"Dear, how are you?" A vision of elegance, the Queen, adorned in regal attire, tenderly asked, her delicate hand caressing her daughter's hair. Her own eyes, a captivating bottle green, mirrored the enchanting gaze of her daughter, Amelia Dolphis.
"I'm not a child anymore, mother," Amelia replied, feeling a slight flush of embarrassment.
"To me, you'll always be my child," the Queen declared, enfolding Amelia in another loving embrace.
In the VIP seats of the stadium, Reiner Dolphis observed the heartwarming interaction between his wife and daughter with a smile playing on his lips.
"Why are we even here?" Adrian, indifferent to the familial moment, voiced his boredom.
"Your conduct, son," the Queen admonished, her gaze piercing as Adrian begrudgingly uncrossed his legs.
"Why did you summon us, Mother, Father?" Amelia's curiosity sparked.
"Isn't it obvious? We're here to celebrate your success in the first round!" The Queen's smile brimmed with pride.
"Oh, please, did you really doubt us? We're Great Nobles, for Eden's sake," Adrian scoffed, irritated at the implication of doubt.
"Accept our congratulations graciously, Adrian. Show some decorum befitting your status," Reiner reprimanded sternly.
"Dear, forgive me, but you're the last person I want to hear about decorum from. Your antics often leave me cleaning up after you," the Queen retorted, a hint of exasperation tainting her tone, much like Amelia's.
"If you're worried about me ruffling feathers, what about Alea? She's probably out there in Edenis Raphiel, causing a stir amongst those arrogant fellows," Reiner pointed out.
"Well..." The Queen found herself unable to refute Reiner's observation about Alea's penchant for inciting irritation wherever she went.
"Why are you here, Father?" Amelia voiced the question lingering in her mind.
"Well, that..." Reiner chuckled before responding, "I wouldn't miss my children's exam for anything in the world!"
"Really? It's a crucial meeting regarding our future and Edenis Raphiel, Dear. You attended last year, and forgive me, but I find it hard to believe you'd pass up such an opportunity," the Queen countered, her smile carrying a hint of significance.
"Ugh... you already know why. I just can't stomach those individuals," Adrian admitted. While his children's exams were indeed a significant factor, his aversion to the rulers of Edenis Raphiel played a substantial role. Last year, he had caused quite a stir by retaliating against the taunts of the Great Rulers of Edenis Raphiel.
Despite the importance of the discussions at hand this year, Adrian opted to forego the journey to Edenis Raphiel. With his children undergoing exams, and surprisingly, the other Heads concurring, they deemed it prudent to keep at least one Head in Sancta Vedelia for safety measures.
"Edenis Raphiel... sounds enchanting..." Amelia muttered, her eyes gleaming with fascination. As a Great Noble of Sancta Vedelia, she possessed the privilege to enter Edenis Raphiel at will, albeit with numerous restrictions and prerequisites. However, she had only ventured there thrice, the last visit occurring three years prior, accompanied by her brother, Adrian.
Adrian, observing his sister's fascination with a mixture of amusement and longing, couldn't help but inwardly yearn for a return to Edenis Raphiel himself. The allure of the land was undeniable—the breathtaking landscapes, the captivating architecture, the allure of the markets, and even the charm of the residents—it all seemed straight out of a fairy tale. As a man, he harbored a secret desire to one day settle there and immerse himself in its splendor. Yet, as the future Head of the Dolphis House, he understood the impracticality of such a dream.
"Who did you send in your place, Dear?" The Queen asked.
"I've already told you... It's Karl," Reiner replied.
"Oh, not your cousin again! I expressly asked you to choose someone else!" the Queen erupted, her frustration visible.
"Karl may be my cousin, but he's more than capable of handling those troublesome individuals," Reiner defended.
If the people of Sancta Vedelia were often criticized for their perceived arrogance by other nations, then the inhabitants of Edenis Raphiel, nestled near the gods themselves, resided in a realm of unparalleled conceit. Their lineage traced back thousands of years, their abode in the sky near the Monolith of Eden only amplifying their sense of superiority.
"I simply don't trust him... and you know that," the Queen expressed her exasperation.
