Prince Ainor and Lan Qi stood side by side near the grand glass curtain wall. The transparent floor-to-ceiling window gave them a view of the walking plaza below. Both wore relaxed smiles as they chatted happily.
“Actually, Your Highness Ainor, this isn’t difficult to judge. Based on the professor’s demonstration of the demonic art style of that era, the second painting, although it looks abstract, shows several obvious flaws in technique. They weren’t intentional but pure mistakes…”
As Lan Qi explained his observations from the demon-world painting class, Ainor’s eyes lit with approval, nodding again and again. He felt that if he were shown the paintings again, he could really distinguish which were the professor’s and which were the students’, just from Lan Qi’s key points.
Ainor was utterly astonished. Lan Qi could analyze everything in such depth in an instant.
Even mastery of modern and classical art was a feat for humans.
But Lan Qi, upon stepping into the demon world, had instantly grasped the aesthetic ideals of ancient demons. It was both unbelievable and seemingly beyond human capacity!
After some minutes—
“By the way, Lan Qi, you and Huperion came here today to buy some cards, right? Sophia is a silver-ranked cardmaker. If she buys them for you, she can get quite a few internal discounts from the Association.”
Ainor, realizing their conversation had excluded Huperion—who had been waiting quietly beside them—quickly shifted the topic.
“Sophia…”Lan Qi repeated the name softly, a bit puzzled.
“Oh! I forgot to introduce you. You’re the only one here who doesn’t know her. She’s Lady Sophia Faustoc, daughter of Count Faustoc. Huperion and I are both well acquainted with her.”
Ainor clapped his hands as if remembering something obvious and finally turned to look at the purple-haired girl waiting on the sofa.
He’d nearly forgotten about her.
Lan Qi followed his gaze, nodding politely toward Lady Sophia Faustoc.
But Sophia, who had been sneaking glances their way the entire time, deliberately averted her eyes, pretending not to notice him.
Devoted to cardmaking, she cared little for Lan Qi’s feats in the Shadow World.
She never broke school rules and rarely involved herself with the Student Council.
But now, being completely overlooked by Ainor—who was wholly absorbed in his lively chat with Lan Qi—made her simmer with irritation.
Ainor had never given her this much attention before. Yet within moments, Lan Qi had captured his full focus, and Sophia felt entirely forgotten.
At the Association’s third-floor curtain wall windows, Ainor seemed used to Sophia’s temper. He apologized to Lan Qi with none of a prince’s airs:
“Lan Qi, don’t mind her. Sophia has a good heart.”
“Of course not.”
Lan Qi shook his head.
If she was Huperion’s friend, then surely she was a good person—just a little awkward in nature.
Then he answered Ainor’s earlier question: “I came to take the Registered Cardmaker Exam. Huperion wanted to watch me craft.”
Immediately, Ainor’s interest piqued even more.
“So you really can make cards, Lan Qi?”
His tone brimmed with delight, as though he’d long suspected it.
“Yes, I’ve been practicing diligently.”
Lan Qi admitted calmly.
“To be frank, the last time I saw such extraordinary talent was in Duke Migaya.”
Ainor’s words were full of admiration—both for Migaya and now for Lan Qi.
“Migaya… the Duke?”
“Yes. He’s a crystal-rank cardmaker, above platinum. One of the South Continent’s very best.”
For Ainor, Migaya had been both mentor and idol since childhood.
Now, in Lan Qi, he saw a reflection of young Migaya—one of the reasons he was so fond of him.
Though, Migaya was gentle and kind… not as brashly fresh as Lan Qi.
“But I’m sure there’s one difference between you two. Duke Migaya secretly harbored a great demon, and in the end, he even married her! It stunned the king himself, hahaha—you should’ve seen my father’s face!”
Ainor burst into laughter, reminiscing about palace gossip.
Lan Qi: “……”
“By the way, Your Highness Ainor, aren’t you keeping someone waiting?”
Lan Qi subtly shifted the conversation, glancing toward Sophia, who still stole looks from the sofa.
“!”
Ainor suddenly realized, “My apologies! Let’s head to the meeting area. Sophia might even give you some useful exam tips.”
Thanks to Lan Qi’s reminder, he recalled he’d left Sophia sitting alone too long.
He nodded apologetically toward her and led Lan Qi and Huperion over.
Neither Lan Qi nor Huperion refused—there was still plenty of time before the exam.
As they walked, Huperion glanced at Sophia, then back at Lan Qi, eyes full of puzzlement.
She was grateful to Lan Qi for diverting attention from her… yet worried that his involvement with Sophia’s intense gazes might stir some troublesome plans.
…
The grand third-floor atrium had high ceilings and stone pillars, projecting vastness.
On one side, the meeting area featured plush sofas and a low coffee table, their fine materials harmonizing with the decor. A few floor lamps lent a quiet elegance.
Sophia, seeing Ainor finally return, no longer stared at them but sat still with her arms folded.
As the three approached, Lan Qi smiled calmly and suddenly asked Ainor:
“Your Highness Ainor, have you noticed that often, quietly by your side, there’s the gentlest girl you most wish to see?”
