The Southwestern tower of the Royal Academy of Nemphis.

The blond bearded, green eyed High King was sitting opposite to his dear friend, the black clad Southwestern Tower Master.

“You are a High King. Not to mention the ‘selection’ is knocking at the door.” The tower master took a sip from his expensive black jewel embedded teacup. “What are you doing here?”

“I also belonged to this place.” He looked through the opening at the wall with nostalgia written in his eyes. The Fredrick House was surrounded by the same Idyllic garden like it used to forty odd years ago. He turned back to his friend. “And I still belong here. What can you do?”

“Whatever, just tell me you did not leave the preparations to your idiotic son.”

“Relax. He is the one who’s idiot.” He shook his head, his eyes betraying disappointment. “I left everything to Aretha.”

“Mhmm. Your daughter in law sure is capable.” The tower master nodded.

“Who do you think is going to win this time?” The high king asked.

“If you asked me the same question last year, I would have answered the Crown Prince.” He put his teacup on the tea table and looked at the green eyes of his friend. “But now, I am not sure.”

“Neither am I.” The high king took the cup which was designed intricately with rose gold and brought it to his mouth. “That brat is too cunning.” He took a sip.

“You want him to win, don’t you?” The black clad old man took his cup again.

“Yes. Though it will greatly affect the plans we have prepared for years, we can’t afford to lose a gem such as himself.” His golden teacup touched his mouth.

The tower master took a sip from his crystal embedded cup. “Even though he scammed you.”

*Cough. Cough*

The high king spat out the lavender tinted tea from his mouth. “That was not a scam!” He bellowed. “I was just being generous. He did such a great job at the Hunt- he deserved it.” He wiped off the tea off his mouth using an expensive handkerchief.

The tower master could only smile at his friend’s thick skin. He was already used to it. “Whatever, I have already tempered with their kill counts and publicised the warped report. Adrian did well for a second year and the tier 5 Isabella killed a level 4 Institute student.” The black cup touched the table.

“I knew you would take care of it. Our Kingdom can’t afford to lose that lass Isabella, let alone that Adrian.” The High King threw away the handkerchief. He had tens, if not hundreds of them, stored somewhere in the palace.

“And the only way to do that is to have the third princess win.” The tower master sighed.

“But what can I do?” The high king followed with a sigh. “Choosing a monarch with the majority as opposition would be a risky move.”

“Speaking of risky moves…” The tower master’s eyes scowled while his face contracted in seriousness. “She faced an assassination attempt back at the jungle stroll.”

The high king lost all of his carefree demeanour. His face grimaced in rage and a bit of guilt. “Why are you telling this to me now? And why the fucking hell did you even allow her to participate?”

“You know why I kept hold on that intel till now. And as for the other matter, the siblings insisted on sending her. Rastia has yet to ascend to level 9. How can I fight alone against two?” He shook his head.

“The tower masters are supporting Reynolds?!” The high king slammed both of his fists on the table, almost breaking it. “How is the Academy falling so low?!”

“The Academy had always been peaceful because there were four tower masters most of the time and three at the lowest. But since the twins joined and ‘Thunder’ died, they began to bare their fangs at me, the only opposition. They tried their best to inhibit Rastia, my apprentice, from gaining her position. But Adrian made that futile. Now, their only way to gain control of the Academy is through the Royalty.”

“Those fuckers are now on Reynold’s side? That would take away the only thing keeping Evelyn in the competition!” He hurled another slam at the table, but he stopped an inch away from the expensive wood. He looked at his friend. “Wait. The Academy was not her best card anyway, was it?”

“It was…” The brown eyed tower master shook his head. “Until ‘he’ joined.”

“Do they know of his real tier?” He asked.

“No.” The tower master shook his head. “Only Rastia, the deans, Professor Midsley and me.”

“I leave everything on him then. And I will keep a watch on Reynolds for now. If he dares to do anything- I will kill him with my own two hands. My Kingdom doesn’t need a traitor.” The high king snorted.

“I know what you are saying inside your head.” The tower master smiled. “We need two tier 5 prodigies- right?”

*Cough. Cough*

This time, he did not need any tea to choke on- the air was enough.

“Ahem. The whole kingdom is my family.” He took a benevolent pose. “So what if I lose a grandson? I will get two new grand children.”

“Tsk.”

