At the sound of the maid's voice, I quickly got dressed in my uniform and headed down the grand staircase of the palace to greet Katherine. As I descended, my eyes met my father's. The Astaseul family was known for their distinctive features, and the emperor was no exception. His golden hair shone in the light, reflecting the same hue as the crown he wore on his head. His piercing blue eyes, reminiscent of precious gemstones, surveyed the room with an air of authority.
As I was looking at, I couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. We didn't get to spend much time together due to his responsibilities as the emperor , but he always made sure to show his love in little ways.
"Good morning, Anastasia," my father greeted me with a smile, his once stern demeanor having softened since my mother's passing.
ever since my mother died it was said that my father personality became a lot calmer
"Good morning, father," I replied, returning his smile.
"Why the rush?" he asked, his eyes full of concern.
"Lady Katherine is waiting outside, and we have to leave soon," I explained.
"Ah, that's right. Today is your first day at the academy," glancing at my uniform he said with a nod.
He approached me with slow steps, his hand reaching up to pat my head. "Be careful and have fun," he said with a warm smile.
Feeling a surge of emotion, I hugged him tightly. "Thank you, dad. I will," I whispered, grateful for his support.
"then I will get going " uttering those words I pulled away and rushed towards the garden of the mansion .As I stepped out of the grand entrance of the mansion, the morning breeze brushed against my cheeks. The scent of blooming flowers from the garden filled my nose, and I couldn't help but take a deep breath then I started walking.
As I was walking and looking around, I spotted two figures standing near the fountain chatting, one of the figures was Arthur the head of the imperial knights. He had a confident posture, his tall figure commanding attention in the room. His light brown hair was styled neatly, framing his chiseled jawline and emphasizing his sharp features. I noticed how his green eyes seemed to sparkle with humor as he spoke, and how his broad shoulders filled out his tailored suit perfectly. Despite his youthful appearance, Arthur was in his late twenties.
The other person was Katherine Whitmore, the sister of the current duke Alexander Whitmore. Standing elegantly with her black hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, framing her delicate features. Her obsidian eyes glinted with intelligence and a hint of mischief, giving her an alluring air of mystery. Her skin was like freshly fallen snow, smooth and flawless, almost ethereal.
When I saw her, my heart lifted with joy, and I couldn't help but break into a wide grin. With slow and quiet steps, I approached her, trying not to startle her. As I came within a couple of feet of her, I noticed Arthur glancing at me, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. Afraid he might alert her, I quickened my pace and jumped at her, calling out, "Kaaathhy!"
She let out a small shriek at my sudden crush, and her elegant figure crumbled as she stumbled back, clearly annoyed at my surprise attack. Her expression quickly turned from surprise to annoyance as she looked up at me.
'ahh, yes'
'this feeling'
I don't know why but whenever I cant help but feel a sense of satisfaction when i make people with overly serious expression break their character. Katherine who always acted calm and distant around people but deep inside she can make all kind of reactions once you get to know her. Arthur also acted distant when he first joined the imperial knights . it was some bullshit about being professional.
"Ugh, you're too close," she said, pushing me away with a sulky expression.
But I didn't budge; I held her tighter. "Come on, we'll be spending six years together. Let's be more friendly," I protested
"The princess might want to adjust her attitude when she arrives at Lumina. You are a princess, after all," Arthur said with a grin.
"Shut up, Arthur. They don't care about status; all they care about is rank and competence," I replied. I knew that the students there were chosen based on their skills and abilities, not their background.
"yes I am aware of that the background of the students are irrelevant as soon as you start attending but that end when they graduate. Keep in mind all the poor guys who have the image of the high, mighty, gracious and beautiful princess Anastasia Astaseul, you will break their minds" Arthur said with a smile and not even bothering to hide his sarcastic tongue.
'I take it back, I think I prefer him professional'
"How about you start being more knightly towards her highness?" I suggested
"I don't know what you're talking about, Your Highness," Arthur laughed, feigning ignorance.
"Whatever, let's go, Kath," I exclaimed, grabbing Katherine by the wrist and heading towards the mansion's exit.
As I was walking away I could hear Arthur saying
As we walked away, I heard Arthur say, "Take care, miss,"
I stopped in my tracks, turned to face him and I was met with warm smile. Despite his teasing, Arthur always cared about me.
"thanks Art, take care too" Returning the smile I replied and than headed towards the car waiting outside with Katherine.
A fancy sleek black car was waiting for us outside, Katherine and I climbed into the back seat, As the car pulled away from the mansion, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement.
As we left the mansion behind, the car made its way through the bustling city streets. The scenery outside the tinted windows was a blur of skyscrapers, street vendors, and throngs of people going about their day. I turned towards Katherine and asked, "Did any of the others contact you?"
"Yeah, Aric called me earlier and he said he's going to pick up Artorious," she replied.
"What about Leo?" I tilted my head, curious.
At my question, Katherine's expression turned annoyed and she touched her forehead as if she was having a headache. "Augh, don't remind me."
"What did he do this time?"
"He took the bus."
"Huh?" I couldn't help but be dumbfounded at her declaration.
Leo Nathan Grey, the heir to the Grey count estate, was undeniably extremely talented, but he was also known for being strange. As one of the wealthiest noble houses in the Aranthus empire, there was no reason for him to travel on public buses. He could easily have his father buy him ten cars.
