Chapter 212: Lance is Just Naturally Guileless

The next day was Saturday morning at Ikerite University. Even on the weekend, there were quite a few students coming and going from the ancient Tower Library, which was one of the landmark structures of the Sages’ College.

The interior of this colossal building was magnificent. The frescoes, mosaics, and carvings were exquisitely done. Towering stone pillars at the entrance supported a structure as majestic as a temple, and statues of eleven deities from the benevolent pantheon lined the corridors.

Two figures were currently walking along the spacious corridor leading to the library's central hall. A blonde girl asked, "Does it upset you that Lady Sophia didn't come, Your Highness Ainor?"

She blinked her bright eyes. Her irises were a unique green, looking clear and innocent, like a jade-colored spring in the deep woods.

"No, it’s not that. I just don't understand the situation. I'm quite puzzled." Ainor shook his head, unable to fully conceal the worry on his face.

Dean Lawrence had arranged to meet them in the inner section of the Tower Library at ten o'clock that morning.

Ainor clearly didn't want his mood to affect Karen. His task was simple: follow Professor Boralo's instructions to look after his new friend, a card maker from a foreign land, and ensure she spent these two weeks at Ikerite happily and contentedly.

"Your Highness Ainor, sometimes you really ought to be more considerate of Sophia's feelings. It doesn't matter if I suffer a little grievance. You should really be siding with her."

Karen walked with a light step, her smile radiating confidence and resilience. Many upperclassmen had often remarked that she must have been the sort of child whose maturity was almost extraordinary, making others love her.

Ainor said firmly, "I couldn't possibly do that. As a prince of the Kingdom of Hutton, I certainly cannot allow a friend from a foreign land to be treated unfairly here."

Moments like this always reminded him of his best friend, Lance. He felt certain that his best friend would have done the exact same thing. After all, Lance was a man of open character and utter selflessness. He was truly an admirable person.

"Hehe." A smile played on Karen's lips, as if every little thing in life brought her joy.

Her favorite pastime was actually tearing apart couples who seemed perfectly matched. Love was a game of deceiving oneself or others. All expectations of love stemmed from fantasy. Unfortunately, that fantasy for her had shattered long ago, back when she was just a child.

If she had a few more days, she was confident she could completely captivate the prince. It was a pursuit that had become a source of great amusement for her during this academic exchange visit.

As they chatted amicably, the light grew brighter, and they finally stepped into the central reading hall. A magnificent domed ceiling came into view. It soared twenty-four meters high and was adorned with alternating patterns of deep gold and azure, reminiscent of stars in the night sky dancing with the first light of dawn. At the very center of the dome, a massive mirrored surface reflected the entire landscape below.

The interior had been converted from the original parliament chamber of the Kingdom of Hutton. The solemn, circular hall featured a layout resembling a courtroom or legislative room. Long tables were arranged in concentric circles radiating outward from a central open space.

Inside, dozens of curved peachwood tables were neatly arranged across the hard marble floor. Each table held a jade-green desk lamp, and the spacing between them created a sense of depth and order without feeling cramped.

Towering wooden bookcases with glass panels lined the perimeter of the hall, housing a neatly organized collection of approximately eighty-five thousand volumes. Above each section, a gold plaque indicated the subject matter, ranging from "History" and "Art" to "Magical Texts" and "Ecology and Nature."

As he pointed into the distance, Ainor said, "That central area, resembling both a lecture podium and a theatrical stage, isn't usually open to the public. It’s reserved for events like public academic lectures or official announcements. During major gatherings, those long tables are often packed with visiting guests."

Generally speaking, the central area of this library saw its most frequent use for semi-public events like the "Observation of a Primal Tablet."

Whenever a potential viewer successfully completed Dean Lawrence’s trial, the event was held here. Interested students and scholars from the Erika Magic Spire often dropped by to witness it.

Beyond the tables and chairs arranged in a circle on the ground floor, going further from the main hall revealed the library’s upper levels. They curved in a semicircle like the tiers of a grand theater. From above, a person could not only overlook the activity in the central hall, but also sense the atmosphere of knowledge and history permeating the space from every direction.

"So it’s like this." Karen glanced at the large clock in the distance. They had arrived about half an hour before their scheduled meeting with Dean Lawrence. Given the dean’s heavy workload and the fact that he had squeezed this meeting into a packed schedule, it was unlikely he would arrive so early.

Moments later, both Ainor and Karen noticed someone standing right in the center of the main hall.

