The moment Shion Lan took the hand of the second princess, Jina Joul, everyone's attention snapped toward them.
"!!!"
Violet Night immediately drew her whip, ready in case anything happened. Sol Hart prepared her magic circles in case Shion said something foolish. Cole Leon and Rose Gard were stunned by his behavior, while and Fiore Tai thought he was confessing to her but Baro Ferrer thought about the triangle love changed into square.
Celisia Joul, however, felt alarmed at once.
Hidden beneath her sleeve was a magical recording stone. It had already captured Shion insulting the first prince, Jaiden Joul—something she intended to use as leverage. But she hadn't expected this move from him.
She saw it, an ominous smile on Shion's face.
At last, he spoke vitally,
"Of course, Your Highness! We agree to this cooperation. After all, we serve the royal family. And if this helps Baro and Fiore, I'm more than willing to assist. Also, Sol has been my neighbor for some time—she'll surely agree."
He turned to Sol with bright eyes.
"Sol! You agree, right?!"
But he was met with blood-red eyes staring at him—and at his hand.
"Shion… you can agree with your words. There's no need to hold her hand."
Shion looked down at his hand and said foolishly as he let go,
"My apologies… I was simply lost in her Highness 's golden eyes."
A storm rose inside Celicia, while Sol was utterly frustrated.
"Are you flirting with me?!" Celisia snapped.
Shion replied awkwardly,
"I'm only stating the truth. And the truth is, the second princess possesses royal beauty, surrounded by a noble aura. She has a rare, teasing smile, and golden eyes that pierce the mind and reach the heart… That's what happened to me, so I couldn't resist."
"And you won't resist this either."
Violet lashed her whip around him, while Sol activated her magic circles around Violet. The tension spiked instantly.
"Violet! Your Highness!" Shion called out.
Violet looked toward Jina, who had covered her face with her hands, trying to hide her embarrassment, as she returned to herself. Finally, she withdrew and said,
"We'll meet at the academy in the second half and discuss the details then!"
She tried to leave quickly, but Celisia shouted:
"You idiot! They're the ones in your box!"
Jina turned, pointed at the door, and said with red face,
"Shion… please leave!"
"..."
As always, Shion moved with a gentle smile, bowed, and took his leave. Sol followed him.
...
Back inside, Jina tried to calm her racing heart.
Violet raised her whip, releasing her aura,
"If any of you speak about what happened, I will hunt you to the ends of the kingdom."
"..."
Everyone nodded silently in agreement.
Rose remembered something and asked to leave,
"I have something to do, your Highness, I ask for a permission to leave."
"As I said before, if you said anything about what happened l won't let you!"
"Very well!"
Violet warned her again before letting her go.
Jina peeked through her fingers, her face burning with embarrassment. She looked at her hand—it still felt warm.
Meanwhile, Celisia exploded in anger,
"That little bastard! He destroyed the recording stone! We no longer have anything to control him with!"
Jina asked hesitantly:
"Why do you want to control him? He didn't do anything wrong."
Celisia replied coldly:
"A person who cannot be controlled must be restrained. Otherwise, they may become dangerous one day."
Jina said quietly,
"But he isn't dangerous. Even my mother said he has no desire for fame or power."
Celisia fell silent. She stopped trying to convince a girl who was clearly falling in love.
...
As Shion walked away, he communicated with Shi Yun Lan:
"Thanks for the help. Without you, those words would've been recorded—that would've been a disaster."
Shi Yun Lan scoffed,
"That's why one should keep their opinions to themselves."
Shion lowered his head, thinking,
' That toxic woman, Celisia… she's not friendly at all. Since she couldn't win me over, she wants to keep me under control. What a frightening woman… '
Then he felt piercing gazes from Sol.
He thought again,
' She's affected by Solan's emotions… If I remember correctly, things between us were quite emotional. She'll hate seeing me with any woman other than Solan Neumann. '
Before he could think further, a voice called from behind.
"Lord Lan, may I have a word with you?"
They turned to find Rose Gard approaching—specifically Shion. The atmosphere grew heavy.
Sol immediately prepared her magic again.
Rose handed Shion an invitation.
"My lady, Petalin, requests your presence, Lord Lan."
