The noble dormitory stood in stark contrast to the commoner quarters, its structure refined and expansive, built with polished white stone and intricate gold-lined engravings that traced along the walls and arches, while tall glass panels allowed the soft glow of mana lamps to spill outward, giving the entire building an almost ethereal presence even at night; inside, the corridors were quiet, carpeted in deep hues that muted every step, and the rooms themselves were spacious, furnished with an elegance that spoke not just of wealth, but of status.
Within one such room, a young woman sat on her bed, clutching a plushy toy tightly against her chest, her posture small despite the grand surroundings, as a holographic figure stood before her, flickering softly in the air.
The figure of a middle-aged man.
Ahh..!
The figure of a 'crying' middle-aged man.
"I-I am sorry, my daughter!" he wailed, his voice trembling dramatically as tears streamed down his face, his entire expression collapsing into exaggerated despair, "Y-you have to go through with this… ahhh… what kind of cruel fate is this?!"
The young woman's eyes welled up instantly, her lips trembling as she held the plushy tighter.
"F-father…"
The man bit down hard on a handkerchief he held, shaking visibly as if trying to suppress his emotions and failing miserably.
"J-just what kind of father am I…!" he cried, his voice breaking in uneven intervals, "s-sending my own daughter into the devil's claws like this… ahhh… my heart cannot take it!"
His shoulders shook as his breathing grew heavier.
The young woman's tears fell more freely now, her gaze locked onto him as if trying to gather strength from his words despite the chaos of his emotions.
"I-if only our county wasn't so powerless…!" he continued, dramatically clutching his chest as though struck by his own sorrow, "a-ahhh… my precious daughter…!"
He leaned closer toward the projection, his face filled with anguish as he looked at her, his voice dropping into a strained whisper filled with exaggerated pain.
"How can I let you go through this alone…!"
The young woman's grip on the plushy tightened, her hands clenching around it as her trembling slowly steadied, her expression shifting as something more resolute surfaced beneath the tears, and after a brief moment, she lifted her head slightly, her voice still shaky but carrying a fragile determination.
"D-don't worry, Father… I-I will do it… for our Halewind County…!"
The man froze.
Then—
Suddenly straightened.
His tears didn't stop, but his posture changed instantly, as if switching roles in the same breath.
"My daughter…!" he said, nodding with dramatic approval, his voice still thick with emotion, "y-you can meet him tomorrow… at the volunteering center…"
The words landed.
And just as quickly—
The young woman's determination shattered.
Her expression went blank.
Her eyes turned hollow.
"T-tomorrow…?"
Before she could say anything else—
The projection disappeared.
Leaving her alone in the silent room, still clutching the plushy, staring ahead.
The young woman remained seated on her bed long after the projection had vanished, her eyes fixed on the empty space in front of her as if the image of her father was still lingering there, her expression hollow, her grip on the plushy tightening unconsciously as the weight of his words slowly settled into her mind.
"T-tomorrow…?"
The word slipped out faintly.
Then again.
"T-to… tomorrow…?"
Her breathing grew uneven.
Her thoughts spiraled.
The sudden realization struck fully, and with it, panic surged through her as she quickly reached for her Manacron, her fingers fumbling slightly as she activated it, tapping hurriedly with trembling hands until the device responded.
A holographic figure flickered into existence.
A young woman appeared, droplets of water and faint steam still clinging to her skin as if she had just stepped out of a bath, her ivory hair tied up loosely while a towel was wrapped around her body, her expression calm yet mildly curious as she looked at the frantic caller.
The moment the connection stabilized—
"Y-young duchess!!!"
The young woman cried out loudly, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face again, her entire body shaking as she clutched the plushy even tighter.
The woman in the hologram blinked once, clearly startled by the sudden outburst, before letting out a small sigh.
"What happened for you to be in such a panic…?" she asked, her tone calm but edged with mild concern, before adding with a faint frown, "and how many times have I told you… just call me Serena."
But the young woman could barely compose herself.
"M-my father… he has arranged a blind date for m-me…!" she cried, her words tumbling out between sobs as she buried her face slightly into the plushy.
Serena's expression shifted.
Then—
She smiled.
A mischievous glint appearing in her eyes.
