Nearly a month had passed since the new sester began, yet Baek Yu-Seol wasn't the only student who had yet to attend classes regularly.
"Your Highness, your fever has subsided a little."
Hong Bi-Yeon Adolevit, who had been recuperating in the private dormitory for Class S for several weeks, was managing to keep up with her studies by receiving lessons directly from professors.
The official explanation for her absence was a persistent fever... one that had struck during the winter break and defied all attempts at treatnt.
That was the public explanation. However, the real reason was her struggle to properly control the power of Scarlet Sumr Moon that was surging within her heart.
"Are you in pain?"
"Not particularly."
In truth, sharp stabs of pain pierced through her skull even as she spoke, as if daggers were relentlessly slicing through her mind. Yet, Bi-Yeon despised revealing any trace of weakness. Her pride wouldn't allow it.
The court physician had warned her countless tis that hiding her suffering would only make things worse, but she had no intention of changing her ways.
"I'll... attend class tomorrow."
"I object."
Her body had not yet recovered, and her ever-watchful guard, Yeterin, was quick to voice her disapproval.
But Yeterin already knew her words would fall on deaf ears.
Hong Bi-Yeon had ignored her warnings before, stubbornly pushing herself to attend class despite her condition. It was clear she intended to do so again.
"Why are you against it...? I attended just fine last ti."
"I heard directly from the professor that you were half-conscious during the class."
"... The professor must have misunderstood."
"And that's not the only reason."
"...?"
Yeterin spoke with a serious expression.
"Your Highness."
"You look uglier than usual."
For a mont, Hong Bi-Yeon froze, uncertain whether to comnd Yeterin's courage for daring to insult a mber of the Adolevit royal family, lash out in fury, or simply faint from the sheer audacity of the remark.
"Look in the mirror."
She quickly grabbed the hand mirror and checked her reflection. It was true—her once goddess-like beauty, which was as dazzling and radiant as a gemstone, had dimd slightly due to her illness.
Her noticeably darkened under-eye circles, slightly dry and frizzy hair, pale skin, and drooping eyes that lacked energy all contributed to the change. If the forr Hong Bi-Yeon had exuded the sharp, confident aura of a strong-willed woman with her piercing gaze, the current version looked softer, almost timid.
Of course, even with her illness, her appearance was still so stunning that claiming she was 'ugly' would likely result in being pelted with stones—or perhaps even teor strikes—on the spot. But it wasn't the kind of face she was personally satisfied with.
"Hmph. Still, if I'm going to impress a man, I should at least look as pretty as possible—"
"Ridiculous."
"Yes..."
Before Hong Bi-Yeon could finish her sentence, Yeterin cut her off sharply, her tone unwavering. The abruptness caused Hong Bi-Yeon's mood to plumt even further. Yeterin, having served as her loyal guard for over a decade, knew precisely when to press forward and when to yield.
"Your Highness."
"I'm going to class."
"That's not it. Her Majesty the Queen has sent a ssage for you."
Hearing those words, Hong Bi-Yeon imdiately frowned.
"You should've led with that. What were you waiting for?"
"I was attending to Your Highness's health."
She couldn't argue with that - no matter how much she wanted to - because it was, technically, true.
"What does it say?"
"When receiving a royal ssage, it is customary to stand and show proper respect—"
Hong Bi-Yeon shot her a sharp glare, making Yeterin clear her throat.
"However, given Your Highness's current condition, we can make an exception this ti."
"Don't act like you're doing a favor."
"Of course not."
Yeterin retrieved an ornate, crimson-sealed parchnt from her coat, its edges embossed with golden filigree. She straightened, preparing to deliver its contents aloud.
But before she could utter a word, Hong Bi-Yeon snatched it out of her hands.
"I'll read it myself."
"It's protocol for a ssenger to recite the Queen's words."
"There's no one here to see it."
"I'm here."
"Close your eyes."
"... Yes, Your Highness."
After pushing Yeterin aside, Hong Bi-Yeon began reading the royal ssage herself.
The ssage wasn't particularly lengthy, nor was most of it remarkable. Yet a few lines stood out, written in bold, flowing script:
[Early Spring, Royal Ball]
[Late Spring, Lisbonde Mariti Conference]
"This is..."
"What does it say?"
