Chapter 78 – The Crimson Lily Joins the Garden

The news spread through the Faeloria Royal Academy like wildfire.

Princess Hestia Nyveris, daughter of the Beastkin King, was enrolling into the prestigious Class Arcanum.

The same elite classroom where the most promising royals and nobles were gathered—where Roanna Briarwyn, and other powerful young prodigies studied.

On the morning of her arrival, Hestia stood in the central plaza, dressed in a uniform trimmed in silver and obsidian. Her jet black hair was tied in a regal twin tails, her black rabbit ears upright with alert grace.

Whispers trailed behind her as she walked:

> "That's her… the one who made the council back down."

> "I heard she faced assassins alongside Prince Serenil…"

> "She's joining Arcanum?!"

As she entered the great doors of the class tower, Hestia took a deep breath.

She wasn't just here for Serenil.

She was here to carve her own legend.

At the top floor of the Arcanum Tower, Professor Miriande greeted her and her to her seat. To her surprise, the seat beside her belonged to a noble girl with sea-blue hair that swirled like the ocean.

"Hi~! I'm Liselotte D'Armoire, Princess of Undyneia!" the girl chirped, fins fluttering behind her ears. "Are you the wolfie princess? The one marrying Serenil?"

Hestia blinked, amused. "That's… not quite official."

Liselotte giggled. "Doesn't matter! You're one of us now!"

One of us?

Before Hestia could ask, a sharp but elegant voice chimed from across the table.

"Try not to let Liselotte overwhelm you." A girl with cool, aloof eyes and golden blonde hair stepped forward. "Astarotte Sylvarien. Heiress of House Sylvarien."

Behind her stood two others.

One was a tall, gentle girl with bright orange curls and pig ears—Piglette Mariglen, daughter of the Orc duchy.

The other, a slender pink haired Ogre with sharp pink eyes and noble poise—Shuna Lysavelle, a duchess of the Ogre kingdom.

"Let me guess," Hestia said, raising an eyebrow. "You're all—"

"Serenil's future wives?" Liselotte chirped. "Yup!"

Hestia exhaled. "And you're all… okay with this?"

They looked at each other. Then, Piglette smiled warmly.

"We all made our choices. We're here because we believe in him… and we like each other too."

Astarotte gave a sharp nod. "Strength honors strength. You held your own in the political arena. That earns my respect."

Shuna's red eyes shimmered. "We're not rivals, Hestia. Not anymore."

Hestia stared at them.

Then… smiled.

"I suppose I wouldn't mind being part of this madness."

Liselotte hugged her immediately. "Yay! New sister~!"