Chapter 140: Beneath the Bowed Heads
The wheels of the carriage rattled softly as it slowed near the second gate of Twilight Academy. Unlike the towering outer walls that loomed like a kingdom’s fortress, this entrance was more refined, a tall double-height iron fence with intricate designs that gleamed faintly under the morning sun. It wasn’t as imposing as the first gate, but it radiated elegance... the kind of barrier that spoke not of war, but of prestige and class.
Ahead of them, a few carriages were already lined up, each polished and fine, bearing the crests of noble families. Young men and women stepped gracefully out of them, their uniforms crisp and tailored, their movements carrying the subtle confidence of those born into status.
The carriage driver leaned forward on the reins, his weathered face lifting into a grin. "Whew... it’s kind of lively out there, isn’t it? Hahahaha!" His voice was filled with warmth, as if even he was impressed by the sight.
Dila, sitting by the window, parted the curtain wider again with her delicate fingers. Her blue eyes grew round as she took in the scene before her. "Yeah..." she breathed softly, a mix of awe and nerves lacing her tone.
Fran quickly pressed in beside her, their shoulders brushing as her cat ears twitched with curiosity. Her navy-blue hair spilled against the window’s edge as she leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. "Yeah... it’s wonderful sister," she whispered, her tail swaying with excitement.
Beyond the gate stretched the academy grounds, bursting with activity. The buildings themselves were magnificent—arched structures of white stone lined with polished columns, elegant rooftops trimmed with gilded edges that caught the sunlight. Patches of lush Bermuda grass sprawled across the courtyards, soft green carpets where students strolled, lounged, or laughed together.
Everywhere they looked, noble students were already filling the grounds. Some sat beneath canopies, sipping their morning tea with quiet poise, porcelain cups glinting in their hands. Others rehearsed spells in small groups, their incantations weaving trails of light that flickered through the air. A circle of students cheered as two of them engaged in a mock duel with wooden swords, the sharp thwack of wood against wood echoing in the crisp morning air.
On another patch of grass, several boys and girls played a game that resembled ping pong, though instead of paddles, they flicked glowing orbs of magic across a shimmering plane of light, laughing every time a spell ricocheted too far.
The air itself was alive, buzzing with voices, laughter, and bursts of energy. Everything around them spoke of privilege, talent, and ambition.
Inside the carriage, Dila’s breath caught. Her hand lingered on the curtain, her knuckles pale as she held it tightly. For all its beauty, this world before her carried weight... a place of noble heirs and prodigies, of people who stood tall in their power. She could feel her stomach knotting as excitement warred with fear.
Fran, meanwhile, pressed closer against her sister, her lips curving into a grin as she flicked her tail. "Look at them, Sister... it’s like a whole different world," she said with a soft laugh. Her eyes, however, darted briefly to Dila’s hand gripping the curtain, and her playful grin softened into a quiet, knowing smile.
The carriage wheels creaked softly again as they continued rolling over the smooth cobblestone path slower, but the line of other carriages waiting ahead is started to thin down.
Inside, the gentle sway of the carriage made Dila’s silver hair slide slightly across her shoulder. Her blue eyes were still fixed on the lively scene outside the window, but her expression carried that reserved stillness she often wore. After a quiet pause, she leaned forward slightly and spoke, her voice soft but clear.
"Umm... Mister..."
The driver straightened on his bench, glancing back with a polite grin. "Yes, Princess?"
Dila’s gaze flicked to a group of nobles walking arm in arm along the green lawns, their robes swaying elegantly yet their laughter carefree and unguarded. She tilted her head slightly, puzzling. "I’m... amazed that the other nobles are walking so normally... like they have no status at all."
The driver barked out a hearty laugh, shaking his head as he glanced back over his shoulder. His voice was warm, rough from years of speaking on the road. "Like peasants, you mean? Hahaha... Princess, they’re nothing compared to you. Your status is far above theirs."
Dila blinked, her brows knitting gently. She pressed her lips together, then whispered with the smallest trace of doubt, "Really...?" Her tone was fragile, as though she wasn’t convinced.
"Yes, really," the driver said firmly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You are far greater than any of them. They may be nobles, but you... you’re the most powerful of them all. Your name and your blood carry a weight they cannot match."
Dila lowered her gaze, her pale fingers brushing lightly against the carriage’s polished wood. "But... how come they have kingdoms too?" she asked softly. "Doesn’t that make them the same status as me?"
The driver chuckled again, though this time with a gentler tone. "Not quite, Princess. You’ll see... in time, you’ll understand the difference." He gave a nervous laugh, rubbing at his neck as if embarrassed. "Still... I’m honored, you know. To speak with you this freely. If it were any other Princess or Prince, I’d be begging to keep my head attached to my shoulders. Hahaha!"
