The day of the entrance ceremony at the Imperial University of Jupiter dawned.

The square in front of the Parthenon Theater located within the university was crowded with incoming students and their families, as well as journalists who had flocked for coverage.

‘I heard a rumor that today’s freshman representative speech will be given by the Grand Duchess of Ellios, who is entering the School of Administration.’

‘That’s quite possible, since they select from among the top students in each department. If so, we’ll finally be able to see the Grand Duchess’s face.’

Everyone was busy chatting, with expectations for admission and interest in the appearance of the Grand Duchess of Ellios.

‘Did you hear the news? They say an incredible VIP is enrolling in the School of Administration besides the Grand Duchess of Ellios.’

‘An incredible VIP? What, is a prince from some country enrolling?’

‘You got it! I heard the 3rd Prince of the Lisandro Empire is also enrolling in the School of Administration.’

Interest in the prince coming to study from the neighboring empire was no less than that in the Grand Duchess.

Rainien leisurely headed towards the Parthenon Theater where the entrance ceremony was being held, passing through the crowd talking about him. No one recognized him as the talked-about prince from the neighboring empire as he walked alone without attendants.

The interior of the theater, which usually hosts university commemorative ceremonies as well as lectures and concerts, boasted high ceilings. Below the ceiling painting depicting scholars pursuing truth, a large stage and oval-shaped audience seats spread out.

As soon as he entered the theater, the magnificent ceiling painting caught his eye. Rainien, who had been gazing at the ceiling painting for a moment, soon turned his head at the voice calling him.

“Lord Rainien! Welcome.”

“It’s been a while, Dean Jefferson.”

“We’ve been waiting for you to arrive. Please come this way.”

Jefferson guided Rainien to the upper seats as if he had been waiting for him to come. Jefferson pointed to an empty seat next to Rainien’s seat.

“The Grand Duchess of Ellios, who is entering the School of Administration, and His Grace the Grand Duke are also expected to attend today’s entrance ceremony.”

“I’m already acquainted with His Grace the Grand Duke. I’ll be able to personally offer my congratulations on his marriage.”

Rainien nodded lightly. Jefferson, having finished his greetings, soon left to prepare for the entrance ceremony that was about to begin.

The seat Jefferson had arranged offered a view of both the stage where the entrance ceremony would take place and all the seats at once. Rainien’s eyes began to move busily, searching for someone.

‘It would be nice if I could greet her even for a moment…’

She, whom he thought would be immediately noticeable, was somehow not visible.

It was then. The interior of the theater, which had been buzzing with anticipation for the entrance ceremony, suddenly fell silent.

His gaze naturally turned to where everyone’s eyes were focused. At the entrance of the theater stood a tall man who instantly drew the attention of others.

‘The Grand Duke of Ellios…’

Caeron, still in a perfectly restrained appearance, began to move towards the upper seats where Rainien was, guided by his attendant.

‘It doesn’t seem like there’s anyone who looks like the Grand Duchess.’

There was no figure that looked like a woman beside the Grand Duke as he climbed the stairs to the upper seats.

I heard he was attending this entrance ceremony with the Grand Duchess… A slight puzzlement appeared and disappeared in Rainien’s eyes.

Rainien, not yet knowing that the woman he was looking for and the Grand Duchess were the same person, recalled the invitation he had received recently.

‘I’ll be able to see her at the upcoming imperial banquet.’

A banquet to celebrate the marriage of the Grand Duke’s family was soon to be held at the Jupiter Imperial Palace.

As Caeron approached, Rainien stood up and greeted him with a handshake.

“It’s been a long time, Your Grace.”

“It has been a while, Prince Rainien.”

Caeron made eye contact with Rainien, who was no less tall than him, and grasped his hand. For a very brief moment, a gaze that seemed to be exploring each other passed by.

“I heard you were enrolling at the Imperial University of Jupiter.”

“I’m glad to be in Jupiter. I was planning to greet you at the upcoming imperial banquet since I couldn’t attend the wedding. Although late, I sincerely congratulate you on your marriage.”

“Thank you. Let’s meet again at the banquet.”

After finishing their greetings, the two sat down in their prepared seats.

As the start of the entrance ceremony drew closer, Rainien’s gaze, now somewhat anxious, began to scan the interior of the theater again.

However, the person he was desperately looking for was still not visible. A faint disappointment clouded Rainien’s eyes.

“Are you looking for someone?”

Caeron, sensing Rainien’s manner as if he was looking for someone, tilted his head slightly and asked.

“Ah… Actually, there was someone I wanted to see. I thought they would be here today for the entrance ceremony as a new student, but I don’t see them.”

Someone you wanted to see?

Caeron’s eyes filled with a bit of interest and wariness at the words that the prince of Lisandro, still unfamiliar with this place, had someone he wanted to see.

“If it’s someone special to the prince… I can have my attendants look into it for you.”

It was probably someone from Jupiter, so he needed to find out who it was. Who indeed was this person who had such a close relationship with this prince of Lisandro…

“No, I can’t trouble you. It’s fine, I’m sure I’ll see her soon once the semester starts.”

‘Her?’

Caeron slightly raised his eyebrow at Rainien’s refusal. He had tried to find out which family’s man it was, but it turned out to be a woman.

‘I thought I heard he doesn’t keep women close, this is unexpected.’

He already knew that the 3rd Prince of Lisandro didn’t keep women around as much as himself.