“Fuck!” The handsome green eyed youth kicked the lavish chair, breaking a window and sending it all the way across the palace.

The maids were standing at the corner- with calm on their faces. Such occurrences were not common, but they were not that rare either.

“She is just a level 3 for fuck’s sake! And the only reason she was able to kill a level 4 is that she is an assassin, a master at sneak attacks! How come she survived, while they died?! Both of them were level 6!” His eyes were red as he vented everything out.

“Relax, your highness.” His guardian said. He was a middle aged man wearing a black military uniform- a coat and a pant. There were shining green emeralds embedded on the right chest. “Who knew they would send Instructor Hastings to protect her?”

“I am not angry about the failure.” The crown prince took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. “But for the fact that I made such a foolish decision. I was sure of my victory anyway, I shouldn’t have made such a risky move.”

“You did well, your highness.” The guardian praised wholeheartedly. “Not everyone can make a mistake and give it a second look, and learn from it.”

“Don’t try to console me, Alfred.” He sighed. “That idiotic decision cost me a lot. You must have felt it by now- there are eyes upon us.”

“Indeed, but they won’t do anything to you unless you make another move. Not any of the monarchs ‘before you’ were saints.” The guardian smiled.

“I know. But I wanted to crush all of Evelyn’s hopes before the selection.” He shook his head, swaying the blond hairs with it. “But I guess I have to stay low for now, considering I am already a ‘sinner’ in grandfather’s eyes.”

“Yes, only two months remain till now. Taking a step back would be the best possible course of action since victory is already in sight. A lion has to take a step back to leap towards its prey.” The middle aged man nodded.

The prince nodded back and looked at the maids. “Clean them all.”

He was not worried about his maids betraying him. They were ‘conditioned’ after all.

The Celestea House.

One month remained until end of the frigid year and beginning of the next bright year. The selection will take place at that time.

The atmosphere was not as cold anymore as the frigid year was coming to an end. But the fireplace in her bedroom was still lit up. It took part in both heating the room and lighting it up in the process. It was a cold night after all.

The princess was lying on her bed, facing the beautiful lit chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

Her beautiful face had worry written all over it. Her green eyes looked hollow while her lips were devoid of any sort of bends. She would occasionally squint before releasing afterwards.

Suddenly she felt her mattress tilt to her right, as if someone just lied there. She looked right in reflex, but not in panic. She knew who it was. And she was right.

“What? Suddenly remembered me after all these months.” She again looked at the ceiling.

“Nope. I missed Vanessa. So, why not meet my darling while I’m at it?”

“You!” She swiftly turned right. His lips stretched to a smile. “You… you slept with my guardian too, didn’t you?”

The smile on his face extended further to his ears.

“I knew it! I knew it! I shouldn’t have let her go with you!” Her shouts echoed through the large bedroom.

“Jealous that I fucked all of your trusted aides and left you?”

“Hmph! Who is jealous?” She looked up again. There was now a tinge of red on her cheeks. “So, how was it? Your trip to the South?”

“Not bad. I had quality lone time with Vanessa.”

“That’s not what I meant!” Her face was still up.

He turned his whole body toward her and sneaked his right hand to her breasts. She did not resist, nor bother to- it would be futile anyway. Furthermore, she was accustomed to it. But it did not stop her face from flushing further.

“Everything went well. You have one more marquess on your side.”

She again turned his head right, but this time- the speed was akin to that of light. “Really?” She gasped.

He only kneaded her breast in response.

“That means we have a chance to win! With three against one!” Her eyes sparkled.

“But you have to pay the price.” He grinned in an evil manner.

“Do what you want?” She did not care at all. She had the chance to be the queen.

“Really? You can’t turn back on your words now.” His grin reached his ears.

The ominous smile sent shivers down her spine. She realised what she said in delight and already began to regret it.

The snow melted down. The sun was once again clearly visible in the sky. Everyone of the students of the Academy, along with the whole population of the Ervilia Continent hid their fur coats and other warm clothes into their closets. They would not be coming out for one more year. The scene became green again. Birds were chirping, and so were the bugs. Animals woke up from their hibernation, prepared to store food for the next frigid year.

Once again, teens from all over the Confederation gathered together with hopes of getting into the prestigious Royal Academy of Nemphis.

The frigid year ended. A new bright year had come. And with it- came the time of ‘Selection’.