Anomaly of Fate
Chapter 101: To The Royal Summit

Chapter 101: To The Royal Summit

The queen led Velren through a series of grand hallways, their polished marble floors gleaming under the glow of enchanted chandeliers. The walls bore intricate carvings of Elyndra’s history—tales of kings, battles, and triumphs woven into the very foundation of the palace. Eventually, they stepped out into an open courtyard, where the cool night air greeted them.

And there, at the heart of the royal docking platform, stood an airship unlike any Velren had seen before.

Unlike the academy’s grand, towering vessel—designed with scholarly elegance—this one exuded a different kind of presence. Its hull was forged from dark-stained metal reinforced with golden inlays that pulsed faintly with embedded enchantments. Sleek but heavily plated, it bore the crest of the royal family upon its side, its emblem woven seamlessly into the airship’s very structure rather than painted on.

Instead of large propellers, several massive levitation cores hovered around it, suspended by unseen forces, their runes flickering in synchronized harmony. This was no mere transport—it was a vessel built for both ceremony and security, a floating fortress masked behind its graceful design.

Velren took in the sight, clearly in awe.

"...Fancy."

The queen glanced at him with an amused smile.

"I would hope so. After all, this is the Royal Zenith—the vessel that will carry us to the summit."

Velren blinked at her word. Did she say us?

He turned to the queen, furrowing his brows.

"Wait. You’re coming too?

The queen let out a soft chuckle, tilting her head slightly.

"Of course. Did you assume I would send my daughter alone into the den of monarchs and scheming nobles?"

"...Fair point."

She smiled. "The summit is not just a gathering for the young heirs and dignitaries—it is a battlefield of influence, and I still have my role to play."

Her gaze flickered toward the airship.

"Besides, there are things I must see through myself..."

"Mother."

A smooth yet restrained voice called out from behind them. Velren turned, only to find himself momentarily at a loss for words.

Princess Solenne emerged from the entrance of the estate, stepping gracefully into the moonlit garden. She wore a gown of deep sapphire. Silver embroidery traced delicate patterns along the bodice and sleeves, subtle yet intricate, reminiscent of constellations scattered across the night sky. Her golden hair, usually tied back in a practical manner, was styled loosely with strands framing her face, while a single jeweled pin kept the rest in place.

The sight was enough to make Velren pause, something about it so vastly different from her usual composed presence that it left him uncertain of what to say.

Yet, despite her refined appearance, Solenne herself said nothing as she approached. The silence between them stretched, thick with an awkwardness neither seemed willing to break. It wasn’t until the queen cleared her throat that the tension finally gave way.

"You look beautiful, my dear," she said warmly before turning toward Velren with a knowing glance. "What do you think?"

For a brief moment, he was too focused on her question to process the intent behind it.

’What do I think?’

Honestly? He thought that perhaps he really was underdressed after all, but somehow he doubted that was the response the queen was looking for. Struggling to find the right words, he straightened slightly before finally speaking.

"I... agree with Her Majesty’s assessment," his voice was awkwardly edged with formal stiffness.

A brief pause followed. Then, as Solenne turned her gaze away, something shifted—the faintest movement at the corner of her lips, not quite a smile but something close. It was barely noticeable, subtle enough that Velren wasn’t entirely sure if he had imagined it. But then, just like that, the moment passed, and the princess simply carried on as if nothing had happened at all.

’Did I say something wrong?’

***

The airship soared through the night sky, its engines humming with a steady, almost rhythmic pulse as it carved a path through the clouds. Inside, the grand main hall was alight with warm chandeliers, their golden glow reflecting off polished marble floors and intricately carved pillars.

The space was filled with nobles, aristocrats, and high-ranking officials, their laughter and conversations blending into a constant murmur of refined voices. A long buffet table stretched across one side of the hall, adorned with an overwhelming array of dishes. Servants weaved seamlessly between the guests, refilling glasses and ensuring that not a single plate remained empty for long.

Velren, however, could only take in the scene with mild detachment, the sheer extravagance of it all making him feel even more out of place than he already did. What’s a commoner like him doing here in the first place, anyway? Oh, right. He had almost forgotten. Because the princess asked.

He exhaled softly, instinctively drifting toward the farthest corner of the hall. Just like in class. Just like in the cafeteria. And probably anywhere else, really. It was easier this way—keeping to himself, avoiding unnecessary attention. The weight of the academy crest in his pocket served as a subtle reminder of his presence here, but even that didn’t do much to settle the feeling gnawing at him. He wasn’t like the others in this room. And no matter how well he could blend in when necessary, deep down, he knew he never would be.

Although, it would be a lie to say that the array of food didn’t at least pique his interest. Not because he was particularly hungry, but because of his culinary soul, as he liked to call it. The way the dishes were arranged, the meticulous presentation—whoever prepared them clearly had a deep understanding of both artistry and flavor. He wasn’t the type to be swayed by luxury, but he could at least appreciate good craftsmanship when he saw it.

"How are you holding up?"

Velren turned slightly at the sound of the voice, only to find Solenne approaching him.

’Urgh... I know she has good intentions, but I really wish she didn’t go out of her way just to check on this lonesome student...’

Still, he straightened his posture and gave a half-hearted shrug.

"Existing," he said dryly.

Solenne chuckled softly, the sound was light, yet carrying a warmth that made it difficult to ignore.

"I suppose that’s better than not existing," she mused before shaking her head slightly. Then, with a gentler tone, she added:

"Thank you, Velren. For being here."

Velren blinked, momentarily caught off guard.

"It’s nothing," he muttered, averting his gaze.

Because the truth was... after hearing what the queen had said to him, this might be something he needed. Maybe he had spent too long drifting, merely reacting to whatever life threw his way instead of taking an active role in it. He still wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do in the grander scheme of things, but perhaps... trying new things, stepping into unfamiliar places, might help him find a path of his own.

Velren exhaled, glancing around the hall before shifting his gaze back to Solenne.

"Shouldn’t you be out there socializing? You know, proper etiquette and all that?"

Solenne followed his gaze, observing the grand hall filled with nobles and aristocrats engaged in polite conversation.

"Just like I told you back at the academy... most of them don’t see me as a person, only as a piece to be moved, a name to be leveraged, or a title to be courted. Beneath their polite words, there’s always something else—expectation, calculation, or worse... resentment."

That kind of living... sounded exhausting.