Shion recalled the promise he had made at the start of the school year—one he had forgotten amid everything.
"I see. I'll visit your lady."
"Thank you. And by the way…"
She stepped closer. Shion felt danger approaching.
"There are many admirers of yours—especially after your performance. They are eager to meet you, so I hope—"
"I think the conversation ends here."
Sol spoke with a killing aura so intense that Rose collapsed to her knees.
' This aura is even worse than before… what's happening to her?! ' Shiun thought.
Shi Yun Lan replied,
"She now has four magic circles and has reached the fourth level."
Shion was shocked. The pressure hit him hard—he had trained for over fifteen years in the recorded world, fought fiercely, endured countless trials… yet—
Shi Yun Lan dismissed him,
"You're complaining because you trained for four months and couldn't catch up to someone who trained for years?"
Shion ignored him and helped Rose up using his stellar aura.
He looked at Sol and said,
"Sol… calm down."
For some reason, she did.
He turned back to Rose.
"I will come. That's all for today."
"Yes..... Lord Lan." She fled quickly.
Sol then approached him with a chilling calm,
"So, Shion… won't you stop flirting with girls?"
Shion asked directly,
"Is that your question—or Solan's?"
She froze, confused.
He grabbed her shoulders firmly.
"Solan, I know you're watching me. But this is too much. If you want to talk, come see me—but leave Sol alone. I hate this."
Sol stared at him in shock.
Then her eyes shifted—turning blue mixed with green. Some of her features changed slightly.
With a smile, she said,
"Alright. I'll visit you tonight."
Her eyes returned to red, and she suddenly felt dizzy. Shion caught her.
' "I'll visit you tonight"… and she'll be the embarrassed one later ', he thought.
...
Unable to stand, Sol was taken to Shion's room.
When he arrived, he was stunned.
A small mountain of invitations awaited him.
"What are these?" he asked.
Pearl Jewel replied, teasingly:
"You've received over twenty invitations from various noble houses. Most of them… are from women."
Then she noticed Sol on his shoulder and immediately hid behind Redo Grant.
"Sir Grant! Protect me, and I'll owe you a favor!"
Redo looked helpless.
Shion calmed things:
"She's just tired. I brought her here to rest."
Pearl nodded—but before leaving, Sol asked,
"Who sent these invitations?"
"Various noble families."
"And most of them are women, right?"
Shion understood immediately and tried to stop her—
Too late.
Now at the fourth level, Sol could cast spells instantly.
"(Spirit Magic: Fire Spirit)."
The spirit shot forward—burning most of the invitations to ash.
"..."
"That's...."
No one could talk.
' This could be bad if there were first-rank nobles among them… ' Shion thought.
But one invitation remained, protected by a barrier.
A white envelope with a blue seal—the Sano family.
He opened it.
Inside was an invitation to train with Glass Sano and Kin Light after the celebration.
Shion went silent.
' Those two training fanatics… '
He sighed, then thought,
' A short training period won't hurt. After all, this is a first-rank noble heir. '
He accepted it.
...
After tending to Sol, Shion went to meet Petalin.
Following the address, he arrived—and was stunned.
"Is this correct?"
He stood before the private box of the Jura family—one of the six great families, known for earth affinity.
After confirming with the guard, he was allowed in.
Inside, the space was enormous—far larger than his own.
The head of the Jura family welcomed him,
"Lord Lan, we meet again."
Shion bowed.
"Yes, it hasn't been long since our last meeting, sir."
As they were at the investigation of Neumann family's accident.
' This man… he's like a giant ', Shiun thought. Even when seated, he felt like he was standing… and there's something else…
Shi Yun Lan's voice echoed,
"You sensed it, didn't you?"
"Yes… it feels like there are two people before me."
"That's because he also possesses an inheritance—like you. But instead of relying on it, he uses it alongside his own strength."
Shiun was stunned.
At that moment, Petalin appeared suddenly,
"Welcome, Lord Lan!"
He blinked.
"How is Lady Petalin related to the Jura family?"
The family head laughed,
"Not quite. Her sister is my second wife!"
Petalin flushed, then said,
"I need a favor from you, Lord Lan. Would you help me?"
Shion focused.
' Another favor…? '