The sound of his laughter filled the carriage, but Dila didn’t lift her eyes right away. Instead, her silver lashes lowered further, shading her expression. A faint crease touched her brow as she whispered, "Really... i don’t think it’s the case...."
The world outside continued to bustle with life. Laughter, clashing wooden swords, the soft plucking of strings as a few students tuned their instruments for rehearsal... all of it seemed distant to her ears. Dila’s thoughts swirled inward.
I’m still new to this royalty stuff, she admitted silently. Even after month in this world, I still don’t fully understand. Maybe... with time, I’ll learn. Maybe I’ll finally know what it really means.
The carriage rolled forward another few feet, sunlight flashing across the academy gates, and Dila’s reflection in the glass wavered faintly against the lively scene beyond.
Fran had been quiet, her bright blue eyes simply watching Dila as the carriage creaked along. She could tell something weighed on her sister’s mind.... the way Dila’s gaze lingered at the window, how her lips pressed faintly together, how her shoulders looked just a little too still.
Without a word, Fran leaned forward and slipped her arms around Dila, pulling her into a sudden, warm embrace. Her long navy hair brushed against Dila’s cheek as she snuggled in, her cat ears twitching playfully.
"Sister... don’t think about it too much, okay?" Fran giggled softly, her voice light as she nuzzled her face against Dila’s shoulder, rubbing like a kitten seeking comfort.
Dila blinked in surprise, her breath catching as Fran squeezed tighter. Her cheeks flushed a pale pink as she tried to shift. "Fran... y-you’re choking me out," she muttered, her tone caught between irritation and embarrassment.
Fran only snickered, her nose brushing against Dila’s hair as she whispered teasingly, "Not unless you calm down first... hehehe." Her voice carried a mischievous warmth, as if she wanted to smother away all of Dila’s doubts in her own playful way.
From the front seat, the driver couldn’t help but glance back. A chuckle escaped him as he watched the two girls.... the reserved princess and the spirited cat-girl tangled together like sisters. Their voices mixed with the hum of the morning outside, softening the heavy thoughts that had filled the carriage just moments before.
Dila sighed, giving in ever so slightly, her rigid frame relaxing just enough that Fran’s warmth sank in. The world beyond the glass still glittered with noble life, but for that moment, inside the carriage, it was only the two of them and the gentle laughter of someone who cared.
The line of carriages ahead still slowly continuing its thinned, until at last their own reached the front, rolling sideways toward the smaller academy gate. But before Dila could gather her thoughts, something unusual happened.
Knights stationed at the gate suddenly strode forward, their armor gleaming beneath the soft morning light. With practiced precision, they bent down and unrolled long carpets across the cobblestone. The rich fabric stretched outward, crimson threads glimmering faintly, forming a path that led straight to the carriage door.
The lively noise of Twilight Academy’s courtyard—chatter, laughter, clinking teacups, even the sparring clacks of wooden swords—suddenly faltered. Silence swept through the grounds like a gust of wind. One by one, students froze in place. Heads turned. Eyes widened. All around, the noble youths in their polished uniforms stood rooted in awe, their gazes fixed on the single carriage that had just arrived.
And then, almost as if on command, every student lowered their heads in a deep bow.
Dila leaned closer to the window, her silver hair catching the sunlight as she blinked rapidly. "Whaaaat...?" Her voice was barely more than a whisper, disbelief twisting her expression. She could hardly comprehend the sudden reverence pressing against the carriage from all directions.
The knights, perfectly synchronized, reached the carriage door. One knelt, then rose with precise grace, pulling the door open while bowing deeply. His voice rang out, firm and ceremonial.
"The High Princess has arrived."
A ripple of murmurs broke out from the students who dared raise their heads slightly. Their whispers carried across the silent courtyard, sharp and heavy in Dila’s ears.
"I heard her father paid her tuition with... with one trillion gold suns..."
"One trillion...? That’s beyond kingdoms...!"
"With that kind of wealth, she’s untouchable. We mustn’t cross her."
"Avoid her at all costs... her family could destroy us."
Dila’s pointed ears twitched uncontrollably at every word. The whispers dug into her mind until her breath caught. Her wide blue eyes trembled as she stuttered inwardly. Tri... tri... trillion... The number echoed in her skull, so massive it felt unreal, crushing her composure.
Behind her, Fran had been quiet, but now she leaned close, her warm breath brushing Dila’s ear as she whispered with a mischievous, half-nervous grin. "Umm... sister... your father is absolutely a monster in money."