Wasn’t he the one who remained calm and smiling even when the 2nd Prince openly mocked him for only carrying books under his arm, let alone women, at the diplomatic delegation visit banquet?

“I see. I hope you meet her soon.”

Since it was a woman entering the Imperial University, she probably wasn’t from a noble family, so there was no need to worry too much.

Caeron, having lost interest, looked towards the stage where the entrance ceremony was about to begin. Soon, the interior of the theater darkened.

“Distinguished guests, thank you sincerely for attending the 132nd Imperial University of Jupiter Entrance Ceremony. We sincerely welcome your admission, and now we will have an address from the freshman representative.”

Following Dean Jefferson’s welcome speech, the freshman representative’s congratulatory speech continued. A small silhouette that appeared to be the freshman representative began to walk out from behind the stage.

Due to the dark stage except for the lighting illuminating the podium, the face wasn’t clearly visible. Receiving curious and questioning gazes from people, the freshman representative crossed the stage with neat steps.

As they finally stepped onto the podium illuminated by the lights, people unconsciously held their breath.

‘Oh my…!’

‘That face is clearly a, a woman…?’

‘If it’s a woman, could it be… that person?’

The delicate porcelain-like face shone even whiter under the lights. Despite wearing a tailored jacket, the elegant beauty that could never be mistaken for a man captured everyone’s gaze.

“Greetings. I am Aidel, the freshman representative.”

At the voice of the woman stating her name, those who already knew the Grand Duchess’s name gasped again in surprise.

‘If it’s Aidel, isn’t that the name of Her Grace the Grand Duchess?’

‘So that person was Her Grace the Grand Duchess!’

Those who had only heard news of the Grand Duchess through articles without photos were unable to close their mouths in surprise at the first sight of the Grand Duchess.

The Grand Duchess’s face was as beautiful as they had imagined, but that wasn’t the only thing that surprised people.

The sight of the Grand Duchess in a tailored suit instead of a dress was unfamiliar but stood out in a special way. The well-tailored suit that fit her body added a progressive and refreshing charm to her slender figure.

“Here at the Imperial University, everyone is equal, and we pursue truth for the prosperity and peace of Jupiter. The pursuit of truth is the rightful goal of our studies.”

The Grand Duchess’s calm but unwavering voice gradually resonated throughout the theater and in people’s hearts.

People who were initially captivated by the Grand Duchess’s appearance began to pay attention to her speech.

“The forms of truth we will seek here from now on will be diverse and different for each of us. However, in a rapidly changing society, we must always remember how to understand and implement the truths we each find as intellectuals.”

The eyes of those admitted as freshmen sparkled with solemnity and exaltation at Aidel’s speech, which evoked a sense of mission in the name of ‘we’.

“As students and intellectuals pursuing truth, as imperial citizens devoted to Jupiter, we are all of one mind. Let us come together and achieve our goals regardless of age, gender, or status.”

These were the words of the Grand Duchess, who was the first noble woman to enter university. The words that everyone was one regardless of innate constraints or conditions resonated even more convincingly in people’s hearts.

“The path of truth that we will pursue and walk together now begins. I hope that path will shine as brilliantly as the future of Jupiter. Thank you.”

As Aidel finished her speech and bowed her head, loud applause and cheers erupted from the audience. At the same time, camera flashes from journalists showered from here and there.

The first official speech of the Grand Duchess of Ellios was a success.

‘She did well safely.’

A satisfied smile spread across Caeron’s face as he applauded. He felt proud, as if watching a newly hatched bird. The woman who had been oppressed by her family had broken out of her confining shell and begun to shine brightly.

Now that woman would begin to flutter her wings in the world. And three years later… after her contract period with him ended, she would fly freely.

As that thought occurred to him, his face subtly hardened.

It was when his deeply sunken eyes were following Aidel’s figure descending from the podium. Rainien, who was sitting next to him, hurriedly stood up.

“I have an urgent matter to attend to, so I’ll take my leave first.”

“…I understand.”

Caeron turned his head at the sudden farewell.

Rainien’s face, as he stood up and bid farewell, had lost its usual calmness and was in a highly flushed state.

He seemed to have found that woman he said he wanted to see.

The back of the man running away without hesitation was that of someone in love, no matter who saw it. Seeing this, Caeron shook his head with a sneer.

It felt futile to have been wary of the movements of the 3rd Prince of Lisandro who had come to Jupiter, even for a moment.

‘Love is…’

Yes. It was something that made people so futile.

By now, Caeron’s face was tinged with coldness. The gaze that had held complex emotions became cold and hard as usual.

At that moment, an attendant hurriedly approached and delivered news.

“Your Grace, it seems you need to go right away.”

“What’s the matter?”

“A merchant ship under the Ellios Grand Duchy encountered a storm in the Ferman Sea. An emergency response meeting has been convened.”

Caeron frowned at the sudden news. As planned, he had intended to personally congratulate the Grand Duchess after the entrance ceremony ended.

Caeron’s gaze briefly touched on Aidel’s retreating figure disappearing from the stage before he stood up.

“Let’s depart. Send separate congratulations to the Grand Duchess.”

It was the Grand Duchess’s entrance ceremony that he had attended by splitting his schedule on purpose.

The fact that he had come to see the Grand Duchess’s entrance ceremony would have been seen by the journalists spread around… it was more than enough to achieve the purpose of establishing the Grand Duchess’s prestige.

Yes, this much was sufficient.

As if trying to shake off the last remaining hesitation, Caeron’s steps as he left the theater were more forceful than usual.