The elegant music flowing in the room had quietly faded at so point.
Rebecca took a deep breath, feeling her mind completely calm.
At this mont, she was tranquil and poised, her spirit fully soothed. She was ready to tell her aunt, with complete preparation and calm deanor, that she had just blown up the largest set of crystal resonators in the Magic Guide Technology Research Institute.
"Ugh..."
Rebecca, who had just stood up, couldn’t help but rub her forehead again, feeling a headache coming on.
But she didn’t sit back down (though she really wanted to) because she had already noticed strangers entering this lounge that theoretically was only for internal use by the institute personnel.
Fendil saw the girl who had been playing the piano stand up. He noticed her show a confident and calm deanor, then suddenly rub her forehead in distress, her facial expression changing several tis within five seconds. He couldn’t help but feel curious, but good manners kept him from speaking rashly, and instead, he remained quietly standing in place.
He then saw the princess turn away from the piano, look curiously at the three of them, and her clear and energetic voice ca through: "Who are you?"
Fendil imdiately responded, bowing with a polite smile: "It’s an honor to et you, Princess. Please forgive our impudent disturbance..."
In the presence of a royal mber, Fendil and Elywen did not continue to conceal their identities; they candidly stated their surnas. This unique eting thod felt quite intriguing to the two heirs of dukes—no lengthy introductions, no attendants or ritual officers loudly announcing titles and honors, not even a butler responsible for handing over docunts; they simply walked in and stated their nas, greeting the Empire’s princess...
Everything was simple and plain, like... ordinary people.
This perfectly regular visit seed a rather novel experience to the two young nobles.
Rebecca, however, didn’t think too much about it. She was only slightly surprised at first, then she sized up the three strangers in front of her—nobody should be so audacious as to impersonate the heirs of the dukes of the northern and western regions in this place, right?
"I did hear you were coming; my aunt told during a al a couple of days ago," she said while scratching her head, an action that might be considered "rude" in aristocratic etiquette. This puzzled Fendil and Elywen, as the quiet image of her playing the piano swiftly wavered in the young nobles’ mories, "But I didn’t hear there was soone nad Philem..."
Hearing his na ntioned, Philem, whose mind had been blank and body stiff with tension since earlier, suddenly snapped back to reality. Previously, he had rehearsed countless tis the "solemn procedures for eting royal family mbers," but none proved useful at this mont. Things had unfolded beyond his expectations, and he could only let his muddled mind guide his responses. After a sowhat awkward bow, he picked up the box he had brought.
"Rebecca... Your Highness, I am Philem from Balon. I brought... I brought sothing. Mr. Kode wrote a recomndation letter; he said you might be interested in my idea. It’s right here... Please wait a mont while I assemble it..."
Philem spoke sowhat incoherently and stuttered, but Rebecca was not impatient at all. She had already noticed that the box contained so Mage parts—even though they were very common and rather crude and outdated in form, her interest was piqued.
Philem began rapidly assembling those things, which seed to require a bit more ti, and Elywen, not wanting the atmosphere to cool down, actively broke the silence: "Your Highness, though it may be a bit presumptuous, your performance just now was truly outstanding. I nearly lost myself in it... The most brilliant court musicians might be only so good."
Appropriate complints to won, actively adjusting the atmosphere, and using topics such as music and art to communicate with higher-ranking nobility are skills every noble must master, even considered a certain responsibility. Elywen kept in mind the role he represented here, hoping to establish a good relationship with the princess—in the least, they should part on good terms if not form a friendship.
Rebecca, however, didn’t think much of it. She just casually spoke while watching Philem busy himself: "Ah, my piano skills were taught by a teacher, as were my combat techniques. Actually, I don’t know if I play well or not; I just use it to adjust my mood because I just blew up sothing..."
Elywen: "Uh...?"
Rebecca didn’t mind his slightly astonished expression and casually continued (after all, the other party had actively started the conversation, so it was basic courtesy to answer): "By the way, you guys are here to study, right? Going to the Imperial Academy?"
"Yes," Fendil nodded, smiling as he spoke, "Aunt Victoria thinks I should learn things not taught in the castle—entering the Imperial Academy as an ordinary student is the task she entrusted to . Moreover, Aunt Victoria ntioned you; she said you were a very special and exceptional princess, and I should learn from you."
"My father said similar things," Elywen adjusted his expression and also smiled as he spoke, "It’s truly impressive that you are already a ’master’ in the field of Mage Guide technology at such a young age—I hope I can learn sothing from you."
Evidently, as the era of magical industry arrives, Fendil and Elywen, a pair of mutually admired friends, have now t a mutual soone to look up to.
Rebecca didn’t think too much about it; she just glanced at Fendil and Elywen and scratched her chin: "Learning from ... That’s no problem, but how are your basics?"
"Basics?" The two heirs of the dukes were simultaneously a bit puzzled, seemingly not quite understanding Rebecca’s aning.
"Basic subjects, how are your math and science grades?"
"Decent," Fendil, although unsure why this polite topic had suddenly beco so serious, still replied reservedly, "I excel in frost spells and naturally have mastered the basics of array structures and calculation techniques..."
Elywen followed up: "I’m skilled in arcane magic and also sowhat versed in math and science."
"Decent and sowhat versed may not be enough. Later, I’ll give you so introductory tests, but I doubt if you can keep up with the current runology courses," Rebecca said while watching Philem place crystals on the rune trigger, "Have you had contact with rune logic?"
