Chapter – 28
Reunion and Embrace
In the gentle spring sunlight, the front garden of Starledge Royal Academy was alive with the presence of many young sons and daughters of noble families.
Today marked the beginning of the Month of Earth—Entrance Day for new students. In other words, it was the day the number of participants in the pre-social gatherings would increase before the true social season began.
At the Academy, as in the rest of noble society, one’s status outweighed age in determining social hierarchy. Current students had gathered to greet the newcomers, and this bustle was the result.
Among the new students was Olivia’s younger stepsister, Janette, dressed in her brand-new uniform.
Chatting with familiar young ladies, she listened attentively to the conversations around her.
“Have you heard the latest rumor?”
“You mean about that shut-in marquis’ daughter?”
“I heard she was the saint who saved His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“She’s the same age as His Highness, and rumors say she’ll be enrolling this year.”
“Is it true that her engagement has already been arranged?”
The shut-in marquis’ daughter.
Hearing that topic, Janette sharpened her focus.
“They say she was afflicted with a terrible illness and left the capital to recover on her family’s estate.”
“Oh my. A saint, yet sick?”
“Yes, yes. I heard she secluded herself there too, just like she did in the capital.”
“I heard her illness left her horribly disfigured.”
“Would someone like that really leave her estate and come to the Academy, where all the nobles gather?”
Janette smirked inwardly at the direction the conversation had taken.
About three years ago, her elder stepsister, Olivia, suddenly disappeared from the marquis’ household.
Janette had always disliked the girl—so frail she hardly looked like a wealthy noble lady, with a ghost-like pallor and gloomy expression.
Though they were the same age, Olivia was the marquis’ trueborn daughter and heiress. She inherited the beauty of his first wife—hailed as a “jewel”—and was born with silver hair and clear, spring-like eyes. That alone was infuriating, and Janette, alongside her mother, tormented her. Watching Olivia’s refined features fall to ruin had been pleasing.
When Olivia suddenly became active, used makeup like magic, and then became engaged to the Crown Prince, the shock had been immense.
Impossible—unbelievable. Janette had truly considered how to turn her stepsister back into that ghost haunting the detached wing of the estate. Then, Olivia vanished. She was found in a forest, so weakened she hovered between life and death.
When Janette heard Olivia would not return to the marquis’ residence, but would instead recuperate on a distant estate, her first thought had been, “She should have just died.” But the idea of never seeing that annoyingly perfect face again had been a relief.
With Olivia absent, Janette took the chance to feed all sorts of tales to her circle of noble girls.
Though Olivia had once been called a “Sleeping Jewel,” Janette claimed she looked worse than a beggar in the slums, that she was spoiled and tyrannical in the marquis household, or that she seduced men and snuck into the Crown Prince’s palace to ensnare him. Rumors spread quickly, grew exaggerated, and circulated throughout noble society.
Releasing pent-up resentment was part of it, but her true goal was to brand Olivia with disgrace so she would never return to the capital. If the rumors reached the palace, the engagement with the Crown Prince would surely be annulled.
Indeed, Olivia had not returned from the estate. Nobles who did not attend the Academy were not treated as part of high society. The engagement fading into oblivion was only a matter of time.
(I will never allow Olivia to be happy. Everything she has will be mine—status, fame—everything. I am the one worthy of it all.)
Suppressing her urge to laugh, Janette suddenly noticed a luxurious carriage approaching the main gate.
Students had been staring at it since it was still far from the entrance. The reason was simple—the carriage was escorted by mounted knights. In the safest district of the capital, no noble would normally bring knights to the Academy. If anyone would, it was not just a noble—it was—
When the carriage stopped at the porch, someone shouted, “The Fire Dragon crest!”
The Fire Dragon crest was the symbol of the royal family. Gasps spread through the crowd. The lively chatter shifted into a tense murmuring.
Two royals were entering the Academy this year—both direct princes.
The Crown Prince, the First Prince, or the Second Prince, son of the current queen. Naturally, everyone assumed one or both were in the carriage—until—
“Make way!”
A commanding voice rang out, and the crowd split.
A male student appeared—clearly not a first-year judging by his stature. Once he confirmed a pathway had formed, he stepped aside and bowed his head.
With the fountain behind him, appearing with elegance and regal dignity was—
“His Highness the Crown Prince…!”
A young lady near Janette let out a shriek-like cry.
Noah Arthur Igbern. His dark hair, tinged with blue, swayed as he moved, and his star-like royal eyes shone brilliantly. The future king walked toward the carriage. Every student at the Royal Academy dreamed of speaking with Noah at least once, but none had ever managed to approach him.
His kingly presence washed over the crowd, and bows rippled outward like waves. Even so, as he passed, no one dared look away, not wanting to miss a single motion.
When Janette bowed nervously, Noah stopped right beside her, making her heart jolt.
Would he speak to her? The thought sparked hope within her. After all, she was a daughter of the prestigious Arvine Marquisate. If Olivia never returned to the capital, she might well become Crown Princess.
Surely Noah must be aware of her—
“…Olivia.”
At the sound of that rich voice, the surrounding young ladies squealed with excitement—yet Janette froze.
What had he just said?
As she lifted her head, the carriage door opened.
A soft floral fragrance drifted out, and then—
“A goddess…”
Someone whispered. No one corrected him.
From the carriage stepped a girl with shining silver hair and eyes as clear as spring water.
A gracefully straight nose; a face shaped like the most beautifully cut gemstone. A long, slender neck, and delicate limbs like a blossom that could be crushed with a touch.
A breathtakingly divine girl who seemed almost to glow smiled like a flower in bloom.
“Noah…”
The moment she smiled, several students collapsed to the ground.
Each one trembled, muttering, “T-too beautiful…” with rapturous expressions, as if unable to breathe.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Olivia.”
Noah offered his hand. Olivia Belle Arvine, daughter of the Arvine Marquis, gently placed her hand in his.
“Even the goddesses must bow before such beauty,” he murmured.
With starry eyes narrowed, Noah pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.
Screams erupted from all around.
“You have become such a splendid prince, Noah.”
“I was splendid to begin with, wasn’t I?”
Noah gave a playful wink, making Olivia stifle a laugh behind her hand. “That’s true.”
The next moment, as if unable to restrain himself any longer, Noah pulled Olivia into a tight embrace.
“N-Noah!?”
“I’ve missed you so much, Olivia—my saint!”
The Academy erupted in cheers louder than ever before.
In the midst of the commotion, only Janette remained frozen, glaring at Olivia with an icy expression.
