"Behave yourself! We're in the presence of Her Highness."
"But I can't help myself! She's adorable!"
Lady Alice sighed. "I apologize for her behavior, Your Highness. She can be… passionate sometimes."
Elizabeth chuckled. "I don't mind. You two sound very close."
"Lady Joanna was my student when I taught at the university. That's how we got acquainted. Is Your Highness interested in the situation over there?"
She looked at Lady Kalasena and Benedict once more before shaking her head. "It shouldn't be a problem."
True to her word, Shirley stepped between them and snarled, "You're too close. Step back."
Lady Kalasena switched her focus to Shirley and following a brief pause, she nodded and stepped back. This relieved the tension. Benedict heaved a sigh of relief. He could not handle forceful people like Lady Kalasena. Shirley came at the perfect time. For people that did not know Lady Kalasena's identity, they quickly lost interest. Only a scant number of people knew she was a Grand Lady, much less the famous Solitary Wind, Lady Kalasena Dewshard! Lady Solis was one of them. She looked up at Shirley with admiration overflowing from her petite eyes. To speak out against a Grand Lady like that was too amazing!
Aster bowed. "Lady Kalasena, you're as beautiful as they say. It's my pleasure to finally meet you. I am Lord Aster of the Cisvernia Engelsheft Family." He hoped for a response, but the reticent girl kept her silence as usual. It was unknown if she even acknowledged his presence. His cheeks grew hot from embarrassment.
"You don't have to mind her. She usually doesn't say anything to anyone," Shirley said. "Didn't that Fredrick come with you?"
Lady Kalasena shook her head.
"I'll take that as a no. What a heartless man."
"…"
"Have you improved your sword technique, Lady Kalasena?" Benedict asked politely.
She nodded.
"I'm eager to see how much you improved, but preferably some other time."
"…"
Shirley felt sorry for her, and suggested, "Why don't we find somewhere to sit down? I'm getting tired walking around."
Freon doubted his ears. "We've been walking for five minutes, and you're tired already?"
She glared at the idiot. "…Yes, I am. Lady Kalasena, you can join us."
Without waiting for her reply, she yanked the girl's arm. Lady Kalasena froze, unsure of what to do. This was a first for her. Ultimately, she was pulled along to Shirley's tune. In the end, there was a very strange group of people sitting under the trees: two Royal Guards, one Ten Dawn, one future Ten Dawn, two Engelsheft, and a Grand Lady.
"Like I said, it wasn't a problem," Elizabeth reaffirmed to Lady Alice and Lady Joanna.
"Your Highness has been blessed with good Protectors," Lady Alice complimented.
"Thank you. I heard you've been blessed with a good grandson too."
"That child?" She smiled. "We have high hopes that he'll be able to form a Condensed Drop Core within five years. When that happens and he becomes a Ten Dawn, the Cisvernia Family might have a new prince."
"I wish him the best then," Elizabeth added forcefully. She had to remind herself that this was the normal advancement speed of Arcanists in the Zino Kingdom, and that she and her friends were outliers!
"I only hope my daughter grows without an issue. She can be such a handful sometimes," Lady Joanna sighed.
"You were like that too during your university days."
"Was I? I don't remember."
Lady Alice raised an eyebrow. "I can list the exact details if you want."
"I can't remember what we were talking about," Lady Joanna whistled. "What about Your Highness? When does Your Highness think you can form a Condensed Drop Core?"
"Me?" Elizabeth was surprised by the question. However, she answered truthfully, "…I don't know. I progressed too fast, so my foundation isn't stable. I'm finding it hard to condense the Magic Energy in my Core. I suspect I might need more time. That is why I hope you can guide me during this period."
Lady Alice nodded approvingly. "That goes without saying, Your Highness, though I am quite curious. What does Your Highness intend to do after achieving Condensed Drop Core Level?"
"This…"
"I apologize. I didn't mean to question your intentions."
"No, it's fine. It's just that… I haven't considered it yet."
