CHAPTER 260: WHERE IS MY TEACHER?

The sunlight was particularly bright today, and the Royal Magic Academy was bustling with activity early in the morning.

Students gathered here, with every path in the academy packed to capacity, yet everyone's face bore expressions of joyful anticipation.

Today was the opening ceremony of the Royal Magic Academy.

The entrance examinations for new students had concluded.

This year's freshman assessment had been more rigorous than ever before.

As a result, the number of students admitted to the academy was less than one-third compared to previous years.

In the spacious lecture hall, a podium stood atop the wooden platform, flanked by massive pillars draped with red curtains.

The thick, pleated curtains extended from both sides, meeting in the middle.

The seats below were packed, with professors and students filling the entire hall, their gazes fixed upon the freshman representative on stage - Aurelianne.

She had not only achieved a perfect score in the written examination but also ranked first in the practical combat assessment with flawless performance.

In the trial dungeon, Aurelianne's performance had been equally outstanding.

As the freshman representative, she now stood at the podium, addressing the audience below with poise and composure.

Her transcendent demeanor left the audience in awe.

The students below looked up at Aurelianne with admiration.

"...Lastly, I would like to thank my teacher, Count Viktor Kravina."

As she spoke these words, a dense magical aura began emanating from Aurelianne's body.

Like waves, it rippled throughout the lecture hall, washing over everyone present.

The air in the hall became turbulent, with currents of energy swirling continuously, lifting the two massive curtains behind the podium as if giant hands were making them dance in the air.

"This is..."

The professors, lecturers, and students in the audience froze in their seats, eyes widening as they felt the dense magical power.

Second-tier mage.

The entire hall instantly erupted into chaos, with countless people barely able to stay in their seats as they exclaimed their discoveries to those around them.

"The Princess is already a second-tier mage??"

"Is this a dream? A second-tier mage? A second-tier mage right upon entering?"

"The Princess is only fifteen and already a second-tier mage? I'm definitely super useless!"

This talent was almost catching up to Viktor's former record.

The academy's youngest second-tier mage had changed, from Erica to the Princess.

Many students, while surprised, felt the weight on their shoulders grow heavier.

Even Erica hadn't been second-tier when she first entered.

How had things become even more extraordinary with the Princess?

Each year seemed more incredible than the last - how were ordinary magic apprentices supposed to cope?

Aurelianne stood on stage, placing one hand on her chest and bowing deeply to Viktor in the audience.

Viktor below smiled slightly at Aurelianne, nodding in acknowledgment.

"Thank you for your careful guidance, teacher."

The audience rose to their feet, their gazes fixed on Aurelianne in silent amazement.

Thunderous applause erupted, seemingly celebrating Aurelianne's success.

After the opening ceremony, many students still lingered in the academy.

Footsteps scattered across the cobblestone paths dappled with leaf shadows, as students gathered to discuss interesting events from the entrance examinations and the spectacular scene they had just witnessed.

Aurelianne strolled along these cobblestone paths, stepping through alternating patches of light and shadow.

Whenever students passed by, they would steal glances at her.

After all, she was royalty.

And it was impossible not to notice Aurelianne.

She was the only student who attended with a guard.

Celia followed behind Aurelianne, protecting her at all times.

As they walked, Aurelianne spoke:

"Celia."

"Yes, Your Highness?"

Celia bowed respectfully in response.

Aurelianne turned to ask her:

"Have you seen my teacher?"

After three days of trial dungeon testing, Aurelianne was elated.

She had performed excellently in the trial, ranking first in both written exams and combat assessments.

Aurelianne particularly wanted to tell Viktor about this in person, privately.

But since they were in the lecture hall earlier, and she had to give a speech as the freshman representative,

Even though Viktor was right there, she couldn't speak to her teacher.

So after coming out, she eagerly wanted to find Viktor.

Aurelianne wanted to know if Viktor had been observing her all along.

Although she only wanted Viktor's approval and recognition, just that alone made Aurelianne feel incredibly anticipatory.

Hearing the Princess's question, Celia thought for a moment.

That bastard Viktor?

She had seen a flashy guy in a coat hurriedly leaving the lecture hall earlier.

Only that bastard would wear a full coat in such hot weather.

So after recalling, Celia said to Aurelianne:

"I just saw him leave through the main entrance."

Upon receiving this news, Aurelianne didn't hesitate and quickly ran towards the main entrance.

Having undergone professional training, Aurelianne's stamina was superior to many mages.

When Aurelianne reached the main entrance, breathing steadily, she looked around searching for Viktor's figure.

The next second, Aurelianne spotted that signature carriage without any horses pulling it.

The man in the black coat was walking towards the carriage.

"Teacher!"

Viktor had just reached the carriage when he heard this familiar voice and slowly turned around.

His gaze met directly with Aurelianne's:

"Your Highness."

"This is supposed to be a time when students are restricted from entering or leaving."

Before noon and evening, the academy was generally closed.

But this rule obviously didn't apply to Aurelianne.

After all, she was the Princess - no one could or dared stop the Princess from leaving.

