Chapter 62: Tempting
Anna leaned back in her chair, her eyes lingering on the door Louis had just walked through.
Louis Vermoore.
The name echoed softly in her thoughts. The young man who had played a decisive role in repelling the terrorists who attacked the academy earlier that day.
Though she hadn’t witnessed his strength firsthand, the reports she’d received were impressive—almost unbelievable. According to several witnesses, his swordsmanship had been so sharp, so fluid, that it could rival high-tier magic.
And he was only a first-year student.
Anna rested her chin on her hand, her amethyst eyes narrowing slightly as a faint smile curved her lips.
Such talent... so raw, so unrefined, and yet already brilliant enough to dazzle.
Tempting.
That unhidden brilliance stirred something possessive deep within her. The kind of talent that every ruler wanted under their banner.
"What a shame," she murmured under her breath.
Her attempt to recruit him had fallen flat. Completely.
She’d thought offering him a position among the Guardian Knights—the elite group that worked directly under her—would be more than enough to pique his interest. After all, for most young men, especially those with ambition, such an opportunity was a dream.
A chance to serve directly under the Imperial Princess, to wield influence and honor beyond their years.
And yet...
"He didn’t waver at all," she said quietly, her expression unreadable.
Louis had rejected her offer with a single word. Bothersome.
Even now, she could recall the tone of his voice, calm but firm—like a blade that would not bend. His eyes had held no greed, no hesitation, no trace of temptation.
A resolute gaze she had rarely seen, even in the Imperial court.
It made her wonder.
Was he truly someone with no ambition? A man uninterested in power, status, or recognition?
...Or had he seen through her?
Anna’s smile deepened slightly, a glint of curiosity flashing in her eyes.
Perhaps Louis had realized her true intention—to gather the academy’s most exceptional talents under her wing, binding them to her through loyalty and influence.
The Guardian Knights might have been presented as a noble organization to protect the academy, but in truth, they were also a foundation—a seedbed for the empire’s future power.
If Louis had understood that and still refused, it only made him more interesting.
"Restraint and insight," she murmured, her fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. "A rare combination."
Raw strength could be cultivated. Ambition could be shaped.
But to possess both power and the clarity to see through deception...
That was the mark of someone truly dangerous.
And it only made her want him on her side even more.
If Louis had truly seen through her intentions in that brief moment—and tried to escape, just as she suspected—then he was precisely the kind of person Anna had been searching for all along.
A sharp mind. Keen instincts. The ability to see through layers of pretense with nothing but a glance.
The thought sent a faint thrill through her chest.
How intriguing.
The desire to possess him—no, to have him under her influence—began to bloom quietly within her.
As the Imperial Princess, Anna was someone who had always gotten what she wanted. Power, loyalty, admiration—none of it had ever been out of reach.
There had never been anything she couldn’t claim as her own.
And this time, she saw no reason why that should be any different.
A faint smile played at her lips as she imagined Louis—his cautious tone, his measured words, the way his eyes subtly shifted whenever he was deep in thought.
Interesting. Very interesting.
She lifted her teacup, taking a slow sip, only to realize the tea had already gone cold.
Unbothered, she set it back down gently, the porcelain clinking softly against the saucer.
Her amethyst eyes glimmered with quiet amusement.
"Louis..." she murmured under her breath, her smile deepening.
"We’ll meet again soon."
The sound of the teacup settling against the saucer faded into silence.
Then, a soft knock echoed from the door.
"Your Highness," came a calm voice from beyond it. "Vice-Captain Claude requests an audience."
Anna’s eyes flicked toward the door, her faint smile never leaving her face. "Let him in."
The door opened with a muted creak, and a tall man clad in silver armor stepped inside. His movements were disciplined, every gesture deliberate. Claude bowed deeply before meeting her gaze.
"You wished to see me, Your Highness?"
Anna gestured gracefully toward the seat opposite her. "Sit."
Claude obeyed without a word, his steel-gray eyes sharp and alert. He had served Anna for years—loyal, pragmatic, and capable. A soldier through and through.
Once he sat, Anna leaned back slightly, fingers interlacing as she regarded him with quiet curiosity. "You’ve read the report on the academy incident, haven’t you?"
"Yes," Claude replied. "I’ve reviewed all witness statements and preliminary analyses. The investigation team is still searching for traces of the attackers’ movements after their escape."
"Mm." Anna’s gaze drifted toward the window, where the light of the setting sun painted the glass in hues of amber. "And about Louis Vermoore?"
Claude’s brow furrowed slightly. "The first-year student... yes. I’ve confirmed the details. He’s the one who neutralized the blood mage and helped protect the princess during the attack."
Anna’s lips curved. "Helped? According to what I’ve heard, he was the one leading the charge when the guards faltered."
Claude hesitated. "That... is correct, Your Highness. But..."
Claude paused for a moment, his jaw tightening before continuing. "But there’s something strange about the entire incident."
Anna tilted her head slightly, intrigued. "Strange, you say?"
"Yes." Claude’s tone was grave. "The attack was too organized for a mere act of terrorism. The way they moved—their coordination, the precision of their timing—it all suggests prior knowledge of the academy’s defense layout."
Anna’s expression cooled, the faint smile fading from her lips. "Are you suggesting someone from within leaked that information?"
Claude nodded once. "That is the most plausible explanation. The attackers avoided the heavily guarded sectors and went directly for the building where the princess was attending her class. It’s almost as if they knew the guard rotation schedule in advance."
Anna’s fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest. The sound echoed softly in the still room. "How bold," she murmured, her tone low and unreadable. "To target an Imperial Princess within academy walls... either arrogance, or desperation."
Claude said nothing, but his silence was heavy with unspoken concern.