The glass wall shimred with light, and the murals in the atrium appeared especially bright and soft, enveloping the entire exam hall in a tranquil, rippling glow.
Returning from the Eleven Great Plains of the Shadow Realm to this indoor space filled with a faint fragrance felt like a surreal transition, leaving Lance completely at ease.
Just as he leisurely shifted his gaze from the stretchers outside the exam hall back to the only classmate he knew—Huberian—
“Hu—”
Lance had just started greeting Huberian when he suddenly froze.
Because he had just realized that the atmosphere in the atrium wasn’t as harmonious as he had expected.
Originally, in Lance’s imagination, everyone should be calmly discussing their exam experiences, passing the ti during this brief morning break, and sincerely wishing the next group of examinees—who might soon beco their classmates—the best of luck.
But clearly, that wasn’t the case now.
At the center of the exam hall, Huberian seed to be in a tense standoff with a striking young woman with light golden hair from the second group of examinees. The air between them was practically crackling with hostility.
Had Lance not shown up and drawn everyone’s attention, it wouldn’t have been surprising if Huberian and that noble young lady started brawling right then and there, completely disregarding exam regulations.
They seed to know each other, and this light-golden-haired noble girl was clearly hostile toward Huberian.
The other two examinees from the second group weren’t as openly confrontational, but their expressions were filled with unmistakable wariness, as if they were staring at so kind of walking plague.
After today’s intense exam, Lance had more or less figured it out—his teammate, Huberian, must be quite the controversial figure in Ikrit, the royal capital.
A walking magnet for animosity.
She seed like a decent person, though. Why was everyone treating her like an enemy?
Scratching his head in confusion, Lance wondered why the nobles in the royal capital were so aggressive.
“I an, guys, friendship first…”
Lance had barely opened his mouth before trying to smooth things over.
Harmony was key—he hoped his classmates could get along peacefully. Even soone as initially furious as Examiner Flat had been able to reach an understanding with him.
In a world filled with love, nothing was impossible.
“……”
The mont Lance appeared, Huberian lost interest in continuing this pointless argunt.
She shook her head, casting a cold glance at the noble young lady with long, light-golden hair.
“Princess Vivian, if you’re looking to get beaten up in the arena after enrollnt, I’ll be waiting.”
Leaving those words behind, Huberian turned away without bothering to acknowledge the noble girl any further, walking off on her own.
She made her way toward the waiting area—where Lance was standing—intending to wait for Instructor Theresa to return and give their group the post-exam briefing.
When Huberian finally arrived near Lance, he lowered his voice in surprise.
“Damn, you’re fearless. Even a princess doesn’t get special treatnt from you.”
A girl who could be addressed as “Your Highness” had to be a royal.
That ant this light-golden-haired Vivian was undoubtedly a princess of the Hetton Kingdom!
Which also ant that Huberian’s own background had to be quite formidable—going head-to-head with royalty like this took more than just nerve. There was no way she was so minor noble.
The royal capital sure was sothing. You could run into major figures just by stepping outside.
How thrilling.
“……”
Huberian wasn’t sure how to respond to Lance’s comnt.
You treat , a duke’s daughter, just as casually—yet you suddenly rember to show respect to high nobility?
Still, she didn’t dislike Lance’s attitude.
Those who fawned over her while she was in a position of power were the sa people who would turn on her the mont she fell from grace.
But Lance treated everyone equally, regardless of status, and that kind of sincerity was rare.
As the two exchanged a few brief words, Instructor Theresa still hadn’t returned.
anwhile, Princess Vivian remained standing not far away, her gaze fixed on Huberian and Lance, a trace of inexplicable irritation in her eyes.
“Lance Wilfort, is it?”
After a long pause, Princess Vivian finally spoke, her tone carrying a distinct air of superiority.
“I don’t know how you managed to defeat Flat Savinson, but it had to be because of you.”
She was certain—there was no way Huberian could’ve gotten past Flat on her own.
Vivian had known Huberian since childhood.
She had expected her to leave the artificial Shadow Realm today brimming with frustration and resentnt. Yet, against all expectations, it was the examiner who had been carried out instead.
That could only an this “elegant young noble with black hair and green eyes,” rumored to have speed-cleared Winter’s Veiled Fla, must have pulled off sothing outrageous again.
“It wasn’t a solo victory—it was the result of teamwork.”
Lance answered humbly, offering the princess a polite bow.
Huberian, standing beside him, didn’t refute his words.
She knew Lance was just being modest, but there was no reason for her to elaborate further.
“…I see.”
Vivian, seeing his attitude, couldn’t push any further.
Perhaps his passing the second round had been due to luck and a good performance, but clearing the third round proved he was truly capable.
If soone like him also had a steady, composed nature, he would be a formidable Shadow Realm challenger in the future. There was no need to suppress or antagonize a talented citizen of her own kingdom.
“I suggest you stay away from Huberian Aransal, Duke Aransal’s daughter. Don’t let her beauty fool you.”
Vivian cast a glance at Huberian as she spoke, her words laced with a biting tone—but clearly directed at Lance.
Lance tilted his head in confusion.
It felt like Vivian had misunderstood sothing.
Earlier, Examiner Flat had seed to have the sa misconception.
Was helping Huberian really such an unthinkable act in their eyes?
All he wanted was to pass the exam.
But it didn’t matter.
Lance had a feeling that Vivian’s attitude toward Huberian wasn’t as purely malicious as Flat’s—it was more… complicated.
“Princess Vivian, so in your eyes, Miss Huberian is truly a very beautiful person.”
Lance bowed to her again, smiling as he spoke.
Huberian shot Lance an uncomfortable glance, while Vivian’s expression completely fell apart.
“No!”
Vivian’s denial was imdiate and agitated.
“There’s no reconciling between us, so don’t waste your ti trying to smooth things over.”
Huberian, too, was eager to end the topic, cutting in decisively.
Lance heard her response, looked at Huberian, and let out an “Oh,” as if suddenly understanding sothing.
“Princess Vivian, it seems that Miss Huberian still considers the idea of reconciling with you.”
Lance smiled warmly at Vivian, as if he were simply translating Huberian’s words for her.
“No!!”
Huberian imdiately denied it, her reaction unusually intense.
At that, the still-flustered Vivian seed to deflate, pressing her lips together and looking away.
Lance, maintaining his gentle smile, seed to be waiting for them to continue speaking—to express their thoughts so he could relay them back and forth.
But neither Huberian nor Vivian said another word.
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