Palace Steward Barton materialized at my dormitory door like a living timepiece—a middle-aged man whose meticulousness bordered on obsession. His black tailcoat hung without a wrinkle, his posture impeccable. He was the royal official I'd specifically requested in my letter to Father.

He presented a gold-embossed document with a precise bow. "Your Highness, the final excursion roster submitted by the student council, as requested, for your review."


I accepted the list, the heavy paper cold against my fingers—much like my mood.

My eyes tracked down the page. Student Council President Reynard headed the list, followed by my name, then several Poetry Society officers, a handful from the Music Society... then the pattern abruptly shifted.

From the midpoint onward stretched a conspicuous string of names, all bearing the same designation—Art Society.


A quick count confirmed my suspicion: of one hundred total spots, the Art Society had claimed over sixty.

This flagrantly violated the guidelines Reynard and I had established. For fairness, the three major artistic organizations were to receive equal allocations.


"Barton," I looked up, my voice carefully neutral, "you're certain this is the final version submitted by the student council?"

Barton's expression darkened. He withdrew another precisely folded document from his inner pocket. "Your Highness, this is the original list personally delivered by the council president. What you hold is the 'updated version' presented to me when I visited the administrative office for the official seal."

I compared the documents side by side. The original showed perfectly balanced quotas among the three major societies. The version in my hand had clearly been altered.

I felt no anger—only cold clarity. Sebastian and Isabella were even more foolish and grasping than I'd imagined. They treated this as mere club politics, not realizing they'd tampered with an official document backed by the royal family and sanctioned by the student council.

"I understand." I returned the forged list to Barton. "Thank you for your diligence. Please take both documents to the Chancellor immediately."

"Your Highness, you wish me to...?" Uncertainty flickered across Barton's normally impassive features.

"Report the truth," I met his gaze steadily. "Inform the Chancellor that someone has falsified the official document for a royal-sanctioned excursion."

Barton asked nothing more. He collected both documents, bowed precisely, and departed—his retreating figure straight as a drawn blade.

Half an hour later, the Chancellor's summons arrived.

In the Chancellor's office, calming incense perfumed the air. The kindly, silver-haired administrator now wore an expression of grave concern. The two lists lay side by side on his polished desk.

"Student Arya," he sighed, regarding me with complex emotion, "this is no minor infraction. The Egret Manor excursion bears the Windermere royal seal of approval. With this development..."

He left the sentence unfinished, but his meaning was clear. He feared escalation would damage both the academy's reputation and the royal family's dignity.

He was asking for my preference—whether to resolve this quietly or pursue formal consequences.

I met his gaze with perfect composure.

"Chancellor, let's proceed as if we're unaware of this discrepancy."

The Chancellor blinked in surprise, clearly not anticipating this response.

I rose, approached his desk, and placed my finger deliberately on the falsified document.

"Let them proceed," I said. "Allow them entry to Egret Manor according to this fraudulent list."

"But surely—"

"Chancellor," I interrupted, my voice carrying the unmistakable weight of royal authority, "their actions transcend academic infractions. Falsifying official documents constitutes fraud under kingdom law. And Isabella's impersonation of royalty to secure undue privileges is the grave offense of royal identity theft."

I regarded his stunned expression and delivered my decision with deliberate precision.

"They have violated Windermere's sovereign law. Therefore, I shall address this matter through proper legal channels."