Carrion’s downtown is filled with tall buildings featuring a distinctive architecture, built alongside large, leafy trees. Cutting down trees is prohibited within Carrion, and if it must be done, it requires approval from multiple parties. This rule makes Carrion a city that remains very green, cool, and naturally atmospheric.

  Lavrel’s carriage stops in front of an upscale restaurant. Zeff gets down first, since he’s the one who chose the place. Jacelin is stunned when she recognizes the restaurant.

  “This is the priciest restaurant in Carrion. You really trying to bleed Tseryo dry?”

  They talk in half-whispers while Tseryo helps Vichel step down from the carriage.

  “Come on, a place like this won’t even make a dent in a Duke’s son’s allowance,” Zeff says casually.

  VIP area. Naturally, Zeff is the one who chose the table. The four of them are immediately pampered with special, overly polite service. They sit around a round table, alternating seats—Tseryo, Vichel, Zeff, Jacelin.

  The female manager guiding the servers recognizes Tseryo and Jacelin as the Duke of Karsh’s children and makes sure everything is handled flawlessly.

  While the others start looking through the menu, Vichel eagerly leans forward to order.

  “May I have baked macaroni with cheese sauce?”

  Everyone stares at her in surprise, even the VIP staff. One of the servers approaches her seat and says kindly,

  “Lady, we apologize. We don’t have the dish you requested. How about choosing one of the dishes on our menu instead? They are all fine dishes made with quality ingredients.”

  “Why don’t you have baked macaroni? I thought that dish was on every restaurant’s menu.” Vichel still doesn’t understand.

  “Lady, serving such a simple dish—especially to VIP guests—could lower this restaurant’s reputation.”

  Tseryo suddenly snaps his menu shut with a loud thump, the sound drawing the attention of the server standing near Vichel. His expression shows a faint trace of displeasure.

  “Is it really that hard for you to make one dish for my friend? I thought being in the VIP area meant we could have whatever we wanted.”

  The flustered server stammers, “Th-that’s not what I meant, young master…”

  Jacelin speaks up, her eyes still coldly fixed on the menu. “Are we really in the best restaurant in Carrion? Maybe I should have a word with the manager.”

  “A-ah, we’ll prepare it right away. Please forgive the inconvenience,” the server blurts, hurrying to give instructions to the assistants behind him.

  With an innocent look on her face, Vichel doesn’t understand what’s going on—what matters to her is that the dish she wants will be made.

  Once everyone has finished choosing their meals, the servers leave. Zeff lets out a quiet chuckle. “You two are terrifying as children of a Duke.”

  “Your favorite food, Vichel?” Tseryo guesses, glancing at her.

  “Yes! I haven’t had it for almost a month so I could keep up my protein intake for the competition,” Vichel says miserably.

  “You’re still light as a feather.”

  Zeff’s teasing immediately earns him an annoyed face from Vichel and a sharp look from Tseryo. Jacelin kicks Zeff under the table, her expression warning him not to bring up the competition here. Zeff grumbles and looks away.

  Tseryo shifts the conversation.

  “What’s your plan after graduating from the academy?” he asks Zeff.

  “You sound like about to offer me a position at Duke Lavrel’s estate.”

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  “Don’t flatter yourself. It’s just better to have something to talk than sit here in silence with empty stomachs.”

  “Look!” Vichel’s face lights up again. “They brought us snacks so we don’t have to wait with empty stomachs!”

  Jacelin holds back a laugh—Vichel’s reaction unintentionally undercuts Tseryo’s words, though she clearly doesn’t mean it that way. Tseryo, as always, doesn’t seem to mind her behavior.

  The servers present them with a lavish appetizer.

  “If you’d like something else, just say so,” Tseryo tells Vichel.

  “I like this,” she says right away, already tasting what’s in front of her.

  “Good.” Tseryo smiles.

  Zeff watches the closeness between the two of them with a cold look, then decides to speak.

  “I was hoping to choose my own path after graduating, but my family has already sent a recommendation letter to the palace. They want me to serve the first prince, Crown Prince of Argoust.”

  “You sound like complaining,” Tseryo responds. “Isn’t that a good position? Serving the crown prince?”

  “Yeah, that’s probably what everyone in Karsh would say.”

  Zeff’s words leave Tseryo, Vichel, and Jacelin puzzled. Does this mean Crown Prince of Argoust isn’t someone Zeff thinks well of?

