Lux didn't know how she got back to her room—along the carved, jade-like corridors, through the blossoming garden, she walked like a soulless zombie.
When she regained consciousness, Lux was already lying on the bed.
The velvet sheets were incredibly soft, but at that moment, Lux felt as if she had thorns in her back.
The Dragonhawk feather quilt was very warm, but at that moment, Lux felt a bone-chilling cold.
Staring blankly at the ceiling, her mind was completely empty.
"Why is this happening?" Lux murmured, "My aunt, why did she ruin Ino?"
"Because Ino is not a member of the nobility," Klein replied, "In Silvermere, promoting the Disaster Relief Knight had already made her aware of your attitude problem; she needed to make you sober up."
"Ino is innocent."
"She certainly knows that," Klein pointed out another fact with chilling clarity, "Otherwise, how could she possibly feel at ease with Ino being around you?"
"...Ino is also harmless." Lux felt even colder; she wrapped herself tightly in the thick quilt, trembling helplessly, "Ino won't blab."
"Only dead people don't blab," Klein sighed, "Do you remember your realization in Silvermere? You were willing to use the power of the nobility to improve the situation in Demacia as much as possible."
"I still remember," Lux said sullenly, "I've always remembered."
"But have you ever thought about where the power of the nobility actually comes from?"
This time, Lux fell silent.
"..."
Yes, where does the power of the nobility come from?
Is the injustice she despises the main way to maintain this power?
Do those who wield this power also become part of this order?
Every time she uses this power, is she also maintaining this order?
If she alleviates the conflict, will it instead make this cold order even more solid and reliable?
Lux's thoughts began to scatter; she had just found her ideal, but then she turned around and found that there seemed to be no path beneath her feet.
Even her own advantages seemed meaningless in the face of cold reality.
Thinking of this, Lux trembled even more—she felt as if she had returned to that morning when she first discovered she was afflicted by magic, her sapphire blue eyes filled with helplessness.
"It's time to make your choice, my dear student," Klein spoke again, "Will you remain within the ranks of the nobility, slowly alleviating this conflict, or bravely take a step and fundamentally change its nature?"
"Of course the latter—but, Klein." Hearing this question, Lux cautiously poked her head out from under the covers: "Can I really do it?"
"Of course." Klein's answer was without hesitation, "A philosopher I deeply respect once said something, Lux, and now I can give it to you."
"?"
"Hope is like a path on the earth; actually, there is no path on the earth, but when many people walk on it, it becomes a path."
"When many people walk on it, it becomes a path—Thank you, Klein!" Lux threw off the quilt, gripping the hilt of her sword as if holding a warm torch, dispelling the bone-chilling cold she had felt earlier, "But...it's truly a pity that my aunt and I are walking different paths."
........
With Klein's help, Lux finally got her emotions in order.
Her aunt's ruthlessness was a bit hard for Lux to accept, but fortunately, there was still room for maneuver.
At least, Tiana didn't know that Lux already had a "rebel mindset"—in this situation, Lux's noble power was limited, but at least she could still use it now!
As long as she made good use of this power, maybe Lux could still rescue Ino!
Even if it meant taking a more drastic approach!
Then, just as Lux had calmed down, taken a bath, and was about to plan her next moves with Klein, someone knocked on her bedroom door.
It was Augatha.
After learning that Lux seemed to be in a bad mood, Augatha voluntarily came to comfort her daughter.
In her opinion, Tiana's choice was a bit too drastic—Lux was just a bit too kind-hearted; it wasn't necessary to use such harsh methods.
However, she ultimately did not oppose Tiana, because at least on the issue of nobles and commoners, she and Tiana were on the same side.
So, Augatha didn't talk about Ino; she just chatted with Lux.
Compared to the calm Tiana, Augatha made Lux relax a lot.
Lux's state seemed to improve visibly.
Seeing that it was almost dinner time, Augatha took the initiative to end the conversation.
Then, as she got up, she seemed to remember something and asked a servant to hand Lux a dress—she was to represent the Laurent Family at a wedding in a few days.
