She might have lacked common sense regarding the world of the nobility, but she seemed to possess a beast-like instinct for power games and the human desire for control.
“Perhaps.”
Freya eventually gave a vague answer.
She did not want to expose too much of her family’s internal conflicts in front of Lyra; it would make her appear weak.
“But that doesn’t affect your mission. Your lessons in etiquette and general knowledge will proceed as scheduled. Also — “
She pulled open another drawer and took out a thin document encrypted with magic.
“This contains basic information on several professors and students at the Central Magic Academy who need to be ‘watched,’ as well as potential points of conflict between them and my research projects. You need to familiarize yourself with this as soon as possible. Within the Academy, your identity will be my assistant, which gives you the right to follow me into most areas. Your eyes and ears will be my extra senses.”
Lyra took the document, feeling a slight itch on her fingertips as they brushed against the encryption magic.
She weighed it in her hand with interest.
“A watchlist? I like it. This is much more interesting than learning how to use a fork to eat snails.”
She flipped through it quickly. Besides text, there were some blurry images captured by Memory Crystals.
“Of these people, who is most likely to cause trouble first?”
“Professor Horn of the Defense Against the Dark Arts department.”
Freya pointed to a specific spot on the document.
“He comes from a traditional magical family and has close ties to the Imperial Family. He has always been publicly critical of my research, believing that ‘excessively pursuing energy compression distorts the essence of magic and even touches upon the forbidden.’
“Several of his prize students also frequently make things difficult during my experimental reports and classroom demonstrations.”
She paused.
“However, within the Academy, they will at most use academic means to marginalize and question me. What you need to watch for is whether they have close contact with forces outside the Academy, and… whether anyone tries to interfere with my research or personal safety through non-academic means.”
“Understood. Looking out for pick-on-you teachers and their lackey students, while checking to see if there’s a hidden hand behind them.”
Lyra stuffed the document into the inner pocket of her new clothes, her movements as casual as if she were discarding a piece of scrap paper, though her gaze grew more serious.
“Fights are definitely a no-go given the Academy ‘rules,’ so are there any restrictions on how I gather intelligence? For example, can I not sneak into a professor’s office? Can I not ‘amicably persuade’ students?”
“As long as you aren’t caught in the act and leave no evidence — you can,” Freya said slowly, looking at her.
“I only care about the results, not the process. But remember, the protective magic and Monitoring Arrays of the Central Magic Academy are not for show. You will need to use your ‘specialties’ to find ways to bypass them. If you get caught…”
She didn’t finish the sentence, but the meaning was clear.
“Don’t worry, Boss.”
Lyra flashed a confident smile, one filled with the certainty of someone accustomed to walking the night.
“Stealth and digging for news are my specialties. As long as I’m not directly facing an Anti-stealth Barrier at the Archmage level, I have plenty of ways.”
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the study again, this time sounding somewhat hurried.
The maid Lina’s voice rang through the door.
“Miss, Lord Calanso asks for you and Miss Lyra to come to the drawing room. A guest has arrived and specifically asked to see you.”
Freya and Lyra looked at each other simultaneously.
At this time, a guest was specifically asking to see her?
She had just received an urgent letter from her father, and now her grandfather wanted her to take Lyra to see a guest?
“Understood.”
Freya responded, stood up, and smoothed her skirts.
Her expression had already returned to its usual calm, as if the stressful letter from earlier had never existed.
“Lyra, remember that your current identity is my assistant. Speak less and observe more.”
“Understood, Boss.”
Lyra immediately adjusted her posture and reined in her overly expressive emotions, making herself look more like a silent and capable attendant. However, the curiosity and interest deep within those red eyes could not be completely hidden.
Who would be waiting for them in the drawing room?
A lobbyist sent by her father?
Someone from the Imperial Family?
Or… something else, an uninvited guest about to stir the waters of this pond?
Freya pushed open the study door and walked toward the unknown meeting.
Lyra followed close behind, like a shadow following a form.
The drawing room was located in the east wing of the manor and was more formal than Freya’s study.
When Freya entered with Lyra, Calanso was already sitting in the armchair at the head of the room.
His expression was as steady as usual, but Freya keenly detected a trace of solemnity in her grandfather’s silver-grey eyes that hadn’t been entirely suppressed.
The visitor stood by the floor-to-ceiling window with his back to the door, admiring the meticulously manicured rose garden outside.
He had a tall, upright build and wore a well-tailored, deep blue court uniform with silver thread embroidered on the epaulettes and cuffs.
Even from the back, he exuded an air of authority and distance that came from long-held power.
Hearing the footsteps, he turned around.
The man appeared to be about 40 years old with regular features and a determined jawline.
His dark brown hair was neatly combed, and his grey-blue eyes were deep and sharp, as if they could see through people’s hearts.
