Increase Talent: Become More Stronger!

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"Good morning, Master!"

"Yes. Good morning to you too. Is the food ready?"

"Of course. You may go ahead and eat."

Without further ado, I walked straight into the living room without a second thought.

As I sat on the sofa, I immediately began eating the meal Eve had prepared, without hesitation.

I must admit, I initially doubted whether Eve's cooking could satisfy me.

But who would've thought? Eve was incredibly skilled at preparing dishes like steak.

Even I had to acknowledge that her skills were no different from the chefs at the academy.

Although, to be fair, her abilities weren't quite on par with the chefs from Lunar Academy.

Still, it didn't matter. I knew that sooner or later, her talent would blossom.

Speaking of which, judging by Eve's aura, I could tell she had begun her cultivation journey.

Another part of me hadn't expected her progress to be this fast.

If I had known, there's no way I wouldn't have taught her myself.

And now, I was beginning to think that Eve's talent wasn't far off from some of the academy students.

In any case, today was the day I would be inaugurated as a prince.

At first, I really didn't want to attend the banquet as the Emperor's adopted son.

But I knew full well that it was impossible to escape the public eye.

By the time I finished my meal, I had already changed into formal attire.

To be honest, today was the day students celebrated their cultivation breakthroughs.

If not for this, I wouldn't have bothered grooming my hair so neatly.

"You look so handsome, sir! With your looks, there's no way the princess won't notice you!"

"Ahem. Please don't talk about that. Let's go. This is the academy celebration, after all."

"Understood!"

After a brief exchange, Eve and I headed out of our room.

As we stepped outside, I noticed several students looking at me.

I wasn't sure why, but I wondered—could they have heard that I was the new prince?

Fortunately, my suspicions didn't seem to be true.

Within seconds, I overheard some gossip from a group of nearby students.

"Did you hear? Noah ranked first in the class advancement exam. Don't you think he cheated?"

"I know, but I don't think he's weak. You know, right? He's as strong as a hero. So I doubt he cheated."

"You're right... But still, he's just a commoner. He doesn't deserve to be with the princess!"

These people...

I knew it was inevitable that I'd be resented by my fellow students.

After all, the area I currently lived in was filled with students from Class B and above—that fact was undeniable.

Because of that alone, I knew it was nearly impossible to meet anyone from Class E.

As I continued walking forward, the scenery around me started to change.

I recognized the area ahead—it was where students from below Class C resided.

As I passed the Class C dormitories, I noticed some admiring and envious stares.

If I recalled correctly, rumors about me being a gifted student had already spread.

Even I had proven myself by securing the top spot in the final exam.

Naturally, it would be strange if they didn't show admiration.

"That's Noah... He really is our role model now. I really admire him."

"Sir Noah! We're rooting for you!"

"Master, you're super popular among the ladies. Eve doesn't even realize it..."

Is that so?

Ck. Just say you're trying to tease me.

"Don't ask too many questions. Focus on your steps. Show your resolve."

"Eve understands!"

Honestly, I was grateful that Eve followed my words so obediently.

If not for that, I wouldn't know whether I could hide my embarrassment or not.

At worst, I might've been forced to cover my face out of shame.

Unexpectedly, I felt a small pain in my lower back.

Suddenly, I remembered the night when the princess had been... aggressive with me.

If it hadn't been for her forcing herself on me, I wouldn't have suffered this back pain.

Thankfully, the pain didn't last long.

In just a few seconds, my self-healing ability took care of the injury.

With that alone, I knew I'd eventually recover from the wound she left me.

After walking for several more minutes, Eve and I finally passed through the dorm gates.

Just as we were about to head toward the Lunar Academy's main hall, I saw a man approach me.

"Hello, are you Sir Noah? I've come under orders from His Majesty."

That voice...

Why does it sound so familiar?

As I realized who it was, I turned to look at the man beside me without hesitation.

It was exactly as I feared.

The man standing before me was none other than the person who had taken my older brother away.

Judging by his expression, he was showing me the utmost respect.

"You..."

"My name is Marcus Wise. You may call me Marcus if you like."

"Marcus... I see. It's a pleasure to meet you."

If you're asking whether I was angry—the answer is obvious.

After all, my hatred toward this man named Marcus was something undeniable.

If he hadn't destroyed my family, I wouldn't have had a reason to hate him.

But what can I do? The past can't be changed—that's a fact.

For now, I knew the only thing I could do was keep myself in check.

Knowing Marcus's personality, I was aware that he was cunning.

Maybe that's why I was so cautious about showing any emotion.

If I showed even a hint of weakness, he might figure out who I really am.

Thankfully, what I feared didn't happen.

From his expression, he genuinely seemed pleased to escort me to the palace.

Speaking of which, my destination was none other than the Imperial Palace.

Initially, the academy didn't plan to hold the ceremony at the palace.

But the Emperor personally requested that the celebration be held there instead.

In the end, they had no choice but to comply.

After all, the Emperor was their ruler—an undeniable fact.

'The Imperial Palace... I can't wait to see that place again... That was where my journey first began,' I thought, recalling the day Liliana's father brought me there.

If it weren't for him, I might not have escaped death that day.

"Sir Noah, may I have a word with you? There's something I'd like to discuss."

Unexpectedly, Marcus tried to strike up a conversation with me.

Judging by his mannerisms, he seemed eager to ask me something.

"Of course. What is it?"

"You remind me of someone. Back when I was younger, I met a boy—he was fascinating. But sadly, he was born without talent. I was very disappointed."

"Since then, I thought I'd never encounter another descendant of Asford. Ah, please forgive me for speaking out of turn. I was merely rambling."

"Young master? Is something wrong?"

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