After the press conference ended, Edith Academy dispatched a special teacher to give Tilan supplementary lessons, which, of course, were urgently needed by her: how to deal with public media interviews, questions, and how to handle various emergencies.
"Questions about your personal life are generally mild, but the tricky ones pertain to current politics and inquiries about conflicts between various groups. Journalists might beat around the bush to ask for your views on certain matters, and once you respond, it signifies taking sides. Such inadvertent allying with a side can be dangerously and hugely risky."
"I understand," Tilan acknowledged, well aware of the immense influence of public opinion these days; once rumors spread, they became difficult to refute.
"For this reason, it's best for Tilan not to accept any interviews from journalists, unless it's at her own, proactively organized press conference. Only when you have some initiative and a contingency plan, can you better cope with various situations."
"Political orientation is a serious matter, more significant than any scandal or private affair," the teacher emphasized again, not wishing for the academy's most promising songstress to be so easily framed and ruined.
"Thank you for the reminder," the girl replied, committing it to memory.
Seeing her earnest response, the teacher breathed a sigh of relief, convinced she had taken the lesson to heart.
"Good, that's enough for today's lesson. Tomorrow is a day off, so Tilan can rest properly."
After bidding farewell to the teacher, Tilan left the small classroom. It was almost noon.
Remembering she had arranged a lunch date with someone, she checked her personal terminal before heading to the familiar high-rise restaurant.
When Tilan reached the restaurant at the top of the tower, she stepped out of the elevator to the sound of teasing and laughter.
"I knew it, Saint Yingo must be fuming. The comments below are all jeers and mockery."
"Swarm's Reign praised Tilan, saying she is as outstanding as Prin and equally excellent as a songstress. They've never been this cordial before." In people's past impressions, Swarm's Reign, a gathering place for high-and-mighty young ladies, had always been aloof, seldom openly praised anyone, or deemed it worthy to comment on trending topics.
"Ah, a journalist interviewed Prin Coco yesterday, so Prin Coco and Tilan have known each other for a while?"
As Tilan approached, she curiously asked while looking at the projection screen everyone was gathered around, "What are you all discussing?"
"Finally, Tilan's here. We have so many questions for you~"
"President Tilan has arrived. Can we start lunch now? I'm starved."
"Always thinking about food. We should ask Tilan if she wants to add anything to the order since we placed it ahead of time."
"I'm not picky, it's fine as it is." The girl wasn't particularly concerned about the order, and after tidying her skirt, she sat down in the seat reserved for her.
Today, Tilan was dressed in a black academy uniform with white trim, and her legs were covered in thicker black cotton socks since it was winter in the Southern Hemisphere, and the weather was rather cold.
As various delicious meals slowly made it to the table, the group started to inquire about the things they were curious about before.
"Is Tilan's sister Temisia?"
"Yes," she admitted during the press conference and saw no reason to hide it any further.
"Someone compared old photos of Temisia to Tilan, and they look exactly alike, although there's a huge difference in their aura. If one does not pay close attention, it's impossible to make the association."
"As for my sister, her personality is different from mine," the girl now could talk about her past with Temisia calmly and indifferently.
"Perhaps she's more confident and outgoing."
"Speaking of which, did you know Prin Coco for a long time? We heard on Prin's news interview that it wasn't your first meeting."
"About that, indeed, but that was a chance encounter a year ago. We barely exchanged a few words, we just knew of each other. So, before this, it was not appropriate to say we were close friends or the like."
"Wow, there's such an experience as well? Do songstresses attract each other? At that time, Prin had debuted for less than a year, right?"
"It was because of a senior, but now she wants to live a more relaxed life, so I won't mention her name." Although Tilan chose not to mention names, those present could easily deduce that she was referring to the retired 'Jade Serpent,' Yulanduoja.
"It feels like Tilan is a very rare and special person, with a life full of dramatic ups and downs, absolutely fascinating."
"It's special indeed, but if you were to truly experience such ups and downs, it wouldn't necessarily be a happy thing," the girl slightly shook her head.
"Ah, sorry, it was a mistake on my part."
"It's okay, I can look at it with detachment now," she shook her head again.
Soon, after all the main dishes and desserts were served, everyone began enjoying the meal, and conversation gradually shifted to other topics.
Time flew by, and on July 2nd, after the month of June had passed, a special fleet from the Federal Central Council arrived.
Five 'Spectra Wing' class starships arrived at the outskirts of Jade Skirt's Sky Starport. After a brief meeting and conversation with the governor of the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain, three shuttles entered the atmosphere and landed in South First District.
"So this is Jade Skirt. It doesn't look as shabby as the rumors suggest."
Disembarking from the shuttle, an elf clad in a white ceremonial robe lifted the hood to gaze at the brilliant blue skies and land beyond.