The news spread around the Royal Academy faster than wildfire.

Not because Princess Lilia KingHeart had come first.

Everyone was expecting that.

Because she had a Legendary Divine Mark.

She was the princess of the kingdom.

Her talent was never questioned.

No...

The main point of discussion here was another name.

Jennie Queens.

An unnamed girl.

Royal maid.

She ranked eighth among more than a thousand participants.

It made absolutely no sense.

Students’ groups formed in all parts of the academy.

"I heard she isn’t even a student."

"She is Princess Lilia’s maid."

"How does a maid outperform noble heirs?"

"Apparently, her sword skills amazed the professors."

"My cousin said that the mana crystal sang when she used it."

Strange rumors were circulating everywhere.

In the meantime, Jennie didn’t even guess about that.

She just brewed tea.

"The water is too hot."

She simply took the kettle from the fire.

Close by, Lilia rested her chin on the table.

"You know they all talk about you."

Jennie served her the tea smoothly.

"They will stop."

"They won’t."

"They will get bored."

"They become more and more interested."

Jennie sighed.

"... Unfortunately."

While Jennie spent such a nice day...

Elsewhere...

Several talented students had started noticing the mysterious maid.

Across the whole academy, in the Grand Sword Hall...

Steel met steel.

Young swordsmen battled furiously under the careful eye of experienced instructors.

In the middle of the hall was sitting a young man with black hair.

His pose was perfectly straight.

His blue eyes were calm despite winning again and again.

His name was...

Aiden Drakon.

The son of the best Swords Marshal of the kingdom.

The best swordsman of the second-year students.

Genius whose talent was admired by all nobles and knights.

He put his practice sword down after another easy win.

His instructor smiled proudly.

"Excellent job, Aiden."

But before Aiden could answer, another student came up to him with the rankings from the entrance examination.

"You are replaced!"

All hall turned into silence.

Aiden raised his eyebrow.

"Replaced?"

"No in rank... but everyone talks about someone else."

He pointed at the name of Jennie.

"The white-haired maid."

"They say her sword technique amazed the examiners."

Aiden accepted the list.

His eyes rested on one particular name.

Jennie Queens.

A slight smile appeared.

"A maid..."

"Interesting."

For the first time in several months...

His interest was awoken.

On the other side of the academy was situated the Arcane Tower.

There students of the kingdom’s best mages studied.

Inside one of upper laboratories flew magical circles.

Books were opening by themselves.

Mana was shining like the stars.

A young girl with silver-blue hair was arranging some complicated spell.

Ice crystals were flowering around her fingers like the flowers.

She was...

Sophia Everwinter.

The daughter of Duke Everwinter.

The best magical prodigy of her generation.

Being only sixteen years old, she mastered the highest levels of elemental magic.

A professor walked up to her.

"Lady Sophia."

She looked at him politely.

"Yes, Professor?"

"You like studying the strange phenomena of mana, don’t you?"

"I do."

The elderly mage gave her a report.

"In the entrance examination something... unusual was recorded."

Sophia silently read it.

Her beautiful blue eyes narrowed.

"Mana output: low."

"Mana control: nearly perfect."

She read it again.

For the third time.

"... Impossible."

"No first-year applicant should have such a control."

The professor nodded.

"This is exactly what we thought."

Sophia looked through the window at the academy courtyard.

Jennie Queens.

For unknown reason...

She wanted to meet this girl.

Outside the walls of the academy...

Luxurious royal carriage entered into its gates.

Its banner had a silver phoenix flying under the crescent moon.

Students immediately made way.

"A foreign delegation?"

"The Holy Kingdom of Valefor..."

"The exchange students have arrived."

The door of the carriage slowly opened.

Young graceful lady went out onto the path made of stones.

Golden hair was flowing behind her.

Emerald green eyes shone with playfulness.

She wore a beautiful embroidered white academy uniform unlike any other seen in Seraiya.

She was...

Princess Elena Valefor.

The second princess of the Holy Kingdom.

Popular all over the neighboring nations for her intellect, grace, and skills of the spirit magic.

She looked around the academy with curiosity.

Then she smiled.

"It looks like I’ve come at the interesting time."

Meanwhile...

Inside the noble dormitories...

Noblewoman slammed a newspaper on the table.

"What nonsense!"

Girls flinched.

The newspaper had one headline.

’Markless Maid Astonishes the Royal Academy!’

She scoffed.

"A servant becomes famous?"

"Ridiculous."

She had long crimson hair, ruby red eyes and the self-confidence of the person who was always right.

She was...

Scarlett Voris .

The daughter of Duke Voris .

One of the richest and influential noble families of Seraiya.

Beautiful.

Talented.

Proud.

And notorious for treating those beneath her class with contempt.

"A maid should remain a maid."

She carefully folded the newspaper.

"I will see by myself whether these rumors are worth paying attention to."

Back at the palace residence for the royal family...

Jennie quietly had a nice cup of tea.

"The academy is not so bad."

Lilia blinked.

"Really?"

"As long as nobody notices me."

Exactly at that time...

Across the academy...

Four different persons made the same decision.

I want to meet Jennie Queens.

Fate began weaving their destinies.

Quiet life Jennie was dreaming of...

Started slipping away from her farther and farther.

And she didn’t even realize it.