A dignified young man stood there with the calm, poised air of a chess piece. His attire was impeccable. The intricate grid patterns on his collar and tie complemented his dark coat perfectly, while his gentle gaze held a depth of profound wisdom.

He was smiling as he watched the newcomers enter the hall. "Your Highness Ainor, Miss Karen, you’ve arrived."

Every movement Lance made, from his slight nod to his unhurried steps, exuded the aura of a natural-born leader. In this sanctuary of knowledge, he appeared as a true mentor, waiting to offer the best guidance and advice to students eager to learn.

Karen was momentarily transfixed. Had she not already met Dean Lawrence, she might well have mistaken this young man for the supreme leader of the Sages’ College.

"Lance, I heard you’d been incredibly busy since returning from the Shadow Realm, so I didn't want to bother you. I never expected to see you so soon." Any lingering worries Ainor might have harbored earlier vanished the instant he saw Lance, replaced entirely by delight as he quickened his pace toward him.

Lance gave a slight bow to Ainor as he approached. "It’s good to see you, Your Highness Ainor. Originally, Miss Karen was supposed to view the Primal Tablet alone. However, considering how busy Dean Lawrence’s schedule is going to be, I agreed to his request to save him from having to set aside time for me separately later on."

Karen, walking beside Ainor, looked up at him with a mix of confusion and surprise. "Your Highness Ainor, are you and Lance actually acquainted?"

When she had previously turned in her assignment to Lawrence, he had explained that due to scheduling conflicts, she was effectively cutting in line ahead of a student from Ikerite University. He had mentioned that they might end up viewing the tablet together, which was a proposal she had readily agreed to, understanding the situation and expressing her gratitude.

While the Sages’ College and the College of Magical Engineering shared some common ground in their magic curricula, since the Sages’ College did have a handful of students skilled in magical engineering, even Karen hadn't expected that the student she had cut ahead of would be Lance.

He was the very same person rumored to have defeated the Saintess of Destruction from the Church of Resurrection.

However, when faced with a challenge from Adam, he hadn't cared about winning or losing at all. He had casually let Adam win, displaying a magnanimity akin to Dean Lawrence’s, while simultaneously acting as if he didn't consider Adam a serious rival in the first place.

Ainor introduced him to Karen with a grin. "Yes, this is my close friend Lance, the top student of the freshmen class at the Sages’ College."

Karen likely wasn't very familiar with Lance. After all, since arriving at Ikerite University, she had shuttled back and forth between the College of Magical Engineering and the Church of the Goddess of Fate. She showed little interest in the combat-oriented disciplines of the Sages’ College or the Knights’ College, seemingly weary of the constant fighting and violence that characterized the Yaloran Kingdom’s Royal University.

Ainor had wanted to brag about his close friend to Karen but had held back.

Professor Boralo had instructed the few who knew the truth, that Lance had become a provisional Platinum Certified card maker a week ago, not to spread the word until the critical steps of his official Platinum Certification were complete. This was done to avoid attracting external interference. Out of consideration for Lance, Ainor had kept quiet.

Karen turned to Lance and greeted him politely, "Lance, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I hope Adam hasn't caused you too much trouble."

She had little interest in the squabbles between combat students. To her, it was all so foolish. Really, simply worshipping her should have been enough.

Lance answered sincerely, "Not at all. When Senior Adam has a request, I do my utmost to fulfill it. That is my duty and responsibility."

"As expected of Dean Lawrence's outstanding protégé. I am sure he would be gratified by the concessions you've made."

In that brief exchange, Karen had already sized Lance up. His demeanor and sincerity didn't seem feigned. He appeared to be a man whose outward appearance matched his inner self. In that case, having an extra "third wheel" around today didn't matter. It wouldn't hinder her continued control over Ainor.

"Your Highness Ainor—"

Just as Karen was about to continue speaking to Ainor, she noticed, to her bewilderment, that the prince had already draped his arm around Lance’s shoulders. He seemed to have forgotten her entirely, leaving her standing to the side while he focused solely on chatting endlessly with Lance.

Karen felt incredibly awkward. Why did it feel like her own charm couldn't even compare to that of another man’s?! After all, Ainor wasn't even a tenth as captivated by Sophia as he was by Lance!

Lance smiled helplessly at Karen. This moment mirrored that time back at the Card Maker’s Association, except the people present were different.

Karen instinctively tightened her fist just a fraction. She couldn't tell if Lance’s smile stemmed from genuine exasperation with the prince, or if it carried a hint of mockery! It was as if he were telling her, "You could never be this close to the prince."