'What did I just say?!'
Noble could hardly believe her own mouth. Those were not the words she had been preparing in her head.
"That's all I can ask." Alden leaned back in his seat, a great weight lifted from his muscular shoulders.
'No, don't let him get comfortable! You are misleading him. Thank him for the opportunity and politely decline.'
"I would have to speak with my husband. I won't do anything without him being on board."
Noble nearly kicked herself. What was she blabbering on about? Fort didn't need to be consulted because she wasn't doing it, and that was that.
"I completely understand. I don't dare make any major decision without my wife's input. Mabel helps me keep my head on my shoulders."
Noble's mouth fell open at the man's words. "Mabel is your wife?!"
"I suppose it is hard to believe a beauty like her could settle for someone like me, but yes, she's all mine. Has been since the day I awakened from my first Nightmare and realized I had nothing to lose and everything to gain by waking through life with her."
Alden meant every word.
"No wonder she wants you to retire. Any woman would want to spend their days being sweet-talked like that by the man she loves." Noble nodded slowly.
"We are very lucky to have each other." Master Alden's voice was wistful for a moment. "I'll be taking her with me when I leave, so that position will also need a replacement."
"Naturally." Noble had already assumed as much. Not that it mattered to her. That would be the next Provost's problem, not hers. "I hope the perfect person is found…"
'By your second choice for Provost…Ugh! Why won't the words come out?!'
Alden's smile grew as if he had read her thoughts. "Show the contract to Ambassador Fort and let him know I will answer any of his questions. The same goes for you."
"Thank you."
'I'll compose a note to decline… that is more formal anyway, right?' Noble resolved. She rose from her chair.
"If that will be all, sir…"
"There is one more thing I would like to say. If I don't do it now, I may never get the chance." Alden waited for the woman to settle once more.
"What is it?"
"I know you aren't pleased about your sudden popularity. You don't seek the limelight. But have you paused long enough to consider why your message was viewed by so many?" Alden once again let the video play on his communicator.
Noble knew why everyone had seen it; Bee Two had made sure they would. The professor shook her head.
"All eyes have been on Song ever since the attack on Lady Nephis and subsequent accusations. Three princesses from Song getting into trouble would inevitably pique people's interest."
"That might have been why people watched at first, but that isn't what they took away from the encounter. Whether you realized it or not, you were standing up for more than just Lady Yuma, Lady Mei, and Lady Lumi. You stood up for every student at the Academy by affirming that they will get a fair chance no matter their background. You upheld the academic integrity of this institution before the whole world. If the Awakened Academy is going to weather the coming storm, it will need to be seen as a safe place for all Sleepers and Awakened. Your message resonated with people and affirmed that Warden's vision for this place is alive and well."
"If I did that, it was purely unintentional. I just did what I thought was right." Noble hadn't wanted recognition or even a thank you for the girls she had saved. She simply wanted her students to have enough common sense not to fight other people's battles.
"Good." Alden gave a short nod. "Don't lose sight of that. It's much harder to succumb to outside pressure when you aren't depending on others to validate your self-worth. As an added bonus, you have set a precedent for when more princesses come. Each will be judged on her merit, not her background…"
"Excuse me, but did you say more princesses? Are we expecting more imminently?" Noble had thought three was a lot, but more?
"Yes. Lady Eunbin did not give me an exact timeline, but she did make it clear that we will be having many members of Clan Song's royalty joining us between now and the Solstice." Alden's tone was matter-of-fact, but the emotions behind it were troubled.
"How many?"
"I was not given a number. I am sure it will depend on who survives the First Nightmare." Alden was unwilling to count that any potential Dreamer would succeed in the first trial. "But my guess is it will be at least a dozen."
"So many!" Noble leaned back in her seat, only to get a jolt from her Flaw. "Why?!" Her anger was at the chair, but she didn't want to explain that just now. "I mean, why is there a sudden influx and so early in the year?"
The Provost tilted his chin meaningfully toward the device on the desk. "I think your display today explains why."
Noble furrowed her brow.
How could what she did today have any influence over how many princesses from Clan Song came? The plan had already been made before it happened. Unless they had a seer predict it? But the seers these days were highly unreliable. Even if they somehow knew that she would say those things, it would be a lot for Song to bank on her android making a video for everyone to see.
'I'm missing something…'
The Song Clan was on the verge of war. Despite their public image, they were pushing for the conflict just as much as Valor.
All of the Awakened from both sides would be needed in Godgrave if that was indeed the place selected to clash.
Was Ki Song encouraging her daughters to awaken so they could join the fight?
Noble didn't think so. If they were planning to battle, then they wouldn't be sticking around until solstice.
Hopefully, the war would be over by then, and even if it weren't, Noble doubted that Awakened would make as much of a difference as Masters and Saints.
If Ki Song had really only adopted daughters to raise warriors, then all of them would be expected to enter the First Nightmare, but Noble knew that simply wasn't the case.
Unlike most legacy clans, who intentionally infected their young, Ki Song could protect her children from the Spell and give them a choice. So while many did go on to become Awakened and beyond, just as many remained mundane.
So if Ki Song wasn't trying to build an army, there was only one other option that Noble could think of for a parent sending children away.
'She's protecting them.'
If that were the case, why not find a place to hide them near the palace? Noble was almost certain that Ki Song was able to create warm spaces there within the frigid halls, or at least get her children charms to withstand the cold.
However, once war broke out, the palace wouldn't be safe. Anvil would do everything in his power to conquer it and place himself on the throne.
'If not the palace, then surely Clan Song has another stronghold or even a safe house for the girls to…'
That's when Noble realized.
"The Academy. It's their safe house."