That evening, as the academy bell signaled the end of the day's classes, Rick prepared to leave.
The orange glow of the setting sun poured through the dormitory windows, bathing the room in warm golden light.
Rome looked at him with concern.
"Should I come with you?"
Rick shook his head.
"No."
"Willy specifically asked me to come alone."
He adjusted his academy coat before looking at his friends.
"So I'll be going by myself."
Krai crossed his arms, his expression unusually serious.
"Rick... you understand how important this meeting is, don't you?"
Rick smiled faintly.
"I do."
"That's precisely why I have to meet the Princess."
He reached for the doorknob.
"I'll tell you everything when I get back."
Leze, who had been lying lazily on his bed, waved a hand without opening his eyes.
"Yeah... see you later."
Rick nodded before quietly leaving the room.
Outside, evening had settled over the academy.
The crimson sun slowly disappeared beyond the distant mountains, painting the sky with shades of gold and scarlet. Long shadows stretched across the stone pathways as students returned to their dormitories.
Rick walked calmly toward the girls' residence.
Before long, two armored guards stepped forward, crossing their spears to block his path.
"Halt."
One of them looked at Rick with a stern expression.
"This is the girls' dormitory."
"No male student is permitted beyond this point unless personally invited."
Rick was about to explain—
"I invited him."
A calm female voice echoed from behind.
The guards immediately stepped aside.
"My Lady."
Both bowed respectfully.
Willy approached without another word.
She glanced at Rick.
"Follow me."
Rick nodded silently.
Together, they walked through the quiet corridors of the girls' dormitory. Unlike the boys' residence, the building was elegant and peaceful, decorated with paintings, flower arrangements, and polished marble floors.
Neither of them spoke.
After several minutes, Willy stopped before an intricately carved wooden door.
She knocked gently.
"Your Highness."
A soft voice answered from inside.
"Come in."
Willy opened the door before stepping aside.
"You may enter."
Rick took a deep breath and walked inside.
The room was simple yet refined.
Bookshelves lined one wall, while elegant curtains fluttered gently beside a large open window. The fading light of sunset illuminated the room in soft shades of gold.
Near the window sat Princess Nina.
She was dressed in a simple white gown rather than her formal royal attire, making her appear less like a princess and more like an ordinary young woman enjoying the quiet evening.
The moment Rick saw her, he respectfully lowered himself onto one knee.
"Thank you for granting me this audience, Your Highness."
Princess Nina smiled gently.
"You may rise, Rick."
Her voice was warm and unhurried.
"There is no need to be so formal."
Rick stood.
For a few moments, neither of them spoke.
The silence was peaceful, broken only by the gentle evening breeze flowing through the open window.
Finally, Princess Nina looked directly at him.
"I've wanted to speak with you for quite some time."
Rick's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You have?"
She nodded.
"I've heard many interesting things about you."
A faint smile touched her lips.
"A commoner who gathered talented students around him..."
"...and the only person capable of earning Rome's absolute trust."
Rick remained composed, neither confirming nor denying her words.
Princess Nina studied him carefully.
"The Crown Prince has already met with you, hasn't he?"
Rick was slightly surprised.
"It seems nothing escapes Your Highness."
A gentle laugh escaped her lips.
"It would be troubling if I didn't know."
Her smile slowly faded, replaced by a serious expression.
Princess Nina quietly studied Rick for several moments before finally breaking the silence.
"It's rather strange, isn't it?"
Her calm voice echoed softly through the room.
"You possess the manners and etiquette expected of a noble."
Her sharp blue eyes never left his face.
"Yet after investigating your background, I found no connection between you and any noble family."
She leaned back slightly.
"And above all..."
"...you had the audacity to manipulate my retainer into arranging this meeting."
A faint hint of displeasure entered her voice.
Rick lowered his head respectfully.
"I never manipulated Lady Willy."
Nina raised an eyebrow.
"I merely presented her with an opportunity."
He spoke calmly.
"The decision to accept it was entirely hers."
For a brief moment, Princess Nina simply stared at him.
Then...
A small amused smile appeared on her lips.
"You certainly have guts."
She rested her chin lightly on one hand.
"I'll give you that."
The room relaxed ever so slightly.
"Now," she said, "tell me."
"What is it that you want?"
Rick slowly rose to his feet.
Without hesitation, he answered,
"I wish to join Your Highness's faction."
Silence.
Even Willy, standing quietly beside the door, looked toward Rick.
Princess Nina's expression remained unreadable.
"So..."
A faint smile crossed her lips.
"You've decided not to accept my brother's invitation."
Rick inclined his head.
"I have."
Nina gave a quiet nod.
"I see."
She looked out the window for a moment before speaking again.
"I'm sorry."
Rick looked up, surprised.
"For what, Your Highness?"
She smiled bitterly.
"For the position you've been placed in."
"No one willingly follows someone who appears destined to lose."
Her voice was calm, yet there was a trace of loneliness hidden beneath it.
