The desired outcome had been achieved.
For the sake of harmony with the saintess—and to avoid inviting the wrath of the royal family—the thieves’ guild had no choice but to cut off its tail cleanly. Loose ends were dangerous. In this empire, they were fatal.
"All it did was increase my annoyance," Alice said flatly.
Her arms were crossed, but the anger in her eyes was colder than any raised voice. She was not the type to shout. She was the type to remember.
"Try to look at it positively," I replied with a small shrug. "You’ll be returning to the North soon, won’t you?"
At the mention of her hometown, something in her expression softened.
Just a little.
A faint smile touched her lips—so brief that anyone who blinked might have missed it. Relief. Nostalgia. A longing she would never openly admit.
"The North..." she murmured. "It’s been a while."
"The air is cleaner there," I added. "And the people are more honest."
"And colder," she corrected.
"That too."
A quiet chuckle escaped her before she could stop it. The sound startled me more than her anger ever did. Moments like that—those rare glimpses of her genuine feelings—were far more terrifying. They reminded me she was still human beneath all that pride and restraint.
I coughed awkwardly, breaking the fragile mood.
"Ahem. Of course, it won’t be long before you return to the Central Region again."
Her expression returned to its usual composed state.
"I know," she said. "Without graduating from the Academy, how could anyone claim to be a noble of the Solhaven Empire?"
There it was.
The Academy.
A place where the noble children of every region gathered under the banner of education. The political battlefield disguised as a school. The main stage of the game.
And the place where Alice ultimately met her downfall.
I clenched my fist behind my back.
You think I’d let that happen?
"The Academy will be noisy this year," I said carefully. "With the saintess enrolled, the attention will double."
Alice’s eyes sharpened slightly. "So she is truly attending."
"Officially? Not yet. But it’s inevitable."
She exhaled slowly. "How troublesome."
"You don’t sound jealous."
"Jealous?" She gave me a sidelong glance. "Of a girl blessed by the gods? I prefer tangible opponents."
"That’s exactly why I’m concerned," I muttered.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "You’ve been acting strangely lately."
My heart skipped.
"In what way?"
"You’re... cautious." She studied my face. "You weren’t like this before. It’s as if you’re preparing for something."
I forced a smile. "I just dislike unpredictability."
"The Academy is built on unpredictability," she said. "Alliances shift. Engagements are announced. Scandals are born."
Engagements.
The word lingered between us.
"The crown prince will be there," I said lightly.
"Of course he will."
Her tone was neutral. Too neutral.
"And the saintess," I added.
A pause.
"If His Highness chooses to entertain divine blessings," she said calmly, "that is his prerogative."
But I noticed the slight tightening of her fingers at her side.
The first step toward her downfall had already been sabotaged. The thieves’ guild incident would no longer spiral into a scandal that painted her as ruthless and unstable.
That path was closed.
Now the real battlefield awaited.
At the Academy, I would gradually increase the distance between Alice and the crown prince. Subtle misunderstandings. Delayed meetings. Redirected attention. Small fractures that widened over time.
And most importantly—
Prevent any meaningful contact between the saintess and the crown prince until the engagement was officially broken.
Alice’s downfall would not happen.
There was still plenty of time before enrollment at the Academy. All that remained was to solidify the plan and make sure no variables were left unchecked. Rushing would only invite mistakes.
"I need to consult with Amelia about this," I muttered, more to myself than to anyone else.
"Hm? Are you talking about the engagement matter?"
Alice caught the words I had intended to keep quiet. Her ears were sharper than I gave her credit for.
I really need to be more careful with what I say.
I glanced at her, but fortunately, there was no suspicion in her eyes—only mild curiosity.
Alice let out a soft sigh and turned her gaze toward the tall window. Outside, the capital shimmered in the golden light of late afternoon. Carriages rolled along the stone roads, nobles laughed in distant gardens, and the banners of great houses fluttered lazily in the breeze.
"Even though it’s a connection formed between families," she said quietly, "you always seem to get along well. I’m a bit envious."
Her reflection in the glass betrayed her. The faint smile on her lips did not reach her eyes.
"Hasn’t Lady Alice also secured the best engagement?" I replied carefully. "The future position as the mistress of the Solhaven Empire is practically guaranteed."
"Huhu." She gave a light, airy laugh that felt brittle around the edges. "I wish that were the case."
There was a pause.
She continued, softer this time. "An engagement on paper is one thing. A partner in reality is another."
I did not respond immediately. The crown prince’s reputation was hardly a secret. Even among nobles, whispers traveled quickly. Banquets, private garden meetings, rumors of affectionate letters sent to women who were certainly not his fiancée.
Watching Alice force another smile, I felt my resolve harden.
A crown prince who dallied with other women while remaining formally engaged. A man who enjoyed the prestige of her family’s support yet offered her no dignity in return.
Alice deserves so much better.
And to eliminate any risk to her future—to her happiness—it was only right that they be torn apart before things went too far.
She shifted her gaze back to me. "You’ve been thinking a lot lately," she said. "Is something worrying you?"
"Just logistics," I replied smoothly. "The Academy enrollment is approaching. Once we leave for the North, preparations will become more complicated. It’s better to anticipate everything now."
"You make it sound like a military campaign."
"In a way, it is." I allowed myself a faint smile. "The Academy is a battlefield of a different kind."
Alice chuckled, this time more genuinely.
"Let’s not dwell on complicated thoughts for now," I said gently. "Today is the last day of the social season. We should start preparing to return to the North."
Her homeland. And my workplace.
The North—cold, vast, and far from the suffocating politics of the capital.
"...Yes," she answered after a moment.
She stepped away from the window and walked toward the center of the room.
Servants were already moving in the hallway, preparing trunks and wrapping delicate ornaments in cloth. The season of glittering banquets and calculated smiles had come to an end.
"Will you miss it?" I asked.
"The capital?"
"Yes."
Alice tilted her head slightly. "I’ll miss the music. The gardens at dusk. Some of the people." She paused. "But I won’t miss pretending."
I nodded. "The North suits you better."
"It’s quieter there."
"It’s honest there."
She met my eyes again. "Then let’s go home."
Home.
Not the palace. Not the prince. Not the glittering court.
The North.
As preparations began in earnest, I silently reaffirmed my decision. Before the Academy began—before fate had the chance to tighten its grip—I would ensure that Alice’s path diverged from the crown prince’s.
No matter what it took.