The next morning, as Lusian prepared to begin his day at the academy, he was informed that someone had requested an audience. Intrigued, he stepped outside to receive the visitor.

  When he opened the door, he found Isabella waiting. She bowed deeply, her eyes shining with a mixture of determination and gratitude.

  "Good morning, my lord. I present myself as your new servant," she said firmly. "I will do everything in my power to fulfill your wishes and honor the pact I made to save my family."

  Lusian sighed. He remembered all too well that he had not been able to completely ease the punishment placed upon her. Every word she spoke reminded him how strange and complex this world truly was.

  "You don't need to follow the rules so strictly," he replied, trying to soften the tension. "You can continue your days at the academy as you always have."

  But Isabella did not waver. Her gaze reflected respect—and a deep, almost tangible gratitude.

  "I am grateful, my lord," she said, her voice barely trembling. "I am not doing this out of mere obedience. I am sincerely thankful for what you did for my family. I will follow the rules as your servant, with loyalty and honor."

  Lusian closed his eyes for a moment, feeling a faint stab of pain in his temples. The situation exhausted him more than any battle ever had, yet he could not ignore the sincerity in her words.

  "…Very well," he answered at last, resignation laced with quiet care. "Do as you wish."

  Silence settled over the hall, filled with unspoken understanding: she would honor her promise, and he would accept the consequences of his decisions.

  The capital's pastry shop was calm, the sweet aroma of freshly baked bread drifting through the air. Sofía entered, her footsteps soft against the wooden floor. She was led to a private room. When the door opened, Queen Adelaine was waiting by the window, morning light illuminating her face.

  "Hello, Adelaine," Sofía said with a faint smile, trying to hide the concern simmering beneath her composure. "How are things?"

  Adelaine looked at her steadily, hands clasped on the table. When she spoke, anxiety edged every word.

  "I have problems. Two, to be exact. They're breaking the rules, and I don't see you doing anything to stop it."

  Sofía tilted her head slightly, already knowing whom she meant.

  "Lusian and Eli?"

  "Don't you think you're being too lenient with Lusian?" Adelaine shot back, concern and firmness flashing in her eyes. "You should be stricter. Do I need to remind you that he will be the future duke?"

  Sofía drew in a slow breath. Sunlight streamed through the window, playing softly across her features.

  "What if we let him decide for himself?"

  Adelaine stood abruptly, nearly shouting, her hands trembling.

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  "You know what you're saying!"

  Sofía stepped closer, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret.

  "When you were young… didn't you ever want to decide your own life?"

  Adelaine closed her eyes briefly, memories surfacing.

  "Even if I wanted to, I had responsibilities."

  "I still want to," Sofía whispered, vulnerability breaking through for the first time. "To choose my own life. Why shouldn't I allow my son the same?"

  "It isn't right, Sofía," Adelaine replied firmly, though her voice softened. "You can't behave like this."

  Sofía lowered her gaze, and her confession seemed to weigh years upon her shoulders.

  "I still feel guilty for giving birth to a son out of vengeance. I wanted to ruin Laurence's happiness. I never stopped to think I might hurt an innocent child. Only when I held him in my arms did I understand how precious he was… That's why I want to make it up to him with everything I have. I will do whatever it takes to see him happy."

  Silence filled the room. Only the faint ticking of a clock broke the tension.

  Adelaine stepped forward and embraced her without a word. Sofía closed her eyes, allowing warmth, friendship, and understanding to settle between them.

  "Alright," Adelaine said gently as they parted. "I understand. But we have a great deal of work ahead of us to ensure nothing—and no one—harms them."

  Sofía nodded, determination shining in her eyes as sunlight illuminated her profile.

  The battle for her son's well-being had only just begun.

  The arena trembled with the murmur of the crowd, but for Lusian, everything narrowed to a single point: Leonardo.

  The calm in Lusian's gaze contrasted sharply with the fury sparking in his opponent's eyes. Ever since learning of the agreements that placed Isabella under the Douglases' authority, Leonardo had been consumed by rage. Pride—and fear of losing her—had set him ablaze.

  "Your family is disgusting!" Leonardo shouted, his voice cracking like an electric whip. "You use force to bend everyone beneath you. You have no honor."

  Lusian inhaled slowly and answered with near indifference.

  "Choose your words carefully. And stay out of matters that do not concern you."

  "Isabella's matters are my matters!" Leonardo snapped, muscles taut with restrained fury.

  "You want to look like a savior," Lusian replied coolly, his voice cold as steel. "But you're only protecting your own interests. You don't understand the full situation."

  "Shut up!" Leonardo roared.

  A shimmering blue aura ignited around him.

  The clash erupted instantly.

  Lusian advanced with surgical precision—five consecutive thrusts, each deflected by the crackling edge of Leonardo's blade. Leonardo countered with electricity, the air around his sword vibrating and humming as bolts lashed toward Lusian.

  The mana coating Lusian absorbed part of the damage, but each spark raced through his muscles, numbing his limbs and slowing his movements.

  Eyes fixed and unblinking, Lusian waited.

  He seized the force of Leonardo's strike, blocked, pivoted, and spun in one fluid motion, lunging for his back. Leonardo sensed the danger and propelled himself away with a burst of lightning, rolling across the sand.

  Lusian wasted no time. A sharp kick sent Leonardo crashing down again, and a torrent of dark mana spears rained upon him, piercing his electric defenses and leaving him staggering.

  But the prince refused to yield.

  He generated an electric field around himself—a halo of crackling lightning that scorched the air. Yet the constant strain drained his mana. His knees hit the sand as he gasped, each breath a reminder of his limits.

  One final attempt.

  He drove his sword into the ground.

  A bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking him and using his body as a conduit. Electricity exploded outward, synchronized with Lusian's advancing attack. Lusian reinforced his mana, absorbing the impact as his hair stood on end and sparks danced across his skin.

  When the light faded and the trembling arena stilled, Lusian remained standing.

  His muscles vibrated with effort. Sweat and dust streaked his face. Leonardo stood only by sheer pride, lungs burning, mana depleted.

  "Do you surrender," Lusian asked coldly, sword raised, "or must I deliver the final blow, meddling prince?"

  "I won't surrender," Leonardo rasped through clenched teeth, defiance blazing in his eyes.

  With a single precise motion, Lusian struck the back of Leonardo's neck.

  The prince collapsed into the sand, dust rising in the sunlight.

  Lusian bent slightly, breathing hard.

  As Leonardo fell, Lusian could not help but realize something inevitable:

  The conflict between them had only just begun.