The atmosphere was heavy for everyone around Maria(Elisa). Since prince Carlos’s bold announcement, no one dared to question her unfitting etiquette for a noble on the dinner table right at the moment. Finally, her closest personal maid, Elaina, stepped out and whispered into Maria’s ear.

“Please, everyone is watching, m’lady.”

Maria turned around with her mouth full of food and tried to talk with a gibberish voice. Elaina gestured for other servants to leave them alone, then took a napkin and cleaned her lady's cheeks.

“Gosh, you act like a child.”

After cleaned up Maria’s face properly, Elaina looked at Elisa with a questioning glance. Had a broken heart changed her lady this much? Not only did her lady disappear from everyone for a while, after she came back, she also acted like a child. If it was to escape the reality of her failing engagement, this was a little too extreme. Well, at least her lady will be easier to manage than before. She had received an instruction from the duke to keep her lady in place while he sent someone to deal with the engagement problem. It would be an impossible task before but now, she felt that it couldn’t be any easier. Just need to keep her lady from public eyes and…

“Elaina, I want to go to the Academy.” Elisa's sweet voice rang within the dining room.

Elaina’s peaceful dream was shattered immediately.

“My lady, You don’t have to go to the Academy for a while. The duke gives you the permission to rest well after this whole ordeal blow over.” Elaina tried to reason with her lady.

“But I want to go to the Academy.” Maria said it again.

“Why? I thought you hate the Academy?” Elaina was confused.

“I want to read some books. The Academy is a place where I can do that.”

Elaina let out a sigh of relief. If her lady wanted to read some books, then it was not a big problem.

“My lady, if you want to find books, then you have to visit the Palace of Knowledge, not the Academy. The Academy only handles teaching and training for students.” Elaina explained.

“Oh, I see.” Maria nodded.

“My lady, can I ask why you are suddenly interested in books?”Elaina couldn't help but ask.

“Erm? isn’t it normal for a student to read books?”

Maria was flustered inside but her face was unchanging thanks to her special poker face carried over.

“I guess it is for a normal student but… Oh, very well, I will prepare a carriage immediately.”

Elaina decided not to question her lady any further. Either way, it was a good thing that her lady finally took her first interest in study instead of love drama that only ended up with more headaches.

Half an hour later, Maria and Elaina took a carriage and arrived at the front gate of the Palace of Knowledge. From Elaina, Maria learned that The Palace of Knowledge was created long before the Academy existed. No one knew how long it had existed and many secrets lay within the massive barriers projected by special mechanisms within the building. The barriers are divided by level, and they will only open when you reach the satisfaction level or above to enter. No one knew who run this place and no one had ever reached the max level. Legend had it that at the highest level, you will be able to access the secret of the world as well as knowledge to become a god.

“My lady, since you have never come to this place before, you will have to take a test by going through this tunnel. If you passed the test, you can enter base on the level of test you had pass. The test is for one person only so you will have to go in alone. I will wait for you at the entrance.” Elaina explained.

“Wait, you seem to be familiar with this place, have you been here before?” Maria asked.

“Yes, it was mandatory for a servant of the duke to have a test level score of 5 and above. Good luck, my lady.” - And please do not disgrace the Duke household – Elaina whispered silently as she saw Maria slowly engulf by the darkness of the tunnel.

After partway from Elaina, Ami’s voice began to ring inside Maria's head again.

“Whoa, it been a while since I have visited this place.”

“You have visited this place before?” Maria asked.

“Yes, but it was a long time ago. During my expedition, I snuck in to test myself. My test score level was 499.” Ami reminiscing her good old day.

“Whoa, you are smart.” Maria was surprised.

Ami was embarrassed “Ehehehe, the majority of the time, I just go with what I feel like. The tests that it throws at you vary from time to time so I can’t tell you what kind of test you will face. Be aware though, this test does not limit to just question and answer. When you reach high levels, it will begin to make you fight for your life.”

“I don't think I will ever reach that point, but thanks for the advice. Anyway, are you coming with me to the test area?” Maria asked.

“Oh, no, but don’t worry about me, If I put myself into sleep mode, I literally become a dead accessory until I wake up. You can carry me inside the test area that way. Just remember that when I do it, I won't be able to help or know the situation outside. You will have to wake me up manually by chanting my name when it is over."

As Ami bid good luck to Maria, the little light inside the pendant slowly snuffed out until it was completely black. Holding the pendant close to her chest, she moved forward slowly until she saw a light. However, before she approached the light, however, the Advisor’s voice rang inside her head.

“Detecting powerful attack incoming, emergency switch activated.”

Just as Maria wondered what the Advisor meant; her vision changed. She saw her body acted on its own and put up the arm to protect the head. Then as if being pushed like a rag doll, the body flew violently toward another light that suddenly appeared behind her body.