"You remember Dili, who left Silvermere with you, right?" Augatha seemed unaware of the past conflict between Dili and Lux, "His son, Gao Kan, is getting married soon—to a daughter of the Laurent Family. You'll represent the Crownguard at the engagement ceremony."
"A daughter of the Laurent Family...the legitimate daughter?" Lux was stunned for a moment, replying with a rather surprised tone, "Fiora Laurent? I heard she's quite skilled in swordsmanship!"
"That's right, it's her!" Augatha nodded, looking very happy, "I heard that Gao Kan's performance previously pleased Sebastian very much, so when Dili proposed, he agreed without hesitation!"
"That's the legitimate daughter of the Laurent Family." Lux blinked, "I've heard of her reputation."
"Dili is also a member of the Crownguard; this won't disgrace them." Augatha proudly lifted her face, "Speaking of which, the Laurent Family has also declined. When I was young, the name 'Sword Dance Waltz' was very famous, but now, the entire family doesn't have a single person who can be presented..."
"..."
Lux's mood, which had just calmed down a bit, now became bad once again.
Lux had met Miss Fiora a few times.
Although she was an out-and-out anomaly among Demacia's nobility, in Lux's eyes, she was very respectable—Fiora was an amazing swordswoman, and she had always been brave, daring to fight and take responsibility, showing no pretense towards people. Although this made her popularity and reputation in noble circles not very good, Lux greatly admired her for it.
Sometimes Lux would even think that if she hadn't become a mage, if she hadn't met Klein, then becoming like Fiora would have been the best outcome, right?
But now, suddenly learning that Fiora was to marry that Gao Kan...
Just thinking of Dili made Lux feel as if she had swallowed a fly—no, as if she had eaten a mouthful of flies, feeling incredibly disgusted.
At this moment, she suddenly recalled a question she had once asked Klein.
"Are life's choices always this difficult? Or is it only when one is young and full of innocent wishes?"
........
"I want to rescue Ino, and I don't want Gao Kan to climb the social ladder!" After Augatha left the room, Lux gripped her sword tightly, "You're very right, the power of the nobility can be used, but it cannot be relied upon!"
"Have you made up your mind?" Klein confirmed one last time, "This will be an incredibly difficult path."
"This is the path I am willing to choose." Lux's tone was firm, "At least I already have you and Sona by my side, don't I?"
"Well said, Comrade Lux." Klein was excited for once, "Now, I have a grand plan that can solve all problems!"
"A grand plan?" Lux, who had been resolute, couldn't help but be stunned when she heard Klein say this, "Wait, you've already planned it? When did you plan it?"
"Just now, when I learned that Gao Kan was going to marry Fiora." Klein chuckled, seemingly in excellent spirits, "Originally, my plan had a slight problem—no one could light the crucial fuse. Now with this wedding, everything will be easy!"
"Wait a minute! A fuse?" Lux quickly interrupted Klein, "What are you going to do? I just disagree with my aunt's ideas; I don't want to destroy the entire Laurent Family!"
"The fuse is just a metaphor, for a...hmm, a grand and spectacular event. Don't worry, it's not a bad thing!" Klein reassured her, "If the plan goes smoothly, even your aunt will be proud of your performance, actively help cover up Ino's matter, and let her follow you!"
"How is that possible? You know her attitude!" Lux said incredulously, "She needs to consider the Laurent Family and hopes I can be like her. How could she possibly do that?"
"This is ancient wisdom from Shurima! Even if you run away from home, leave Demacia, they will help you get off the hook." Klein was incredibly confident, "As long as you report back regularly that you're safe, even Augatha won't worry too much—"
"I can even run away from home? Leave Demacia?" Lux said in disbelief, "They wouldn't possibly allow me to leave Demacia!"
"Not now." Klein chuckled, "But who can say what the future holds—by the way, that annoying Dili will also suffer because of this..."
"...Really? You're not lying to me?" Lux blinked, "Specifically...tell me about it?"