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nSylvia read the book and reread it multiple times, over and over again.

nFor some reason, her mind was very sharp and clear, and she was able to read everything at an incredible pace. But it didn't matter because she had no idea whether the information she was going through was false or true.

nShe waited patiently until Mrs. Gruger came back for the daily evening class.

nAfter they exchanged the usual greetings, Sylvia promptly took out the book from behind her and placed it on the table with a thud.

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"Your highness?

" Gruger stood up, taken aback by Sylvia's actions.

nAfter getting over her initial shock, she muttered awkwardly,

"Your highness… Umm… we are supposed to cover etiquette first. We can discuss these things later. It is his majesty's...

"

nBut before she could say any more, Sylvia cut her short.

"No, Mrs. Gruger I completely understand. I don't want to discuss anything with you.

"

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"What I want to know is…

" Sylvia drawled playing with her fingers and gazing at the woman coldly.

"Is the information in this book correct? Surely, you can do that much? Or are you too busy to spare some time for my request?

"

nMrs. Gruger looked down awkwardly, neither able to accept nor deny her request.

nSylvia could see that someone had clearly interfered in this matter and it was not her intention to make the life of this middle-aged woman complicated but still she needed to find the truth somehow.

nAfter a long pause, and without any other means of escape, Gruger half-heartedly ended up accepting the request.

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"Please give me a day's time, your highness. I will go through this book from cover to cover and report it to you.

" She bowed and replied.

nSylvia did not ask the woman anything else the rest of the evening and patiently listened to her lectures about table manners and speech etiquettes.

nWhat the tutor didn't know was that, she was also absorbing astral energy at the same time.

nNot many had the affinity to be able to interact with astral energy and Mrs. Gruger, though adept at other things, lacked this particular affinity like many others.

nSo throughout the entire evening, she had no idea that Sylvia was actually multitasking.

nThe irony being if she had known about this small little titbit, she would have immediately bowed to Sylvia and become loyal to her in a heartbeat.

nAstral magic was one of the most powerful forms of magic, and beasts who had even a little bit of astral affinity were able to become extremely powerful beasts.

nHowever, Sylvia was in a completely different zone.

nShe had such a high astral affinity that she was able to interact with the energy even while listening to something else as if she was eating or breathing in the background.

nEven the king would have been stunned silly if he came to know this!

nBut Sylvia was not planning on revealing this information to anyone just yet.

nIt was not that she was completely oblivious to just how important this specific detail was. Rather she knew it, and still did not plan to tell anyone.

nPartly because she was not fully sure of it, and partly because she worried she would fall deeper into their hands if they found out about her.

nShe didn't know if these people had her best interest at their hearts. Maybe they will also use her just like how the humans tried to use her.

nThe old man who had been constantly encouraging her and the only one speaking terms with her was also missing.

nSo she decided to keep things to herself. She had already been burnt one too many times... this little secret was going to be all hers.

nThe next couple of hours slowly passed and the evening's lesson gradually came to an end.

nGruger as well graciously bowed and left the table, reluctantly taking the book along with her, without Sylvia even having to remind her once.

nSylvia was confident in the beginning that the woman wouldn't dare lie to her, but now she was not too sure anymore.

n'Who else can I talk to…?' She absent-mindedly pondered when her eyes fell on the invitation slip on her dressing table.

"Hmm… Looks like I have to ask him after all.

"

nThe next few days quietly passed and soon it was the time for the harvest moon festival of the Lycan clan.

nThe maids hovered around Sylvia trying to get her hair and dressing done, but Sylvia waved them away, wearing only simple clothes that were more comfortable and light.

nShe had other plans than to just simply enjoy the festival, so she knew that she needed them.

nAfter she was done getting ready, she walked over to the imposing and magnificent entrance of the palace and clapped her hands to call one of the guards standing nearby.

nHe was actually just a servant passing by as there were not many guards in the palace.

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"Fetch me a carriage.

" Sylvia curtly requested.

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"As you wish...Your highness.

" The servant bowed and scurried away. The young man's cheeks flushed at the sudden appearance of the new princess.

nAll the descendants of the royal clan were naturally looked elegant and noble but for reasons he couldn't understand, the new princess was a cut above the rest of the royal family.

nThe carriage arrived not long after and the coachman opened the door for Sylvia. She pulled her dress up slightly and then stepped into it.

nShe didn't think about anything else at first, her mind only pondering how to improve her strength but as soon as she stepped into the carriage, a wave of nausea assaulted her.

nShe couldn't help but remember the touches and the whispers she had shared with the man who had crushed her.

nHer heart rate quickened and she gripped the edges of the seat to calm herself down.

nShe would not look back.. She would only look ahead. This was the promise she made to herself, but how could it be that easy to keep?

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