It was finally the long-awaited graduation day for the fourth-year cadets at the academy, and the atmosphere felt different the moment you stepped into the gymnasium.

There was this strange mix of excitement and tension hanging in the air. You could feel it in the way people talked a little louder than usual, or how some of them sat a bit straighter in their seats like they were trying to fully take in the moment. After all, this was the kind of day people remembered for the rest of their lives.

The ones who used to oversee events like this were already gone. Well, that much was obvious. They had been executed, and nobody really bothered pretending otherwise. It was one of those things everyone knew but didn't openly talk about. In their place were the newly appointed administrators, sitting with serious expressions.

Even though this ceremony was meant for the fourth-years, the lower-year students were allowed to attend and watch. Rows of younger cadets filled the seats behind and around us, whispering to each other, occasionally pointing toward the stage. For them, it wasn't just about watching seniors graduate. It was more like getting a preview of their own future.

It was like watching what graduation actually felt like before reaching it yourself.

"Oh, here she comes!" Titania said from beside me, her voice carrying just enough excitement to stand out.

I followed her gaze and saw Myrcella stepping onto the stage.

She moved with the same composed elegance as always, her posture straight, her steps measured and confident. She had this natural presence that drew attention without even trying. It was the kind of thing that made people instinctively quiet down just to watch her.

She was the one chosen to deliver the opening speech. After the diplomas were handed out, Lilia would take over and wrap things up with the closing remarks.

Myrcella reached the center of the stage, and even from where I was sitting, she stood out effortlessly.

These days, people had started calling her the Perfect Princess.

It wasn't just a nickname people threw around for fun either. It stuck because it actually fit. She had the charisma, the looks, and the kind of personality that made people respect her without question. Everything about her just worked.

Which explained why the moment she appeared, the crowd reacted almost instantly.

Cheers broke out, louder than expected. Some people clapped early, others whispered her name, and a few just stared like they forgot how to act normally.

There had never been a royal who pulled this much attention so naturally.

When Myrcella reached the podium, she placed her hands lightly on its surface and took a brief pause. A small magic device embedded into it activated, and when she began to speak, her voice carried clearly across the entire gymnasium.

"Greetings, my fellow graduates," she said, her tone calm but firm.

Her voice had this smooth, steady quality to it that made it easy to listen to.

"The day where we spread our wings and step beyond where we are now has finally come. The day we leave this academy, where we spent years of our lives, and also the day we part from the people we met along the way."

It was a proper opening, something you would expect from someone in her position. Still, there was something about the way she delivered it that made it feel more personal than rehearsed.

Her eyes moved across the crowd slowly, scanning from one side to the other. It didn't look like she was searching for anything specific. It felt more like she was making sure to acknowledge everyone there.

From what I could tell, she wasn't looking at any notes. There was no paper, no script, and nothing hidden in the podium. Everything she said seemed to come naturally.

She was really doing this raw.

"Right now, I feel grateful to have spent my four years in this academy with all of you. There may have been hardships, and there were moments when we felt like things needed to change. But in the end, we managed to get through it all, and now, we stand at our final step."

Her words weren't complicated, but they didn't need to be. The way she said them made them land.

She continued to look at the graduates, and it almost felt like she was making eye contact with each of them individually. It wasn't rushed either. Just enough to make it feel intentional.

"And with that, we have all taken a step closer to our dreams. Some of us may have stumbled, and some may still feel like we are not enough. But take a moment to think about why we made it this far. We should hold our heads high."

A few people shifted in their seats, probably feeling called out in a good way.

"And with this turning point in our lives, we move forward to a new chapter, one that will take us to different places. Maybe we will meet again someday. But for now, there is only one thing we should do, and that is to celebrate this milestone in our lives," she continued, her voice steady all the way through. "With that, I will end my speech by congratulating all of you for graduating this academic year, and for taking the next step toward the future you wish to pursue. That is all from me."

She finished without hesitation, then gave a clean, respectful bow.

For a second, there was silence. Then the entire gymnasium erupted into applause.

It wasn't just polite clapping either. It was loud, full, and almost overwhelming. The sound bounced off the walls, filling the entire space. Even some of the lower-year students joined in enthusiastically, like they had just witnessed something bigger than a simple speech.

People were completely drawn in by her presence. Her voice alone could've done the job, but combined with everything else, it felt like she had control over the entire room without even trying.

If I were them, I'd probably be completely smitten.

Actually, I already was.

Her charisma had that kind of effect on people. It wasn't something you could easily explain. It felt almost like brainwashing at first glance, but it wasn't. There was no force behind it. It just made people want to believe in her, to trust her, to follow her.

Which, when you really thought about it, was kind of overpowered.

The ceremony moved on after that, transitioning into the next parts smoothly. Names were called, graduates stepped forward, and diplomas were handed out one by one. It took some time, but it didn't drag. There was a steady rhythm to it that kept things moving.

Eventually, it reached the final segment.

Lilia stepped up onto the stage to deliver the closing speech.

And honestly, the difference was obvious right away.

She held a script in her hands, and she wasn't subtle about using it either. Every few lines, she would pause, glance down, and then continue. Her tone was fine, but it lacked that natural flow Myrcella had earlier.

It felt rehearsed.

Really rehearsed.

Painfully rehearsed, even.

It wasn't bad, just… very obvious. Like you could almost predict when she was about to pause and look at the paper again.

A few people in the crowd shifted slightly, probably noticing the same thing. It didn't ruin the moment, but it definitely stood out.

Still, she made it through the speech without any major issues, sticking to the script until the very end.

And with that, the graduation ceremony officially came to a close.