The shocked exclamations coming from the mouths of teachers in the meeting room only left Ms. Rodenna further engulfed in confusion.
She felt she had made absolutely no procedural errors in managing the resignation process. All documents were signed in accordance with academy regulations. Furthermore, she had just been treated very politely by Prince Kylenciel and his husband, Arvin Vedegra.
"Why have all of you suddenly become so shocked and pale?" asked Ms. Rodenna, no longer able to hold back her curiosity. "What exactly is the topic you are discussing in this emergency meeting?"
A male teacher, the one who had previously given his firsthand testimony, spoke up.
"Ms. Rodenna, all of us in this room are discussing Prince Kylenciel." the teacher said, staring at Ms. Rodenna with a serious gaze. "Moments ago, in the academy corridor, he was proven capable of using the legendary power that is said to only appear within the royal family's bloodline every few hundred years."
Hearing that explanation, Ms. Rodenna could no longer hide her shocked expression. Her eyes widened, and one of her hands reflexively covered her slightly open mouth.
As a resident of the Flamort Kingdom, she certainly knew the myth of that legendary magic. The middle-aged woman finally understood with absolute clarity why the Dean had instantly run out of the room in a panic after learning the information about the Prince's resignation.
Losing a figure like Prince Kylenciel was a massive catastrophe for the kingdom.
However, amidst the uproar of the teachers in the room, Ms. Rodenna's mind drifted back to the events of a few minutes ago. Simply recalling the calm demeanor, gentle speech, and elegant gestures of both Arvin and Kylen in her administration office, she felt there was a profound irony.
Ms. Rodenna was quite certain that the married couple completely did not know that Kylen had sparked a massive uproar that mentally terrorized the entire academy population. The two of them had walked away as if absolutely nothing had happened beforehand.
...
...
Dozens of minutes later, inside the Flamort Royal Palace.
Hurried footsteps shattered the silence of the palace corridor until Mr. Giovanus finally arrived before the double doors of the throne room. After being granted entry, the Dean of the Flamort Magic Academy stepped into the spacious hall adorned with marble pillars. He was still panting slightly from his panic-driven journey.
Right now, at the end of the red carpet expanse, he stood face-to-face with the supreme leader of the Flamort Kingdom, who sat on his throne with a face that looked weary from his recent internal family affairs.
"Forgive my sudden and perhaps impolite arrival, Your Majesty." the Dean greeted as he bowed deeply, offering the standard respect to the King. "But, there is an extremely important and urgent matter that I must convey to you directly this very instant."
King Galeo looked at the old man with a calm yet demanding gaze. "What important matter do you wish to convey to me that brings you here in such a rush, Mr. Giovanus?"
Without wasting time, the white-bearded man handed over the document folder he had been tightly holding.
"Inside this document is a resignation letter from Prince Kylenciel, Your Majesty."
A royal guard standing on standby in the room immediately stepped toward the Dean. He took the document from the man's hand, walked up the short steps, and handed it respectfully to the King.
Once the document was in his hands, King Galeo immediately opened the folder and read it. The King's eyes scanned every line written by his youngest son himself.
However, King Galeo felt there was nothing crucial written in the document, other than Kylen's personal data and his statement of resignation to follow his husband to the Vedegra territory.
King Galeo slowly shifted his gaze from the document he held, then looked at the tense face of the Dean.
"The reason my son wrote in this letter is indeed true." King Galeo said in a calm tone. "And that is exactly what he wants. He has already chosen his own path."
Hearing such an ordinary response, Mr. Giovanus was stunned. He truly did not expect that a king, as well as the biological father of the owner of that legendary power, could still remain so calm upon learning his son had chosen to leave and settle in another kingdom's territory.
However, simply by observing the reaction and composure shown by the supreme leader of the Flamort Kingdom, Mr. Giovanus quickly realized a crucial fact.
Just by looking at his composure, I am certain His Majesty the King has absolutely no knowledge yet of the true power Prince Kylenciel currently possesses.
Aware of the King's ignorance, Mr. Giovanus fortified his heart. As the head of the highest magical institution in the kingdom, he decided to say what must be said, regardless of whatever risk he might face from the supreme leader of the Flamort Kingdom.
"I understand that, Your Majesty. But..." Mr. Giovanus took a breath. "...it is precisely that decision which will cause our kingdom to suffer an enormous loss if we simply let him go."
King Galeo's brow instantly furrowed. He did not like his authority and decisions being questioned.
"What massive loss do you mean will befall this kingdom if my youngest son leaves the capital?" the King asked, demanding a logical reason behind the bold words coming from the bearded man's mouth.
Mr. Giovanus looked straight at the King, and dropped the fact without hesitation.
"We will lose the strongest military asset in this world, Your Majesty." the Dean said, his voice echoing in the throne room. "Because moments ago in the academy corridor, Prince Kylenciel was proven capable of using the legendary magic, Hard Water Corrosive."
King Galeo's previously calm and composed expression was instantly shattered upon hearing the final string of words spoken by the Dean. His eyes bulged, and his body stiffened on the throne.
The fact that his youngest son had actually succeeded in awakening the legendary power felt like a crushing blow to his soul.
In the history of the Flamort Kingdom, the rule was exceedingly clear and irrefutable: Whichever royal family member could wield the legendary power was guaranteed to be the absolute heir to the king's throne.
Right then and there, an incredibly heavy dilemma raged within the King.
As a king who held the reins of power, he certainly had the full authority and strong political reasons to prevent the Fifth Prince from leaving the Flamort Kingdom. He could detain him for the sake of the kingdom's interests.
But, on the other hand, as a father who deeply loved his children, King Galeo truly did not want to snatch away and destroy his youngest son's happiness merely to satisfy the demands of the kingdom's history. He knew how deep and sincere Kylen's love was for his husband.
Moreover, Kylen's current status, no longer a member of the royal family, slapped King Galeo hard in his face.
Because Kylen's siblings vehemently opposed his same-sex marriage to Arvin Vedegra in order to protect the royal family's honor, the King had no other choice but to banish his youngest son from the palace to prevent conflict among siblings.
Remembering the wound he had inflicted upon his own son, it felt extremely impossible for King Galeo to swallow his own words and force his youngest son back to the palace.
Facing the dilemma that tortured his conscience as a father, King Galeo leaned forward, looking at the Academy Dean with pleading eyes.
"Could you and the board of teachers at the academy just keep Kylenciel's power a secret from the public, Mr. Giovanus?"
"Forgive me, Your Majesty, I cannot do that." Mr. Giovanus answered without hesitation.
Hearing the quick refusal from the Dean's mouth, the expression on King Galeo's face instantly changed. He glared sharply at the white-bearded man.
"Tell me!" the King demanded in a firm voice. "Why do you dare to refuse to do what I command of you, Mr. Giovanus?!"
"Because it is already too late, Your Majesty. There are many eyewitnesses who saw Prince Kylenciel use the legendary power while fighting Prince Cylenciel." the Dean answered truthfully and exactly according to the testimony reports he received.
King Galeo instantly fell silent on his throne. The Dean's words had silenced him.
His desire as a father to keep Kylen's power a secret had now vanished. With dozens of pairs of eyes witnessing it firsthand, it was no longer possible for him to hide that fact from the public.
Everything had already happened, and there was no way to go back.