Ezra finally returned to the place where Lucy had been waiting for him.
The young maid stood patiently beside the Noble Steam Carriage with both hands folded neatly in front of her apron. Behind her, the elegant carriage remained parked quietly beneath the evening sky, its polished metal reflecting the fading orange light of the setting sun. Wisps of steam occasionally escaped from the engine vents, showing that the driver had kept the engine warm while waiting for his master’s return.
The academy grounds had already begun to empty.
Groups of students steadily made their way toward their residence, while others boarded their family carriages one after another. Compared to the noisy atmosphere from earlier that afternoon, the academy had become much calmer.
The endless search for Ezra had finally begun to die down.
The moment Lucy saw him approaching...
She gave a polite bow.
"Welcome back, Master."
Her voice remained as calm and respectful as always.
However...
Ezra immediately noticed the slight twitch at the corners of her lips.
She was trying very hard not to laugh.
Although her expression barely changed...
Her eyes had already betrayed her.
"..."
Ezra quietly looked at her.
Lucy quickly lowered her head a little more, pretending to remain completely professional.
Even so...
The tiny movement of her shoulders made it clear she was still suppressing her laughter.
She was close to losing that battle.
Ezra simply sighed inwardly.
He didn’t feel like bringing up the topic again.
The academy had already embarrassed him enough for one day.
Without saying anything else...
He calmly stepped into the Noble Steam Carriage.
The soft leather seat welcomed him as he settled inside.
Maybe...
I should buy those head plugs Cyrus uses.
The thought suddenly crossed his mind.
If he had owned a pair today...
Perhaps he wouldn’t have heard Vera’s announcement so clearly.
Or maybe...
He could have pretended not to hear it at all.
Unfortunately...
That opportunity had long passed.
Ezra quietly rested his elbow against the carriage window before supporting the side of his head with his knuckles.
Outside...
The last rays of sunlight stretched across the academy roads.
Lucy entered the carriage a moment later and sat opposite him.
After confirming that both passengers were seated comfortably...
The driver lightly pulled one of the control levers.
A low mechanical hum echoed beneath the carriage.
Steam hissed from the exhaust vents.
The engine gradually came to life.
Not long afterward...
The Noble Steam Carriage rolled forward smoothly.
Its wheels quietly crossed the stone roads of the Royal Academy as it headed toward the East Wing, where Ezra’s residence was located.
The scenery outside slowly drifted past the window.
Towering academy buildings.
Flower gardens.
Elegant fountains.
Students chatting as they walked home.
Everything gradually slipped behind them as the carriage continued its journey through the peaceful evening.
***
Far away from the East Wing...
Within the North Wing of the Royal Academy...
Inside the private residence belonging to Selena Galehart...
The atmosphere was completely different.
Warm golden lights illuminated the spacious bedroom, giving the room a peaceful glow despite the cool weather outside.
Elegant polished wooden furniture stood neatly around the room, while expensive paintings decorated the walls. A faint floral fragrance lingered in the air, mixing naturally with the fresh scent drifting in from the slightly opened windows.
Selena sat gracefully before a large dressing mirror.
The chair beneath her was crafted from soft Foam, a luxurious material favored by many noble families for its comfort.
Her reflection quietly stared back at her.
She had already changed into a loose lime-colored nightdress that draped elegantly around her slender figure.
The soft fabric rested naturally against her body, giving her a gentle and refined appearance.
Standing behind her...
Her personal maid carefully attended to her evening routine.
With delicate movements, the maid began removing the flower petals woven neatly into Selena’s emerald hair.
Each petal was handled with great care, because they weren’t ordinary decorations.
Among the noble ladies of Britannia...
These specially crafted floral accessories had become one of the most fashionable ornaments in recent years.
Known as Infinity Hair Scent, they were produced and distributed exclusively by Count House Casper.
Every minute...
The petals naturally released a gentle floral fragrance into the air.
The scent was neither overwhelming nor artificial.
Instead...
It spread softly around the wearer, leaving behind a refreshing and elegant aroma wherever they walked.
Because Selena Galehart served as the main promotional model for the Infinity Hair Scent collection...
She owned numerous varieties of the product.
Different colors.
Different floral scents.
Different seasonal editions.
Each one had been carefully prepared for different occasions.
