There was a constant buzz spreading across the entire academy, like a low hum that just wouldn't settle down.

People weren't even trying to hide it. Conversations overlapped, whispers bounced from one group to another, and even those who usually kept to themselves couldn't help but glance around, clearly distracted. It wasn't the usual kind of noise either. There was a certain weight behind it, something that made it feel heavier than just idle chatter.

The reason was obvious.

Right now, the number one candidate to become the Queen had finally returned after almost a month of not stepping foot inside the academy.

That alone was enough to stir things up.

She walked through the academy grounds with the same steady, composed gait she always had, heading toward her lecture room just like she used to when she was still acting like a normal cadet. Her posture hadn't changed, her pace hadn't changed, and even the way she carried herself felt exactly the same.

Well, she was still technically a cadet at this moment.

Still, something about it felt different.

Seeing her like this again was… strange, in a way that was hard to put into words. Familiar, but also not. More than that, it made sense why everyone was reacting like this. The person walking right in front of them wasn't just another student anymore. She was someone who would soon stand at the very top.

And not just because she was a princess who would eventually inherit the throne years from now.

That part didn't even matter anymore.

She wasn't a distant future ruler.

She would become the next queen after this month. Literally after this month.

Which meant that, in a way, everyone here was already standing in the presence of a ruler. Not someone they could casually watch from afar, but someone who would soon have authority over all of them.

That kind of realization had a way of tightening the air.

People naturally felt a bit stiff and a bit on edge. It showed in the way they stood, in the way their conversations cut off when she passed by, as well as in the way their eyes followed her but quickly looked away the moment she might notice.

After all, this was going to be their next ruler.

There was always that thought in the back of their minds. One wrong move, one careless action, and it could lead to consequences they couldn't even imagine. Execution was the extreme version of that thought, something exaggerated but still lingering enough to make people uneasy. Realistically, she wasn't going to do something like that, and deep down, everyone knew it.

Still, knowing something and feeling it were two different things.

Right now, her presence carried a kind of weight that made her feel untouchable. Approaching her wasn't as simple as it used to be. Back then, she was just another cadet you could talk to, even if she stood out. Now, there was a distance.

That oppressive feeling didn't go unnoticed.

She suddenly stopped walking.

It wasn't abrupt enough to cause a scene, but it was enough to make people nearby pause without even realizing it. Then she turned her gaze toward everyone around her.

The reaction was immediate.

A few flinched, some straightened up instinctively, and others froze for a brief second like they got caught doing something they weren't supposed to.

And then she chuckled.

It wasn't loud or dramatic. Just a small, soft laugh. Casual. Almost amused.

Strangely enough, that tiny sound did more than any speech could have done in that moment. It broke through the tension just enough to make people breathe again. Shoulders relaxed, eyes softened, and the atmosphere loosened ever so slightly.

Then she spoke.

"Everyone," she said, her voice clear but not overly imposing. "You must have been incredibly worried about the state of the Kingdom right now, especially since I'll be taking the throne once I graduate, which isn't far from today."

Her words carried easily, reaching even those a bit farther away.

People who had been pretending not to pay attention gave up on that act almost immediately. They slowed down, stopped, and turned toward her completely. It was obvious she had something to say, and no one wanted to miss it.

"I'm sure all of you are worried. What if I turn out worse than the one who sat before me? What if I'm the one who ends up destroying this kingdom because of poor rule?" she continued.

There was no hesitation in her tone.

She said it plainly, like she had already thought about it more than anyone else had.

It wasn't hard to understand why.

She knew there would be criticism. She knew people were already questioning her, doubting her, maybe even fearing what kind of ruler she would become. If her rule failed, it wouldn't be her who suffered first. It would be the people under her. The citizens, the soldiers, the ones with no real power to protect themselves from the consequences of bad leadership.

Meanwhile, she would remain mostly untouched, at least at first.

That imbalance alone made people uneasy.

And it didn't help that the previous administration, under the late king, hadn't exactly left behind a spotless reputation. Trust in the royal family had cracks in it now. People weren't as willing to believe blindly anymore.

"I know it might feel strange to see someone like me leading an entire country. I mean, I don't think my age really qualifies me. And I don't think I even have the right experience for it," she said, her voice steady. "However, I will try my best to become the King that every one of you deserves."

King.

She said it again.

Not queen.

King.

She had mentioned that before, and it seemed like she had no intention of backing down from it. It wasn't a slip of the tongue. It was deliberate.

That caught people's attention.

A few exchanged glances. Others looked more surprised than before, like they were trying to process what that meant. Rulers didn't usually talk like this. They didn't openly admit their shortcomings, especially not in front of people like this.

It felt new.

Fresh, even.

Then again, these were cadets. They didn't fully understand how politics worked yet. Their view was still a bit simple, maybe even idealistic. Though, to be fair, plenty of adults weren't much better when it came to that.

Still, they understood enough to feel the difference.

"I might not be enough, and I might not even be the ideal King you all deserve. But if you're willing to give me a chance to prove myself, then I'll do everything I can not to disappoint you," she said.

Her words weren't exaggerated.

She wasn't trying to sound perfect.

That made them land harder.

Then she bowed her head.

Not a slight nod. An actual bow.

Right there, in front of everyone.

As the future King of the Kingdom, she lowered herself, asking them to watch her as she rose to power, promising she wouldn't fail them. It wasn't something rulers usually did, especially not to people who technically stood below them.

It felt… genuine.

Like she actually meant it.

The kind of sincerity that was hard to fake.

People didn't react loudly. There were no cheers and no dramatic responses. Just silence, but a different kind this time. A thoughtful one. A quieter one.

Those at the top were supposed to carry the weight of those below them. That was how it should work. Leadership wasn't just about authority. It was about responsibility as well as about earning the right to be followed.

Right now, it felt like she understood that.

And slowly, almost without anyone noticing exactly when it started, it seemed like Myrcella was gaining more and more supporters.