Next to the main gate of the Magic Academy was a large carriage porch for the drop-off and pickup of students. The large U-shaped structure was paved with white stones and covered by a simple roof so that the passengers wouldn’t get wet when getting on or off carriages. It reminded me of the bus stops often located in front of large train stations, only fancier. The pillars that supported the roof were decorated with beautiful engravings, which lent the place an air of grandeur. The academy was attended by the sons and daughters of the nobles of the empire, and it had been built in a way that highlighted its importance to the visitors from the moment they set foot here.
Today, some dark clouds hung low in the sky, but it didn’t look like it would rain.
Near the carriage porch was another, smaller structure—a gazebo where one could sit to wait for one’s carriage. Lydia was there.
Today, we’d visit the former emperor and empress.
Mikhail, Lydia, and I were to rendezvous at the academy and head to the detached palace where the retired couple lived together. As the daughter of a marquess, Lydia was the one with the lowest status, which meant she shouldn’t make the prince or me wait. As expected of her, she had her etiquette down, and it looked like she’d arrived far in advance.
Despite her perfect manners, Lydia didn’t bother to conceal her hostility. The exquisite dress she’d donned had large, puffy sleeves and sparkled with silver thread and pearls. In the empire, it was customary to wear extravagant gowns at evening parties, and simpler, more dignified dresses for daytime functions. Since Lydia’s dress was in a light, subdued color, it was just barely acceptable as a daytime outfit, but it was still very lavish and overwhelming.
The quality of Lydia’s dress, which flirted with the limits of etiquette, showed that she wasn’t the only one taking this challenge seriously. Her father had clearly put in money and effort too.
Despite its visual impact. Lydia wasn’t letting her dress upstage the rest of her. She pulled it off so well, I couldn’t help but feel impressed. Although, to be honest, I wouldn’t have expected anything less from her. The House of Selesnoa was attempting to overtake the three grand ducal houses, and everything about Lydia screamed that she wasn’t about to lose to me in any way, shape, or form.
However, the surprise on her face when she saw me showed that she was still a child.
Alexei, the current Duke of Yulnova, was escorting me. As per the rules of the empire, which dictated that influential nobles should not meet with retired emperors, his presence made no sense to Lydia. On top of that, the dress I wore did not sparkle, nor was it adorned with countless decorations. It was the sort of dress highborn ladies wore on a regular day—elegant and dignified, but simple. Even my skirt had little volume.
Despite its restraint, though, my dress still caught the eye. It primarily used two shades of Celestial Blue, which was all the rage in the capital these days: a lighter one reminiscent of the color of the sky in spring, and a darker, lapis-lazuli blue. They were delineated in a striking split between the right and left sides. To avoid any sense of monotony, the design was asymmetrical, which made it effortlessly chic.
Alexei’s outfit also had touches of Celestial Blue. He wore a beautifully tailored white jacket that befit his rank. The inner side of his collar had been dyed in the same dark lapis lazuli blue as half my dress, and his cuff links were embedded with actual lapis lazuli. Alexei’s fit was graceful and, albeit discreetly, matched mine.
Our relaxed gait as we walked toward the gazebo made our stance regarding the House of Selesnoa abundantly clear—it didn’t concern us in the slightest.
Once Alexei stepped under the gazebo, Lydia would have to rise and bow to him as was customary. However, Alexei stopped a couple of paces before that and turned to me.
“Ekaterina, my blue rose,” he said, his voice thick with affection as he softly stroked my indigo blue hair. “I should be the one to introduce you to His Majesty the Former Emperor. I deeply regret being unable to do so. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize, brother. Your heart is always with me. I know that,” I replied with a smile.
Alexei chuckled. “You always see right through me, don’t you, my beautiful goddess?” His gentle tone suddenly hardened like steel. “Never forget, Ekaterina. You are the lady of the House of Yulnova. Come to me if anything happens. Those who look down on you look down on our house, and that shall never go unpunished. Not under my watch.”
“I understand, brother. I shall do as you say.”
Alexei caressed my cheek. “Good girl.”
Then, he let his eyes wander. For a split second, he paused and glared at Lydia.
Lydia paled. Alexei was already the head of a powerful house—the very center of the Yulnova power. The weight of his words was nothing like that of his fellow teenagers.
Alexei’s eyes had already left Lydia. He whispered sweetly to me, “I’ll be awaiting your return.”
Just as he turned on his heels, Mikhail appeared. His steps were light and bouncy as he approached.
Alexei greeted him with a look, and Mikhail smiled in return.
Such a simple exchange between a duke and a prince passing one another could only happen in the special context of the academy, but it also showed their closeness.