Reincarnated as an Elf Prince-Chapter 74: Tester

Selene watched him carefully, silver eyes gleaming in the dim candlelight.

She always did this—picked apart his words, his expressions, the tiniest shifts in his tone.

Lindarion sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You're reading too much into it."

Selene simply tilted her head.

"I only read what's already there."

Lindarion exhaled sharply.

It was pointless arguing with her.

She always had a way of making things sound more meaningful than they actually were.

Selene adjusted her dark wedding gown, her small hands smoothing out the fabric as she continued.

"So," she mused, "if your fights weren't the most interesting part of your day, what was?"

Lindarion shrugged, leaning against the desk.

"The strategy class."

Selene raised an eyebrow.

"You were interested?"

Lindarion smirked. "The instructor wasn't an idiot."

Selene huffed a quiet laugh. "Rare."

Lindarion nodded. "He actually knew what he was talking about. Knew how war worked."

He tapped a finger against the desk.

"It wasn't just theory. It was experience."

Selene studied him.

"Did you learn anything new?"

Lindarion considered that.

He had already known the basics—how to turn a disadvantage into an advantage, how to manipulate an enemy into playing into his hands.

But what Verrian had shown him?

It wasn't just about battle.

It was about the balance of power.

How entire kingdoms could be held together not by strength, but by fragile alliances.

How even the strongest empire could crumble if one pillar was knocked out from underneath it.

Lindarion leaned back slightly.

"Not new," he admitted. "But useful."

Selene nodded slowly.

"You're thinking about something."

Lindarion glanced at her.

Of course she noticed.

He never got away with keeping thoughts from her.

Selene waited patiently, hands folded neatly in her lap.

Lindarion sighed.

"I'm thinking about the kingdom."

Selene's expression didn't change, but something in her eyes sharpened.

Lindarion continued.

"The balance between Velmora, Veldoria, and Caldris—it's not stable."

Selene nodded. "No kingdom ever is."

Lindarion tapped the desk again, his thoughts drifting.

"Leonhardt Valerian holds everything together right now. But if something happens to him…"

Selene smiled faintly.

"The weight of a kingdom is a dangerous thing to balance."

Lindarion exhaled through his nose.

He didn't care about politics.

But he did care about understanding how things worked.

Because in the end, understanding power meant knowing how to control it.

And after today's lesson..He was starting to see cracks in the foundation. Obvious cracks.

Selene watched him quietly, her gaze unreadable.

After a moment, she spoke.

"You're not thinking about getting involved, are you, young master? It's not your responsibility to—"

Lindarion scoffed, cutting Selene off.

"No. I'm just watching. A bystander."

Selene smiled slightly.

"You always say that."

Visit freewebnoveℓ.com for the best novel reading exp𝒆rience.

Lindarion rolled his eyes. "Because it's true."

Selene hummed. "For now."

She leaned back slightly, her hands resting in her lap.

"Shall I stay?"

Lindarion hesitated.

Then—he shook his head.

"No," he murmured. "You can rest, and I don't want anyone noticing your presence."

Selene gave a small nod, then rose gracefully to her feet.

"As you wish, Young Master."

With a quiet pulse of dark mana, her form began to fade—her wedding gown dissolving into the shadows, silver eyes lingering for just a moment before vanishing completely.

The room was silent again.

Lindarion exhaled.

Finally, he pushed away from the desk, heading toward the bed.

He wasn't tired.

But tomorrow would be another long day.

And he needed to be ready.

—

Lindarion awoke to the faint golden light spilling through his window.

'Morning already…I wanted to sleep more.'

Sleeping always felt the best by the time you had to wake up…

He sighed, pushing himself up from the bed, his body moving with the same effortless control as always. No grogginess. No sluggishness. Just awake.

The academy's schedule was strict, but he had never needed an alarm. His body simply adjusted. Training did that to a person.

Lindarion stood, rolling his shoulders as his mana circulation naturally stirred to life.

Even without focusing on it, the techniques he had refined yesterday were already becoming second nature.

'Good..it's feeling natural already. As expected of the blessing.'

He moved through his routine quickly. Brushing off the creases in his academy uniform, fastening his coat, ensuring his weapons were secured properly.

By the time he left his room, the hallways were already filling with students.

Some still looked half-asleep.

Some walked in groups, talking about absolutely useless things.

Lindarion ignored all of them.

He made his way toward the dining hall, already expecting to find Cassian and Luneth waiting.

As expected, he spotted them at their usual spot—a table near the back, away from the louder groups.

He took a breakfast plate and slowly with deliberate steps approached them.

Cassian had his head buried in a book, his plate mostly untouched.

Luneth, as always, sat in perfect silence, eating with careful precision.

Lindarion approached and took his seat without a word.

Cassian noticed him first, glancing up from his book.

"You're late," he muttered, but there was no real accusation in his tone.

Lindarion raised an eyebrow. "I'm right on time."

Cassian clicked his tongue. "Based on the information about you…you should be showing up before us, that counts as late."

Lindarion didn't bother arguing.

Instead, he simply took a bite of his food.

Luneth finally glanced at him.

"You trained late."

