Chapter 140 - The Elven King is Surprised by Katherine

  Haiten Rhiannon:

  "Queen Siofna, King Haiten, it's a pleasure to see you again," Charles greeted us.

  The queen shook my hand, fshing a bright smile.

  “It will be historic, the first time so many members of royalty study together in the same css. With the Grand Duke's daughter and our daughters, there will be three royals in total," she said.

  And if we t the boy, that makes four royals, I thought, smiling inwardly. I must have been smiling a bit too much at my little internal joke, so I tried to py it off.

  “In my time. Charles was older and more popur, so I hardly had any iion with him,” I ented.

  “Ah, those were fun times,” Charles replied with a hint of nostalgia.

  We chatted briefly about the rare opportunity of having both princesses attending the academy together.

  “I just hope they don’t set me up with a boyfriend, or I’ll toss him into a pit full of beasts, haha,” Charles joked with me.

  ‘Knock, knock.’ The sound of the knock alerted me—it was the coded signal for something urgent that needed my attention.

  I turoward the door as a guard entered.

  “Sir, there are two women outside saying Lady Adrihna called for them.”

  Adrihna immediately moved toward the door.

  “It’s the other family, my lord,” she said, and I uood.

  I g Siofna, who smiled, remindio maintain posure.

  Two womeered—one carrying an air of authority, but the other… As soon as I saw her face, I felt a jolt of shock.

  This 't be real… She has the features of a high elf.

  Her youthful face, with a delicate beauty and natural elegaruck me deeply. Only someone who has spent siderable time around high elves would notice the subtle traits. Her features were sculpted with such precision that it seemed as though a master artist had dedicated their life to perfeg this masterpiece. Few in the world had ever e into tact with a high elf, but I had grown up surrounded by them, and I instantly reized that this woman’s beauty was far from ordinary.

  Siofna squeezed my wrist, and I saw her sharp gaze fixed on the brown-haired woman. We didn’t need a geic test to firm it—this woman was undoubtedly of the royal high elf lineage. She had ied many traits that set her apart from ordinary humans—subtle, but unmistakable.

  The woman who exuded authority beside her was likely Duchess Margaery Evenhart. She greeted both Siofna and me, but I found it difficult to tear my eyes away from the brown-haired woman.

  The st line of the high elf royal family… I have to protect them at all costs, I thought, feeling the weight of my responsibility intensify.

  Diplomatic treaties? They no longer mattered as much. I would have this woman and her son pced under stant watd escorted safely to the pace.

  Adrihna, standio me, observed me with a knowing look, clearly trying to gauge my reas.

  Why didn’t Adrihna tell me her appearance was this distinct? Kinue blend in since she’s a demi-human, but this boy’s mother ied too many physical traits. This is far beyond what I imagined.

  The womaantly addressed me, her voice carrying a trace of nervousness.

  “Lord… king,” she began, uain.

  King? You’re family. There’s no need for suality.

  "Just Haiten. You call me by my name," I replied, trying to ease the tension in the room.

  I gnced over at Adrihna, who was exging looks with me, clearly waiting for my rea.

  "She really does resemble…" I murmured, still in disbelief.

  Adrihna chuckled softly.

  "You should see the boy. You’ll be amazed by his physical features," she said, amused.

  More surprised? That’s impossible, I thought, still processing what I had just witnessed.

  The other royals approached, and both women bowed in reverence, greeting them formally.

  Nathan Evenhart:

  We had finally arrived at Apsalon Academy, but we were in an area dedicated to events, with a grand hall reserved for celebrations.

  "This pce is enormous! It feels like there's a city withiy," Chloe excimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she took in the grandeur of it all.

  "It really is impressive," I agreed, as my gaze swept across the ndscape around us.

  Ever since we left home, though, I’d been feeling something off. There was a strange sensation, like something was out of pce. It was as if an unseen presence was watg me. The disfort was subtle, almost unnoticeable, but persistent, like an invisible shad to instill fear.

