The memory from over a year ago—a fleeting glimpse in a dim alleyway.
At that time, Annie Donaldson was just a little girl who hadn’t yet stepped into the world of magic, innocent and naive.
It was only natural that Willis’s impression of her faded quickly after their hurried parting.
After all, over the past year, Willis had met many other young ladies; forgetting Annie was nothing unusual.
But this also left Willis somewhat puzzled about why this girl suddenly grew cold toward her…
Without the slightest warning.
Could it be that she had said something to upset her?
Shaking her head, Willis stopped dwelling on it and followed the direction Annie had pointed toward.
As one of the official administrators, Bri Donald’s position at the Royal Library owed something to Willis as well.
After all, he was a teacher who had once taught an Imperial Princess, so having a comfortable, enviable post here made sense.
Inside, Bri Donald was still reclining in his rocking chair with his eyes closed, seemingly dozing off to the gentle rhythm of the creaking chair.
“Teacher.”
Willis greeted him with a hint of respect, but there was no response.
Bri Donald’s living quarters as an administrator remained simple as ever.
Willis’s gaze subtly drifted toward the two rooms on the other side, one clearly a lady’s chamber.
Annie silently blocked Willis’s view and then called out to the grandfather in the rocking chair.
“Grandfather! You have a visitor!”
At this, Bri Donald opened his eyes and yawned.
Seeing Willis, he hurriedly stood and saluted: “So it’s Her Highness the Second Princess’s esteemed visit, this old man…”
“That’s enough, Teacher. No need for formalities.” Willis raised her hands lightly to dismiss the salute.
Annie seemed to come to her senses and, surprised, said, “You are truly the Empire’s Second Princess? I…”
Annie was about to bow in return, following her grandfather’s example, but Willis interrupted her again.
After standing, the grandfather and granddaughter exchanged a glance, silently thinking: You really are a great actress!
Because Bri Donald hadn’t immediately stood to salute, it technically counted as disrespect to the Princess, even if he was her teacher; proper etiquette had to be observed.
So Bri Donald had feigned sleep, and when Annie called him, he pretended to have just woken.
And as for Annie, in Bri Donald’s eyes, she was just acting out a scene to greet the princess she longed for day and night…
Now, playing the part of someone who didn’t recognize the princess and suddenly realizing who she was—her acting was nothing short of perfect.
Bri Donald had to admire his granddaughter’s dramatic talent.
But one thing puzzled him: if she admired this princess so much, why was she so cold upon seeing her?
Yet what happened next left the old man speechless.
“This humble place is small and not as luxurious as the palace. Her Highness, please sit anywhere you like. Annie, go prepare some tea!”
Bri Donald handed Willis two chairs, inviting her and the Victoria behind her to sit.
Annie responded and left the room, heading to the corridor outside.
To make tea, she had to go down to the public kitchen beside the main hall on the first floor.
Once seated, Bri Donald spoke first: “I wonder, Her Highness, what brings you here so late? Is it something about magic that you wish to ask?”
“No, I just came to visit my teacher and to borrow some books from the library.”
Willis shifted the topic.
“Actually, I recently improved the magic formation you taught me. Have you heard about it?”
“Of course…” Bri nodded.
“Although this place seems secluded, the Empire Princess’s inauguration speech at the Royal Academy was a major event in the Imperial Capital. This old man naturally caught wind of it.”
Pausing, Bri Donald’s curiosity about Willis’s improved formation became clear.
“May I ask how Your Highness improved the formation? Did you do it yourself? Could you show this old man?”
Though Bri Donald tried to keep his voice calm, his eager expression was unmistakable.
Willis didn’t keep him waiting. She gathered her magical power and began weaving the formation in her hands.
The True Eye-Modified Flame Armor Formation appeared, but Willis didn’t release it; the formation solidified in her hands without further movement.
At that moment, Bri Donald’s eyes lit up fiercely, and he leaned in beside Willis like a tiger about to pounce.