It wasn't a question.

Lindarion didn't react. "Of course."

Cassian sighed, closing his book. "You know, normal people sleep…try considering it."

'At least he isn't that shy anymore.'

Lindarion smirked. "And yet, I'm still ahead of everyone in class."

Cassian groaned. "Yeah, yeah, we get it. You're insufferable."

Lindarion chuckled under his breath, but before he could respond—

A new presence approached the table.

A familiar one.

'The hell is she doing here..?'

Vivienne.

Her presence alone was enough to make nearby students whisper—but Lindarion simply exhaled through his nose.

'Of course she has to appear..just when I thought everything was going to be perfect.'

Vivienne moved with purpose, her uniform perfectly pressed, her sharp eyes locked onto Lindarion as she stopped beside their table.

Lindarion didn't look up.

He took another bite of his food.

Vivienne's lips curved slightly.

"You seem calm today."

Lindarion finally met her gaze.

"I usually am."

Cassian, between them, looked nervous without saying a single word.

Luneth?

Unbothered.

Vivienne exhaled.

"Good," she said smoothly. "Because I'd hate for you to be distracted when we spar later."

Lindarion paused.

Then, he smirked.

"…Is that a challenge?"

Vivienne's lips curled at the edges.

"Of course not," she said lightly. "Challenges are for uncertain fights."

Lindarion chuckled, shaking his head.

This day was about to get a lot more interesting.

Lindarion took a slow sip of his drink, his eyes watching Vivienne with mild amusement.

"So," he mused, "not a challenge, then?"

Vivienne's smirk didn't waver. "A test, to be precise."

Cassian visibly tensed. "You two are actually going to spar?"

Lindarion shrugged. "Seems like it."

Vivienne folded her arms. "Unless you're suddenly afraid?"

Lindarion scoffed. "Hardly."

He wasn't surprised by this. Not even slightly.

Vivienne was proud, competitive, and ruthless. If she saw someone worth testing herself against, she wouldn't ignore it.

But Lindarion wasn't someone who fought just to prove something.

He fought to win.

Cassian looked between them, then sighed. "Should I start preparing an eulogy?"

Luneth finally spoke. "For who?"

Cassian blinked. "Uh—Vivienne, obviously."

Vivienne raised an eyebrow.

Luneth simply tilted her head.

"…I wasn't asking you."

Cassian froze.

Vivienne laughed under her breath.

Lindarion smirked.

Luneth rarely spoke up unless it was necessary. The fact that she immediately dismissed Vivienne's chances?

That was interesting.

Vivienne, however, seemed completely unfazed.

She turned back to Lindarion, her sharp gaze holding his.

"The training grounds," she said smoothly. "During hand to hand combat class."

Lindarion leaned back in his seat, studying her.

Then—he nodded.

"Fine."

Vivienne smiled slightly.

Then, without another word, she turned and walked away.

The moment she was out of earshot, Cassian let out a strangled groan.

"Oh, come on," he muttered, rubbing his temples. "Do you have to fight every Valerian noble you meet?"

Lindarion sighed.

"It's not my fault they keep throwing themselves at me."

Cassian shook his head. "I feel like that's exactly your fault."

Luneth, as always, said nothing.

But her sharp gaze lingered on Lindarion for just a second longer than usual.

Like she was thinking something she wasn't saying.

Lindarion noticed.

He always did.

But he didn't ask.

Not yet.

Instead, he finished his meal, stood, and stretched.

Cassian groaned as he followed. "I swear, one of these days, you're going to get into a fight you can't win."

Lindarion tilted his head slightly. "You think today is that day?"

Cassian hesitated. "I—"

Luneth cut in. "No."

Cassian blinked. "Wow. Not even pretending to consider it?"

Luneth shrugged. "It's obvious."

Lindarion smirked as Cassian sighed dramatically, dragging a hand down his face.

"Does no one else see how ridiculous this is? You're fighting Vivienne Valerian. The Vivienne Valerian."

Lindarion exhaled as he said mockingly.

"She's skilled. Strong. Dangerous. Might as well treat her like your goddess…"

Cassian nodded. "Exactly!"

Lindarion's lips curled.

"But I'm better."

Cassian let out a deep, pained sigh. "Why do I even bother?"

Luneth, for once, agreed.

"You shouldn't. Even I beat her, It'll be a cakewalk for him."

Cassian shot her a betrayed look.

But Luneth had already turned, walking toward the exit.

Lindarion followed, Cassian trailing behind them, still muttering to himself.

—

The first half of the day dragged on normally..nothing exciting or out of the ordinary happened.

Lindarion had always found theoretical lessons tedious.

The professors spent too much time explaining things he had already figured out.

Combat theory…it sounded exciting. However it wasn't.

It was things he already knew. Since they were just the basics.

'It will be harder later on..'

Even when the instructors attempted to engage the class, his answers were always too efficient.

Too quick.

The moment he responded, there was nothing left to discuss.

Cassian called it 'ruining the fun.'

Lindarion called it 'moving the lesson along faster.'

By the time the final class ended before the hand to hand combat lecture, he was already stretching his shoulders, ready for something interesting.