The academy dining hall was just as vast and luxurious as everything else. Tall windows, polished wooden tables, and the rich aroma of exquisite food filled the air. I observed the scene: princesses and young nobles sat in lively groups, chatting animatedly, while their attendants stood in neat lines, collecting food trays for their mistresses.
As for me—without an attendant—I headed straight for the line myself. I stood out clearly, a lonely and discordant point in the carefully choreographed ritual of nobility.
Just before reaching the counter, my shoulder lightly brushed against the girl in front of me. She was an attendant, with tied-back brown hair and a kind but slightly tired expression.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to bother you," I said quickly, offering a smile. "Please, go ahead."
She blinked in surprise, then gave me a genuine, grateful smile.
"Thank you very much, sir. It's not common for someone to give up their place here."
After she collected the food—a tray filled with several exquisite dishes for her mistress—and left with a small bow, I moved forward. The variety of food was overwhelming, dishes that looked more like works of art than meals. After filling my tray with things that seemed safe enough, I looked around for a place to sit.
The princesses sat within their closed circles. The attendants gathered at separate tables, in what seemed to be a designated area for them—more modest and far quieter.
That's when I saw her again. The same attendant I had bumped into earlier, now sitting alone at one of those tables. Without thinking too much, I approached. It felt far more welcoming than trying to infiltrate a noble table.
"Do you mind if I sit here?" I asked.
She looked up, surprised once more, but her smile quickly returned.
"Of course, I don't mind. It's not common to see a noble student sitting among attendants."
"Well, actually, I'm something of an exception at this academy…" I admitted as I sat down. "And I don't have an attendant yet, so I'm on my own."
She let out a soft, pleasant laugh.
"That explains why you were in line. Though…" she lowered her voice, casting a cautious glance toward the noble tables, "some girls might find it strange that you're sitting here."
"It doesn't bother me," I said with a shrug. "I like talking to interesting people, regardless of their role."
Her smile warmed, and we began to eat while chatting quietly. She told me her name was Lucia and that she served one of the princesses. For me, it was a breath of fresh air amid constant pressure. For her, it seemed like an unexpected moment of normalcy.
---
That was when a new figure slid onto the bench beside me. When I turned, my breath caught in my throat.
In front of me sat a young woman of ethereal beauty. Her hair was a deep sky-blue, like the evening sky, adorned with a vivid emerald-green streak that fell near her face. Her eyes—matching that deep blue—seemed to hold oceans of calm and intelligence. She wore the noble student uniform with a natural elegance that screamed high birth.
"Hello, Alexs," she said with a melodious voice and a warm smile. "My name is Arianne."
The name echoed in my mind. Arianne. The Princess of Aquaris. The ruler of this very kingdom. And she was sitting at the attendants' table—beside me.
"Ah… it's a pleasure to meet you, Princess Arianne," I managed to say, hoping my tone was respectful enough.
She laughed softly, a sound like chiming bells.
"You don't need to call me 'princess' here. Just Arianne is fine. And it seems you've already met my attendant, Lucia."
Lucia immediately lowered her head, a deep blush spreading across her cheeks.
"M-my lady… I—"
"Yes, Lucia has been very kind," I interjected quickly, trying to ease her embarrassment. "I didn't expect to meet someone so nice in the line."
Arianne watched our interaction with an amused expression.
"I'm glad to see you get along," she said, casting a gentle look toward Lucia, who still hadn't dared to lift her gaze. "You know, ever since you arrived, you've caused quite a stir among the students. It's not common to have a male student here… and even less so someone with such an interesting critical magic."
So they already know about that too.
"I suppose that makes me stand out," I said modestly. "Though I'm not sure if that's a good thing."
"A good thing, I'd say," Arianne replied, taking a sip of water. "You've sparked a lot of curiosity. Some even believe you might pose real competition in the upcoming tournament."
That caught me completely off guard.
