"Y-you, who are you?" asked Siena with a slightly perplexed voice. I looked at her, slightly confused, thinking, ''Seriously, why is she making that face? She''s not even bothered by the aura I''m currently releasing right now''


    "Father! What is that magnificent form you''ve taken? You look so marvelous and handsome, hehe," giggled niel, her grip on M tightening, causing the already unconscious M to cough up blood.


    "Release her, niel," Imanded with authority. The urgency of the situation left no room for unnecessaryplications.


    The form I currently possessed was temporary; I could feel my mana and aura reserves depleting rapidly. While the form granted me some excess energy, it would onlyst for one more minute. I couldn''t afford to provoke Siena at this moment.


    niel, disying her dissatisfaction, relinquished her hold on M, causing her to descend to the ground. The air was fraught with tension as niel leisurely approached me. Siena, fortunately, appeared oblivious to niel''s actions, maintaining her unwavering focus on me, a detail that might be attributed to our uncanny physical resemnce.


    "Adrian Vulter Tellus," I dered, breaking the palpable silence. Siena''s gaze momentarily quivered, followed by a subtle smile. However, her attention quickly shifted to niel, who continued her gradual advance towards me. Siena''s eyes bore a subtle undercurrent of bloodlust as she red at niel, yet after a few moments, she dismissed her and turned her attention to the fallen M.


    "Haha... so you''re the hero, huh? That''s quite unexpected," niel remarked with a yful yet slightly surprised tone. She offered a subtle smile, a mix of amusement and genuine concern coloring her expression.


    As she spoke, a dense white aura, ented with hints of blue, began to surround her form. With a sudden explosion of energy, she gracefully disappeared from sight.


    I couldn''t help but look upward, my gaze following the parting clouds. Did she fly through the air, or was it an extraordinary leap that took her away? The mystery of her departure lingered briefly in my thoughts.


    In any case, she was undeniably Adrian''s master. The descriptions from the novels seemed inadequatepared to witnessing her true presence.


    Her beauty exceeded any preconceived notions, perhaps even surpassing the famed Tristan, as the author had hinted. It left an indelible impression, a visual spectacle that transcended the limitations of mere words.


    I cast a gaze at niel, who was gracefully circling around me with an inquisitive expression etched on her face.


    "Father?" she inquired, curiosity dancing in her eyes. The effects of Hero''s Will began to fade, and my body returned to its usual state. I felt a noticeable drain on my strength, and with a final nce, I locked eyes with her, uttering, "Take care of my body."


    "F-fathe—"


    Her concerned calls echoed in my ears as the surroundings blurred into a cascade of indistinct shapes, and I sumbed to the unconscious embrace that awaited me long enough.


    …..


    "He''s still not back," Louise remarked, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness.


    A heavy sigh escaped Aria''s lips as she spoke, alsoden with weariness and sorrow. "Haah, just where are you, Adrian?"


    Aria''s fatigue resonated in her words. Both Aria and Louise found themselves seated on thefortable couch, savoring each other''spany.


    The room, adorned with warm hues and soft lighting, provided a haven for their thoughts and concerns. It had been a week since Aria had taken up residence in Adrian''s room, and with Louise''s presence as well, the girls had naturally grown close over this period.


    Louise, attempting to assuage her concerns, delved into a summoning book rted to her studies. Despite beingbeled as missing by the entire school and her student status under scrutiny, she found sce in Aria''s consistent support. Aria, without any obligation, continued to bring her books, a gesture that Louise appreciated deeply. Aria''s kindness, coupled with the sincerity in her words, had gradually opened Louise''s heart to her.


    Their shared time together allowed a connection to blossom between them, an unexpectedpanionship in the midst of uncertainty. Whether it was Aria''s innate warmth or themon link of having Adrian as a sibling, Louise couldn''t pinpoint the exact reason for the bond. However, it was hard to ignore the simrities in Aria and Adrian''s mannerisms, down to the food preferences that Aria mirrored from Adrian.


    Louise couldn''t help but release a small sigh as memories of Elena''s asional visits crossed her mind. While she appreciated thepany and camaraderie Elena brought with her, there was an undeniable tension that apanied these visits.


    The atmosphere in the room would invariably be charged whenever both Elena and Aria were present simultaneously. This tension, particrly when the topic of Adrian was broached, resembled a subtle contest—a silent battle for his attention.


    It felt akin to witnessing a conflict between a wife and a mistress, each vying for the affections of the same man. The situation, however, proved to be a wearisome one for Louise.


    She often found herself in the role of a mediator, striving to diffuse the mounting tension before it escted any further.


