For the next few days, the talent assessment sessions continued round after round.
But far fewer spectators gathered around the Stellar Abyss Plaza.
Perhaps they all believed no one could possibly break Luyi’s record.
Conversely, crowds surged outside the residences of Alices and Luyi.
From councilors to academy heads, from royalty to minor nobles—every kind of dignitary came knocking with invitations.
"Miss Luluie! If you sign with our Black Magic Academy early, we’ll grant you core disciple status immediately!"
"Our Phantom Spirit Academy offers double! Plus, Princess Alices will receive resources rivaling a core disciple’s!"
"Miss Luluie, could I... get your contact? Please!"
"Miss Luluie, would you glare at me with that icy arrogance again... then stomp on me hard?"
"...Seriously?"
This was spiraling out of control.
No telling how long this chaos would last.
So Luyi and Alices eventually moved to a quieter place.
"What’s wrong, Alices?"
Lately, Luyi had noticed Alices’ gaze lingering on her with a strange intensity.
"I... I’m fine," Alices blushed as she replied, only to steal another glance at Luyi.
After the talent assessments, Luyi’s place in her heart had soared far beyond royalty—even beyond the Emperor of the Abyssal Demon Realm.
And this very girl, who had shaken the entire Stellar Abyss Domain and drawn countless admirers, now sat quietly beside her.
Alices inhaled the unique fragrance clinging to Luyi, felt the warmth radiating from her body.
It was a sensation both comforting and addictive.
*What if... that night under the stars, I’d truly leaned against Luyi’s shoulder?* she wondered secretly.
Yet another worry gnawed at her—
*Has Fourth Brother recovered yet?*
She was always like this.
Though her royal siblings treated her poorly—some even bullied her—she clung to the belief that blood was blood. They should all be well.
When Fourth Prince wet himself during the Night of Stellar Abyss, she’d felt a flicker of relief.
But later, she realized the incident must have scarred him deeply.
After all, her Fourth Brother valued face above all.
*"No matter what... I hope he finds strength. And learns humility,"* she murmured by the window.
Today, Luyi had gone to the library again. Alone in her small room, Alices felt adrift.
The gloomy weather sapped her energy.
*"Is that... Mister Sige?"*
Outside the window, a figure in formal wear, bandaged and limping, approached.
*Thud thud thud—*
A knock at the door. He’d come for her.
"Princess Alices, please forgive Fourth Prince’s and my insolence during the Night of Stellar Abyss."
The moment she opened the door, Sige bowed deeply, sincerity etched on his face. "We offer our deepest apologies for that night!"
*Ko...konnichiwa... sumimasen!*
He bowed so fiercely his wounds split, fresh blood seeping through the bandages.
"Please, stand up!" Alices had never seen him like this. She gestured urgently for him to rise.
"Fourth Prince has reflected deeply on his actions. He’s utterly ashamed of his past behavior," Sige continued as he straightened. "He longed to apologize personally, but the humiliation was too great—he couldn’t bear to face anyone. So he asked me to invite you to his current refuge. He wishes to make amends properly."
"Princess Alices... may I escort you there now?" His tone was earnest.
*...Has Fourth Brother truly reformed?*
Alices hesitated.
But as his sister, she refused to assume the worst.
"...Alright."
She chose to trust blood and kinship.
"Lead the way, Mister Sige."
"Your understanding means everything, Princess," Sige smiled.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes.
***
"Alices?"
At noon, Luyi returned to find Alices gone.
The maid was cleaning inside, sensing no danger—she hadn’t noticed anything unusual at the door.
*Perhaps a friend called her away suddenly?* Luyi thought.
But by evening, as drizzle turned to rain, Alices still hadn’t returned.
Messages sent via communication crystal went unanswered. Luyi’s brow furrowed slightly. Worry tightened her chest.
*Surely nothing could happen to her here in the Stellar Abyss Domain...*
The rain intensified.
***BOOM—***
***THUD THUD THUD—***
Thunder cracked as heavy knocks echoed.
Luyi opened the door slowly. At her feet lay a black invitation.
The messenger beast had already fled in panic.
*Awaiting Miss Luluie’s honored presence.*
—The crimson script on the envelope declared, with an address for the banquet.
Beside it gleamed a crystal gemstone—
—one that belonged to Alices’ weapon.
***BOOM—***
Thunder rolled again. Wind whipped raindrops onto the invitation.
In that instant, the light flashing in Luyi’s eyes was more terrifying than the thunder itself.
***
Beneath a desolate mountain.
Within forgotten underground ruins.
*Drip...*
Rainwater seeped through cracks in the icy stone floor.
Alices gripped her broken weapon, glaring through iron bars at the shadowed figure opposite.
She’d lost track of time trapped here.
The moment Sige led her into this dead end, he’d vanished. An iron-barred gate crashed down behind her.
She’d tried to shatter it—but the bars were harder than her blade.
Worse, this abandoned dungeon seemed to drain her strength unnaturally.
***CLANG—***
Her final desperate strike cracked her sword. A gemstone popped loose, rolling far away.
Faint light flickered in the distance.
Fourth Prince emerged from the shadows, watching her with mocking amusement.
"Patience, dear sister," he drawled from the darkness, shaking his head. "The guest of honor hasn’t arrived. The banquet... begins later."
Chains rattled in the gloom. Iron mechanisms groaned.
*An ancient dungeon,* Alices realized.
*What does Wilke truly want?* Her expression shifted.
"Hah... HAHAHAHAHA—!"
Seeing her unease, Fourth Prince burst into maniacal laughter, wild and deranged.
"Honestly? I’m as eager as you are to see what happens when our guest arrives...
Will she enjoy the hospitality prepared just for her?
Will she savor every moment?
And when it all unfolds before her precious master’s eyes... what expression will she wear then?"
"What... are you planning..." Alices whispered, chilled by his madness.
"You ruined my future at the academy," Fourth Prince snarled, his grin twisting. "So I’ll repay you a hundredfold. I’ll make you suffer a hundred times worse than that night! She humiliated me—I’ll make her... experience the ultimate humiliation!!!"
