The next morning, the documents reached the Grand Duke's family.
An application for expulsion.
The shocking document was even stamped with the imperial seal.
"Oh no, that's ridiculous," Akan muttered, frowning.
As long as something was stamped with the official seal of the imperial family, it could not be ignored any longer.
Above all, it was now entirely up to Charlize's authority, not the Grand Duke's.
It was just a matter of stamping it, but even the Grand Duke clicked his tongue and pretended not to notice it.
"The expulsion is an impossible thing."
The Grand Duke thought Charlize was just saying it. That she was just being impulsive.
Because she had requested it so lightly and easily, he didn't take it seriously. Anyway:
He remembered how much effort Charlize had put in to be loved by her family.
Effort, yes. She had made an effort. Even though he knew that he turned away. But the pure sparkle, which he believed would last forever, was now gone.
"… She meant it, this seems to be actually happening."
Dante carefully commented.
The cold gazes of the Grand Duke and Akan shifted to Dante. Dante flinched, but he had to say something. At this rate, he might lose Charlize forever.
"Honestly, isn't it true that we've been too cold to Charlize? She's complaining to us now."
Of course, it's too determined to be called mere complaining. Dante deliberately used such words to be considered of the feelings of the Grand Duke and Akan.
"Complaining."
The Grand Duke, while frowned in displeasure, was still listening.
"Then what should we do?"
"In my opinion, all we can do is to soothe and somehow fix the broken heart of Charlize…"
"Who soothes whom?"
Akan retorted as if he were dumbfounded, but Dante only lowered his gaze.
"But that's the only way. We don't have the power to force Charlize. Now she is a grandmaster."
The teacher of the future emperor.
She had risen to a position where she could never be treated carelessly.
All the authority belonged to Charlize. It was obvious who had to hang on.
The position to ask for forgiveness and repent now belonged to the Ronans.
'In no time.'
The realization shut the Ronans' mouth.
Their position as the weak. Especially in their relationship with Charlize, they weren't familiar with this.
There was a long silence.
The face of the Grand Duke had turned as hard as a stone. Akan, who was watching, stepped up first.
"Don't worry, Father. I'll go to Charlize and somehow persuade her to change her mind."
"But brother… I've repeatedly told you that you shouldn't be coercive. Rather, this just had an adverse effect…"
"Who said anything about coercing?"
Akan looked at Dante coldly.
"I will respect her. Are you satisfied?"
If he wanted to respect her, he could do it. But he hadn't done it so far.
He thought he didn't have to; that's why he treated her carelessly.
When he received the expulsion application, he was a little surprised, but the Grand Duke remained quiet. He usually got angry with an unpleasant look as long as someone just mentioned the 'Char' in Charlize.
"I will visit Charlize today. Father."
As if asking for permission, Akan bowed his head to the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke was silent.
Tacit permission.
Akan glanced at the expulsion application, then bowed politely and stepped back.
Dante was worried, but he couldn't help it.
Dante's actions were for the sake of Charlize, but he also had a strong hope that his sister would not leave.
'My sister…'
Dante bit his lip because of a piece of the past that suddenly came to his mind.
[Mother, I really want to have a younger sister. There are already many young masters in our family, so I hope for a cute little sister.]
[You mean your sister? You mean you want to be an older brother.]
[Older brother is good too. I was so envious to see my friend's younger sister, who called him brother…]
The Grand Duchess looked at him with a warm gaze as if he was adorable. The touch that stroked his head would be gone forever after she gave birth to his younger sister.
How could Dante have known back then?
[When I have a younger sister, I will protect her with my own hands, Mother.]
[Does it make you so happy just to imagine it? You've already reassured me, Dante.]
He missed the Grand Duchess who had always laughed happily. And he felt guilty for her death.
Dante, who couldn't stand it, eventually began to follow behind Akan.
***
Dylan was right.
He ordered to decorate the bedroom as luxurious as possible.
'It's real.'
Charlize looked around the bedroom with a little surprise.
A ceiling decorated with jewels. Insignia with lace. The bed's blanket is a refreshing blue color.
It was too fancy and big for a bedroom. There was even a white porcelain bathtub. The furniture was all valuable.
There was also a terrace.
Charlize went out to the terrace. A cool night breeze tickled her cheeks. She felt refreshed.
'It's wide.'
The bedroom was really spacious. It's wide enough to enjoy light sports. Like mini golf or…
Come to think of it, it had been a while since she had last practiced her mana. Charlize sat on the velvet while thinking of it.
'Close your eyes…'
'Mana Circle.'
A fog-shaped ring surrounding her heart. It had clearly been red right after her return, but now…
'It has become quite transparent.'
She had been trying to unlock the color. The pink color does not change anymore by itself.
Charlize was immersed in the process.
She looked into the fog around her heart. She carefully caught a red piece that shimmered like a small speck of dust.
'Let it flow into the air.' This process was repeated over and over again. Until she couldn't see the piece, no matter how much she searched for it.
Concentrate.
The color that became more transparent was the pure mana itself.
