Ye Wei'an's Information

Ledera walked to the desk and rang the silver bell. "Well then, let's first see what the court records can tell us."

She summoned a maid and instructed her, "Go to the archives and, in my name, retrieve all files related to 'Ye Wei'an Xia Xing,' a student at the War Mage Academy."

The maid nodded and was about to leave when she was stopped by her.

"Also, I remember the Xia Xing family is a small family in the Eastern Territory. You can check their information in the Herald Officer's files. Be careful to keep a low profile."

The maidservant accepted the order and left.

The side hall returned to quiet.

With Redra's promise, Valona was immediately relieved and even felt like joking with Redra.

(Photo of Valuna Kim)

"Your Highness, judging from your enthusiasm, it's probably not just for Principal Ganlahaster, is it?" she teased. "You know, my brother may be a bit dim-witted, but he's notoriously picky. How handsome must someone be for him to risk his status to lay a hand on them?"

"Oh? You think I'm the kind of person who's easily swayed by appearance?"

"...It's hard to say."

Seeing that Redra was unconvinced, Valona said with the air of someone who had been there before, "I know a lot of noble ladies and wives, and I know very well how much they value looks—in my experience, anyone who thinks they won't be attracted to a man's appearance will eventually be proven wrong by the fact that the men they've met aren't handsome enough."

"Where did you get all these strange and absurd ideas from?" Redra gently patted her.

"This isn't just some wild theory, it's based on experience!" Valona said earnestly. "I'm really curious myself, what kind of man could make Maranse so infatuated?"

"Humble origins, decisiveness to fight at the slightest provocation, coupled with Master Ganlahast's affirmation... tsk tsk, this Mr. Ye Wei'an is simply like someone who stepped out of those heroic novels."

Seeing her female companion already lost in fantasies, Redra sighed, "Since you've praised him like a novel's male protagonist, wouldn't I be letting you down if I didn't see him for myself?"

The wait took longer than expected.

Just as Valona was adjusting her skirt for the third time, there was finally a knock on the door.

It was the same maid who placed a not-too-thick document on the desk in front of Redra, and then silently withdrew again.

Redra sat down, and Valona immediately moved closer to her.

The princess untied the ribbon and turned to the first page.

The intelligence was surprisingly...sparse.

Records from the War Mage Academy show that Ye Weian Xia Xing enrolled about four years ago and was assessed as having "below average" talent. His theoretical course grades hovered around the passing mark, his practical course performance was "mediocre," with no outstanding achievements or published papers, and no record of special attention from tutors. However, his grades in several general education courses, such as history and geography, were quite good.

His teacher described him as having average talent, a withdrawn personality, and poor social skills.

It perfectly fits the image of an ordinary apprentice who barely gets into the academy through his family, yet has limited talent and ultimately remains unknown.

Additional information from the Heraldry Institute: The Xia Xing family is a minor noble family in the Eastern Territory with a long history but now in decline. Their fiefdom is small and their output meager. Ye Weian Xia Xing is the illegitimate son of the current patriarch of the family. Four years ago, he was sent to the Royal Capital War Mage Academy, seemingly as part of some kind of compromise or exile arrangement within the family.

He himself was ranked very low in the family inheritance sequence, almost negligible.

They applied for a development order today, with the development target being the "Thun Plain".

Valona frowned deeply. She snatched the pages and examined them closely, as if she could glean a hidden secret from them.

"This...that doesn't make sense," she murmured in confusion. "Based on this file, he could barely stay at the academy. How could Principal Ganlahast possibly take notice of him? And how could he just casually...hang Marans from the roof?"

I think there are three possibilities.

Redra calmly analyzed: "First, this file is fake, or it has been processed using extremely sophisticated methods to erase all traces of authenticity."

"Impossible, right?" Valona retorted immediately. "Who could alter two sets of records, one from the court and one from the academy? Why would someone with that ability and resources go to such lengths to cover up the illegitimate son of a minor nobleman? That doesn't make sense."

"I think so too." Redra nodded. "Secondly, this Mr. Yevian Xiaxing has a huge secret that has forced him to deliberately hide himself for the past four years."

"Hide it?" Valona thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Xia Xing's family isn't very powerful, and they don't have any formidable enemies. Why would an illegitimate child need to pretend to be a good-for-nothing from the moment he enters school? That's too much of a burden to bear."

"Then there's only a third possibility left." Redra tapped the table with her fingertip. "He recently—most likely in the last two months—encountered some kind of 'fortuitous encounter.' For example, he accidentally discovered ancient ruins, received the inheritance of a reclusive archmage—like that famous Elminster, or... was favored by some god or demon."

"That's possible!" Valona's eyes lit up. "That's how it's written in novels! Someone suddenly gains a legacy, masters power, and then goes to the border to achieve great things... Oh my, Mr. Ye Wei'an is becoming more and more like a character from a novel."

But Redra immediately poured cold water on her hopes: "Don't get your hopes up. Reality isn't a novel. He might not actually be able to succeed in conquering the Thun Plains like the protagonist in the story."

"Why not?"

Redra said earnestly, "Grandpa offered three main border territories to encourage expansion: the Rocky Lands, the Goblin Wasteland, and the Thun Plains, which he chose. All three are tough nut to crack, with harsh environments and numerous dangers. That's why the royal family was willing to offer them as expansion territories. But over the years, statistics show that on average, less than one in ten pioneers can establish a foothold in a expansion territory."

"But some people have succeeded, haven't they?" Valona argued. "Why can't Yevian?"

“Because that’s ‘average’ data.” Redra’s gaze turned serious. “It’s a different story for each specific frontier territory. The Rocky Lands and Goblin Wastes, though arid and barren, teeming with monsters, at least have a few successful precedents that have lasted for more than ten years. But the Thun Plains…”

"How's the Thun Plains?"