  Weird...

  I masked my unease, gng around, trying to pinpoint where that feeling might be ing from. I sed the crowd and the surroundings, searg for anyone or anything that might be staring at me, but I saw nothing to expin the uling vibe.

  "Nate, e on!" Chloe called, tugging at my hand.

  "Alright, alright… you don’t have to pull," I grumbled, trying to focus on the event ahead and push aside that eerie feeling.

  It’s probably nothing... just in my head.

  It would be ironic for something to happen now, just when I’d decided to live as a normal student.

  Shaking off the thoughts, I turned my attention back to the academy. The grounds were vast—so expahat they even had their own forest for the students. Those who studied here would spend years in this pce, honing their magical abilities and sword skills. Even knights from the human kingdom trained here, their families holding influen the royal army.

  The campus was se that there were maps posted everywhere, showing various points of i. But so far, we hadn’t explored beyond the building where the ceremony was taking p area closer to the city but separate from the student-dedicated grounds.

  "Kids, Katie and I are going to meet your teacher. Follow the path and wait at the table; someone will help you find your seats," Aunt Margie said with her usual ess, gesturing toward the hall.

  Standing in front of the impressive building, a luxurious red carpet stretched toward the grarance, where groups of people mingled and drank. The mix of races and cultures present was a refle of the city itself—a melting pot of diversity and magic.

  At the entrawo guards awaited us—one human and one elf, both standing with impeccable posture.

  "Wele, udents! I hope you enjoy tonight's event. Could you please give us your names? A guide will show you to your reserved table with your families," said the human guard in a polite, formal tone.

  "I'm Chloe Evenhart, and this is Nathan Evenhart. We're from the same family," Chloe responded fidently.

  The guard quickly jured a magical clipboard from his bracelet and began scrolling through the guest list.

  "Here it is," he said after a moment. "The Evenhart family. You may enter..." He paused as he read further. "I see Nathan Evenhart's name is highlighted as an honor student. You’ll have to part ways for the time being."

  Chloe and I were already aware of this separation, so we exged a gnd nodded silently.

  As we entered, a peared to guide us. "Wele, udents. I’ll be yuide, but as I see," she turo me, "you’ll be going in a different dire." At that moment, a man stepped up beside her.

  "Director Victoria has anized a special meeting for the honor students. She will expin how the ceremony works, which has been a tradition sihe academy’s founding," the man said, his tone serious.

  I nodded in agreement, already knowing what was ing, and followed him.

  "See you ter, Nate!" Chloe called, waving as I walked away.

  Following the guide, we passed through a series of doors that led to a long, silent corridor. The walls were adorned with statues of imposing figures, their faces carved into stern, ptive expressions, as if they held the secrets of the academy’s history in every detail.

  "These are the former directors of the academy, and each was the apprentice of the previous o’s a tradition that transds bloodlihe director is chosen for their talents and sense of responsibility towards you, the future mages of the kingdom," the guide expined with a reverent nod toward the former leaders.

  I found the history iing and studied the portraits on the walls, reminded of the 'Hall of Kings' we had at the castle, a pce of honor for the past rulers of our family. It seemed this tradition of h predecessors was also part of the academy's culture.

  Finally, we arrived at a rge wooden door. The man stopped aured to me.

  "Wait in this room. Director Victoria will be with you in a few mio expin the steps," he said before closing the door, leaving me alone.

  The room was cozy but not very spacious. It seemed like a waiting area, with a table full of snacks and treats that I assumed were for the students. However, my attention was immediately drawn to the swords decorating the walls. They looked magnifit, and I was curious if they were like Aurora, the ented sword Adrihna had used during the exam.

  I approached one of them, fasated by the idea that ons could tain magic. I reached out to touch it.

  "What do you think you're doing?!" a sharp voice echoed across the room.

  I quickly turned and found myself face to face with a stunning elven girl.