Nora abruptly took a step back, her voice trembling with shock:
“Even if I like Selis that much, I shouldn’t do something like this. It’s too unscrupulous!”
“Nora!”
Perez’s shout boomed like thunder, as if he was trying to snap Nora out of it.
“If you want to become a great noble, you have to learn to be ruthless! Those so-called morals, the ones being restricted, shouldn’t be us!”
Clutching her skirt, Nora couldn’t believe her own father would say such things.
“Father… you’ve become a stranger.”
“I’ve always been this way. You’re the one who didn’t see me clearly.”
“I won’t do it, Father. Give up on this idea.”
Nora turned away, rejecting Perez, but Perez showed no sign of surprise.
He shook his head, put the potion he held to the side, and said:
“Sigh, I expected you’d refuse me.”
As he finished speaking, Nora suddenly noticed the Magic within her body had fallen into a strange stillness.
No matter how she tried to summon it, it was like a stone sinking into the sea—no response at all.
Her heart skipped a beat. With a hint of panic, she asked:
“What did you do to me?!”
“Don’t be afraid. So you won’t ruin my plans, I have no choice but to lock you up for a while. And do you really think, just because you won’t do it, I have no other way? You’re still too naive.”
As Perez spoke, another young girl, identical to Nora in every way, stepped out from the shadows of the room.
Nora’s pupils shrank.
“Who is she?”
“Her? Of course she’s Nora. But don’t worry, once things are done, I’ll let you out. By then, you can just go straight to your wedding with the Saintess.”
Perez waved his hand, and another maid appeared at Nora’s side, grabbing her wrist and leading her toward the door.
Struggling fiercely, Nora shouted:
“You’re crazy! If the Oracle Hall finds out about this, the consequences will be unimaginable!”
“What doesn’t have risks? If you never dare take a risk, you’ll never get anywhere in life! Besides, rest assured, my plan is very secret. They won’t discover anything.”
“Impossible! Those two Saintesses aren’t as simple as you think! And there are people in the family watching your position! You’re going to hand them a weakness!”
The Mills Family was far from united; plenty eyed Cade’s seat as head of the family.
Nora worried Perez’s actions would leave evidence for his rivals.
After all, there are no walls in this world that cannot be penetrated by wind.
But neither she nor Perez noticed that after Nora finished speaking, the “Nora” impostor glanced at her, eyes narrowing slightly, fists unconsciously clenching.
“I know what I’m doing.”
Perez brushed off his daughter’s warning with impatience, then stuffed the potion into “Nora’s” hand.
In his eyes, his daughter was still too young.
Family strife? Who knew more about it than him?
When had it ever been her place to lecture him?
“Let’s begin.”
……
The next day, the Academy tournament began.
Early in the morning, Mills Academy’s Arena was already crowded, with countless Academy students emerging from a corner of the Arena to thunderous applause from the audience.
The most popular among them were Grem and Bettys—these Magic prodigies only had to wave at the crowd to provoke a wave of screams.
As the crowd roared, at one corner of the Arena, Isavel—accompanied by many high-ranking Academy officials—spotted a sneaky “Nora” in the area reserved for the Rose Knights.
“Nora?”
At the call of her name, “Nora” froze. She quickly turned, bowed slightly to Isavel, and said, “Lady Isavel!”
Isavel sized her up from head to toe, then covered her mouth with a smile and, pretending to be friendly, took her arm. “What are you doing here?”
“…I just came to visit the Rose Knights, and happened to pass by.”
“I see. Then come with me, let’s watch the match together.”
Grabbing “Nora’s” wrist, Isavel led her toward the audience seating.
Seeing this, “Nora’s” expression changed, and she hastily said, “Eh? My lady, I-I still have things to do.”
“In a hurry? If not, just finish watching the match. It’ll be over soon, anyway.”
“Nora” wanted to say more, but seeing that constant refusal might arouse the Saintess’s suspicion, she finally agreed.
Bathed in countless admiring gazes, Isavel sat atop the most prestigious platform in the audience, with “Nora” beside her, looking somewhat lost and nervous.
When Isavel waved to the crowd, the cheers she received were even greater than those for the Magic prodigies.
After all, the faith of many rested in the goddess of the Oracle Hall, and the Saintess was her representative in the mortal world.
How could they ever disparage her?
Even if the Rose Knights and Mills Academy were at odds, this did not affect the respect the common people had for the Oracle Maiden.
It was the powerful nobles who especially disliked the Oracle Hall.
Because its existence was like the rules of the mortal world, keeping them from acting wantonly.
So they could only scheme in the shadows, like rats, trying to erode the influence of the Oracle Hall.
On the platform, besides Isavel and “Nora”, there was also the Mills Family head, Perez, as well as the Academy Head and other senior officials of Mills Academy.
The Vice Dean had also come, but he was unworthy to sit on the platform.
The Dungeons beneath the Arena were where he belonged.
Moreover, his fate—life or death—was now in Grem’s hands.
Unnoticed by others, “Nora” gave Perez a subtle nod.
After he smiled reassuringly and looked away, she also made a covert hand gesture to the Academy Head.
Seeing it, the Academy Head’s lips curled in a faint smile.
At the center, Isavel acted as if she’d noticed nothing, smiling gently at the youth in the Arena’s heart.
“Is that the Grem you all keep talking about?”
The Academy Head, brimming with pride, introduced him enthusiastically:
“That’s right! He’s only twenty-four this year and has already touched the realm of Third-tier Magic. Even at Galwin Magic Academy, he’d be recognized as a true Magic prodigy!”
Isavel’s lips curled with a meaningful smile. “I see… I hope he can surprise me.”
Her gaze swept over the uneasy “Nora” and finally settled on the middle of the Arena, where five young girls of the Rose Knights were already lined up, their silver armor gleaming coldly in the morning light.
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