"The Queen has invited to the royal ball."
"...! Really?"
Yeterin's eyes widened in visible surprise. Hong Bi-Yeon was just as shocked.
It might seem strange to be surprised that a mber of the royal family was invited to a royal ball. After all, attending such events should be a natural duty for royalty.
However, for Hong Bi-Yeon, this wasn't just surprising. It was utterly shocking. She hadn't attended any events hosted by the Adolevit royal family since her last appearance at the age of seven.
This exclusion had been enforced by Queen Hong Se-Ryu's strict and deliberate rejection of her.
Yet, recently, the Queen had been gradually restoring Hong Bi-Yeon's rights as a mber of the royal family. And now, she had even granted her the right to attend the ball.
Of course, there was an unspoken rule that royalty enrolled at Stella Academy did not attend social gatherings.
This was partly because they were expected to focus entirely on their studies, and partly because students at Stella were supposed to remain completely isolated from their families and noble connections during their ti there.
But Hong Bi-Yeon couldn't afford to wait until graduation.
A royal ball like this wasn't sothing she could skip. She had to attend even if it ant missing class.
... In reality, there was no urgent reason for her to be so desperate.
Thanks to Baek Yu-Seol, she had gained the Scarlet Sumr Moon in her heart, significantly increasing her chances of curing her incurable illness.
'Even if I don't beco queen, I can survive.'
A normal person might have felt relieved by this and taken things a little slower.
But not Hong Bi-Yeon.
Instead, she beca even more determined, more desperate.
She had already witnessed his overwhelming power when he single-handedly defeated one of the Twelve Divine Moons and that made her even more determined.
To claim soone that extraordinary, she had to beco soone equally extraordinary. The greatest person in the world.
Queen of Adolevit?
Not enough. For Hong Bi-Yeon, the throne was rely the first step.
So, even if she had been delayed until now, she had to start making progress imdiately.
And a royal ball wasn't just a gathering of nobles; it was a battlefield where alliances were forged, and power solidified.
Hong Si-Hwa, her rival and half-sister, had likely spent the last decade weaving an intricate web of connections at every ball that Hong Bi-Yeon had been barred from attending.
It was possible that, by now, there wasn't even a place for her to stand within that world.
But perhaps... just perhaps...
There might still be factions opposed to Hong Si-Hwa—or at least neutral ones.
"And the Black Cross Pirates of Lisbonde want to et in late spring."
"Ah..."
The Black Cross Pirates—a force that, a thousand years ago, had ruled all the seas and was possibly one of the most powerful organizations in history.
Though their influence had since waned and they had fallen under the control of the Adolevit Empire, they had recently regained their freedom thanks to Hong Bi-Yeon's assistance in lifting the curse that had plagued the Levian Coast.
For pirates who had been unable to sail, the ability to return to the sea was an unimaginable blessing.
Their captain, Black Matale, had vowed to repay Hong Bi-Yeon's help. True to his word, he had leveraged the newly accessible routes through the lted Sea to rapidly expand into trade and comrce.
Lisbonde Port, which had been the center of global trade a thousand years ago, was now showing signs of reclaiming its forr glory.
Under the skilled leadership of Black Matale, who seed more talented at business than piracy, the port's astonishing growth had led to speculation that Adolevit might beco the world's trade hub within the next decade.
"Is there a reason they suddenly want to et now?"
"Of course. Now that their na is starting to gain recognition, they probably want to make it clear who their lord is."
"I see."
"And..."
There was one particular line that caught her attention:
[Admiral Halicevale of the Dragonwave Fleet in the Eastern Seas requests an audience.]
There was hardly anyone who didn't know the na Halicevale.
He wasn't affiliated with any nation, yet he commanded such a massive fleet that it could practically be considered its own mariti nation.
He had established his base in the Eastern Seas, where he hunted pirates and acted as the self-proclaid protector of the oceans.
'Why is he suddenly requesting an audience?'
Lisbonde Port and the Eastern Seas were so far apart that there was rarely any cause for conflict between them.
Could it be that Halicevale had taken issue with the Black Cross Pirates retaining their identity as 'pirates,' despite their transition to legitimate trade?
"This could be problematic..."
Halicevale's hatred for pirates was legendary.
It was said that his wife had been murdered by pirates long ago, and ever since, he had made it his life's mission to exterminate them wherever they sailed.
