Morning light gently poured through the window adorned with pale golden tasseled curtains, softly illuminating the luxurious carved wooden bed.
The beautiful young girl stirred within the soft velvet bedding. Her golden eyelashes flickered slightly as she slowly opened her eyes, the clear blue resembling a sky after rain, still harboring a hint of lingering sleepiness.
"Good morning, Miss."
The maid, Mariana, who had been standing by the bed for so ti, approached with a smile, gently pulling open the heavy drapery to let more sunlight, carrying the unique freshness of the Royal Capital, flood into the room:
"The weather is lovely today. The Countess ordered the kitchen to prepare your favorite maple syrup pancakes and rose tea."
"Thank you, Ms. Marianna…"
The girl lazily sat up, yawning while rubbing her sleepy eyes as the sleeve of her silk nightgown slid down, revealing a fair, slender arm, now warm under the sunlight.
This was the new residence of the Castel family in the Inner City of the Royal Capital.
A few years back, Count Castel was promoted to Group Leader of the Kingdom's Third Knight Order, and the Castel family formally gained independence from the Bold Duchy, becoming a direct vassal of the New Moon Kingdom. Count Castel then moved the Castel family from Bold City to the Royal Capital.
Initially, Charlotte felt a bit reluctant to leave the old manor and the supposedly ancient family castle, but soon, the Royal Capital's prosperity, convenience, and this spacious, bright, and cozy new ho won her heart.
More importantly, her parents were by her side here.
Her father, Earl Roy Castel, seed busier with official duties than before, yet his complexion had improved significantly. Her mother, Lady Isabella, always wore a gentle smile, no longer showing the occasional subtle worries of the past.
Everything was wonderful.
This was Charlotte de Castel's peaceful, ordinary day, the beginning of yet another day in the life of the sole daughter of a Kingdom's Earl, residing in the Royal Capital.
After freshening up, she donned her academy uniform: a deep blue, silver-trimd fitted jacket, a skirt in the sa color with pleats, and a white shirt with a red rose bow symbolizing the Castel family at the collar.
The girl in the mirror had smooth blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and cheeks tinged with a healthy blush. She carefully tucked a rebellious strand of hair behind her ear, smiling at herself.
The breakfast table was filled with a cheerful atmosphere. Her father was browsing the latest issue of the Royal Capital Tis, occasionally exchanging a few words in hushed tones about political or comrcial rumors with her mother, who would then place a jam-covered pancake on Charlotte's plate, asking about her classes with concern.
"In the morning, it's Mireya's history and basic elental theory; in the afternoon, it's etiquette and literary appreciation."
Charlotte took a sip of the fragrant rose tea and replied:
"By the way, Father, you ntioned last night about the study exchange with the Elf Country. They're supposed to join today's class, and they've invited a renowned scholar from Moon God Island, nad…nad…"
"Sebas Fla Heart."
Count Castel lifted his head from behind the newspaper, smiling as he supplented:
"He's a well-known historian of the Elf Clan and a friend of Lord Nicholas."
The blonde girl furrowed her brow:
"The one who always likes to sneak into our manor bookstore disguised as a black cat, that mischievous cat?"
Countess Castel gently tapped the girl's head:
"Show so respect; that's a Legend, after all, and he was an acquaintance of your grandfather, who first noticed Ilena's case back then."
At the ntion of Ilena's na, the young girl's expression turned slightly somber.
Ilena…or rather, Ilena de Castel.
She was her step-grandmother, who had treated her very kindly when she was young.
However, no one knew that the kindly old lady's true identity was a witch seeking to capture the Castel family's bloodline.
Ten years ago, her parents were sent by the Bold Duke to fight monsters, leaving only her in the Castel Manor. If it weren't for the female knight Kara from the patrol who rescued her in ti, she might have been sacrificed and killed at the age of ten.
"My little scholar. Lord Sebas is the Kingdom's honorary advisor, knowledgeable beyond asure. I've audited his classes; they're fascinating. Listen well, and you can tell Dad about what you learned tonight."
Count Castel spotted the girl's dejection and skillfully changed the subject.
"I will."
Charlotte nodded with a smile.
She had a natural curiosity about history, especially those ancient epochs and myths of the gods buried in the sands of ti. The fantastical accounts in the heavy tos of the library always easily captured her attention.
Particularly, the tales of Moon God, the myths proclaid by the Holy Royal Court said to originate from the Elf Clan's Sun God, and the even older legends about the Creation Goddess, who shares her na—these always enthralled her.
After breakfast, under her mother's gentle urge and father's smiling gaze, Charlotte picked up her leather satchel filled with books and stepped out the door.
Waiting at the mansion's entrance was a low-key yet exquisitely crafted carriage. The coachman was Old Lusfer, a Northern Wolfman known for his silence yet imnse reliability.
"Good morning, Mr. Lusfer, to the Royal Crescent Academy!"
"Yes, Miss."
The carriage moved smoothly down the neat cobblestone street.
Old Lusfer silently guided the carriage, his silhouette standing tall in the morning light like a pine.
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