Vol4 Prologue

There are many beautiful things in life. Not the grand ones. Not the kind that inspire songs. Not ancient treasures, legendary weapons, magnificent palaces, or stunning landscapes that could make an entire kingdom pause in awe.

Those things were beautiful, certainly.

But beauty was often found in much smaller things.

The warmth of sunlight on your skin.

The whisper of wind through the trees.

The scent of freshly baked bread in the morning.

A quiet road leading nowhere in particular.

A book resting open beside a window.

The gentle patter of rain on glass while you stay safe inside.

Even something as simple as tea.

Especially tea.

There was something strangely peaceful about holding a warm cup between your hands and watching the steam slowly disappear into the air.

No monsters.

No mysterious entities claiming to have created you.

No gods, no dragons, no politics—just tea. A simple, comforting cup of tea.

Mundane, ordinary, yet somehow beautiful.

Amos had learned to appreciate those things.

Perhaps that was what growing stronger had really meant.

Not simply gaining more power.

But learning to appreciate the moments when nothing was happening.

The moments when the world simply existed.

A breeze passing through the curtains.

The distant sound of birds.

The warmth of sunlight.

The quiet clink of porcelain.

Maybe it was the friends we made along the way.

...

Clink.

Amos slowly lowered his teacup.

He stared across the table.

A beautiful silver-haired girl sat across from him, her violet eyes calm and serene. With perfect posture and the academy uniform, she seemed entirely at ease in the opulent private room. Lifting her cup with graceful ease, she took a delicate sip.

Amos stared.

She lowered the cup.

Their eyes met.

Amos immediately looked away.

...

Right.

There was just one problem—he wasn’t having tea alone. Sitting across from him was the imperial princess. Amos froze, his body tense, fingers gripping the cup a little too tightly as his heartbeat quickened.

Why.

Why was this happening?

He’d just spent several minutes marveling at the quiet beauty of ordinary things. For a moment, he’d almost convinced himself that life was calm and peaceful. Then reality came crashing in, flooding him with cold, hard truths. Across the table sat Evelyn W. Fredias.

The Crown Princess of the Fredias Empire.

The daughter of the Emperor.

Second-Year's Top 1 Student.

One of the most politically important people in the entire continent.

And, apparently, someone who had decided that having tea with Amos was a perfectly normal way to spend her afternoon.

Amos swallowed.

He carefully placed the cup down.

Very carefully.

It felt like any sudden move could spark an international incident. This was bad—really bad. He shot a quick glance at the door.

Closed.

He glanced toward the windows.

Too high.

He looked toward her servants.

Well positioned.

He glanced back at Evelyn, catching her faint smile, and quickly dropped his gaze to his tea.

No.

Absolutely not.

He wasn’t going to panic. Amos took a slow breath in, then let it out. He could handle this. He was a noble, trained for years in proper etiquette. He knew how to speak, how to act, and how to carry himself in the presence of royalty.He knew how to—

"Lord Amos."

Amos nearly jumped.

He looked up.

Evelyn tilted her head slightly.

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"You seem nervous."

"No."

The answer came far too quickly.

Evelyn's smile widened slightly.

"You're trembling."

Amos looked down.

His hand was, in fact, trembling.

He immediately placed it beneath the table.

"I am not."

"You are."

"I assure you, Your Highness, I am completely calm."

Evelyn took another sip of tea.

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"Then why haven't you looked at me for the past three minutes?"

Amos froze.

...

This was going terribly.

He gazed at his teacup, suddenly finding the tea endlessly fascinating. He’d never noticed how beautifully the surface caught the light. Maybe he should study it. Maybe he could spend the rest of his life studying tea. That sounded considerably safer.

"I was admiring the tea."

Evelyn blinked.

"The tea?"

"Yes."

A pause.

"Why?"

Amos looked at the cup.

He glanced at Evelyn, then back at his cup. Every time his eyes met hers, she smiled, and with each smile came the unsettling sense that she understood something he’d never spoken aloud.

"I find mundane things beautiful."

