Chapter 28 Lilian

"Greetings, I am Lilian Stuart."

Lilian smiled warmly, lifting the edges of her gown ever so slightly and offering a graceful curtsy—a perfect execution of noble etiquette.

Recognizing the gesture, Hutson returned the courtesy with a slight bow. "A pleasure to meet you, Lady Lilian. If I'm not mistaken, you must be from the Seville Empire in the eastern regions of the Colson Continent."

A glimmer of appreciation flickered in Lilian's eyes. "It seems Hutson knows a thing or two about the Stuart family's history."

"I've read a few books." Hutson nodded. "The Stuart family is remarkable. Without them, the Seville Empire would never have become the powerful force it is today."

This was not flattery.

The Seville Empire lay far from the Norton Kingdom, so distant that most common folk had never even heard its name.

Yet, in the depths of Norsent Academy's library, Hutson had uncovered fragments of its story. Seville was militarily formidable, politically refined, and economically unparalleled. The Stuart dynasty, ruling for generations, had maintained an unbreakable grip over the empire, shaping it into one of the greatest nations in existence.

If Lilian bore the Stuart name, her status was anything but ordinary.

Lilian, as if reading his thoughts, offered a sweet smile. "My father is King Louis, the current ruler of Seville."

Hutson chuckled. "So, Princess Lilian it is."

She waved her hand dismissively. "There are no princesses in the world of wizards. I came to propose an alliance—we're both from the Colson Continent, after all."

Her gaze darkened slightly. "The others aboard this ship look down on us. In their eyes, Colson is nothing but a land of savages. If we work together, we can watch each other's backs."

"We can exchange information," Hutson said flatly, "but I see no need for an alliance."

Lilian tilted her head, studying him, but showed no sign of disappointment. "That works too."

As she spoke, Hutson issued a silent command.

"AI chip, activate mana surveillance. Alert me if Lilian shows any abnormal fluctuations."

"Mana surveillance activated."

With that settled, Hutson stepped back into his cabin, settling onto the edge of his bed.

Lilian followed suit, gracefully smoothing her gown before sitting beside him.

A delicate fragrance drifted through the air, neither overwhelming nor artificial, but pleasantly natural.

With such a small enclosed space, the scent quickly filled the entire cabin.

Lilian's voice was soft yet direct. "Which wizard organization do you intend to join?"

"Moonlight Grove."

A flicker of recognition crossed her face. "Ah, I've heard of them. A formidable organization."

She gestured toward her chest, where a brooch was pinned to her dress. "I'll be joining Augustus Academy. This is my sigil."

For a fleeting moment, Hutson's gaze was drawn to the pale white skin above her neckline, but he quickly shifted his focus to the brooch.

The brooch pulsed faintly with magic—an enchanted artifact, without question. Likely Augustus Academy's sigil.

Hutson's instincts sharpened.

She's testing me.

But he felt no temptation toward the sigil itself.

"You wear it so openly?" he remarked.

Lilian chuckled. "Forgive my little test. You truly show no greed."

Hutson narrowed his eyes slightly. "Are you judging that by my expression… or using a spell?"

She simply smiled.

Brushing past the topic, Hutson waved his hand. "That doesn't matter. Let's talk information—I need to know more about the wizard organizations."

Lilian nodded. "Wait here."

She hopped up and dashed back to her own cabin.

The light, hurried sound of her footsteps lacked the rigid composure of a noble lady.

Moments later, she returned, carrying a map.

Without hesitation, she unhooked the wooden board from the wall and spread the map across it.

"Here, this marks the major wizard organizations."

Hutson's eyes traced the intricate markings, recognizing the Karag Continent.

This map was far more detailed than the ones he had seen before, though still incomplete.

The most significant markings were wizard factions, scattered across the land.

His eyes landed first on Moonlight Grove, located deep inland, away from the coast. Without a scale for reference, it was difficult to judge the exact distance.

Above it, Green Cabin was marked. To the right of Green Cabin, another organization—Augustus Academy.

Hutson's brow furrowed slightly.

"Green Cabin…"

That was Malcolm's faction.

From the map, it was clear that Moonlight Grove and Green Cabin were positioned directly opposite each other—north and south, separated by a relatively short distance.

Lilian tapped her delicate finger on Moonlight Grove's location.

"I don't know much about them, but I do know this: they and Green Cabin have longstanding conflicts. Expect trouble."

Hutson exhaled slowly. A rivalry. That explains Malcolm.

Lilian moved her finger to Augustus Academy.

"Augustus is the only true 'academy' among the wizard factions. Most of its members come from pureblood wizard families—generations of magic users."

Hutson frowned. "Pureblood wizard families?"

"Yes. Their bloodlines have been magic-wielders for generations, sometimes for centuries. They're raised with an advanced education in magic, giving them a much higher chance of becoming full-fledged wizards."

She leaned back slightly, her expression turning wry.

"Of course, there are also common-born apprentices like you and me, who rely on a sigil for entry." She laughed, but it carried a note of self-deprecation. "You called me a princess earlier, didn't you? Well, once I enter Augustus, I'll be treated as anything but royalty. That place worships bloodlines."**

Her tone darkened.

"And my title? It will only make me a target."

Hutson studied her carefully.

Despite her playful demeanor, there was an undercurrent of awareness in her eyes.

She knew exactly what she was walking into.

And yet, she still stepped forward.

Hutson smirked.

"Then I suppose we'll both have our share of battles ahead."

Lilian met his gaze, and for the first time, her smile was entirely genuine.

A Game of Trust

Hutson stared at Lilian, utterly speechless.

This girl is remarkably self-aware.

She seemed to understand exactly how she was perceived—and had no illusions about the world she was stepping into.

"I appreciate the information," Hutson said, inclining his head slightly. "Is there anything you wish to know in return? I doubt I have anything of real value to offer you."

It was an honest admission.

Lilian clearly had far more knowledge than he did. This so-called exchange of intelligence was entirely one-sided.

But Lilian only smiled. "That's not a problem. Consider this my gesture of goodwill. The voyage is long, and I simply want to find someone I can trust."

She lightly touched the brooch pinned to her dress. "My sigil possesses a unique enchantment—it can sense the nature of a person's heart, distinguishing good from ill intent."

Her gaze met his, calm and unwavering. "Since the moment I stepped into your cabin, you have never directed a shred of malice toward me. That is why I am willing to share what I know."

So that's it.

Hutson nodded slowly, piecing together her reasoning. "And the ones upstairs? They don't pass your test?"

Lilian's smile faded.

"'Ill intent' doesn't even begin to cover it…"

Her voice trailed off, and for a brief moment, a flicker of something—fatigue, wariness, or perhaps resignation—crossed her face.

Then, just as quickly, she smoothed her expression and offered a light chuckle. "Anyway, let's leave it at that. I should return to my room."

Hutson didn't stop her.

As she stepped toward the door, he found himself watching her retreating figure, mind turning over the implications of their conversation.

A noble princess, armed with insight, navigating a world where status meant little, but power meant everything.

And now, she had chosen to trust him.

A curious move.

But in the world of wizards, trust was a dangerous thing.