The maid gently placed each flower petal into a beautifully crafted metal storage case resting on the dressing table.
The moment the lid opened...
A stream of cold air quietly flowed from inside.
The specially designed container constantly maintained a cool internal temperature.
Doing so preserved the freshness of the scent petals for much longer than ordinary storage methods.
Once every petal had been carefully stored...
The lid was quietly closed again.
Freed from its accessories...
Selena’s long emerald hair naturally flowed down her back.
Nearby...
An alchemy-powered wind device quietly stirred the air.
In Ezra’s previous life’s world...
It would simply have been called an electric fan.
However...
Within Britannia...
It was known simply as a Fan.
Unlike ordinary household tools...
This version had been created through Wind Alchemy and powered with electricity generated from the Seam Engine Core of Selena’s residence.
Its blades rotated silently.
A cool breeze gently passed through Selena’s hair, causing the emerald strands to sway beautifully behind her.
Despite Britannia’s naturally cold climate...
Selena still enjoyed using it.
Like most Britannians...
She possessed exceptional resistance to cold.
The harsh weather that troubled ordinary people rarely affected members of noble families, whose bodies had been strengthened through proper nutrition, training, and generations of healthy living.
Only those who lacked proper nourishment...
Or the rare individuals born with unusually poor resistance...
Found Britannia’s cold difficult to endure.
One obvious example...
Is Ezra.
The maid slowly combed through Selena’s silky hair with practiced care.
"My Lady..."
She spoke gently.
Selena continued looking at her reflection.
"Yes...Becky."
Her reply was soft.
As always...
Her emerald eyes remained fixed upon the mirror before her.
Every small detail of her appearance received her attention.
Not because she was vain...
But because she believed elegance was something that required constant care.
Her posture remained perfectly straight.
Her breathing, calm.
Even the smallest movement carried quiet grace.
"You still haven’t chosen a dance partner."
Becky spoke softly as she continued combing Selena’s emerald hair.
Although her voice remained respectful...
The concern in her eyes was difficult to hide.
"I know."
Selena’s answer was gentle.
Her gaze never left the mirror before her as she quietly watched her own reflection, while the breeze from the alchemy-Steam core powered Fan gently lifted several loose strands of her hair, causing them to sway elegantly behind her.
Becky let out a small sigh.
"You say you know... But you’re the one who rejected every invitation."
She carefully guided the comb through another section of Selena’s hair before placing it neatly behind her shoulder.
"You even turned down the Fifth Prince."
She looked at her mistress’ reflection through the mirror, with the concern on her face deepening.
Among the noble ladies of Britannia...
Receiving countless invitations to the Welcome Ball wasn’t unusual.
But rejecting every single one of them...
Especially one from a Royal Prince...
Was another matter entirely.
Selena naturally noticed Becky’s worried expression.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"You know that we, the Flowers of Britannia, have to be careful about the people we associate with."
Her voice remained calm and refined.
"One careless decision... One unnecessary rumor...One scandal..."
She slowly folded her hands on her lap.
"That is enough to damage the reputation we’ve spent years building."
Her tone never became heavy.
She simply stated a truth every noble lady had learned while growing up.
"If we’re seen beside the wrong person...People won’t wait to learn the truth. They’ll create their own."
Becky quietly listened.
She understood every word.
After all...
She had served Selena long enough to know how strict noble society could be.
"I understand that, My Lady."
She gently placed the gold-coated comb, decorated with several small green gemstones, onto the dressing table.
The polished surface reflected the warm light filling the room.
"But..."
She reached for a small crystal container filled with scented hair cream.
Scooping out a small amount with the tip of her index finger, she rubbed it gently between both palms before carefully applying it to Selena’s long emerald hair.
"...waiting until now isn’t like you."
Her hands moved skillfully through Selena’s hair.
"You usually make these decisions much earlier."
Selena quietly watched herself through the mirror.
"It really isn’t like me."
Her reply carried complete honesty.
She slowly lowered her eyes before lifting them again.
Her emerald pupils met her own reflection.
For a brief moment...
The room fell silent except for the quiet hum of the Fan and the gentle sound of Becky running her fingers through her hair.
"But... This time...It was necessary."
Her soft voice carried an unexpected firmness.
There wasn’t even the slightest hesitation in her soft voice.
Selena Galehart...
One of the celebrated Flowers of Britannia.