Evelyn's expression softened with amusement.

"Mundane things?"

"Yes."

"Such as tea?"

"Especially tea."

She smiled.

"I see."

Amos nodded.

"Tea is safe."

Evelyn's eyebrow lifted.

"Safe?"

Amos realized his mistake.

"...I mean peaceful."

"I see."

She took another sip, and Amos followed suit. About five seconds passed before Evelyn spoke again.

"You know, Lord Amos."

Amos's shoulders stiffened.

"Yes?"

"I've always wondered."

He slowly raised his eyes.

"What?"

"Why are you so nervous around me?"

Amos's soul left his body.

...

Ah.

So that’s what this was about.

Of course it was.

She looked genuinely curious.

Amos opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He shut it again and glanced down at his tea. Maybe it could save him. It didn’t. He took a slow sip.

...

Mundane things really were beautiful.

He desperately wished this particular mundane thing would kill him.

Evelyn calmly lifted her teacup.

“By the way, Lord Amos.”

Amos paused.

“Yes, Your Highness?”

“Why didn't you come to my birthday last year?”

The teacup in Amos's hand stopped halfway to his mouth.

He stared at her.

Evelyn stared back.

“…Your birthday?”

“Yes.”

Amos slowly lowered the cup.

“Ah.”

A terrible realization dawned upon him.

“Oh.”

Evelyn tilted her head slightly.

“You forgot?”

“No.”

A pause.

“I remembered.”

Another pause.

“I simply wasn't there.”

“That is generally what happens when someone doesn't attend.”

Amos looked down at his tea.

He had no defense. His mind flicked through the past year, finding nothing. There’d been traveling, training, reading, and a few incidents best left unspoken. Most importantly, he’d done his best to keep his distance from the imperial family.

“I had circumstances.”

Evelyn smiled faintly.

“Is that what you're calling it?”

“Yes.”

“I see.”

She took another sip, and Amos narrowed his eyes. He couldn’t quite tell if she was teasing him, which was dangerous—very dangerous. Luckily, Evelyn shifted the conversation.

“Your little sister has become quite popular lately.”

Amos blinked.

“Ambrosia?”

“Yes.”

He looked genuinely confused.

“With whom?”

“The young ladies of the capital.”

“…Why?”

Evelyn looked amused by his confusion.

“She has quite the reputation among them now.”

Amos slowly placed his teacup down.

“What reputation?”

“That she has quite the excellent taste.”

Amos stared at Evelyn.

Evelyn continued casually.

“Several noble girls have apparently approached her for advice. Some have asked where she gets her clothes. Others have asked her to help choose outfits for upcoming gatherings.”

Amos's expression slowly became stranger.

“Ambrosia?”

“Yes.”

“My little sister?”

“Yes.”

“She has grown.”

Apparently, while he had been busy being dragged through increasingly ridiculous adventures, his little sister had been quietly becoming famous among noble girls.

Evelyn continued.

“She seems to have developed a rather distinct sense of style. Some girls have even started copying the way she dresses.”

Amos's eyes widened slightly.

“She did?”

“Mhm.”

“Since when?”

“I believe it started some time ago.”

Amos leaned back, letting his mind drift through memories. Ambrosia had always owned an impressive wardrobe—actually, an absurd amount of clothes. Formal gowns, casual dresses, winter outfits, tea dresses, shoes, hair accessories, jewelry—he had personally chosen and bought most of them.

At the time, he had simply thought—

She needs clothes.

Then—

That one looks good.

Then—

She needs another one.

Then—

She needs more.

In fact.

Why not all?

Amos slowly nodded to himself.

“Oh.”

It made sense now.

After four years in the Kyros family, Ambrosia had finally gotten used to the family's—

Amos paused.

He searched for the appropriate word.

Corrupt.

Yes.

The family's corrupt money.

He felt a strange sense of pride.

Good.

She's finally learned how to spend it properly.

His expression became faintly satisfied.

Grandmother trained her well.

His grandmother had always been terrifyingly passionate about fashion, etiquette, presentation, manners, and noble conduct.