Rick remained silent.
She continued.
"You already know the situation, don't you?"
"My brother has the support of most of the noble houses."
"Many talented students have already joined his side."
She turned to face him.
"So tell me..."
"Why should I allow you to join my faction?"
Rick frowned slightly.
"Why?"
"Yes."
Princess Nina's gaze sharpened.
"Because what I truly need..."
"...is Rome."
The room fell silent once more.
Rick wasn't surprised.
He had expected those words from the very beginning.
Princess Nina noticed his composed expression and gave a faint smile.
"So you already knew."
Rick nodded.
"I did."
She folded her hands on her lap.
"Rome is an extraordinary talent."
"A talent capable of changing the future."
Her eyes softened.
"But you..."
She looked directly at Rick.
"Do you know how many nobles already dislike you?"
Rick answered without hesitation.
"I do."
His calm response surprised even Willy.
Princess Nina continued.
"They dislike you because they believe Rome's loyalty belongs to you."
"They see you as the obstacle standing between them and him."
She sighed quietly.
"A single talented commoner isn't worth making enemies of powerful noble houses."
She held Rick's gaze.
"So tell me..."
"What makes you worth choosing over the nobles I could gain instead?"
The question hung heavily in the air.
Rick lowered his head slightly.
"Thank you for granting me this audience, Your Highness."
He straightened his posture and offered one final respectful bow.
"If you'll excuse me."
Without waiting for another reply, he turned and quietly left the room.
The door closed with a soft click.
For a while, neither Princess Nina nor Willy spoke.
The room was filled only with the gentle breeze drifting through the open window.
Nina stood and walked toward the window, watching Rick's figure gradually disappear into the academy courtyard below.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"He's truly sharp."
Willy looked at her, puzzled.
"What do you mean, Your Highness?"
Nina folded her arms.
"I was going to make him an offer."
She continued watching Rick.
"I intended to tell him that if Rome joined my faction, I would personally protect Rick and his friends."
She sighed softly.
"But..."
"It seems he already knew exactly what I was about to say."
Willy's eyes widened.
"Doesn't that make him even more valuable? Shouldn't we bring him to our side?"
Nina slowly shook her head.
"His intelligence isn't the problem."
"It's his nature."
She turned away from the window.
"He wants to stand beside me because, at this moment, it's the only way to oppose my brother."
Her expression became serious.
"But the moment our goals no longer align..."
"...he won't hesitate to walk away."
Willy frowned.
"I don't understand."
Nina smiled bitterly.
"People like Rick don't belong to anyone."
"They don't follow because of status."
"They don't obey because of authority."
"They only follow what they believe is right."
She looked directly at Willy.
"That makes them difficult to control."
A brief silence followed.
Then Nina quietly added,
"And that's exactly why they're dangerous."
Meanwhile...
Inside the boys' dormitory.
Rick had just returned to Krai's room.
The moment he entered, everyone looked toward him.
Krai was the first to speak.
"Well?"
Rick sat down in a nearby chair and let out a tired sigh.
"Princess Nina is .... Naive."
Rome looked confused.
"What happened?"
Rick rubbed his forehead.
"She wanted Rome."
The room fell silent.
"In exchange..."
He looked at Rome.
"She was willing to offer me and the rest of us her personal protection."
Krai's eyes widened.
"So she really planned to separate us..."
Rick nodded.
"Completely."
Leze slammed his hand against the table.
"What the hell?"
"So she expected Rome to abandon us?"
Rome's face darkened.
"I would've refused."
"I know."
Rick gave a small smile.
"Which is exactly why I rejected the conversation before she could even make the offer."
The others stared at him.
"I already knew what she intended."
Krai slowly leaned back in his chair.
"So that's why you ended the meeting so quickly..."
Rick nodded.
"If she had spoken those words aloud, refusing her would have become much more difficult."
The room became quiet again.
Leze slammed his fist against the table, unable to hide his anger.
"Does she think Rome is some kind of object to be traded?"
His voice echoed through the dormitory.
Rick leaned back in his chair and let out a quiet sigh.
"That's exactly the problem."
Everyone turned toward him.
"Princess Nina believes that a retainer is someone who should devote himself entirely to his lord—to obey every command without hesitation."
He paused before continuing.
"But she overlooks something important."
Rick's gaze settled on Rome.
"The moment a retainer follows every order without question..."
"...he stops being loyal."
A heavy silence filled the room.
"He becomes nothing more than a tool."
Rome lowered his eyes.
Rick continued calmly,
"True loyalty isn't blind obedience."
"It's choosing to stand beside someone even when you have the freedom to walk away."
"There are countless people willing to give up their lives for a lord."
He folded his hands together.
"But every one of them has a different reason."
"Some fight for honor."
"Some fight for their families."
"Some fight to repay a debt."
"And some simply fight because they believe their lord is worth following."
He looked around the room.
"Not everyone is the same."
The others quietly absorbed his words.
