The day after the capital's streets had been stained with blood, the Church was reborn under a new leader, and the Valois family lost a large portion of its members—who would later be branded heretics by the Saint—passed with an uneasy atmosphere for most people.
Cassian spent the entire day sleeping, but the rest of the world couldn't do the same.
At the Sterling residence, doctors and specialized mages came and went without pause, doing everything they could to wake the woman lying in bed.
Professor Elena, having learned of her master's injury, had called upon all the contacts she had made during her days as a mercenary and later as a teacher at a prestigious academy.
But after seeing Sylvia lying there and her two "grandchildren" looking at every person she brought as though they were useless, a trace of irritation began to grow within her.
Still, she herself knew that if none of this worked, there was only one option left...
"Even so, where is that bastard when he's actually needed? Doesn't he know Sylvia is like this? My master practically idolizes him..." she complained, her eyes darkening slightly.
She genuinely seemed ready to pick a fight with someone, even though another part of her knew the truth perfectly well…
Julius on the other hand, had been holding himself back for quite some time.
He hadn't been able to finish what the old man had asked of him, and an entire day had already passed.
He approached his sister, uncertain about who was really in control, and whispered:
"Can't you get all these people out of here? I want to see if I can finish what I was trying to do earlier."
The woman frowned, and just as she was about to give a sharp reply, her expression suddenly softened.
"Mmm, I'll see what I can do."
Seraphine walked over to Elena and looked at her for a moment, uncertain.
"I want to go to the academy and find someone."
Everyone's attention shifted to her at once.
Elena looked at her in confusion, but remembering what she had just been thinking moments ago, she replied confidently:
"Mmm, me too."
The two looked at each other suspiciously, yet with a hint of understanding that they were both thinking of the same person.
Then Seraphine glanced around and spoke firmly:
"I don't feel comfortable leaving all these strangers around my grandmother when I'm not here."
She shifted her gaze toward Elena before glancing at her parents, who had just entered and frowned in confusion.
Julius looked at her gratefully. He knew that, while she wasn't doing this entirely because he had asked, part of what she had just said definitely was.
"My sister is right."
He cast a cold look at the strangers in the room, clearly urging them to leave.
Some reacted with annoyance. They had come to help, only to be shown the door. Others left with understanding, or simply had no interest in behaving childishly.
Elena looked apologetically and gratefully at those who were leaving. Then she turned toward the Duke and Duchess and said firmly:
"I'll accompany Seraphine to the academy. I have someone in mind who lives there and may be able to help."
Seraphine and Julius's parents nodded, somewhat uncertain but trusting her judgment.
And thus the situation reached its current point.
One full day had passed.
Two days remained until the coronation.
Cassian had finally woken up after Adela's persistent efforts, and just as he was preparing to go see Sylvia, the sound of someone knocking on his door stopped him.
He raised an eyebrow and looked at Adela.
She shook her head with a confused expression that somehow managed to be both amusing and adorable.
Cassian sighed and gestured with his head for her to go see who it was.
When the door opened, the two women were exchanging looks. Upon seeing him, both turned toward him, each carrying completely different emotions.
Seraphine felt urgency and curiosity about why Elena seemed to know him far better than she had initially thought.
Meanwhile, the professor knew about his relationship with Sylvia. She knew he was powerful, though not the full extent of that power. She also knew very well about the friendship between Cassian and Seraphine. Yet the fact that the young Sterling had thought of him as someone capable of helping Sylvia...
That genuinely caught her by surprise.
"That bastard must be sweet-talking Seraphine just like he did with my master... I have to stop him!"
She lowered her gaze as though dwelling on an irritating thought.
"Does he like redheads? Maybe I should dye my hair..."
A deep blush instantly covered her face.
She hurriedly shook the thought away and shot Cassian a glare.
Cassian simply observed the two of them with interest.
Then a hint of annoyance entered his gaze when he looked at Seraphine, though it wasn't directed at her.
It was directed at Fengyue.
A chill suddenly ran down Fengyue's spine.
Cassian held back what he wanted to say. There was no point wasting words.
He waved a hand through the air.
Everyone vanished from the room and appeared in front of the gates of the Sterling residence.
...
In another room within the academy...
One belonging to the younger grades.
Bethany Varkas sat on the floor practicing, sweat covering her forehead.
Her maid, Mina, watched her the entire time with a worried expression.
"Miss, I don't think it's good for you to push yourself this hard... You're still very young. Having reached the First Circle already is incredible."
The little girl frowned and opened her eyes, pouting slightly.
"That's because you don't really know my brother..."
She avoided Mina's gaze as though hiding something, but then continued:
"Even Adela, his maid, is amazing too..."
Her gaze lowered, looking depressed.
Then she lifted her head with determination.
"Mina, you have to help me! I want to surprise my brother even more! I want him to praise me and spoil me until he can't anymore!"
Mina looked at her as though she were hopeless.
Her red eyes dimmed slightly as she remembered that man.
She wasn't sure what was so incredible about him that made her young miss adore him so much.
At the same time, her mind seemed occupied by concerns she considered far more important.
Even so, she approached Bethany and, with an exhausted sigh, tried to help her.
The moment she got close, something changed in the maid's expression.
Her fists clenched tightly.
She abruptly turned away, avoiding Bethany's gaze.
The young girl blinked in surprise at the sudden movement.
"Mina?" she asked uncertainly.
The maid hid one of her hands, which had begun to bleed from how hard she was clenching it.
"Young Miss, I have something urgent I need to take care of. Please excuse me."
She didn't give Bethany any time to react.
She quickly left the room.
Bethany bit her lip, worried and slightly annoyed.
But before long, she refocused on her training.