not forgotten her during such a pivotal event. The concern in Oz’s eyes was not faked.
However, the hurdle in Mahina’s heart was still there. “Don’t tell me that what happened between me and Merlin was just Colin and Jack making trouble. How do you expect me to get along with them?”
Oz paused.
“I have already made a promise. From now on, I will deal with the people around my father who are associated with the New Moon and reorganize the Talan family. That should be made public soon, along with the news of me becoming the new Duke.”
Mahina looked at the Oz before her, who had grown cold. Her heart was a swirl of complicated emotions.
Oz remained silent for a moment. “So… regarding the military forces, is it really as serious as Lucia said before? Is it truly that complicated?”
Oz smiled. “They’ve been weakened, so there should be no problem with Talan continuing to be the Boss of the North.”
“You’ve already seen His Majesty, haven’t you?”
She looked out the window at the grey sky that belonged to the North, her voice soft yet firm. “Of course. Otherwise, how would I dare to move forward with the succession matters on my own? I was the one who proposed this because I… I want to protect the North. I want to protect House Taran, and I want to give everyone a place they can return to at any time.”
“However…”
Oz’s originally relaxed brow suddenly furrowed, and her tone shifted abruptly. She lowered her voice as an invisible wave of Magic Power rippled out from beneath her feet, instantly enveloping the entire club room. A faint humming sound echoed in the air, as if the room had been isolated by a thick, transparent curtain. The sounds of birds and the wind outside vanished instantly, leaving only a suffocating silence.
“The rumors that have been spreading among the Nobility lately… I’m afraid they are true.”
Mahina, realizing what she was about to say, interrupted sharply and stood up in a panic. “Enough! I am no longer a citizen of the Empire. Do not tell me!”
However, Oz did not stop. Instead, she increased her output of Magic Power, making the transparent barrier even thicker. She raised her voice, sounding both anxious and stern. “Mahina! I just want you to be as prepared as possible… Fine, you are no longer a citizen of the Empire. That is exactly why you should know when it’s time to run.”
Oz stood up and looked directly at Mahina, who was trying to escape. Mahina froze in place, her rebuttal stuck in her throat. She looked into Oz’s desperate eyes.
“If you saw the Emperor with your own eyes, you would realize it.”
“I see… So that’s why the matters of me becoming the new Duke are moving so quickly. At this moment, with a storm approaching, both sides need to stabilize the situation. The North must never defect, and I don’t want to see that happen either.”
“Is His Majesty in a serious condition?”
On the day Mahina was formally adopted, she had seen the Emperor once.
“It’s hard to say… but at least it’s not something that will happen immediately. Nothing should go wrong before you graduate. Besides, the Emperor is secretly searching for a cure.”
Oz took a deep breath and exhaled forcefully. “That’s why… I hope you prepare for the storm. Since you already consider yourself no longer a part of the Empire, do not let yourself get dragged in by other forces.”
“I understand.”
Mahina began to quickly calculate her future schedule in her mind. Then, she looked up, her expression serious. “I will attend if I can. Thank you for the information. However… I might have to go to the Elven Forest with Merlin during the Radiance Day holiday. I can’t be sure if I’ll be back in time.”
A trace of disappointment flickered in Oz’s eyes, but it was followed by a sense of relief and joy. Since it involved Merlin, and since Mahina now had a new home and someone she wanted to spend her time with, what reason did she have to force her as an older sister?
“It’s fine. I’m already very happy that you’re willing to agree.”
Mahina tidied her skirt. Before pushing the door open to leave, she turned her back to Oz and spoke softly. “If I don’t make it back…” —