"There have been zero successful examples in the last hundred years."

"Zero?!" Valona was stunned.

“To be precise, not entirely,” Redra added. “Before the rebellion a century ago, there were indeed a few pioneering lords on the Thun Plains. But the rebellion swept across the entire region, and all the lords’ castles and villages were breached. Although the rebellion was eventually quelled temporarily, the Thun Plains were completely transformed into a paradise for bandits, brigands, and monsters, and order was utterly destroyed. Since then, no pioneer has been able to truly establish themselves there.”

"So...terrible?" Valona's face dimmed.

"Not only that," Redra continued, "the swamps of Thun are said to be inhabited by serpent lizards, and even... there are traces of black dragon activity."

"Dragons? Isn't that just a scary rumor?" Valona exclaimed in surprise.

"Rumors often have their roots." Redra shook her head slightly. "The official reason for not publicly acknowledging it is simply to avoid scaring away all potential pioneers. Anyway, according to reliable sources, that black dragon seems to often fall into a deep sleep, as long as you don't 'luckily' stumble upon its awakening day or trespass into its lair..." She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was already clear.

After hearing this, Valona's romantic fantasies about Ye Weian completely vanished.

An ordinary illegitimate son, a mage who suddenly becomes unfathomable, and a lord who chooses to venture into a desperate land, almost courting death? These three completely different images collide and intertwine in their minds, yet they can never naturally merge into one person.

After a moment of silence, Redra suddenly stood up.

"There's no point in guessing here." Her tone was decisive, with her usual swift and efficient manner. "Just ask the person who is most likely to know the answer."

"You mean...?" Valona asked in surprise.

"Principal Ganlahast." Redra straightened her skirt, her eyes gleaming with unwavering authority. "Since he values ​​Ye Weian so much, he must know something. I'll go ask him myself."

After saying that, she didn't linger and walked straight towards the door, her steps quick and steady, her honey-colored long hair swaying slightly behind her.

"Your Highness, please slow down!" Valona quickly reminded her.

boom!

The palace gates slammed shut.

Seeing this, Valona shook her head helplessly.

The princess she served was beautiful and intelligent, skilled in both literature and martial arts, and excellent in every way, except for one thing—she was too impulsive and decisive in her actions, not at all like a princess, and the complete opposite of her brother.

But from another perspective, perhaps it's lucky that the Aubyszir royal family has such a princess?

-----------------

Half an hour later, the door was pushed open, and Redra finally returned.

Completely different from her hasty departure—she stood at the door for a long time before slowly walking into the side hall, her face showing an unusual dazed expression.

"Your Highness?" Valona immediately went to greet her. "How did it go? What did the headmaster say?"

Redra shook her head and did not answer immediately.

She walked to the window, her gaze unfocused as she looked towards the distant college, her fingers unconsciously twirling the tassels of the curtains.

This sight completely piqued Valona's curiosity to its limit.

"What happened?" She leaned closer and said softly, "Did Master Ganlahast reveal some shocking inside story? Please stop keeping me in suspense."

Ledera seemed to finally snap out of her thoughts.

She turned to look at Valona, ​​her emerald eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and interest, which ultimately culminated in a soft sigh.

"He admitted it," Redra said, her voice softer than usual. "He said it himself, Yevian Xiaxing... is indeed no ordinary person."

"Not an ordinary person?" Valona pressed. "How exactly are you extraordinary? Is it a natural talent, or is there some secret behind it?"

“I asked,” Redra said, her brow furrowing slightly, “but he just smiled and wouldn’t go into details.”

"So, you came back after asking just that one question?"

"No, that's not it," Redra shook her head, "After I kept pressing him, he finally managed to say something..."

At this point, she mimicked Ganlahast's gentle yet meaningful tone: "'Radera, it won't do you any harm to associate with young men like him. As for what makes him so special, you'll have to see for yourself, you'll have to ask him yourself. Until he tells you himself, I can only keep it a secret.'"

"What kind of answer is that?" Valona was stunned.

This sounds like he said everything, but also like he said nothing at all.

Then, a bold idea popped into my head.

Valona gave a mischievous smile and nudged Redra lightly with her arm.

"Your Highness... do you think Archmage Ganlahaster is trying to set you up with someone?"

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Redra blushed slightly, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"I'm not making this up!" Valona exclaimed, getting more and more convinced of the logic. "Think about it, you're at the age where you should be considering marriage. The principal is your mentor, he watched you grow up, he certainly wouldn't harm you. He has such high standards, for a young person to be praised like that must be incredibly talented and handsome... What else could his intention be for inviting you to meet him besides that?"

"I don't know." Redra turned her face away, her voice a little muffled, but Valona keenly caught the wavering in her tone. "I just felt... his tone was strange today, I've never heard it from him before."

Seeing the princess's slightly troubled yet forced composure, Valona's playful side emerged, and she deliberately dragged out her words: "Oh—so, you wouldn't...really be thinking of agreeing to Master Ganrahaster's offer, would you!?"

"That princess who just swore she'd marry someone 'worthy of her status,' is she going to surrender to a bastard from the Eastern Frontier?"

"Of course I didn't think that!" Redra immediately denied. "I'm just interested in the 'secret' that made the master act so strangely. As for the man himself... I bet he wouldn't be able to get past me."

She straightened her back, trying to use the majesty of a princess to cover up her embarrassment.

But in Valona's eyes, who knew her well, the slightly reddened tips of her ears had already given everything away.

"That's good." Valona smiled like a little fox. "Then when you go to see him tomorrow, you'd better stand firm and don't let that 'extraordinary gentleman' steal your soul with just one look."