The two women exchanged a subtle glance. Lady Joanna then asked, "Then why does Your Highness desire a Condensed Drop Core? Wouldn't Half-Condensed Drop be sufficient?"
"I can't answer that."
"…"
"I'm not interrupting, am I?"
"You jest, Sage Pannark," Elizabeth replied.
"Glad to hear it. I wanted to introduce Your Highness to my grandchildren. I believe they will be leading the Zino Kingdom in the future. Come and say hello."
"Greetings, Your Highness. I am Kel Lanark," a soft, almost feeble voice was barely heard. Elizabeth needed to tilt her head down to see him. Since the First Sage mentioned his grandchildren, this Kel must be very young.
"Greetings, Your Highness. It's an honor to meet you. Vivian Malkhorn is my name." In sharp contrast, this girl had a deep, and powerful voice. Elizabeth had to look up. This… large girl was certainly intimidating. She was a little scared.
"These two graduated from the First Celestial Magic University with top ranks and Condensed Drop Core Level. I believe they should become Ten Dawns very soon," Sage Pannark explained proudly.
"Ah, I remember hearing there were three top rankers this year. You two must be very impressive for reaching Condensed Drop Core Level before graduating," Elizabeth praised. "Any advice for someone trying to condense their Core too?"
Vivian replied instantly. "You need concentration and determination. The process might be slow, but as long as you persist and steadily move forward, it will eventually happen."
"The right opportunity is important too," Kel added.
"Thank you, I will keep that in mind." Her humble attitude pleased everyone, despite being a genius who reached Half-Condensed Drop in a single year, or the former heir apparent and princess of the Alzar Kingdom.
Sage Pannark nodded. "Let me ask frankly, Your Highness. How does Your Highness feel about the Arcellius Family?"
"You'll have to be more specific." Elizabeth narrowed her eyes.
"Their Protector wants to revive the Arcellius Family, but the Zino Kingdom cannot support the existence of an eighth Engelsheft Family. It would destabilize the power balance that we created. I am asking to clarify Your Highness's stance on the matter, given that Your Highness is the Royal Ambassador."
Elizabeth understood the crux of the problem. She was close with Freon and Nassandra, and by association, Protector Avin and the Arcellius Family. The Zino Kingdom must be afraid that she was actively supporting the Arcellius Family's rise back to prominence. It was one thing for a princess to do it. It was an entirely different matter for the Royal Ambassador, who acted on behalf of the Alzar Kingdom, to do it. The sage wanted to remind her that she was supposed to remain neutral. Which was fine. Because from what she knew, neither Freon nor Nassandra were particularly interested in reviving the Arcellius Family. That was something that their uncle, Protector Avin, desired, and not them. Although Elizabeth did respect Protector Avin's power as a Rank 3 King and a Blue Depth Core Arcanist, she was not close enough to help him. And he never asked for it either. It was an unnecessary concern for the First Sage.
"Rest assured, I will keep neutral on this matter," she declared.
The sage's gaze intensified. "Even if Lord Freon and Ten Dawn Nassandra are involved?"
"They won't be. I can promise you that."
"That doesn't answer my question," Sage Pannark pressed.
Elizabeth gave him a cold stare. "I don't think you should be worrying about Freon, Nassandra, or me. What you should be worrying about is how the Zino Kingdom will stop Protector Avin, if he does decide to revive the Arcellius Family. Compared to a Rank 3 King, our powers are irrelevant."
He snorted. "I refuse to believe we can't deal with one person."
She shrugged. "If you're that confident, then there's no need to worry about us."
Sage Pannark was speechless. It made sense, but… why did it seem like she answered without answering? She was clearly mocking him! The veins on his forehead bulged. Princess or not, he was the First Sage! The second most influential person in the Zino Kingdom! He deserved proper respect, especially from a child less than twenty years old! He was about to argue back when an announcement took everyone by surprise.
"Lord Avin Arcellius has arrived!"