I had the perfect opportunity in front of me.
However, I knew very well that Amelia wasn't the one who held the power here.
If there was anyone who could make me enter the Royal Academy, it would be her parents or whoever was the current academy director.
The carriage we were riding in gently rocked from side to side as its wheels rolled across the uneven road. Sunlight filtered through the thin curtains covering the windows, casting faint golden lines across the polished wooden interior.
Across from me sat Amelia, her hands resting neatly on her lap.
"Are you sure you can handle going all the way to the Lix Estate?" Amelia asked me with a worried glance.
I smirked because of how naive she was. To think she would agree with me tagging along only because I said that I was still feeling a little ill.
'To think that it would be this easy… Are all people usually this careless towards strangers?' I thought before remembering distant memories.
***
"Did you really think that I was friends with you?"
The cold wind brushed against my face as I stood there, stunned.
I had been stabbed in the back, right into the stomach, by a presumed friend.
"Ugh. W-Why…?"
My friend's smile only grew in size, sending shivers down my spine.
"Why wouldn't I? We'll be forced to kill each other anyway. I might as well do it now before you become a bigger threat."
"One of the higher-ups offered me personal guidance in improving my Mana Core as long as I killed you. Who would be stupid enough to refuse such an offer?"
I pulled out the knife from my stomach, blood gushing out and dripping onto the cold stone floor beneath my feet.
"If you really wanted to kill me… you should have cut off my neck," I muttered under my breath as my eyes turned into an endless pool of darkness.
Within a split second, the one who had his head cut off wasn't me but my "friend".
And the person who received personal guidance... it became me.
***
"Mhm, Yike? Are you sure you're fine? If you keep clenching your fists, you might hurt yourself."
The gentle rocking of the carriage returned to my senses as Amelia's voice pulled me back to reality.
I shook my head and dismissed those annoying thoughts.
"Ah, sorry. I remembered a few things."
I forced a smile. However, it clearly wasn't very convincing.
Amelia didn't comment on it, but it was clear from the look in her eyes that she knew I was hiding things from her.
Even now, she must be thinking about what kind of person I am. After all, her first impression of me was getting brought to her half-dead. She must have thought that I was some kind of criminal or maybe even worse than that.
Outside the window, the scenery slowly changed. The crowded roads near the capital had long disappeared, replaced by quiet countryside and vast green fields stretching toward the horizon.
"Actually, there was something I wanted to ask you…"
Her cheeks turned bright red, and she couldn't even bring herself to meet my eyes. Her fingers nervously twisted the hem of her sleeve.
'I knew there'd be another reason with me tagging along. No one is that nice. Not for no reason.'
I sighed.
"What is it?"
"Well, the truth is… I'm not very well-liked by my family. That's why I didn't mind bringing you along. I-I thought it might be better if I had someone with me this time."
'That's it? She saved my life, and that's all she wanted?' I frowned.
"You just want me to be there as your friend? Nothing else?"
To be honest, even if she were to ask me to kill those who were bullying her, I would have agreed. After all, Amelia was my savior. She deserved at least this much.
"Y-Yes…" She looked down, almost crying. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pull you into this situation; I didn't think about the position I was putting you in. If you want, I can bring you back to the Royal Capital…"
'She really is strange. I've never met anyone this stupid in my entire life.'
I took a deep breath, annoyed by how nice she was acting.
"Accompanying you is the least I can do. If there is anything else you want me to do, then I will gladly comply."
Her eyes immediately lightened up, and her smile radiated.
"R-Really!"
Her reaction was genuinely sincere.
'To think that she would be this happy with this much.'
"As I said, if there is anything else you need help with, then I will gladly help you. It can be anything."
Her head tilted slightly, her long hair shifting over her shoulder.
"Anything?"
"Yes, anything you want. I'll do it."
She stayed silent for a few seconds but ended up shaking her head.
"Nope, that's it! Just stay close to me while we're there."
I stared at her face for a few seconds. But she seemed to be telling the truth, there didn't seem to be any underlying meaning.
'I won't leave her side,' I vowed internally.
However, while I would fulfill her demands, I still needed to talk with the Lix family's patriarch. He was the only one who could get me inside the Royal Academy.
On top of that, over the years of completing missions as an assassin for the camp, I knew just how powerful the Lix Family really was.
If I was lucky, I might even manage to steal a Rare Skill Book or even an Artifact.
Though, I'd have to be careful not to be caught. I heard plenty of stories regarding what happens to those who try and steal from the Lix Family. The Patriarch is known across the continent as extremely ruthless, especially to outsiders.
Nevertheless, the next semester would only begin in two months. I had plenty of time to do get his recommendation to enter the Royal Academy and also steal a few Skill Books from right under his nose.
For now, I'd watch over Amelia and make sure nothing happens to her.
Suddenly, the carriage began slowing down.
Through the window, tall iron gates slowly came into view, surrounded by massive stone walls that stretched as far as the eye could see. Guards dressed in silver armor stood on both sides of the entrance, their spears shining under the sunlight.
Beyond the gates, I could glimpse the enormous Lix Estate itself — a sprawling mansion surrounded by vast gardens and towering marble pillars.
"Miss Lix, we are about to arrive at the family's estate."
"I-I see," she answered, her voice quivering.
Immediately, there was a clear change in her behavior.
Her smile disappeared.
More importantly, her hands began twitching from fear as she stared silently at the approaching gates.
'Just what has she been enduring in there?'
I wasn't exactly sure why, but looking at her being reduced to this state, I was already struggling to control myself. By the time I left this place, I'd make sure everyone respected her.
However, just as I was about to get off from the carriage, I felt an heavy gaze land on me.
I didn't have to look to know who it belonged to.
The Lix Patriarch was already observing me.