"Ahh… so it's that time, isn't it…?" she said lightly, almost teasing, "that's actually good for you."
The young woman froze for a moment—
Then cried even harder.
"N-not even you, young duchess…!"
Serena laughed softly at that, clearly amused.
"Why don't you just say no to your father then?"
The question was casual.
Simple.
But the young woman shook her head quickly, wiping her tears with the back of her sleeve as she struggled to explain, her voice trembling.
"F-father… even he is forced to accept it… o-our county is powerless in front of it…"
Serena stared at her ,her lips twitched slightly.
"…The county that controls more than half of the empire's business," she muttered under her breath, her tone dry, "and can even negotiate with the emperor to some extent… is powerless, huh?"
The young woman only blinked at her, her large tear-filled eyes reflecting nothing but distress, clearly not catching the irony.
Serena exhaled softly and shook her head, deciding not to press that point further as she asked instead,
"So… who is it anyway… to make even the Halewind County 'powerless' like this?"
The young woman's lips trembled again.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"D-damon… Valecrest…"
Serena stilled.
Her expression froze for a fraction of a second, her eyes lifting slightly as if the name had struck something deeper than expected, her breath pausing before she spoke again, slower this time.
"…Come again?"
***
Damon walked across the academy grounds with a steady pace, his gaze fixed on the faintly glowing holographic map projected from his Manacron, his eyes narrowing slightly as he adjusted its orientation, trying to locate the exact position of the place he was supposed to report to.
Now where exactly is this volunteering center…
The map shifted again.
His steps followed.
Within the academy, the volunteering center served as a designated hub where various forms of service-oriented work were organized and offered to students ; while certain tasks offered credits as recognition for effort and consistency, not all forms of volunteering were tied to tangible rewards, as some were expected to be carried out purely as a duty or learning experience.
And in Damon's case, his presence there was not a matter of choice at all, but a mandated punishment, making his participation far removed from the spirit of voluntary service.
After a few more turns along the pathways, Damon finally arrived.
The structure stood ahead.
Like the rest of the academy, it followed the same white-and-gold architectural theme, its exterior crafted from smooth polished stone that reflected the ambient glow of mana lamps, while tall glass panels framed the entrance, allowing a glimpse of the organized interior within, giving the building a sense of both openness and quiet authority.
Damon approached the entrance without hesitation.
But just as he was about to step inside—
A white sphere floated into his path.
His body reacted instantly.
His stance shifted.
Guard up.
His eyes sharpened as he looked directly at it, his voice cold and edged with suspicion.
"What's this?"
A familiar voice came from the sphere.
"Student Damon… did you forget that I will be monitoring you during these volunteering activities?"
Damon paused , then straightened slightly, the tension in his posture easing just enough as recognition settled.
"It's you… huh?"
His tone carried faint annoyance as he added,
"Dean… yeah, I remember… if you observe any violent behavior from me, I will be expelled…"
The sphere hovered calmly in front of him, offering no further response.
Damon exhaled lightly and turned again toward the entrance, preparing to step inside—
But stopped.
Something had entered his field of view. A presence approaching from the side.
Damon's gaze shifted as a young woman walked toward him.
Her shoulder-length ash-blonde hair swayed lightly with each step, framing a face that carried a delicate, almost fragile beauty, while her green eyes held a visible unease, flickering with a nervousness she could not quite hide.
She wore a soft cream-colored blouse with a slightly low neckline, the fabric fitted just enough to trace her form, paired with a high-waisted skirt that fell neatly to her knees, giving her an appearance that felt more suited for a quiet outing than an academy setting.
Yet what drew immediate and unavoidable attention was the fullness of her chest, its gentle rise and fall with each breath subtly emphasized by the way the fabric stretched across it, as though even a slightly deeper breath might tear it open. The movement, soft yet noticeable with every step, made it difficult to ignore even at a glance, as if her figure carried a presence of its own despite the timidness in her posture.
She stopped in front of him.
Her height only reaching his shoulders as she looked up.
Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to speak, but hesitation held her back, her teeth catching her lower lip as she struggled to form the words.
Damon frowned faintly, his patience thinning.
"Who are you? And what do you want?"
The young woman stared at him.
Her expression shifted.
Her eyes, once filled with nervousness—
Turned hollow.
"…Heh."