'Oh…' Ellia thought with a sudden pause. 'Then what are the Prince and Princess names?'
"The Prince is Edward Ayerm, age 19, and the next in line for the throne. And he had just made eye contact with you." Ruth spoke just as Ellia suddenly became aware of the Prince's intense gaze on her.
"His expression contains 32% irritation, 29%annoyance, 22% contempt, and 17% confusion. Collecting all the data on the Prince... it is concluded that he is thinking, 'Just why is a mother having an interest in this woman?'. That is all."
'What?' Ellia's brows furrowed in confusion as she squinted her eyes, trying to make sense of Ruth's words amidst returning the gaze to the Prince. 'Are you sure?'
"Upon complete analysis of his lifestyle, search history, and conduct within the palace, my system has determined with 99.99% certainty that my conclusion is accurate," Ruth said.
'What about the Princess?" As her mind wandered, Ellia's eyes shifted toward the Princess. Unexpectedly, the two locked gazes just for a second.
"The Princess, Floryn Ayerm, 18, and the next in line for the throne. 40% Curiosity, 26% interest, 19% amazement, and 15% wonder," Ruth spoke after analyzing the Princess's facial expression.
'What? How? The Princess's facial expression is completely neutral except for a slight smile.' Ellia spoke with her raised eyebrow resembling a question mark as she expressed her confusion.
"It is simply a facade. However, I have detected minor movements of the muscles beneath her skin." Ruth said.
"How interesting..." Ellia muttered as the Empress and her children walked deeper into the Colosseum.
...
"Mother! Did you simply come here to see that girl!" Edward shouted as he maintained a consistent pace beside Anna. Floryn displayed a facial expression denoting a lack of concern as they proceeded in proximity.
Anna abruptly ceased her movement, and at that moment, Edward experienced a sensation of coldness traversing his back. "Watch your tone when talking to me."
Edward trembled, feeling as though an icy hand had reached through the air to clutch at his spine as his mother's piercing gaze bore into him with the weight of a thousand stones.
"Yes..." Edward's mouth gaped open, but he was unable to utter a word as Anna's intense aura overwhelmed him. The oppressive pressure dissipated as Anna withdrew her presence, leaving Edward trembling in her wake. From behind, Floryn's lips curled upward in a self-satisfied grin, enjoying her brother's foolishness.
Floryn had always grown up with a deep reverence for all those around her, including her mother, whom she held in the highest esteem. However, she could not help but harbor a deep disdain for her brother, whom she regarded with contempt.
Floryn held her mother in the highest regard, not solely because of her esteemed position as Empress of the nation, but also due to her unwavering dedication and tireless efforts towards the betterment of her people.
Usually, a ruler of a country would sit back on their throne and command people like chess board pieces, and this was normal. The pawns protect the king.
In this nation, things were not like the typical ways of ruling. The Empress stood on the frontlines, her commanding presence shining brighter than any weapon, and her charisma was a force to be reckoned with as she led her troops with precision and strategy, outshining even the most celebrated generals in the world.
The Empire held a significant advantage in the war with the United Union, and one of the reasons was the Empress's leadership style. Unlike the United Union, where so-called presidents were elected, the Empire had an absolute hierarchical system. The Empire's leaders were not old farts but experienced commanders who had been through countless battles and had emerged victorious.
Floryn's admiration for her mother's leadership skills inspired her to aspire to be like her in the future. However, the fact that her brother was the heir to the throne made her resent him even more.
Today was unlike any other day, for the Empress, who was known for her frigid and impenetrable demeanor, displayed a glimmer of emotion towards the girl before them. It was a sight that both siblings had never witnessed before.
A month ago, when news reached both Edward and Floryn a month ago that their own mother, the Empress, was displaying more interest in a particular girl than in her own children, a wave of emotions swept through them.
As news spread a month ago that their mother, the Empress, was showing an unusual amount of interest in a particular girl, both siblings had different reactions. Edward was consumed with anger, finding the idea preposterous. Meanwhile, Floryn was intrigued by this girl, wondering who she was to captivate the attention of her respected mother.
Just then, A voice rang out. "Your majesty, I have come to escort you to your room." A lady donning advisor's attire cleared her throat and shifted her gaze towards Edward and Floryn. "Greetings to both his and her royal highness." She spoke with a deep bow.
"Hello, Linda." Both Edward and Floryn returned the greetings.
Linda's hair was a short cascade of chestnut-brown that gently brushed her shoulders while her eyes, as dark and piercing as the midnight sky, seemed to draw you in with a magnetic force.
Linda's position as Anna's personal advisor meant she was often found by the queen's side.
Linda guided them towards the VIP rooms, treading alongside Anna with a hushed voice, barely audible to anyone else but the Empress. "Could it be that..."
"Yes..." Anna sighed as they arrived at the door of their room. "Now tell me every noble that's going to spectate the ranking test."
"Yes." As they stepped into the room, the breathtaking view of the Colosseum welcomed them through a large window. Linda, walking beside Anna, handed her a sleek tablet with a glint of reflected light dancing off its surface.
"You may leave now," Anna sank into the plush cushioned seat, letting out a contented sigh.
...
"This is crazy..." Aerie's nerves were so unsettled that she could feel her heart racing and her leg bouncing up and down uncontrollably, her voice quivering like a leaf in the wind. "The Empress is going to watch us..."
As of right now, the entirety of squad 32, including James, was seated inside their locker rooms.
Everyone was dressed in the same attire, a grey winter coat and grey winter pants.
Just then, the door to the locker room suddenly opened, and two men walked inside.
They were the text examiners that were assigned to squad 32.
"Good, it looks like everyone has changed already." One the text, examiners spoke. "Now, we are here to go over the rules of the test again."
"The first half of the text is going to be held inside Isgalr. Isgalr is a compressed space in the middle of the Colosseum. Although it may look small, inside is a 4-mile by 4-mile area."
"You cannot die in Isgalr as you will be teleported outside before anything happens. Do you have any questions?" The examined asked.
Ellia raised her hand. "What are we supposed to do when we get
there?"
"There will be weapons for everyone to collect to survive. The goal here is solely survival. Now, are there any more questions?"
"No!" Everyone responded.
"Good, now stand on that magic circle over there." With a swift movement of their arm, the examiner directed their finger towards the floor, fixating their gaze on the magic circle etched onto the ground. The test will officially be starting in 30 seconds.
It didn't take long for everyone to gather in the magic circle.
"Good luck." As James and the test examiner spoke, a radiant glow emanated from the ground beneath their feet, illuminating the intricate patterns etched into the magical circle surrounding them.