"Me? Competition? I'm not sure I'm ready for something like that… I'm still figuring out how this academy even works."
"Don't worry," she said with an understanding laugh. "Most students will be too focused on their own training to pressure you. But don't be surprised if some challenge you. The princesses here are very competitive, and a mystery like you is a magnet for that kind of attention."
As we talked, I couldn't help but notice how different Arianne was. There was no trace of the arrogance or disdain that clung to other nobles. Her presence was calm—powerful in a serene way. For the first time since arriving, I felt that maybe not everyone here would see me as an intruder.
---
Suddenly, the sound of a silver bell echoed through the dining hall, announcing the end of the break.
What followed was like a perfectly oiled mechanism. Every princess, without exception, stood up. Conversations cut short, laughter halted. And then—nothing more. They simply turned and left, abandoning their trays, glasses, and napkins behind.
Immediately, like silent shadows, the attendants moved. They rushed to collect, clean, and organize the mess left by their mistresses. It was a display of mute efficiency that made me feel slightly uncomfortable.
And then, I saw Arianne.
She had stood as well. But unlike the others, she picked up her own empty tray. Lucia stared at her in absolute shock, as if her princess were doing something extraordinary rather than something basic.
Arianne turned toward me, that warm smile returning to her lips.
"We'll see each other later, Alexs. I'm curious to see what you'll accomplish here. Don't disappoint your expectations—or ours."
Lucia gave me a quick bow and followed Arianne, who carried her tray to the return cart before leaving.
Incredible. The princess of the kingdom… and she's the only one who cleans up after herself.
I stood as well, ready to leave. But just as I took my first step toward the door, a sharp, familiar pain pierced my skull. It wasn't physical—it was mental, like an ice spike driven straight into my thoughts.
And then, the Voice. That distorted, urgent echo only I could hear thundered deep within me.
"You must fulfill your purpose… destroy the Exodus… or you will never see your sister again."
A cold worse than anything else crawled down my spine. My body tensed, my breath caught in my throat. My sister… The worry stabbed deep into my stomach. Her face appeared vividly in my mind—clear and painfully real. I shut my eyes, struggling to endure the pain and the terrifying message.
It was at that moment of complete vulnerability—my mind clouded by pain and fear—that I felt a hard impact against my back.
CLANG!
The metallic sound of a tray hitting the floor, followed by food splattering across my back and neck.
A sharp, indignant scream tore through the air behind me.
"How dare you?!"
I turned, still dazed, mechanically wiping some kind of fruit juice from my shoulder.
And there she was.
Alice Charlotte.
The "Invincible Princess" stood before me, her flawless uniform immaculate. Her eyes, however, were twisted in absolute disgust. But the most terrifying thing wasn't her expression.
It was her aura.
An oppressive energy, dark purple and menacing, began to radiate from her in visible pulses. The air around her thickened, the temperature dropping several degrees. The few attendants still nearby instinctively stepped back, faces pale.
"I'm sorry," I managed to say, forcing myself to clear my mind and focus on the immediate crisis. "I didn't mean to— I was distracted and—"
"Do you know who you're talking to?" she interrupted. Her voice was a blade of cold steel. She finally opened her eyes. Her gray gaze was glacial, filled with furious disdain. "No one interrupts me. No one crosses my path. And certainly not someone who… stains my uniform with his clumsiness."
She wasn't talking about the food. She meant my very presence.
The pressure of her aura intensified, crushing. It felt like an invisible weight trying to force my knees to buckle.
Alice watched me with her arms crossed, waiting… for what? A more elaborate apology? For me to grovel? Her posture made it clear she wasn't used to anyone—especially a titleless outsider—causing even the slightest inconvenience in her perfectly ordered world.
Now, on top of the terrifying echo in my mind and my concern for my sister, I stood face-to-face with an enraged princess whose power could be felt in the air—and who clearly had no intention of letting this go.
In that instant, I understood something clearly.