Willis frowned slightly, but Bri Donald paid no mind, focusing intently on the formation in her hands.
The blazing red magic formation, constructed under her spiritual guidance, trembled with untamed power even though its owner held it back.
“Your Highness’s magic has improved once again!”
Bri Donald sighed with admiration, then picked up a heavily scratched magnifying glass from the table to examine the formation closely.
At his age, money, women, power, and status were all fleeting and no longer stirred his heart.
Only the lifelong pursuit of magic could still excite this old man.
Of course, besides that, his troublesome granddaughter was also a concern.
“I see, by connecting the mana channels here and eliminating several on this side, the formation has become much simpler…”
“A genius! To think it can be done this way!”
Bri Donald muttered thoughtfully, mostly just exclaiming. His excitement was like a child with a new toy.
By the time Annie Donaldson returned with freshly brewed tea, Bri Donald had nearly finished studying Willis’s improved formation.
“Excellent, excellent. I never imagined Her Highness possessed such magical talent—modifying a formation at such a young age. If you were to dedicate yourself fully to cultivation, your future would be limitless!”
Of course, Bri Donald understood this was only talk. Willis, as an Imperial Princess, couldn’t realistically cultivate magic without burdens.
“Thank you for your praise, Teacher. I will take it seriously.”
Willis nodded and then dispelled the formation in her hands.
Meanwhile, Annie, graceful as a noble lady, brewed tea for each of them and set the cups before them.
The fragrance filled the air, but Bri Donald didn’t drink.
Instead, he kept rehearsing in his mind, tapping his frail fingers.
Finally, following Willis’s improved formation, he released the Flame Armor instantly.
Compared to Willis’s Flame Armor, Bri Donald’s had reached a master’s level.
Judging by the fierce flames alone, its sheer presence and pressure were ten times stronger than Willis’s armor.
“No wonder you’re my teacher; looks like this princess still has a long way to go!”
Willis sighed, while the old man excitedly dispelled the armor. “It’s all thanks to Your Highness’s work. Your improved formation has inspired me, and soon I’ll further refine my mastery of the Flame Armor!”
“Congratulations, Teacher.”
It was clear Bri Donald liked this gift.
“Haha! Her Highness is too kind. It’s all reliant on your talent…”
He took a sip of the tea before him but nearly dropped the cup from the heat.
Looking somewhat displeased, he glanced toward Annie, who shot him a meaningful look.
The old man inwardly scolded himself: Very well, Grandpa’s in a good mood; I’ll help you out this time.
“Ahem!”
He cleared his throat, his excitement fading, then looked at Willis.
“Her Highness hides such talent, truly astonishing! When I was your age, I was still struggling through study, with only a shallow understanding of magic…”
“Teacher, what are you trying to say?”
Willis frowned.
Why the sudden sentimentality?
Bri Donald shifted focus to Annie beside him.
“To be honest, Your Highness, talent like yours is rare! My granddaughter has admired you for a long time. Since you are the same age, you will surely encourage each other. As a teacher and a grandfather, I would be delighted to see this.”
“Perhaps today I could introduce you two? For this old man’s sake, I hope Your Highness will kindly guide her going forward…”
Before Bri Donald could finish, Annie interrupted.
“Grandfather, what are you saying! That… Your Highness, there is something I want to ask of you… I’ve held it in for a very long time…”
Willis paused, surprised.
“What is it?”
“I heard that First Princess Hill Yu Egbert is close to Your Highness, and to be honest…”
Biting her lip, Annie spoke words that stunned everyone present.
“I like Princess Hill Yu! I want to marry her! But I’m too afraid to approach her openly, so I want to stay by Your Highness’s side, slowly work my way forward, and find the right moment to confess…”
“Even if Princess Hill Yu doesn’t like me, it’s fine… I just want to be near you, even if it’s only to catch a glimpse of her sometimes, I’d be satisfied!”
At that moment, Willis felt as if thunder was rolling inside her mind.