The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the path yellow, and the breeze rustled a few fallen leaves along the stone road.
“What are you doing here?”
Mahina stopped, turned her head, and saw Lucia leaning against the ornate railing without any grace, toying with a wild fruit she had picked from somewhere.
“What am I doing… just came back from a stroll. What about you? What are you doing?”
Since Merlin enrolled, the two had been meeting more often, and now they encountered each other at the academy gate.
Lucia didn’t answer immediately. Her half-lidded eyes swept over the huge paper bag Mahina was holding. The bag’s mouth was slightly open, revealing layers of lace edges inside.
“Well…” Mahina instinctively hugged the bag closer to her chest, as if to hide something, but then she relaxed.
Inside the bag were matching dresses, accessories, and high heels.
“Well… I went to alter a dress. After all, there’s a social event tomorrow night, isn’t there?”
After all, Mahina was just an ordinary student now. She had to save wherever possible. Even with tuition waived, daily expenses were necessary. The cost of a new dress was too painful for Mahina now, so it was better to modify an old one into the latest style.
“Oh? I didn’t know you liked such events. How come I never noticed?”
Mahina didn’t avoid it. She looked straight into Lucia’s teasing eyes.
“Because Merlin will be there. Because I love her. The more chances to meet, the better.”
This time, even Lucia was thrown off by Mahina’s directness. She could only manage a hurried reply.
“Oh, that’s nice.”
The two walked side by side on the wide academy boulevard, maintaining a subtle distance.
The setting sun stretched their shadows long. Mahina glanced sideways and noticed that Lucia’s usually delicate and fair cheeks were marked with faint dark circles, and even her usually smooth silver hair seemed a bit dull.
“What’s wrong? Candidate Saintess, been busy lately?”
Lucia sighed wearily, the muscles in her face seeming to lose elasticity, trembling helplessly.
“I was just about to tell you. You walked right into it.”
“What?”
Mahina looked at Lucia beside her. Her gaze was no longer as carefree as usual.
“Colin is missing.”
Mahina’s brows furrowed, her voice turning cold.
“What? Weren’t you keeping him under house arrest?”
That was what Mahina had heard from Oz. Lucia was silent for a moment.
“Chris is missing too… Even though they were separated under house arrest. Chris has more influence in the North, so the Emperor handed him over to Oz to be held under house arrest in the North. But Colin was holed up in the deepest part of the Imperial Capital Prison.”
Mahina glanced at her.
“Both of them are missing?”
Lucia rubbed her temples, her voice a little hoarse.
“Yeah… Glaring at me won’t help. I’ve been at the academy lately, and I don’t usually deal with these matters.”
Lucia’s reputation nationwide was poor, including in the palace. Mahina knew that well.
“Former Duchess, you should understand my position, right?”
In the palace, no one dared to provoke Lucia. As the youngest daughter, she wasn’t favored either, living alone and isolated. And now, Lucia was happy with that status quo. She didn’t like being surrounded by false concern, and had no interest in the throne that consumed people. She just wanted to continue her carefree life in this chaotic world.
But carefree life had its limits. Power struggles were inevitable. If she wanted to avoid being caught up in the turmoil of the Emperor Succession War, the easiest choice was to find a big tree to shelter under. For example, joining the First Prince’s or Second Prince’s faction.
Lucia had joined the Second Prince. Reason? No particular reason. She simply disliked Helena. Between the Emperor and Helena, she simply hated Helena more.
At least the Emperor had cared for her since childhood. As for Helena… hah.
Including the previous expedition and the dealings with the Talan family, it was both an obligation and a way to accumulate achievements for the Second Prince. Besides, the Emperor considered that she was still in school and didn’t want her achievements to surpass the Second Prince’s, so Lucia hadn’t been that hard-pressed.
Lucia looked at Mahina, her gaze gradually sharpening.
“Since you’re directly involved, I’d better tell you. Those two escaped inexplicably. If it were Chris, you could say there was collusion from the North. But deep inside the Imperial Capital Sky Prison, with tight security and magic locks…”
Lucia’s brow was deeply furrowed.
“Now it seems… what misunderstanding?”
Mahina gave a slight smile.
“Doesn’t this prove they were in cahoots? Back then, Colin argued that Chris had misunderstood him and forcibly separated her and Merlin.”
Even though the North and the Capital were so far apart, they still managed to escape together. How close they were. Really, thinking back to Colin’s serious face at that time, Mahina felt sick.
Lucia interrupted Mahina’s thoughts.
“But of course, it’s not completely without leads. We can understand why they let Colin escape. After all, their strength is still important.”
“What leads?”
Lucia put away her smile, deliberately drawing out her tone, but her voice was no longer as nonchalant as before.
“For you, who is no longer an imperial citizen, it’s too dangerous. Just know that Colin escaped, and be mentally prepared at all times. After all…”
“He probably hasn’t left the Capital. A tight defense has been set up. If he gets desperate, he might barge into the academy and come after you. Although I don’t think he has the guts, since Her Highness Ophelia is still here.”
Mahina nodded.
“I understand. Thank you.”
Lucia waved her hand, returning to her listless demeanor.
“It’s nothing. If you want to thank someone, thank Oz.”
Hearing Oz, her former sister, Mahina fell silent again. Mahina understood her goodwill but could never accept it.
“Ah, right. Though you’ll find out soon, I might as well tell you. Oz’s coronation ceremony has been moved up. The reason, of course, is that ‘the night is long and full of woe.’ It will start three days after the Star Moon Festival ends. It won’t wait until Radiance Day.”
Mahina nodded.
“I know. I already promised her.”
Since the ceremony was moved up, Mahina had no reason to refuse. She had already promised.
The two continued walking until they reached the courtyard where students gathered. At the center of the courtyard, they saw the green-haired Saintess—Mia—there.
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