The battle was about to ignite. Teresa’s summoned familiar slammed its fist hard into the ground—but Charlotte didn’t even flinch.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the training field tiles.
Yet in the next breath, Charlotte stood several meters away.
“So serious?” she murmured.
A soft blue halo shimmered beside her.
A spear vanished from the weapon rack, slipped through the ring, and materialized neatly in her grasp.
Most onlookers were witnessing the royal bloodline ability for the first time.
“Your familiar looks formidable,” Charlotte said lightly. “But… it’s still just a familiar. Doesn’t matter how I treat it, right?”
With that, she stepped backward into the halo—and vanished.
This spatial manipulation, this appearing and disappearing at will, was the royal bloodline gift.
Naturally, range and usage limits varied by innate talent. Bloodline gifts couldn’t be honed through practice alone.
Teresa stayed alert, scanning the area.
In an instant, Charlotte reappeared behind her, spear whistling through the air.
Teresa barely deflected the thrust with her sword.
As she readied a counter, Charlotte slipped back into the blue halo.
A pained cry erupted from beneath her. Losing balance, Teresa leaped clear.
On the ground, the massive beast-like familiar lay impaled by multiple spears, trembling.
“Oh dear… seems we’ve run out of weapons,” Charlotte chirped.
She reappeared—now standing where Teresa had been, atop the wounded familiar.
Behind her, countless halos bloomed. Weapons streamed forth from within, hovering midair.
Then—*whoosh*—they all shot toward Teresa.
A chilling sight. Onlookers held their breath. Even Ostia, watching nearby, felt the gap was brutally one-sided. Teresa seemed utterly defenseless.
Yet as dust settled, Teresa stood unscathed.
Beside her hovered a griffin-like familiar, its broad, sturdy wings having deflected every strike.
“As expected of the Imperial Princess,” Teresa said, vaulting onto the griffin’s back. It rose slowly. Her gaze toward Charlotte sharpened.
The beast-like familiar at Charlotte’s feet dissolved into motes of light.
Charlotte glanced down, then stepped into the halo.
She reappeared on solid ground.
“These weapons couldn’t breach your defense, Teresa… Looks like I’ve lost today.”
The words left everyone speechless.
Hadn’t Charlotte been the one in total control? That teleporting strike alone—training weapons or not—posed real danger.
Ah. This was what “stopping just short” truly meant.
Teresa hovered midair, stunned. Only after Charlotte set her weapon down did the griffin descend.
“Your Highness… what do you mean by this?” Teresa’s tone turned sharp. She felt toyed with.
“What do you mean…?” Charlotte tilted her head.
“I just don’t see the point in continuing.”
“It was only a spar. Why obsess over winning?”
“We’re not enemies. No need to fight to the bitter end, right?”
Perhaps court upbringing shaped Charlotte’s outlook differently.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
*Not enemies? No need to fight it out?*
To them, a spar meant holding back lethal force—not stopping after two moves without breaking a sweat.
Unfazed by stares, Charlotte walked straight to Loko.
“Loko~ We meet again! Truly destined, don’t you think?”
Loko opened his mouth but found no words.
“What a pity—I lost this time. Next time, I’ll win back!” she said cheerfully.
She turned to Ostia. “Teacher, I have other matters. May I take my leave?”
“Ah… of course,” Ostia replied. How could she detain the Imperial Princess?
…
“What on earth is *in* that girl’s head?!”
Walking back, Teresa—uncharacteristically flustered—vented openly before Loko.
(Thankfully, the anger wasn’t aimed at him, so Loko stayed calm.)
“I summoned my *second* familiar, and she just… quit?! This is an insult—an utter disgrace to the York Family!”
Loko offered gentle reassurance. “Maybe… Her Highness just thinks differently? And… isn’t this kinda good? If you two got *too* close, things might get… complicated.”
Shilufei trailed behind them, quietly enjoying the drama.
“I know,” Teresa sighed. “She likely has her reasons. But after today, everyone will understand my stance toward Charlotte.”
Challenging the Imperial Princess on her very first class sent a clear message: Teresa intended to compete.
It would reassure factions backing the York Family.
“By the way, Shilufei,” Teresa added, shifting focus. “The academy’s holding a practical combat exchange soon. You should join.”
“You’re an ordinary student yet ranked so high for your age. Shine there, and many like you will rally behind us.”
Shilufei agreed without hesitation.
“Expect familiar faces,” Teresa continued. “Haya won’t step in herself, but she’ll send agents to intercept you. Augustine and Francois also seek rivalry. Prepare well.”
She turned to Loko. “You’ll accompany Shilufei.”
“Me? But… shouldn’t Shilufei be the focus?”
“Keep an eye on Eve. She’s hosting the exchange.”
At that name, Loko’s heart sank.
*Again… her?*