"Surely, he wouldn't go so far as to antagonize Adolevit, would he? Soone of his stature must understand the importance of political considerations."
"... I don't know. He moved out to sea specifically to avoid getting tangled up in politics."
Of course, if the Dragonwave Fleet were to cross the line, Adolevit would undoubtedly declare war, and it would almost certainly win.
However, the costs of such a conflict would be devastating.
Knowing Queen Hong Se-Ryu, she might take a more political approach—perhaps even dismantling the Black Cross altogether just to avoid provoking a dangerous wild dog like Halicevale.
"In any case, we won't know his intentions until we et him. Let's hope it's good news..."
"But there's a bigger problem right now."
"What is it?"
"Your health, Your Highness."
The words struck like a blow.
With only a few days left until the royal ball, Hong Bi-Yeon's condition showed no signs of improving.
To be precise, the problem stemd from her inability to properly absorb the power of Scarlet Sumr Moon.
Its flas were far too wild and violent, making it incredibly difficult to control.
"Even so... I have no choice."
No matter how much her condition worsened, no matter how much pain she had to endure, she had to attend the ball.
"Your Highness."
"Honestly... I'm against it."
"I understand how much this ball ans to you."
Since the age of seven, Hong Bi-Yeon hadn't been treated properly—not even on her birthdays, let alone at parties.
To attend the royal ball had been a lifelong dream for her as a young girl.
Why had she worked so hard to master dancing?
It was all so that, if she were ever granted the slightest chance to attend a ball, she could shine and make an impression.
And yet, no one could predict when - or if - that opportunity would ever co.
"That hall will already be filled with Princess Hong Si-Hwa's allies," Yeterin warned. "Even if you go, they'll treat you as an outcast."
"In fact, Princess Hong Si-Hwa might use this as an opportunity to humiliate you publicly."
"I know."
Hong Bi-Yeon gave a faint, weary smile.
"But... I still have to go."
Because it was her lifelong dream.
And because it was the first step toward becoming queen.
***
Even with the new sester underway, Fla's daily life hadn't changed much.
As usual, she spent her breaks chatting with friends, took walks outside during lunch, and in the evenings, she studied advanced textbooks—years ahead of her peers.
Her thirst for knowledge seed boundless. She had already written enough research papers to earn multiple doctoral degrees, and papers were now buried under her dormitory desk.
Her relentless drive to catch up to soone had shaped her into who she was today.
Recently, her hunger for knowledge had grown even more intense. She barely slept - just one or two hours a day - and often ended up with nosebleeds from pushing herself too hard while studying.
'I need to know more.'
There was so much she didn't know about the world.
And it wasn't just about magic.
Ti, space, and the stars in the sky... mysteries no mage had ever fully unraveled.
Fla wanted to understand them.
What were the stars in the night sky, and why did they seem to speak to her as if they had a will of their own?
How was Baek Yu-Seol able to reverse ti, and what was the chanism behind it?
Her curiosity was endless, yet the realization that she hadn't even scratched the surface left her feeling frustrated and restless.
Then, suddenly, she recalled sothing. The words of Pale Yellow Autumn Moon, one of the Twelve Divine Moons.
'You can change fate.'
Change fate? And then what?
Logically, she dismissed the idea. But deep in her heart, a faint flicker of hope stirred.
'I have no intention of changing fate. Not even the slightest bit. But... maybe—just maybe—I could uncover the secrets of the stars.'
What were the stars in the night sky trying to tell her?
And why did it feel like they were reaching out to her?
Baek Yu-Seol. And . Why did we co to this world?
'I need to find out what my true purpose is here.'
She had a faint idea of how to uncover that answer.
It wasn't sothing she had learned from books.
Nor was it sothing soone had told her.
And yet, strangely, she felt as though she already knew.
It was similar to the thod she had used before to uncover Baek Yu-Seol's past.
Because of that, carrying it out didn't seem too difficult.
'Just a little more...'
Not much. She didn't intend to unravel all the rules of the world or uncover every hidden truth.
All she wanted was a small hint—sothing to guide her.
A tiny clue about which path she should take in this world.
Fla quietly placed the book she had been reading into an unseen corner of the shelf.
Then, without making a sound, she left the library.
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