The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of Escarton's upper north wing, warming the polished stone halls and catching glints off gold-trimmed scroll holders.
I adjusted my cravat in a passing reflection, straightened my posture, and assumed my role once more, Lord Albert, eccentric but brilliant and a student with grand noble duties.
I strode into class with an easy smile and a confident nod to the other students already gathered.
Most of them liked Albert well enough.
I was cordial, clever when needed, and never overbearing. A few of the younger students even looked up to me. The professors respected me—at least, the ones who didn't suspect I occasionally dozed off with my eyes open during boring lectures.
But today, I wasn't focused on alchemy diagrams or the debate on magical ethics. My thoughts kept drifting to the whispers. The rumors. The niece of the Emperor of Adur is enrolling next semester.
And worse, every thread I pulled led to confirmation.
Thanks to my charm (and fine jawline), I was able to lean on the secretaries and record clerks. A few compliments here, a touch of gallantry there, and the ledgers opened like petals in spring.
"Yes, under special arrangements," one of the clerks whispered, fanning herself slightly. "Apparently, her magic tests were… exceptional. She'll be attending as both a student and a guest of diplomatic interest."
Diplomatic interest? That's never good.
By the time classes were over and I dodged two attempts at a duel from overeager classmates, I made my way back to the dorm, my boots clicking softly against the floor as my thoughts churned.
This wasn't a simple enrollment. No one sends a royal from Adur here without a reason. Not just for "top education." There was a game being played—and I didn't like not knowing the stakes.
I pushed open the door to our shared room and saw my brother once again lounging with a book in one hand and a jar of candied nuts in the other.
He glanced up lazily. "Big sis, you're making that face again."
"What face?"
"The one that says 'I'm contemplating faking my death and fleeing across the sea.'"
I threw my cloak over the bed and sat beside him. "I'm serious. That Adur princess? It's not just a rumor. She's actually enrolling. Next semester."
He raised an eyebrow. "So?"
"So?" I echoed. "So—everything. Adur is sending their princess to such a far place for some top-tier education when they have their own sage of the era tutoring the crown prince, who's only a few years younger than the princess? Right… they're up to something, and I don't want to be caught in the middle of it. Maybe we should leave before things get messy."
He tilted his head, thoughtfully. "And go where?"
"Home," I said, half-heartedly. "Or—anywhere else. Maybe I'll take another long-term mission. Something far, far away from anything politically delicate."
He gave me a knowing look and popped a chocolate-covered cashew into his mouth.
"But Big sis, you're supposed to be searching for a husband?" he asked as he looked at me with wide eyes. "If you go back now without a candidate, they'll chain you to a tea table and make you drink until you pick one."
I groaned and dropped onto my back.
"Why does everyone care about who I marry? Can't I just quietly run this kingdom, protect its secrets, and not get entangled in imperial dramas?"
My brother snickered. "Right… Big sis, you, not getting entangled in drama? Impossible. You've had three sword fights and uncovered a forgotten dragon saintess this month alone. Let's not talk about the past other dramas, like the crown succession, the grand 'purge', and other stuff the great Queen of Terah has done."
I lifted a pillow and smacked him with it. "That's not the point."
He dodged easily. "Big sis, maybe you should stick around a little longer. Watch what the Adurans are doing. If they're up to something, it might be safer to be in the game rather than outside of it."
I stared at the ceiling, scowling.
"And the marriage thing?"
He grinned. "Start collecting husband resumes. I'll help."
"Absolutely not."
"Oh come on—what about that guy from enchantment class? The one with the nice arms."
"I will exile you."
He laughed, and I sighed, letting the moment hang in the air.
Maybe he was right. Maybe it was better to stay close and watch. But one thing was certain: with the Adur princess arriving soon, Escarton wouldn't be quiet for much longer.
And I had a feeling I wouldn't be able to avoid the center of it, no matter how many relics or hidden dragons I tried to distract myself with.
The market square of Escarton bustled with life—haggling voices, clinking coins, the rich scent of roasted chestnuts and spice-glazed meats wafting through the air.
