The room fell quiet after Marie's words.
Soft candlelight flickered against the walls while the distant sounds of the academy drifted faintly through the windows below.
Darian looked at her silently.
Marie stood near the chair where she had placed the academy uniforms, her hands lightly clasped before her as though uncertain whether she should continue speaking.
"…People don't change this suddenly," she said at last.
Her voice remained calm.
But beneath it lingered hesitation.
Confusion.
Perhaps even fear.
Darian walked past her toward the window slowly.
"Is that what bothers you?"
Marie lowered her gaze briefly.
"You were never like this before."
Not accusatory.
Just honest.
"The previous you would've lost control downstairs the moment Cedric insulted you."
Her eyes lifted toward him again.
"But instead… you stayed calm."
Darian remained silent for a moment.
Then—
"Would you prefer the old version?"
Marie froze slightly.
The question caught her off guard.
After several seconds, she answered quietly.
"No."
Darian glanced toward her briefly.
Interesting.
Marie herself seemed surprised by her own answer.
Because despite everything—
The current Darian felt easier to stand beside than the original one ever had.
And somehow that realization unsettled her deeply.
"You're thinking too much," Darian said calmly.
Marie frowned faintly.
"With respect, Your Highness, someone needs to."
A faint smile almost appeared on Darian's face.
Fair point.
Marie hesitated again before speaking.
"The professors are watching you carefully already."
"I noticed."
"Especially Professor Selena."
Darian wasn't surprised.
Selena clearly sensed inconsistencies within his mana.
And if she continued investigating him closely…
That could become troublesome later.
"I'll deal with it," he answered calmly.
Marie looked unconvinced.
But before she could respond—
Knock. Knock.
Both their gazes shifted toward the door instantly.
Darian narrowed his eyes slightly.
Another visitor?
"This academy really has terrible timing."
Marie almost sighed at that.
After a brief pause, Darian opened the door.
A young academy attendant stood outside nervously holding a sealed envelope.
"Y-Your Highness."
The attendant bowed quickly before extending the letter forward with both hands.
"This arrived for you moments ago."
Darian accepted it silently.
The moment his fingers touched the envelope—
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Black wax seal.
Silver crest.
A serpent wrapped around a sword.
Fragments of memory surfaced instantly.
House Reinhardt.
Interesting.
The attendant bowed once more before quickly leaving the corridor as though afraid of lingering too long nearby.
Darian closed the door slowly.
Marie noticed the seal immediately.
"House Reinhardt?"
Her expression sharpened slightly.
"Why would they contact you directly?"
Darian broke the seal casually.
"Let's find out."
Unfolding the letter, his eyes scanned the elegant handwriting written across the parchment.
To Crown Prince Darian Ashthorne,
I must admit your behavior today proved far more entertaining than expected.
Most people spend years hiding their true nature. You, however, seem to have discarded yours overnight.
That alone makes you worth observing.
If you have any interest in discussing matters more meaningful than petty noble disputes, visit the eastern garden behind the old observatory tomorrow evening.
Come alone.
— Celia Reinhardt
Silence settled briefly afterward.
Marie looked deeply troubled now.
"You shouldn't go."
Darian folded the letter calmly.
"Probably not."
"House Reinhardt isn't trustworthy."
"Neither is anyone else in this academy."
Marie couldn't even deny that.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
"You're treating this too casually."
Darian leaned lightly against the desk.
"No."
His gaze lowered briefly toward the letter.
"I'm treating it exactly as it is."
An invitation.
A test.
And possibly a trap.
Which meant—
It was useful.
People only extended invitations when they wanted something.
Information.
Influence.
Control.
The question was simply—
What exactly did Celia Reinhardt want from him?
Marie studied his expression carefully before sighing softly.
"You've already decided to go, haven't you?"
Darian smiled faintly.
"I haven't decided yet."
"…That means yes."
Amusingly perceptive.
Darian changed the subject instead.
"What do you know about Celia personally?"
Marie paused briefly before answering.
"She rarely appears publicly despite her status."
"Which is unusual for nobility."
Marie nodded.
"Very."
Her expression grew more serious.
"There are rumors that the Reinhardts are grooming her for political leadership within their faction."
Interesting.
So she wasn't merely some noble daughter wandering around the academy out of boredom.
That explained her demeanor.
Calculated.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
Darian's gaze drifted back toward the academy grounds outside the window.
The sun had already begun setting beyond the distant mountains, bathing Virecan in crimson light.
Beautiful.
And deceptive.
Because beneath this peaceful scenery—
Every person here wore a mask.
Some hid ambition.
Others hid hatred.
And some…
Hid monsters.
A slow breath escaped him.
This world truly was becoming more entertaining by the day.
Meanwhile, somewhere else within the academy—
Professor Selena stood alone inside a dimly lit office.
Several documents floated before her magically while glowing mana inscriptions rotated slowly through the air.
At the center of the desk rested a report.
Name: Darian Ashthorne.
Her crimson eyes narrowed slightly.
"His mana pattern changed completely…"
That alone shouldn't have been possible.
Not naturally.
And yet every observation today confirmed it repeatedly.
Even his personality felt fundamentally different.
Selena slowly closed the report.
Then quietly muttered to herself—
"…What exactly happened to you, Crown Prince?"