His gaze first landed on Freya with a scrutinizing, evaluative look before he bowed slightly with impeccable etiquette.
“Good day, Miss Freya Christo Dale. Please forgive my unannounced visit.”
His voice was steady, giving away no emotion.
Freya’s heart sank slightly.
She recognized this man —
Raymond von Heinrich, the Chief Attendant to Crown Prince Ross and a key official in the Imperial Household Department.
His personal arrival was certainly no ordinary greeting.
“Good day, Chief Attendant Heinrich.”
Freya returned a standard curtsy, her posture elegant and composed.
“I did not know the Chief Attendant would grace us with his presence; please excuse my lack of a proper welcome.”
She gestured for Lyra to stay a bit further back by the door.
Calanso spoke then, his tone peaceful.
“Raymond just arrived. He said he has a message and some… concerns from the Crown Prince that he needs to convey to you personally, Freya.”
Raymond turned to Calanso and nodded slightly.
“Thank you for your understanding, Lord Dale.”
Then he looked back at Freya.
“His Highness Ross is very concerned about you, Miss Freya. Hearing that you were unwell and left school early to rest, he specifically ordered me to come visit and bring some soothing potions prepared by the court physicians.”
He gestured toward an exquisite silver box placed on the coffee table.
“I am grateful for His Highness’s concern, and I thank the Chief Attendant for making the trip personally.”
Freya’s tone was gentle but carried a precise sense of distance.
“I am merely feeling a bit fatigued. A couple of days of rest here with my grandfather will be enough. It is nothing serious.”
“That is good to hear.”
Raymond nodded, but his grey-blue eyes did not move away, as if he were carefully discerning the truth in her words.
“His Highness also asked me to convey that the preparations for the Opening Ball of the Summer Social Season are basically complete. His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress are also looking forward to your appearance. His Highness hopes you can adjust your state as quickly as possible, because…”
He paused, his words heavy with implication.
“As the future Crown Princess Consort, your health and grace affect the hearts of many.”
The air seemed to freeze for a moment. Calanso picked up his teacup and did not speak, but his gaze turned slightly cold.
Freya’s fingers curled slightly at her side, but her face maintained a perfect smile.
“Please tell His Highness that Freya is grateful for his care. Regarding the ball, I will prepare appropriately.”
She did not give a specific time for her return, answering ambiguously.
Raymond did not seem surprised. His gaze swept seemingly inadvertently over Lyra, who stood silently in the shadows by the door.
Lyra kept her eyes downcast, looking every bit like an ordinary attendant, but Raymond’s gaze lingered on her for half a second longer.
With his experience, he could naturally see that although this girl wore a proper assistant’s outfit, her posture, breathing, and even those overly calm eyes were different from a common servant or academic assistant.
“And this is…” Raymond asked.
“This is my personal assistant, Lyra,” Freya introduced calmly.
“She is responsible for helping me with some academic and research chores. Lyra, greet Chief Attendant Heinrich.”
Lyra took half a step forward and performed a standard but slightly stiff curtsy, saying in a low voice, “Lord Chief Attendant.”
Her voice was deliberately flat, her gaze fixed on the floor.
Raymond nodded slightly in response, but his eyes were filled with inquiry.
“It seems Miss Freya has gained a new helper. It appears Lord Dale truly cares for you, even personally selecting an assistant for you.”
This sounded like a compliment, but it hinted at Calanso’s control over his granddaughter and perhaps even suggested suspicion regarding Lyra’s origins.
Calanso set down his teacup, the porcelain hitting the tray with a crisp clink.
“Freya has grown up and has her own ideas. As for what kind of assistant she hires, she naturally decides for herself. These old bones of mine can only help watch the house, lest some irrelevant people disturb her rest.”
His words were needles hidden in silk, directly pointing out that Raymond’s visit was a ‘disturbance.’
Raymond’s expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn’t heard the sharp undertones.
“Lord Dale must be joking. His Highness only acted out of concern for Miss Freya.”
He turned back to Freya, his tone becoming slightly more forceful.
Freya’s heart slowly sank.
“I am grateful for His Highness’s protection,” Freya’s voice remained steady.
Raymond took a deep look at her, as if trying to find a crack in her unflappable face.
A moment later, he bowed again.
“The message has been delivered, and the potions have been sent. In that case, I will not disturb Miss Freya’s rest any further. I look forward to seeing your radiant self at the ball.”
After seeing Raymond off, the atmosphere in the drawing room did not lighten.
Calanso’s face was calm, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest.
“He didn’t come with good intentions,” Calanso said slowly.
“That boy Ross didn’t send him just to deliver medicine. Testing, pressure, showing ‘concern’… Hmph.” He looked at Freya.
“Your father’s letter arrived first, and his man arrived right after. Their timing is impeccable.”
Freya walked to the window, watching the carriage leave the manor gates and disappear at the end of the tree-lined path.