The pride of House Galehart.
And widely acknowledged as the family’s most elegant daughter.
Ever since she was little...
She had been raised under the careful guidance of her mother.
An elegant and highly respected noblewoman whose every action reflected the dignity expected of a Duchess.
From her...
Selena learned that elegance wasn’t something a noble lady wore like jewelry.
It became part of her daily life.
The way she walked.
The way she spoke.
The way she smiled.
The way she greeted others.
Even the smallest habits reflected the upbringing of a true noble lady.
As she grew older...
Those teachings gradually became part of who she was.
Combined with her natural talent for the piano...
Her graceful manners...
And the heritage of House Galehart, a Duke Family that followed the Path of Wind Alchemy...
Everything steadily shaped Selena into the refined young noblewoman she was today.
However...
As the years passed...
She realized something important.
Improving herself alone wasn’t enough.
One day...
She would have to choose the person who would stand beside her for the rest of her life.
The man who would become her future fiancé.
Or perhaps...
Her future husband.
Because of that...
Selena found herself thinking carefully about the kind of person she truly wanted.
That was when she discovered something about herself.
She had a weakness for elegant boys.
Not elegance alone.
She wanted someone calm.
Someone composed.
Someone who rarely lost control of himself.
Someone whose quiet confidence naturally drew people’s attention without needing to demand it.
Of course...
Appearance also mattered.
She wanted someone handsome enough to attract attention wherever he went.
Someone other girls would admire.
Someone they would secretly envy whenever they saw him standing beside her.
In the same way...
She wanted the boys watching them together to feel jealous that such an elegant young lady had chosen him.
The feeling had to go both ways.
She wanted both of them to shine equally beside one another.
Even then...
Those qualities alone weren’t enough.
There was one condition she valued above everything else.
He had to possess extraordinary talent in the world of Alchemy.
And...
He had to be ambitious.
Someone who refused to remain ordinary.
Someone with a future bright enough to stand at the very top of Britannia.
Those were the qualities Selena desired most.
Because of those standards...
She never chased after the popular young nobles the way many other noble girls did.
She simply observed them from afar.
Only those who matched her ideals ever managed to catch her attention.
The first was Ravenor.
His calm personality...
His remarkable talent...
And the fact that he had already been treated as the future Young Lord of House Burnwick at only eleven years old...
Made him the first young noble who truly fit the image Selena had imagined for the person she wanted to spend her future with.
The next person who caught Selena’s attention and fit the image of her ideal noble gentleman...
Was Deveni Bergwyn.
The young man was widely recognized as the greatest talent House Bergwyn had produced in many years. Among his generation, he stood on top of the outstanding individuals such as Silvia Ashenlocke, the elder stepsister of Vera and Veda. and other outstanding individuals from other High status Noble families.
His reputation alone was enough to attract countless noble ladies.
However...
Deveni was several years older than Selena.
More importantly...
Rumors had long spread through noble society that he had already been betrothed to the First Princess.
Whether those rumors were completely true or not no longer mattered.
Selena quietly gave up on him.
There was no reason to pursue someone whose future had already been decided.
After that...
Another young noble entered her sight.
Gareth Ashenlocke.
In many ways...
He also matched several of the qualities she admired.
He possessed a calm temperament, respectable talent, and came from one of Britannia’s greatest Duke Families.
Unfortunately...
There was one thing Selena could never overlook.
Gareth lacked ambition.
From her perspective...
He devoted far too much of his attention to following behind Felix.
Watching him willingly remain in that position was something Selena simply couldn’t understand.
To her...
Someone without the drive to walk their own path could never become the person she sought.
Eventually...
She quietly crossed Gareth’s name from her heart as well.
The last young noble who managed to catch her attention...
Was Desmond Derlis.
At first...
She believed he possessed remarkable potential.
His status.
His talent.
His confidence.
Everything suggested a promising future.
Sadly...
That impression didn’t last long.
His carefree attitude toward women...
Along with the countless small scandals that constantly followed him...
Quickly became enough for Selena to lose interest.
By the time she had carefully considered every young noble within her social circle...
Only one remained.
Ravenor.
Even now...
Members of House Galehart and House Burnwick had already begun casually discussing the possibility of arranging an engagement between the two families.
Neither family openly pressured them.
For now...