Apparently, the training had worked.

He nodded solemnly.

“My little sister is doing well.”

Evelyn smiled.

“She certainly is.”

Amos took another sip of tea.

Then he stopped.

“…Wait.”

Evelyn looked at him.

“What?”

“She's becoming a fashion pioneer?”

“That would be a reasonable way of describing it.”

Amos stared into his tea.

He had somehow raised a fashionable noble lady without realizing it.

He felt proud.

His grandmother would be proud too.

“There is actually something I wanted to ask you.”

Amos looked up.

“Something besides my absence from your birthday?”

“Yes.”

“That sounds ominous.”

“It isn't.”

“That makes it more ominous.”

Evelyn ignored him.

“Which club are you planning to join this year?”

Amos froze.

“...Club?”

“Yes.”

For perhaps three seconds, Amos's mind stopped functioning.

Then it restarted.

Very slowly.

What club?

He had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.

Amos carefully picked up his teacup.

“Ah.”

Amos took a sip.

Think.

Don't panic.

This is probably something Karos already dealt with.

Which meant there was one small problem.

He hadn't.

“I haven't decided yet.”

Evelyn raised an eyebrow.

“You're still thinking about it?”

“Of course.”

It seemed reasonable. Probably. Evelyn gave a slight smile.

“I thought you might have already chosen.”

“No.”

Amos nodded with the confidence of someone who absolutely knew what he was talking about.

“I like to consider my options carefully.”

Internally, he was screaming.

WHAT OPTIONS?

WHAT CLUBS ARE THERE?

WHY DID KAROS NOT TELL ME?

He made a mental note.

Ask Karos.

If he asked Karos, she would probably answer in her usual calm manner.

Something like—

You did not ask.

And somehow that would make this his fault.

Amos decided he would simply survive the conversation first.

Evelyn leaned slightly forward.

“You should consider joining one.”

“I'm considering it.”

“There are several good choices.”

“I know.”

"You can join several clubs too"

He absolutely did not know.

Evelyn continued.

“Some of them are more academic. Others are focused on magic, combat, arts, or social activities.”

Amos nodded thoughtfully.

“Mhm.”

Magic. Combat. Arts. Social.

His mind rapidly sorted through them.

Combat?

No.

He already fought enough monsters.

Magic?

He already knew more than he needed.

Arts?

He had no idea what he would even do.

Social?

Absolutely not.

He had just endured tea with the imperial princess, and that was more than enough socializing for the week. Evelyn studied him for a moment before a smile slowly spread across her face.

“You really haven't decided, have you?”

Amos paused.

“…Not entirely.”

That was technically true. Evelyn laughed softly.

“Then perhaps you should join mine.”

Amos blinked.

“Yours?”

“Yes.”

She said it so casually that it took him a moment to process the meaning.

“The club I'm part of.”

Amos stared at her.

“The princess has a club?”

Evelyn's expression became slightly amused.

“I'm not sure whether I should be offended by how surprised you sound.”

“I meant—”

Amos stopped.

He needed to recover.

Quickly.

“I'm simply surprised you would invite me.”

“Why wouldn't I?”

“Well…”

He searched for an answer.

So, he settled on:

“I thought you'd have enough people already.”

“I do.”

Evelyn smiled.

“But I would still like you there.”

Amos fell silent.

That answer was unexpectedly direct.

Evelyn lifted her cup again.

“You don't have to decide immediately.”

Amos nodded.

“That's good.”

“But I would like you to consider it.”

“I will.”

“And?”

Amos looked at her.

“And what?”

“Will you come?”

Amos paused, realizing he had no clue what the club was actually about. Still, turning down the imperial princess to her face felt like a needlessly messy way to invite trouble. So, he simply smiled.

“I'll consider it seriously.”

Evelyn smiled back.

“Good.”

Amos took another sip of tea.

I'm going to have to ask Karos what the hell she got me involved in.

And somewhere in the back of his mind, another thought surfaced.

Actually…

I should probably ask what clubs even exist first.