Aurelianne clasped her hands to her chest, looking expectantly at Viktor.

"Teacher, I..."

She very much wanted to tell him directly that she had become the freshman representative, wanted to receive his praise and recognition.

She very much wanted to hear from Viktor's own mouth:

Aurelianne, you are my most excellent student.

But upon seeing Teacher Viktor, that anticipation in her heart just couldn't be voiced.

"I..."

Viktor looked directly at Aurelianne and said casually:

"If there's nothing else, I'll be heading back now."

With those words, he turned and got into the carriage.

Aurelianne watched Viktor board the carriage, feeling lost.

She reached out a hand, about to say something to keep Viktor from leaving.

But then Viktor, now in the carriage, poked his head out and smiled slightly at her.

"You did well on the final 'task.'"

"Keep up the good work."

After saying this, the carriage curtain was drawn, and Aurelianne stood dazed, watching as the carriage wheels slowly turned and then left the academy gates.

Celia walked out beside her and happily said to Aurelianne.

"That's wonderful, Your Highness."

"Your teacher did praise you."

Celia had expected Aurelianne to be happier, but in reality, she showed little reaction.

Even her expression gradually became calm, as if devoid of any emotion.

Seeing this, Celia couldn't help feeling confused.

The Princess doesn't seem very happy?

Aurelianne gazed in the direction the carriage had gone, saying quietly:

"He doesn't seem to be my teacher."

She was referring to the Viktor who had just boarded the carriage.

The Viktor who sat below in the lecture hall, listening to her speech.

"He didn't have that crow with him."

Celia couldn't quite understand, and was even surprised.

Although everyone knew that Viktor always had a crow perched on him as a pet,

Surely that couldn't be the way to determine whether someone was really Viktor or not.

Celia felt the Princess was being too decisive.

Of course, this wasn't the only reason.

Aurelianne hadn't mentioned more.

After the trial dungeon ended, she had felt her magical power increase.

Verified by the court mages, Aurelianne was now a genuine second-tier mage.

She hadn't told Viktor about this.

Because she wanted it to be a surprise, wanted to see her teacher's surprised expression when he saw her.

But... her teacher had no reaction at all.

The real teacher would never be like this.

Aurelianne felt that this 'Viktor' who had left lacked the elegance unique to the real person.

Her teacher's distinctive elegance and nobility were like memories existing in his very bones.

Though he could be cold, he would never coldly dismiss others.

That person seemed to be deliberately imitating him.

So Aurelianne was certain.

The Viktor who had just left definitely wasn't her real teacher.

Then... where had her teacher gone?

Aurelianne didn't know.

She could only return to the academy, walking with her head down, feeling somewhat lost.

The surrounding students were enthusiastically discussing the newly opened courses, and their conversation happened to reach Aurelianne's ears.

"I heard Assistant Professor Henie's classes are really good, I'm thinking of signing up for her class."

"Oh, isn't she that young assistant professor? I remember she used to be Professor Viktor's teaching assistant."

Hearing this, Aurelianne paused slightly and turned her head to look at those students.

Just now, she seemed to have heard a very familiar name.

The students' conversation continued.

"Assistant Professor Henie's classes are already full, and you can't find her now anyway."

"Why not?"

"Haven't you heard? Assistant Professor Henie took a few days off, apparently to go on a trip with Professor Viktor."

Almost the moment these words fell, it was as if a shadow loomed behind them.

"Fellow students."

These students turned around to find the not-so-tall Princess now looking at them with a smile.

But this smile seemed somewhat unhealthy, stiffly fixed on her face.

Her opened eyes also revealed a hint of intensity.

"Could you repeat what you just said?"

...

The carriage gradually drove on, soon arriving at Viktor's mansion.

Viktor slowly opened the carriage door and stepped down, and when the servants saw the master return, they respectfully opened the main gate.

"Master."

Viktor nodded and walked through the gate.

Entering the estate, he didn't immediately return to the mansion.

Instead, he first wandered several rounds through the servants' working areas.

Along the way, many servants who saw him would bow especially respectfully.

At such times, Viktor would always nod in response.

As if thoroughly enjoying this feeling of being respected.

At this moment, Lia appeared from somewhere nearby.

She stood in the corner, arms crossed, coldly watching this 'Viktor' before her.

"Merry Dim."

"Viktor had you impersonate him, not to show off with the master's status."

Viktor turned his head, his face bearing an extremely rich smile.

However, the real Viktor would never show such an expression.

"Oh, little Lia, don't worry, I just wanted to experience it briefly."

"Having such status as the master, yet Viktor sir doesn't know how to use it - isn't that too much of a waste?"

Lia rolled her eyes and shrugged.

"Whatever."

"Hope you can still use this kind of rhetoric when Viktor returns."

Viktor's body gradually became transparent, then his facial features and countenance began to twist, like being scrambled and redistributed, his body also gradually dispersing into different parts.

"Of course."

"The sir will understand my good intentions."

Thank you all for waiting! I took a month-long break to take care of some other matters, but now I’m back. I’ll be gradually catching up on updates for this series. I truly appreciate all your comments and support—it means a lot to me.