    Despite the strain that asionally apanied these moments, Louise endeavored to keep a sense of equilibrium, ensuring that the interactions between Elena and Aria did not spiral into a full-fledged dispute.


    Living together with Aria revealed another endearing quirk—the fact that Aria was, without a doubt, an avid hugger. Louise vividly recalled the first night they shared a bed, an experience that nearly bordered on a life-threatening ordeal due to the intensity of Aria''s embraces. Despite Louise''s suggestion that she could sleep on the couch that night, Aria insisted on them sharing the bed.


    Louise couldn''t deny that Aria''s tight hugs were both surprising and, at times, overwhelming. Despite her noble background, Aria seemed to have an innate and unreserved way of expressing affection through physical touch.


    The idea of sleeping in the same bed was initially challenging for Louise, given the stark contrast in their social standings, but Aria''s insistence and theck of alternative sleeping arrangements left Louise with no choice but to share the bed.


    The confined space of the bed, coupled with Aria''s propensity for hugs, created a somewhatical yet asionally exasperating situation for Louise. However, over time, she grew ustomed to Aria''s affectionate gestures, recognizing them as a genuine expression of camaraderie and friendship.


    Louise gave up after the second night and just chose to ept her fate of sharing a space with the enthusiastic ducal princess.


    Intrigued by the unexpected knock on the door, Aria and Louise exchanged curious nces before turning their attention to the entrance.


    It was an unusual urrence for someone to visit them at this hour, especially considering Elena''s usual nighttime visits. Moreover, Principal Victoria typically forgoes the formality of knocking, opting to teleport directly into the room.


    "I''ll check it out youngdies"


    Feeling a sense of curiosity and perhaps a bit of excitement, Annalise volunteered to investigate the source of the mysterious knock. A yful smile adorned her face as she found amusement in the reactions of the two girls.


    As Annalise opened the door, a polite inquiry escaped her lips. However, her eyes widened with a mix of recognition and surprise when she beheld the figure standing before her. In an instant, she instinctively lowered her head in a respectful bow, an almost reflexive response to the presence of the distinguished guest.


    With a voice that exuded both grace and curiosity, Lilliana addressed Annalise. "It''s been a long time, Analise. You look as lovely as ever."


    A hint of nervousnessced Analise''s voice as she replied "Yes, I''m doing fine, all thanks to your grace, youngdy Lilliana." The unexpected visit caught not only Analise off guard but also the two girls behind her, their expressions betraying a subtle sense of difort.


    Curiosity sparkled in Lilliana''s eyes as she continued "By the way, Analise, why are you not letting me enter yet?" Her gaze was directed toward the collection of women''s shoes and slippers neatly arranged at the corner, a silent inquiry demanding an exnation.


    Caught in a moment of uncertainty, Analise gulped, unsure of how to navigate this unexpected turn of events.


    …..


    As Victoria idly twirled the potion that Euphemia had handed her a few days ago, a sigh escaped her lips, carrying the weight of concern for Adrian. "He''s still not back... Haah, seriously, where is that kid?" The worry in her voice was evident as she contemted the current situation.


    The potion in her hand seemed to beckon her attention, a potential solution to the mystery of Adrian''s whereabouts. Euphemia had assured her of its efficacy, iming a one hundred percent sess rate. The temptation to use it now crossed Victoria''s mind.


    "Should I use this now?" she pondered aloud, her eyes fixed on the small vial. Reflecting on her recent attempt to provoke Euphemia into creating the seemingly impossible concoction, Victoria couldn''t help but marvel at the alchemist''s skill.


    Another sigh escaped her as she sank into her chair, the weight of responsibility settling heavily on her shoulders. Her gaze shifted to the stacks of paperwork strewn across her desk, a constant reminder of the myriad issues demanding her attention.


    The atmosphere within the school had undergone significant shifts following the recent incident. While things were gradually calming down, the ripples of the event had reached international borders, bing a topic of discussion across various countries. The news had spread far and wide, bringing the academy''s name into the global spotlight.


    Victoria, being at the helm of the academy, found herself in the midst of the storm. The repercussions of the incident had even reached the emperor himself, who expressed his displeasure with a terse message:


    "Clean up your mess." The golden parchment carrying those words arrived just two days ago, and every time Victoria revisited the message, a shiver ran down her spine.


    It became apparent that other nations were using the incident to mock and ridicule the empire. Despite the academy''s status as a neutral entity, independent of any particr nation, it was a known fact that the empire basically owns the academy.


    "Agh! Fuck it… I''ll find him myself" said Victoria as she drank the potion.