"I'm aware, and so is Karl. Your lack of trust wounds him deeply, you know?" Reiner said.
"I couldn't care less about his feelings, Reiner. I am the Queen, understood?" the Queen asserted firmly.
"Y-Yes, of course," Reiner acquiesced vehemently.
Amelia's gentle laughter filled the air as she observed the exchange, while Adrian, growing weary of the discussion, announced his departure for the ongoing Second Round of exams. However, before they could leave...
"Wait, one last thing," Reiner interjected, halting their exit.
"What now, Father?" Adrian turned back, his irritation evident.
"It's about the Second Round... I just want both of you to know that I'm proud of you," Reiner interjected suddenly, his gaze serious.
"Yes," their mother chimed in, her hand resting on her husband's shoulder as she looked at her children with warmth. "We have every confidence in you."
"Wait, do you know who we're up against?" Adrian quickly caught on, reading the unspoken tension in his parents' expressions.
"Huh?" Amelia's gaze darted between her parents, finding no immediate answers.
"Your concern and hesitation speak volumes. Looks like we're in for the real deal this time, huh?" Adrian's grin widened.
Reiner let out a sigh of exasperation. "Just be cautious and focused. Both of you," he urged, his gaze shifting to include Amelia.
Amelia's heart raced as Reiner's gaze settled on her, a sense of anticipation building within her.
'Am I up against a strong opponent already?' She thought, her mind racing with possibilities, though she had expected such challenges to arise in the Third Round against other stronger groups.
"It's time for me to prove myself to Alicia," Adrian declared, his fist meeting his palm in determination, unaware of the true identity of his upcoming opponent.
His parents exchanged a knowing glance, understanding the upcoming conflict.
"Not Alicia again. Just leave her be," Amelia said, her annoyance evident.
"She's my fiancée, Amelia. You don't get to dictate that," Adrian retorted, his tone sharp with defiance.
"She's not a possession, Adrian. Remember that," Amelia shot back, her frustration with her brother's attitude towards Alicia surfacing.
Though their parents had agreed to the engagement, Amelia despised witnessing her brother's behavior towards Alicia and rarely voiced her objections until now.
"Well, you'll have plenty of time to take care of your sister-in-
law after the marriage, don't worry," Adrian remarked with a smile, earning a simple scoff from Amelia.
"Dear, Amelia, are you alright?" The Queen suddenly approached her daughter, a hint of concern in her voice.
"Am I?" Amelia responded, her confusion evident.
"You're not. I know you well, daughter. Something has been troubling you for a few days now," the Queen observed with a gentle smile.
"That's..." Amelia faltered, unable to articulate her thoughts.
Only one face dominated her thoughts—the handsome black-
haired man with piercing red eyes. Each time his image surfaced in her mind, his final words echoed in her ears.
As a Princess of Sancta Vedelia, Amelia had encountered numerous suitors from various lands, but John was different from the start. He exuded an air of nonchalance towards Sancta Vedelia's nobility, despite being a Half-High Human. His lonely look only further piqued her maternal instinct. Initially, she felt ashamed and incredulous at the notion of developing feelings for a criminal, but she eventually came to accept the truth.
However, when she confessed her feelings to John, he rejected her, despite harboring his own emotions. She wasn't oblivious to his sentiments.
"I'm fine..." Amelia forced a smile before swiftly exiting the room.
Meanwhile, Adrian glanced down at the ongoing matches of the Second Round. Among them, Celeste's and Lykhor's group garnered the most attention as they effortlessly dismantled their opponents.
Though he felt a twinge of pity for not facing them himself, he acknowledged the presence of other strong opponents. His gaze briefly flickered over Alvara, Victor, and Rodolf before he departed. Ideally, he hoped to conserve his energy for potential encounters with them in the Third Round, but fate had its own plans.
"Do you think they'll be alright?" the Queen voiced her concern.
"I'm more worried about Amelia, to be honest... facing Duncan's granddaughter and that boy," Reiner admitted.
"And Adrian? I fear for him, Dear..."
"Ahaha, don't worry. The little Raven Princess is still recuperating, and Alea's nephew stands no chance against Adrian," Reiner reassured her confidently.
"Our Goddess, Anuket, watches over him," he added with a smirk.