"This... I’ve only heard of it, but haven’t actually engaged with it."
"You’re falling behind here too..." Rebecca scratched her head, "Do you understand chanical principles and chanics?"
"Well..." Fendil’s expression was gradually becoming awkward, "Do we really need to learn these?"
"Of course! If you don’t understand chanical principles and chanics, you definitely can’t keep up with my classes!" Rebecca exclaid, eyes wide open, "You’re lacking in quite a few basic courses. I thought you would have at least redial studies before coming... But you must know so basic physics, right?"
Fendil and Elywen simultaneously showed a perplexed expression.
Rebecca understood imdiately upon seeing their expressions, and with hands on her hips, she couldn’t help but sigh, "If this subject doesn’t work either... can you withstand a beating?"
Fendil & Elywen: "...?"
The conversation reached a deadlock, and the atmosphere began to turn strange. However, just before this topic, filled with misunderstandings, stubbornness, subtlety, and straightforwardness, could continue, Philem finally completed his preparations: "I’m ready, Your Highness, please take a look..."
Rebecca instantly abandoned the halfway-through topic of "forming a study group" and curiously watched the holographic image Philem had manipulated.
Accompanied by the playback of the short film, Philem explained from the side what exactly his creation, "Magic Shadow Drama," was, discussing the source of his inspiration and the support and evaluation given by big rchant Mr. Kode.
Rebecca watched with wide eyes for several minutes. After finally understanding Philem’s concept, she opened her mouth: "...Wow."
"Your Highness, do you think..."
"This thing may not have anything notable from a purely magic guide technology perspective, but I bet the ancestors would definitely be interested in it!" Rebecca suddenly raised her head and excitedly said to Philem, "Your idea is very intriguing!"
"Ancestor..." Philem was taken aback by Rebecca’s enthusiastic attitude, and it took a mont for him to realize whom she ant by ’ancestor,’ "Are you referring to His Majesty the King?!"
"Pack up your things... Hey, don’t bother with these parts. Just bring this crystal along. I’ll give you a set of the newest magic web terminal," Rebecca, who was entirely fired up by new things, had started bustling about preparations before the three young n realized, "And add an amplification unit... You didn’t bring any project proposals? I guess it’s not formalized yet there... Just bring these along. Let’s go, I’ll take you to see my ancestor, ah, this thing, really good!"
...
"Did they go to the Magic Guide Technology Research Institute?"
Upon returning to Cecil Palace, Gawain soon received the latest updates from Intel Agency operatives, learning of the latest actions of the two young heirs.
They were, after all, descendants of the Dukes of the northern parts and West. He had always had Amber’s people keep an eye on their movents.
Amber nodded, "A young man nad Philem accompanied them. This Philem seed to have brought sothing interesting, and the president of Carol Business Association personally wrote the recomndation letter. The three of them directly went to find Rebecca."
"Rebecca was the first to ’host’ them, huh," Gawain couldn’t help but chuckle a bit, "I wonder if that girl would cause a ss."
"I thought you’d be worried... What was that phrase you taught when you were bored," Amber mused over the amusing sayings Gawain had shared with her when idle, "Oh right, worried about an outsider boar gouging your cabbage—after all, they’re all young people, huh?"
"...I’m more worried that our cabbage would beat up their boar," Gawain smirked slightly, "The young man nad Philem isn’t bad, just hoping Fendil and Elywen don’t get too formal with aristocratic etiquette with Rebecca. You know, anyone who ends up befriending Rebecca must be well-versed in both art and battle. Plus, she’s carrying a princess title now... I suppose I should educate early on."
Amber: "..."
As they spoke, a hurried set of footsteps suddenly echoed through the hallway outside the door, abruptly interrupting Amber and Gawain’s conversation.
The footsteps sounded sowhat chaotic, suggesting more than one person.
One of the presences was Rebecca.
At that mont, Gawain nearly had the draft for apology letters to Victoria and Baldwin prepared...
In the next mont, the study door was suddenly pushed open by an excited Rebecca. Gawain raised his head to see a bright smile on her face: "Ancestor! I have sothing good to show you!!"
"Sothing good?"
Gawain asked curiously, then saw three figures appear behind Rebecca.
They were three young people, one with silver hair and a tall stature, featuring northern facial traits, one with short brown hair and a shorter build, and one with golden short hair with a well-proportioned physique.
All three looked a little awkward, as if they hadn’t had any ntal preparation while being brought over by Rebecca hastily, and the golden-haired young man appeared especially nervous and apprehensive.
The three did not appear to be injured.
Gawain inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, temporarily setting aside the draft for the apology letter, and gave Rebecca a glance, "At least rember to knock."
Rebecca let out a small surprised exclamation, "Ah," and under the puzzled gaze of the three young n, closed the door again, knocking from outside, "Ancestor, ancestor, I’m knocking now!"
"Co in." Gawain’s tone was filled with resignation.
"Ancestor!" Rebecca excitedly pushed the door open and entered the room, coming to Gawain’s side, while with her other hand, she was holding onto the golden-haired young man... and his boxed item, "I have sothing fun to show you!"
(Hey everyone, the interactive features in the comic have been open for three weeks now, do give them so love. Just realized ntioning this now might be a bit late...)
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