It had been a long ti since Stella had tasted what it was like to fail.
Because she was born with the highest magical capacity in the world, Stella was destined to be a Mage Knight whose excellence would make others envious.
Her raw strength was nothing short of extraordinary.
And reality had always reflected that. After she learned how to control the overwhelming power within her body, her combat ability increased exponentially.
Within the borders of the Vermillion Empire, she rarely encountered an opponent who could even force her to break a sweat.
However, the Vermillion Empire was not a major powerhouse in the world of Mage Knights.
There were no world-class knights in her holand who could stand alone against the international elite. Stella knew that dominating a small area ant nothing.
To witness the true pinnacle of strength and push her own limits, Stella had chosen to study in Japan.
A nation that produced many of the world's top Mage Knights. She even bypassed the prestigious Bukyoku Academy to attend Hagun Academy, drawn by its brutal, combat-oriented philosophy.
What she hadn't expected was that her very first battle in Japan would end in absolute defeat.
Moreover, she hadn't even figured out how she lost. The battle had been ssy; neither side had drawn a Device, and no preparations were made.
But then again, real enemies on the battlefield wouldn't give her ti to prepare either.
Stella felt a deep sense of unwillingness in her heart, but her pride as a knight forced her to admit her loss.
"It's a martial arts footwork technique called Trackless Step," Kurono explained from her desk, an amused smile on her face.
"Trackless Step..." Stella murmured. She didn't ask for further details, but she firmly etched the na into her mory.
After all, it was a technique she hadn't even been able to react to. It commanded her respect.
"Well, Vermillion? You don't harbor any doubts about Roy's strength now, do you?" Kurono asked.
A genius naturally possessed the arrogance of a genius. For Stella, who had been hailed as an unparalleled prodigy and had the eyes of the world upon her, to be suddenly overwheld by an unknown boy the mont she arrived in Japan... she might not say it aloud, but she was definitely feeling a bit unconvinced deep down.
However, the most effective way to shatter that dissatisfaction was through overwhelming strength.
And Roy had just proved his.
"No," Stella nodded dejectedly.
Her first battle in Japan ending in a disastrous defeat was a heavy blow to her pride.
"Then today's matter is settled," Kurono said, crushing out her cigarette in the ashtray.
She smiled at the two of them. "You are both my prized students. Although your first eting was a bit... unpleasant, don't let it weigh on you. As roommates who will be spending day and night together for the next three years, you must get along from now on."
"I am not the kind of person who holds petty grudges. Now that it's over, I won't make a fuss about it anymore," Stella declared, lifting her chin.
"You're the one who was fanning the flas earlier. You're in no position to play the peacemaker," Roy complained, shooting Kurono a deadpan look.
"Haha, my apologies. But what happened between the two of you was just too interesting. It's the first ti I've encountered a scenario like this since I started working in education. I couldn't resist seeing how you both would react." Kurono's apology was entirely insincere.
She was clearly still holding back laughter.
"How long have you even been the Chairwoman?" Roy muttered, shaking his head. "Anyway, what you said earlier is right. Stella and I should get along just fine."
"Oh~?" Kurono dragged out the syllable, looking at Roy with imnse interest. "You say that now, but just ten minutes ago, after seeing her half naked body, your first instinct was to call the council and have her arrested. My, how quickly your tune changes."
"Nonsense," Roy rolled his eyes, his tone perfectly calm. "Earlier, I thought she was a perverted intruder who broke into my dorm, so naturally, I called the authorities."
"But now that the misunderstanding has been resolved and I know she is the Princess... well, of course I have a favorable impression of a girl like Her Highness."
Hearing his smooth recovery, Stella secretly glanced at Roy.
A bright, rosy flush crept across her pretty face.
"Tsk!" Kurono clicked her tongue as she noticed Stella's blushing cheeks. She gave Roy an exasperated, aningful look.
"Boy, seriously... don't actually kill her, okay? Or else it's going to be very hard for to explain things to the Vermillion royal family."
"Alright, off you go," Kurono waved her hand dismissively. "Roy, you've been on campus for a few days now. I entrust you with the task of showing her around the academy and helping her settle in."
Roy and Stella left the Chairwoman's office and walked back toward the student dormitories, moving in tandem down the quiet corridors.
They walked in silence for a few minutes. Finally, Stella couldn't hold back the swirling emotions in her chest any longer. She spoke up first.
"I'm telling you in advance, even if you have a crush on , it's absolutely impossible for to have a child with you right now!"
"..."
Roy stopped walking. He turned his head, looked at Stella's fiercely determined face, and nodded silently.
Being stared at by his calm, unblinking eyes, Stella instinctively looked away, her face burning so hot she couldn't maintain eye contact.
"I-In short, having a child is completely out of the question!" she stamred, crossing her arms defensively. "If my father and mother found out that I ca all the way to Japan to study, only to end up pregnant, they would be absolutely furious! If they blad for it, I wouldn't be able to bear it!"
Then, perhaps feeling that her outright rejection was too blunt and might hurt his feelings, Stella fidgeted and added in a much softer, eker voice: "Of course... if we're just dating... I suppose that's not unacceptable."
Roy almost burst out laughing.
He had to admit, this girls innocence was genuinely terrifying. Yet, at the sa ti, her mind was overflowing with such intense, unwarranted romantic leaps of logic.
The contrast between her fiery, regal exterior and her purely maiden like interior was simply incredible.
What he had said in the Chairwoman's office about was just a crass joke, but who could have predicted that Stella would take it completely literally and start planning out their relationship boundaries?
"Well... since we'll be roommates from now on," Stella continued, her face still bright red but her voice regaining a bit of its haughty royal tone. "I will allow you to call by my first na. Your na is Roy, right? I'll just call you by your na directly from now on."
"Alright. Nice to et you, Stella," Roy said with a warm smile.
"Y-Yes. Nice to et you, Roy," Stella responded, clutching her hands together. "I don't know much about Hagun Academy yet, so... you'll have to take good care of ."
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