The girl on the sofa visibly flinched.
Sophia clenched her fists, ears burning.
She wanted to glare at Lan Qi for such a cryptic question but didn’t dare look at Ainor’s face, her heart pounding wildly as she waited.
“No.”
Ainor answered plainly, without hesitation.
Sophia stomped her feet in frustration.
“……”
Lan Qi fell silent, unsure what else to say.
As they reached the sofa and prepared to sit, he tried again with a subtle nudge:
“Then, Your Highness Ainor, I think, besides your devotion to art, you should also notice the people around you. Don’t let her wait too long.”
Sophia’s anger softened slightly.
It seemed Lan Qi truly was trying to help her.
But Ainor… that blockhead was hopelessly oblivious.
Then, out of nowhere, Ainor’s face lit with sudden clarity.
He gripped Lan Qi’s shoulder earnestly:
“I understand, Lan Qi! You’re saying I should’ve found you sooner! You really are our kingdom’s irreplaceable treasure!”
“……”
Lan Qi could only smile helplessly at Sophia and Huperion.
His smile carried seven parts regret, three parts apology.
He’d truly wanted to help, but Ainor only had eyes for him.
The atmosphere chilled into a tense silence—like smoke about to rise from hidden fire.
Huperion’s eyelids twitched uncontrollably.
Lan Qi seemed sincere and well-meaning.
But…
If one imagined Lan Qi as a girl, everything he said and did reeked overwhelmingly of “green tea” charm!
Pure to the extreme resembled green tea, and green tea taken to its extreme looped back into flawless purity. Once again, Huperion saw duality in him.
Sophia, caught in this subtle play, teetered on emotional collapse.
From her perspective, she began to suspect Lan Qi had schemed all along—disguising innocence to win Ainor’s trust, only to toy with her.
If so, this sly man might even manipulate Ainor’s genuine heart in his palm!
“Lan Qi, I truly look forward to the card you’ll create today. And I’d be honored to see your paintings someday.”
Ainor continued, admiration overflowing.
“……”
Sophia lowered her head, fists tight.
Hearing Ainor’s unending praise for Lan Qi, she finally couldn’t take it anymore. She raised her head, eyes flashing:
“Ainor, I am the cardmaker at your side! I’m the most talented painter you know—you don’t need to revere this man so much!”
Her voice trembled with pent-up emotion, almost shouting: Look at me instead!
“Sophia…”
Ainor blinked, finally shifting his gaze from Lan Qi to her.
He only wanted to learn from Lan Qi’s effortless charisma at Demon Academy.
But Sophia’s reaction was so intense it shook him.
And when he looked back at Lan Qi, he saw only innocent confusion.
In the end, faced with choosing between a woman and his good brother, Ainor once again chose his brother.
“Sophia, look—you’ve scared Lan Qi. What if it ruins his exam? He’s bound to become a pillar of our kingdom!”
He kept praising Lan Qi, completely blind to Sophia’s feelings—and inadvertently fanning her jealousy.
Lan Qi still wore his gentle, helpless smile.
That smile finally pushed Sophia’s jealousy past control.
She blurted:
“I’m seventeen. Already a silver-ranked cardmaker!”
Among second-years at the Academy, silver-ranked cardmakers were very rare.
“Why is it you’d rather admire someone not even officially registered than notice me? I’ve worked so hard…”
Her long-buried frustration finally erupted.
Ainor froze.
“Sophia, is… that what you’ve thought all along? I’ve always valued you…”
He’d never seen her confess so directly. Shocked, he fumbled for words.
As his breath misted, he realized the air had turned cold.
“Your Highness, I should be going.”
Lan Qi patted Ainor’s back, hinting with his eyes: Now’s the time to sit by her side.
“Your Highness Ainor, Lady Sophia, I must hurry to the exam hall.”
He glanced at the time, quickly excusing himself.
“Oh—alright.”
Ainor nodded, seeming to understand.
Huperion followed Lan Qi, both slipping away.
She glanced back—Ainor had indeed sat beside Sophia, talking gently. The mood softened. Perhaps the clash had been the push their awkward personalities needed.
“Lan Qi, did you already predict that only this way could they reveal their feelings?”
Huperion asked curiously.
Lan Qi finally exhaled, smiling faintly.
“No. I’m no love expert. It just happened naturally—like water flowing. That’s all.”
Then he looked at Huperion warmly:
“Being stared at by Sophia couldn’t have been pleasant. You’ve worked hard too.”
But upon hearing this, Huperion suddenly felt uneasy—uncertain what his smile meant.
Was it pure kindness of an angel?
Or a demon’s sly revenge?
She couldn’t tell.
One thought chilled her further:
If Lan Qi failed the exam, nothing serious would happen.
But what if he passed silver?
Then Sophia’s proud words—I’m 17, already silver—would turn into bitter irony, since Lan Qi was only sixteen.
And what if… what if Lan Qi somehow surpassed silver entirely?
Huperion dared not imagine further.