I strolled down the main road, hands in my pockets, wearing the cool indifference of Lord Averan, silver-ranked adventurer, notorious in both charisma and battlefield cunning.
I wasn't here for pleasure today, though. I was checking for solo missions—a quick errand to keep sharp, maybe slay a corrupted wyvern or retrieve lost relics in the lowlands. Something simple. Something not laced in imperial politics or ancient dragons.
And that's when I saw him.
A tall, muscular man in muted armor, face partially shadowed by a hood, was slipping through the alleyway between a potion stall and a butcher's stand. But I knew that gait. I knew that scar over his left brow.
I narrowed my eyes. "Kyle," I said under my breath.
He must have sensed it—he definitely sensed it—because his head snapped toward me, and his face turned the exact shade of someone who'd just seen a ghost.
I tilted my head, smiling.
He bolted.
"Coward," I muttered fondly as I leapt after him.
A few fruit stands, three crates of fish, and a small vegetable cart later, I had him cornered in a narrow alley, panting, one hand on his blade.
"Relax," I said, still smiling, "If I wanted to take your head, I'd have done it three corners ago."
Kyle swallowed, hands up in a half-surrender. "You're— You're that nightmare commander. The one that alone wiped out the vanguard in the Ralvek Swamp."
I gave him a mock-bow. "Commander Albert of Terah. Or as you know me now, Lord Albert, brother of the great Queen Feria. Do keep it down."
He exhaled slowly, like trying to steady his nerves. "What do you want?"
I leaned in, voice low. "I want you not to open your mouth about me being the commander who rampaged and cut down most of the Adur soldiers in the Ralvek Swamp, making them retreat, which played a great role in the emperor's decision to withdraw troops from the main battle. If word gets out that the commander is the same as Lord Albert enrolled in Escarton, I'll have to silence you."
Kyle flinched and nodded quickly. "Understood. Can I go now?"
I grinned. "Actually… no."
His eyes narrowed. "No?"
"You're going to help me," I said sweetly. "You're aligned with the Adur empire, aren't you? That means you're close enough to their internal whispers."
He frowned. "What kind of help?"
"Oh, nothing big. Just a little... inquiry. I want to know why the Adur Emperor is sending his precious little niece to Escarton Academy. And don't feed me that top-education nonsense. You and I both know there's more to it."
Kyle's expression went stiff. "That's above my pay grade."
I raised a brow. "Then I'll make sure your pay grade never comes again."
He stared. I smiled, patient.
"…Fine," he muttered.
It didn't take long. Kyle might have been a mercenary, but he wasn't an idiot. A day later, under the pretense of delivering a crate of fake potions, he slid into a corner tavern booth across from me and passed over a sealed note.
I opened it.
I stared.
The note read:
Objective: Charm Lord Albert (Commander of the Black Terror of Terah).
Rationale: To uncover information regarding Terah's sealed Royal Archives. Emperor suspects Terah holds vital records about dragons—locations, relics, and the true nature of Ki's lineage.
Agent: Her Highness, Princess Lysanne of Adur.
Method: Enroll as a student. Gain favor. Earn romantic affections. Extract intel.
Secondary: Report any signs of latent dragonkin presence within Escarton.
I stared at the words, mouth pressed into a thin line. Then I gave a long exhale and slid the note back across to Kyle.
"She's supposed to what?" I muttered, mostly to myself.
Kyle was already looking at me with cautious sympathy. "Look, I was just the runner—"
"Charming me," I muttered again, in disbelief. "Me. As if I'd be that easily manipulated."
"Didn't they mention you're oblivious when it comes to romance?" Kyle added unhelpfully.
I gave him a flat look. "You're walking a very thin line, Kyle."
He raised his hands in surrender again, already edging away.
I stood from the booth, stuffing the note deep into my coat. My pulse still hadn't slowed. Dragons, relics, archives—this wasn't about love or schooling. This was a long game, and I was the board they planned to play it on.
I needed to secure the archives.
I needed to protect Shasha.
And I needed to make very sure that this Princess Lysanne never got the idea that I'd fall for some sweet-eyed, honey-tongued act.