Rick continued,
"A soldier risking his life on the battlefield doesn't necessarily do so because he's loyal to his king."
"He may be fighting so his wife and children can live peacefully."
"He may be protecting the comrades beside him."
"Or he may simply have nowhere else to go."
He shook his head.
"Loyalty has many faces."
"But Princess Nina believes everyone should be loyal to her first."
He sighed.
"And that's where she's mistaken."
Rome finally broke the silence.
"So..."
"What do we do now?"
He looked genuinely worried.
"I don't think the Crown Prince will simply leave us alone without an answer."
"And judging from what happened today..."
"I doubt he'll accept rejection very easily."
Rick rubbed his forehead.
"You're probably right."
For a while, no one spoke.
Finally, Rick muttered with a tired smile,
"For heaven's sake..."
"One of them has the heart of a kind ruler..."
"...but lacks the experience to lead."
"The other possesses nearly every quality needed to become a great king."
He paused.
"He recognizes talent."
"He knows how to negotiate."
"He understands people's desires."
"He'll do almost anything to bring capable people to his side."
Rick looked toward the window.
"But..."
"...his methods and personality concern me."
Leze frowned.
"Hold on."
"You can't judge someone based on rumors."
Rick smiled faintly.
"I never do."
"I don't trust rumors."
"I investigate them."
Everyone's curiosity immediately grew.
Rome leaned forward.
"And..."
"What did you find?"
Rick's expression became serious.
"It seems Prince Henry had nothing to do with the incident," Rick finally said.
"So then what is the problem?" Krai asked, confused.
Rick let out a slow breath before answering.
"The problem is the culprit."
The room fell silent as everyone listened.
"The culprit was one of Prince Henry's closest friends. When overwhelming evidence proved his guilt, Henry still used every bit of his influence to prevent him from being stripped of his title."
Rick rubbed his tired eyes before continuing.
"In Prince Henry's eyes, ordinary people are nothing more than insects. They have no value unless they can be of use to him."
A heavy silence settled over the room.
Finally, Leze broke it.
"Alright. Let's calm down and think this through. There has to be another way."
"Leze is right," Rome agreed. "There must be some method to avoid getting involved with both Princess Nina and Prince Henry."
Rick sighed and leaned back in his chair.
"...Fine. Let's think of another solution."
The four of them began discussing countless possibilities, trying to find a path that would allow them to stay away from both factions.
Nearly half an hour passed before—
Knock. Knock.
The sudden sound echoed throughout the room.
Krai stood up.
"It must be my roommate. He's probably back."
He walked toward the door and reached for the handle.
Just as he was about to open it—
"Krai... wait."
Rome's sharp voice instantly stopped him.
His expression had completely changed.
Without another word, Rome unsheathed his sword.
The metallic sound of steel sliding against its scabbard filled the room.
Seeing his reaction, Rick and Leze immediately grabbed their own weapons.
Krai slowly turned around.
"Did... did yout roommate mention bringing any friends over today?"
Rome asked without taking his eyes off the door.
"I... don't think so."
Krai instinctively stepped backward, away from the entrance.
Rome's grip on his sword tightened.
His eyes narrowed.
"So why..."
He frowned.
"...why the hell am I sensing the mana signatures of more than twenty people outside this room?"
The atmosphere instantly became suffocating.
No one moved.
No one even dared to breathe too loudly.
Whoever stood beyond that door...
...had not come alone.
Meanwhile, in the girls' dormitory, inside Princess Nina's private room, the princess sat quietly beneath the warm glow of a crystal lamp, calmly reading a book.
Knock. Knock.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness," Willy's voice came from outside the door. "But there is something urgent."
Without looking up immediately, Nina closed her book before speaking in a composed voice.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Willy stepped inside before kneeling respectfully.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Nina rested the book on her lap.
"What is so important that you came here at this hour?" she asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"I apologize for disturbing your rest," Willy replied, lowering her head. "But it appears His Highness, Prince Henry, has sent several of his followers after Rick and his companions. They intend to beat them."
Her voice was sharp and filled with concern.
For a brief moment, silence filled the room.
Then Nina's eyebrows rose slightly.
"Now... this is interesting."
A faint smile slowly appeared on her face.
"Should we send some of our people to help them?" Willy asked firmly. "If we assist them now, they'll surely become indebted to you."
"No."
Nina answered without hesitation.
"I have no intention of making an enemy of my brother at this moment."
She slowly stood and walked toward the window, gazing at the darkening evening sky.
"Besides..."
A confident smile spread across her lips.
"Judging by the current situation, I'm fairly certain Rick will come to us of his own accord."
She folded her arms behind her back.
"So simply leave them alone."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Willy bowed once more before quietly leaving the room, gently closing the door behind her.
Now alone, Nina remained standing before the window, silently watching the stars begin to appear in the night sky.
A mysterious smile lingered on her face.
"Now..."
She whispered softly to herself.
"...what will you do, Rick?"
And just like that...
a very long night for Rick had begun.