  “Ah, you guys should know too…” Jacelin suddenly speaks up with an excited air, like she’s making an announcement. “Vichel’s already been accepted into the capital’s military—without even taking the entrance exam.”

  “Wow.” Tseryo and Zeff react impressed.

  Vichel blushes. “Jacelin, why are you bringing that up now?”

  Jacelin just laughs mischievously.

  “The military selection in the capital is usually really strict. Vichel, it’s amazing you got in without even testing,” Tseryo praises her.

  “It must be thanks to her second-place medal from the Verlyn Academy battlemage competition,” Zeff adds. “Imagine if she’d taken first place—she might’ve gone straight to being the Queen’s guard.”

  “Yeah, you should’ve switched places with Vichel,” Jacelin snaps back, annoyed by his remark.

  “Jacelin, I heard you’re being told to go home right after graduation,” Zeff says, prying into his friend’s business.

  “Yeah, it’s annoying. I actually wanted to follow in Senior Bertan’s footsteps and work at the academy.”

  Zeff half-chokes on a laugh. “Why do I feel like your parents already have a marriage arrangement lined up for you?”

  “Oh, I’d hate it if that’s really the reason they want me back.”

  “You two could be matched up, right?” Zeff says, nodding at Tseryo and Jacelin. Both of them snap their attention to him. “You’d make a perfect young noble couple in Karsh.”

  “That’s not funny, Zeff!” Jacelin instantly protests. “Can we talk about something else besides that nightmare?”

  Her words draw Tseryo’s gaze straight to her.

  “I didn’t expect that marrying me would count as a nightmare for Lady Lurca.”

  Jacelin freezes, realizing her words might have offended the young master. But Tseryo keeps going.

  “Don’t worry, I have no intention of marrying anytime soon, even if my family pushes me to. There are still more important things to focus on. And Lady Lurca…”

  Tseryo looks directly at Jacelin.

  “Being born as the second child seems to make you feel you don’t have to take responsibility for your family’s reputation, regardless of how important a daughter’s role is in strengthening a house’s standing. Choosing your own path means… you’re putting all that burden on your brother.”

  The mood shifts in an instant, tension flaring again between the Duke’s children.

  Zeff leans a little closer to Vichel and whispers, “This is gonna be fun.”

  Vichel glances at him briefly, then goes back to watching Jacelin and Tseryo while still nibbling on her snacks. She and Zeff like audience to a drama hitting its climax.

  Jacelin fires back at Tseryo with a sharp look. “Young Master Lavrel, do you think every child born into a noble family has to choose the same path as you?”

  “As far as I know, serving your family isn’t the wrong choice,” Tseryo replies.

  “And neither is choosing your own path!” Jacelin counters firmly. “Every person is born free to decide their own way. As long as it doesn’t harm or cause destruction, no choice is truly wrong.”

  Her words leave Tseryo, Zeff, and Vichel momentarily stunned, as if hearing a truth that can’t be denied—especially for Zeff, whose career path has already been decided by his family.

  Tseryo puts on a formal smile again.

  “Your thoughts on freedom are admirable, Lady Lurca. I wonder if Duke Lurca holds the same principle.”

  Tseryo’s reply is something Jacelin can’t answer. She falls silent, realizing that no matter what principles she holds, in the end her father has the greater power to decide the course of her life.

  The attendants arrive carrying the dishes. Vichel’s face lights up with joy as she’s served baked macaroni with creamy cheese sauce, looking delicious and still warm. Everyone else receives the meals they requested.

  Tseryo watches as Vichel takes her first bite.

  “Did they cook it well?”

  “Yeah, it’s really good.”

  Tseryo smiles, pleased to see her eating so eagerly. Their closeness starts to catch Jacelin’s attention.

  Before touching his own food, Tseryo speaks again.

  “Honestly, I wanted us to share this meal together because it’s our last day as classmates at the academy. After we leave, we’ll each be on our own paths. Sometimes those paths might run alongside each other… and sometimes they might clash. Whatever happens, let’s just enjoy this last moment.”

  He raises his glass.

  Zeff joins in, lifting his own. “Yeah, let’s just hope there’s no war between Karsh and Argoust. I don’t want to meet you guys on a battlefield.”

  “You’re way too blunt, Zeff,” Jacelin chides.

  That words instantly spark a thought in Vichel’s mind—especially since she’ll soon be joining Karsh’s military. If war were to break out between the kingdoms, would she really have to face her academy friends on the battlefield?