Because if there was one thing I hated more than being used—
—it was being underestimated.
The moment I stepped into our dorm room, my brother glanced up from the mountain of snacks like a little sheep caught mid-munch.
He had his cheeks full of mochi cakes and one hand deep in the chestnut jar. I couldn't help but let out a low laugh.
"Seriously?" I dropped my travel bag by the door. "Didn't I tell you to pace yourself?"
He shrugged, looking completely unrepentant. "Taste testing," he mumbled, cheeks still puffed like a chipmunk. "Quality assurance."
I tossed a pillow at him. He caught it easily and lobbed it back before settling deeper into the nest of cushions and snack wrappers.
"Anyway," I said, pulling the now-crumpled Adur memo from my coat and tossing it onto the table between us, "we've got something else to chew on."
He blinked, then wiped his fingers and leaned forward to read. I watched his eyes skim across the words, his brows arching slowly as realization bloomed—followed by the slowest, most wicked grin I'd ever seen him make.
"…Wait. Wait—" He burst out laughing, doubling over until tears sparkled at the corners of his eyes. "They're trying to charm you? You?! The terrifying Commander Albert? The nightmare inducing commander of the troops Black Terror? King of glowering stares and emotional distance?"
Hearing such middle school-like titles, I almost gagged, so I flicked a rice cracker at his forehead to redirect my embarrassment.
"Oh shut it."
He kept laughing. "Oh gods above, this is rich. They're doomed."
I crossed my arms. "If you're done, should we go back home? We already know what the Adur empire is planning."
But to my surprise, he shook his head, straightening with a thoughtful look. "Why go back now? Why not stay and play along? We know the game. Let's beat them at it."
I blinked. "My sweet, innocent little brother is suggesting deception, manipulation, and social warfare."
He snorted. "You taught me."
"I did not—!"
"You did, actually," he said, shoving another rice cracker into his mouth. "I learned from you since all I can do these past years is watch you so of course I pick up stuff here and there. So yes, it's your fault Big Sis."
I groaned, I mean I didn't mean for him to see such a side of me, but I wasn't able to stop him from watching me either.
With a sigh, I dramatically collapsed beside him. "Oh no. You were so adorable and pure. I used to braid your hair and feed you honey cakes."
He snorted. "You braided my hair after throwing me into training with the palace guards."
"Gentle training," I said defensively.
He stared at me flatly.
I sighed and reached out, ruffling his hair. "Still. You're growing up too fast."
"That's what happens when your big sister drags you to magical escapades and royal archives with a dragon."
We shared a grin before he turned back to the snack pile.
And that's when it hit me.
I leaned forward slowly, eyes glinting. "Hey… you know what would be really fun?"
He gave me a wary glance. "What."
"What if… you charmed the princess?"
He froze mid-bite, slowly lowering the mochi in his hand. "…What."
"Think about it." I leaned in, grinning like the scheming menace I truly am. "They think they're sending her to seduce me—Lord Albert, terrifying heartbreaker of Terah—but what if instead, you turn the game on them? Charm her. Win her over. Find out what they're truly after from her lips. Still disguised as Lord Albert's close servant?"
His eyes widened in horror. "You want me to seduce a princess as a servant?"
"Not seduce, charm," I said, waving a hand. "Big difference."
"That's semantics."
"It's strategy," I said smugly. "A delicious twist. Turn the hunter into the hunted. The charmer into the charmed."
He stared at me. "You're insane."
"I'm inspired."
"I'm five years younger than you, and this is child endangerment."
I grinned wider. "You'll be fine. Just flutter those lashes. Look adorable. You're devastating when you smile right."
He groaned into his hands. "I knew it. Your schemes are way harsher than ones I can ever think of, and you wonder why I'm growing up fast in a weird way."
I smiled.
He sighed.
But he didn't say no.
And when I caught him a minute later practicing a bow in the mirror, I had to bite down a laugh so hard I nearly broke a molar.
The game had begun. And if the Adur Empire thought they could play it—
—then they better be ready for us to play it better.