Dila didn’t turn, her gaze still locked on the sea of bowed heads outside. Her lips parted in a faint whisper, so soft it nearly vanished in the air. "Yeah, Fran... even I didn’t know that much sun gold exists..."
Her throat tightened as she swallowed hard, beads of sweat forming at her temples. The red carpet gleamed like a path of pressure, dragging her toward a stage she had never asked for, and yet could not avoid.
From her seat, Dila’s eyes drifted to the horizon beyond the academy gates. The view should have been breathtaking—tall spires of ivory stone gleaming in the sunlight, the manicured gardens spilling across the courtyards, teachers in elegant robes, and noble students in uniforms lined like a painting. Yet all she could see was a sea of bent backs and lowered heads.
Not just students. Not just knights. Even the teachers.... even those who carried the highest status within Twilight Academy, had bowed before her.
But she could not move.
Her slender fingers clutched the edge of her seat, knuckles paling as her heart thudded erratically against her ribs. She wanted to stand, to walk, to show some kind of dignity.... yet her body refused her commands. Her lips stretched into a forced smile, trembling at the corners as her thoughts spiraled in panic.
Move your body, Dila. Come on.... if you sit here frozen any longer, you’ll humiliate yourself.... This can’t be happening. I’m too frozen to move.
Her throat burned as she swallowed again and again, the taste of nervous dryness coating her tongue. A bead of sweat traced slowly down her temple, sliding along her cheek.
The silence outside thickened, unbearably heavy. Even the soft morning wind seemed to hush, carrying only the faint creak of armor as the knights strained in their bowed posture.
Then, casually—too casually—the voice of the carriage driver cut through the suffocating stillness.
"Princess, are you going to step outside of the carriage?"
The words rang out with a jarring normalcy, almost lighthearted.
Outside, the entire courtyard seemed to shudder. Students twitched in their bows, their shoulders stiffening as though struck by lightning. Teachers, normally so composed, flinched with visible discomfort. The knights, their helmets gleaming, tightened their grips on their weapons, sweat beading down their temples beneath the metal. The sheer casualness with which the driver spoke to the Princess felt like a blade scraping against a sacred ritual.
Dila’s heart nearly stopped. Her forced smile wavered as she turned her head toward him, sweat glistening along her pale skin. Her voice broke as she finally managed to speak, a weak, stuttering sound slipping past her lips.
"Y... y... yeah..."
The sound was small, fragile, but it carried.
And that one stutter sent goosebumps through the crowd outside. Heads remained bowed, yet their bodies trembled faintly. The weight of her presence—the unreachable wealth, the unfathomable status, the mystery of her being—pressed down on all of them. Even her hesitation, even her nervous stammer, was enough to ripple through the academy like a wave of silent power.
Inside the carriage, Dila pressed her lips together, breath unsteady. The red carpet glowed like fire outside, waiting for her first step.
" Sister... you can do it," Fran’s soft voice broke through the suffocating silence inside the carriage. Her tone carried no fear, no hesitation—only warmth. She stood gracefully from her seat, her long navy-blue hair spilling like silk down her back, cat ears twitching gently. A bright, encouraging smile curved her lips as she reached forward.
Fran’s hand slipped into Dila’s, her touch warm and steady. " Let’s go outside together, sister," she whispered, her voice both playful and firm.
That gentle grasp was enough to crack through the ice that bound Dila’s body. Her breath hitched as her muscles finally obeyed. Slowly... shakily... she rose to her feet.
Fran tilted her head with a small giggle, rubbing her thumb against Dila’s hand. " Sister, since you have a higher status... it’s better for you to step out first, oky?"
Dila swallowed hard, her throat dry, and nodded. "Y... yeah." Her voice was still fragile, but it was there.
Step by step, she moved toward the open carriage door. The light from outside spilled in like a spotlight, the scarlet carpet stretched out endlessly before her. Beyond it, the sea of bowed heads remained unmoving, their silence a heavy curtain pressing down on her chest.
She reached the doorway and stopped, her small hands clutching together tightly in front of her. Her knuckles turned white as she stood frozen at the edge. She couldn’t force herself to move forward. Not yet.
Her blue eyes stared at the red carpet, her reflection faintly shimmering on its polished threads. One step... just one step. Why can’t I move again?
Her breath quivered, and sweat trickled down her neck despite the soft morning breeze.
Behind her, Fran’s playful smile slowly faded into worry. Her bright eyes softened as she watched her sister’s back tremble ever so slightly. Fran’s tail flicked with concern, her ears lowering as she realized Dila had stopped again.
The tension in the air only grew heavier. The people outside did not dare to lift their heads, yet the longer she stood there, the more suffocating the silence became.
Fran bit her lip. " Sister..." she whispered, her voice now lined with concern.