The total amount of mana that the emperors had coated on Keira for over hundreds of years.
Bang!
There was a sound like glass breaking. The sound came from Charlize's heart.
Suddenly, enlightenment struck her like a lightning bolt. Charlize slowly opened her eyes.
Something… Something was different.
Like the color of the world that had been dark until now was suddenly right in front of her.
'Is that all?' The sense of smell, the sense of hearing. They were all very sensitive and unlike usual.
Every single cell in her body reacted:
'Feel the flow of the air.'
Charlize grabbed her sword as if possessed.
'Pull it out, swing it.'
"This is…"
It was complete.
If she could use the term 'complete' for swordsmanship, she would have used it for herself as she was right now.
Charlize became a master. She could just tell.
The 'Master Test' was often used to determine the skill level of knights. But Charlize could no longer be explained by the word 'master'.
"Sword saint."
A legendary level that had never existed outside of legends. A divine grade which was only considered theoretically. With all the swordsmen underneath it.
The most extreme level of skill.
She was able to utilize all the mana in her body. Charlize's mana core was the whole world. The seals limiting her were shattered.
A completely transparent mana circle was tightly wound around her heart.
'Let's test it.'
Charlize swung the sword at random. Cut, block, stab.
Her hair softly fluttering in the air and then falling down. As natural as water flows. It was as comfortable as breathing.
The rapid movement 'cut' space.
It was able to cut off the flow of air and even create a space of darkness.
A space where nothing could breathe.
"…"
When Charlize cut off the air again, the space came alive.
It was greater than she heard and imagined.
With this ability, Charlize could have ended the empire by herself.
Charlize held the sword intently.
***
"Grandmaster is teaching His Highness the Crown Prince."
Akan looked down at the servant who blocked him.
"I'm sorry."
"I'm her family, and I'm the next head of the Ronan family."
"It doesn't matter how precious Young Master is. It is for the Grandmaster to decide."
"Move."
The servant's face held an unyielding expression, but he couldn't resist the power of Akan.
Akan had a clean reputation. But when he forced the door open by pushing the servant to the side…
It seemed far from the polite personality that people praised him for.
Kkik-
The iron door dragged open on the floor. Akan entered the room stubbornly.
'How the hell are you having a class.'
Akan also didn't want to be so stubborn like this. But.
[If I want to meet Charlize, I have to fill out an application form?]
[There are so many people who want to meet Grandmaster … I'm sorry, I just follow the orders of the superior and do it in accordance with the procedures.]
The maid had stopped Akan with a tearful face.
[I'm of higher authority. So, guide me.]
[I'm sorry. With all due respect, but I heard that Grandmaster submitted an application for expulsion to the Ronan family.]
[That's…]
[We can't guide you without Grandmaster's permission. How about just writing an application form…]
Eventually, Akan gave up on being stubborn and wrote an application form. However, it was rejected every time.
[I wrote the application form as you said, but it came back. How are you going to take responsibility for that?]
[Well, isn't that because Young Master wrote the application so insincerely? It's better to write it more gently…]
A poor maid helped him a few times, but Akan's patience eventually reached its limit.
That's why he came here recklessly even if he knew it was out of line.
"I'll just visit the class."
Akan softly said to the maid approaching with an embarrassed face.
Charlize glanced at Akan and shook her head to the maid as if to leave it alone.
Only then did the maid politely retreat.
"…"
Akan bit his lip and sat on a chair.
Neither Charlize nor Dylan paid attention to Akan and focused on the class.
It was a swordsmanship class using real swords.
'How excellently could a 20-year-old have taught the Crown Prince?'
Many people were amazed that Charlize became the grandmaster of the Crown Prince at an early age.
But Akan had always been skeptical.
Young master just wanted to have a conversation with Charlize.
At first, it certainly was that. But…
"The best defense is offense. When you use a double sword, swing it with the idea that both swords attack."
When Charlize gave a demonstration while smiling amicably at Dylan. Akan was forced to grab the handle of his chair.
Two swords rushed into the air. It was so fast that his eyes could not even follow where and when the swords were aiming at.
'What does this mean… Do I need to check my sight?'
If someone moved so fast, you could see weakness, but there was no gap at all.
It was as elegant as a swan. Her face was peaceful as if she was not even breathing.
What was more surprising was the Crown Prince's serious attitude in class.
"You mean like this, Master?"
Whether Charlize was familiar or not, Dylan followed her actions with a respectful gaze.
Akan saw the brilliant talent of the Crown Prince at that moment.
'Unbelievable.'
But Charlize's expression was tinged with a bit of annoyance.
"I just saw a weakness in Your Highness's side. A quick-witted opponent would thrust the sword upwards and attack from the side. It's a position that would have collapsed right away,"
Charlize said to Dylan.
"Take your sword, Your Highness."
Charlize and Dylan began to fight with the real swords.
The sound of the swords colliding in the air surprised Akan.
Charlize's swordsmanship unfolded.
It didn't take long for him to realize:
Charlize was a genius.
***