Chapter 31: Shadows in the Inner Circle

The cold night breeze blew gently through your glass window, carrying the scent of dew and a tension that hadn't fully melted from my head. The final warning Raven left before dissolving into the old library's darkness still spun sharply in my mind: *There is a spy from the shadow faction who has successfully infiltrated the crown prince's personal guard unit.*

If that information was correct, the current situation was far more dangerous than I imagined. Prince Leonhardt, who had served as my primary political shield before the academy council, was actually surrounded by a thorn in his side ready to strike at any moment. And my position tied in a public alliance with him automatically made me a primary target for that traitor.

The next morning, the sun shone brightly, yet the atmosphere in the corridors of Alistair Academy felt different. Noble students whispered more closely than usual as I walked past. Their gazes no longer held mere typical mockery, but instead hinted at curiosity mixed with fear following yesterday's disciplinary hearing. News of how the crown prince defended a Valerian family villainess had spread like wildfire through dry grass.

My footsteps guided me toward the open magic training grounds in the academy's northern wing, where a joint training session for upper-tier noble classes was scheduled today. There, in the middle of the white-stone-paved field, Prince Leonhardt stood tall in his formal training uniform, surrounded by several magic instructors and three gold-armored personal guards permanently stationed at his sides.

The prince's ice-blue eyes immediately caught my approach from a distance. He gave a brief gesture for his guards to step back for a moment, then walked over to meet me as I arrived at the edge of the field.

"I didn't expect you to arrive on time after yesterday's exhausting ordeal, Lady Alicia," Leonhardt greeted in a flat yet slightly relieved tone. "Usually a noble daughter would choose total bed rest after surviving such a tense council hearing."

I stared straight at him, maintaining the cold, arrogant expression characteristic of a villainess. Behind that gaze, my eyes secretly shifted to sharply observe the three personal guards standing a few paces behind the prince. One of them—a young brown-haired knight wearing a silver badge crest on his collar—diverted his gaze nervously the moment our eyes met.

*Bingo,* my mind whispered sharply. That young knight possessed a slightly unstable mana flow closely resembling the residual energy trace I found near the underground labyrinth that night.

"I am not the type of coward who hides under a blanket just because a few old teachers tried to pick a fight with me, Your Highness," I answered in a piercing tone, intentionally raising my voice slightly so those around us could hear. "Besides, I needed to make sure my primary protector wasn't walking straight into a death trap due to his own negligence."

Prince Leonhardt raised an eyebrow, surprised by the blunt tone I chose in public. "What is the meaning of that remark, Alicia?" the prince asked in a lowered voice, realizing a serious implication hid beneath my words.

"Don't speak here," I said softly, leaning my face closer as if whispering about private noble affairs while keeping my eyes locked on the guard knight behind him. "I uncovered interesting information regarding a sewer rat infiltrating your closest circle. If you wish to survive until graduation, start questioning the loyalty of the people standing behind you right now."

Prince Leonhardt's facial expression shifted drastically within a split second. The prince's analytical nature immediately responded to the warning without needing a lengthy explanation. He glanced back briefly, studying his three personal guards with a cold, investigative look.

Yet, before the prince could respond further, a deafening roar of magic suddenly exploded from the east-side spectator stands.

*Boommmmm!*

A pitch-black fireball shot out uncontrollably, heading straight toward the gathering crowd of students. Panic instantly erupted, filling the morning air with hysterical screams and total chaos. The real chess game had just begun, and the enemy had unleashed their first strike out in the open.