It remained nothing more than quiet conversation among the elders.
Selena herself didn’t dislike the idea.
She was perfectly willing to accept such an arrangement if the future led in that direction.
As for Ravenor...
He never seemed particularly concerned about it.
To him...
Selena was simply much easier to be around than the other Flowers of Britannia.
She wasn’t noisy.
She wasn’t troublesome.
She understood personal boundaries.
Compared to many noble ladies who constantly sought his attention...
Being around Selena felt considerably more comfortable.
Everything had continued peacefully.
Until...
The day she met him.
The day of the Auction Event.
Selena quietly looked at her reflection while Becky finished the final touches on her hair.
The evening routine continued smoothly.
Her hair care had already been completed.
Next would be facial care.
After that...
Her skin care routine.
Then she would retire for the night.
As Becky prepared the next set of beauty products...
Selena’s thoughts slowly drifted elsewhere.
She still remembered that strange feeling from their first meeting.
It had been small.
Almost impossible to notice.
A faint flutter deep inside her heart.
At the time...
She hadn’t paid much attention to it.
Now...
She found herself remembering it more clearly than ever.
Ezra Ashenlocke.
His name quietly echoed through her thoughts.
His face naturally appeared in her mind.
The calm black eyes.
The composed expression.
The quiet confidence that seemed completely detached from the noise surrounding him.
The more she thought about him...
The more she realized something.
Ezra perfectly matched every standard she had spent years unconsciously creating.
His appearance alone was already exceptional.
Among the sons of Mainline families...
Among the heirs of Duke Houses...
Even among the Royal Princes...
Very few could compare with him.
In Selena’s eyes...
Ezra could even be considered more handsome than many of them.
Appearance alone, however, had never been enough to win her heart.
What truly captured her attention...
Was the person behind that face.
Ezra rarely spoke unnecessarily.
He remained calm.
Collected and Direct.
His emotions were difficult to read, yet he never appeared arrogant because of it.
He simply carried himself with quiet confidence.
Then came the Scholar Bombardment.
The confidence Ezra displayed while facing countless scholars, Craftsmen, Big Company Representatives...
His refusal to retreat...
His unwavering composure despite standing alone...
That moment left a deep impression on Selena.
More than anything else...
It was his ambition that truly captivated her.
At first...
She had been disappointed when Ezra refused to sign a contract after unveiling his inventions.
She believed he had wasted an incredible opportunity.
Later...
After seeing the reaction of the Duke of her father, the executive members of the BNC group and after carefully thinking about his decision...
She finally understood.
Ezra hadn’t rejected those contracts because he lacked vision.
He rejected them because his ambition reached much further than what everyone else had imagined.
The realization quietly changed the way she viewed him.
Before she noticed...
Her thoughts returned to him more and more often.
Curiosity gradually became admiration.
Wanting answers...
She began researching everything she could about Ezra Ashenlocke.
She learned about the events surrounding the Ashenlocke Family’s Unveiling Party.
She learned how poorly his own family had treated him.
How they had underestimated him.
How they had continued pushing him aside.
Yet...
Rather than allowing those hardships to break him...
Ezra simply accepted the opportunities placed before him.
Step by step...
He climbed upward without ever looking back.
He had also played an important role in developing the new Novice Rank firearm...
As well as the improved Binder Rank firearm that had recently attracted the attention of all Britannia.
Everything surrounding Ezra Ashenlocke carried an unusual feeling.
It was as though everyone could sense that he was only beginning his rise.
His future remained hidden beneath layers of mystery.
No one truly knew how far he would go or if he would fall.
Without realizing it...
Selena found herself becoming more and more fascinated by the mysterious young inventor of Britannia.
Even so...
She remained Selena Galehart.
One of the Flowers of Britannia.
No matter what emotions quietly bloomed within her heart...
None of them appeared on her face.
She continued carrying herself with the same graceful elegance she always had.
Especially after Vera openly declared that Ezra was off limits.
Selena never allowed herself to act impulsively.
That...
Was her greatest dilemma.
She had originally planned to use the Welcome Party as an opportunity to naturally become acquainted with Ezra.
Now...
That path had become far more difficult.
After all...
How was she supposed to approach someone who barely seemed interested in the people around him... and who now stood behind a wall that Vera herself had quietly placed before every girl in the academy?
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