"Can I ask why?"
"It was because of that day when the other two made fun of him for not having a car license," Katherine explained.
"Huh, because of that? Didn't he get his license, though?" I asked, clearly confused.
"Yeah, he threw it away and said he didn't need it," she added. "And even when I told him we could come pick him up, he was like"
'No need, I will ride the bus.'
'cars are a waste of money '
'they also pollute the environment '
Hearing how Katherine described their conversation, it seemed as if she was talking to thick brick wall, as we were talking the car suddenly slowed down to a stop. The driver turned to us and said "we have arrived my ladies".
With a deep breath, I stepped out of the car and took in the magnificent view before me. The portals were massive and imposing, with a constant stream of people entering and exiting from both sides. I was mesmerized by the bustling activity, but Katherine's touch snapped me out of my reverie.
"Let's go, Ana. You have your watch with you, right?" Katherine asked, reminding me of the special watch that had arrived with my admission letter.
"Yes, it's right here," I responded, showing her the watch on my wrist.
When the admission letter arrived that I got in, it also arrived with this watch and apparently everyone who got admitted received one of these and we were told that we should bring them with us to the portal station.
following Katherine footsteps, We approached one of the guards stationed at the portal station, and I cleared my throat to get his attention.
"Excuse me, sir," I said politely.
The guard's gaze lowered to look at me, and I could see the surprise on his face when he recognized me as the imperial princess.
"uh, your majesty and lady Whitmore ?"
"Yes," I confirmed, trying to hide my amusement at his reaction.
"How can I help you?" he asked, regaining his composure.
"We're heading to the Lumina Academy, and we were wondering if you could give us directions to the portal that will take us there," I explained.
The guard nodded. "I see. Let me assist you with your luggage and follow me."
He then started walking towards a room and opened the door. As we entered, we saw many teller windows. Then the guard walked to one of the teller windows, behind which was a female staff member. As she noticed me, she got a similar reaction to the guard.
"Hey Carrol, her majesty and Lady Katherine de Whitmore are heading to Lumina," the guard explained.
Understanding the situation, Carrol nodded and guided us into a small white room.
"Alright, I will need you to scan your watches one at a time against the table in order to upload the coordination of the portal ," Carrol said.
"I will go first," Katherine said as she walked towards the table.
She then scanned the watch, and a shining white portal appeared against the wall. As soon as she crossed the portal, it instantly shut down.
I immediately got worried and looked nervously towards Carrol.
"Ah, don't worry, your majesty. It's just a security measure made by the academy in order to prevent intruders from entering the academy, that's why it's location is not known by the public" the guard reassured me.
I nodded after understanding that these watches basically served as train tickets and only those who has it can get to the desired location. I walked up to the table and scanned my watch against it. As I did, a similar white portal appeared against the wall, and I stepped through it. The sensation was strange, like being pulled through a vacuum, but it was over in a matter of seconds.
On the other side, I found myself in awe of the grandeur that surrounded me. A vast, open courtyard stretched out before me, filled with hundreds of students gathered in the center. Towering above them were the majestic buildings of the academy, with intricate designs and stunning architecture. As I looked up, I noticed drones floating above us, capturing images of the scene from every angle. The whole place was alive with energy. Beside me Katherine who carried a similar expression, I cant blame her because it was truly a sight to behold.
"Oiii, Ana,
A familiar voice called out suddenly, and both Katherine and I snapped out of our astonishment. Following the source of the voice, my vision landed on a handsome 16-year-old boy with a well-built physique that was above average for his age. His most distinct feature was his vibrant purple hair, which seemed to almost glow in the sunlight. His deep green eyes were like emeralds, and they sparkled with a mischievous glint as he flashed me a smile while waving at us. As he stood out from the crowd, I couldn't help but be reminded of his striking appearance.
We started walking towards him and as we got closer we could see two figures behind him, one had grey hair and blue eyes that gave him a dignified look, his face usually expressionless. However, today he wore a tired expression while leaning on the bench.
On the other hand, Aric had blonde hair that looked like it was made of gold and ruby-like red eyes that shone bright. He had a well-built frame with broad shoulders that made him look intimidating. As we approached, he was standing behind Leo with an angry expression on his face.
As Katherine and I approached the group, we were greeted by both Aric and Artorious.
"Hey, guys," Katherine said, waving at them.
"You guys finally made it" Aric said.
"Welcome to Lumina" Artorious said with a smile.
"Thanks, it's good to see you," I replied, returning the smile.
Leo then lifted his head and gave us a small nod, but remained silent.
Katherine noticing his action spoke up, "So, what's his deal?"
Then Aric's expression turned annoyed "this dumbass got sick after riding a crowded bus"
"Augh, I don't why I got suddenly dizzy and an upset stomach there " Leo responded.
" You my friend probably have Agoraphobia" Katherine explained with a smile seemingly amused .
"English please" Leo said not understanding what she said.
"You are afraid of crowded places" Katherine responded.
"that's bullshit I don't live in fear" Leo responded
"Pft" I couldn't help but chuckle at their interaction.
"Hey, the rankings and classes we will be attending are posted on the board. Wanna check them out after Leo gets better?" Artorious suggested, and everyone except Leo nodded in agreement.