Moonveil Academy: Trapped With The Five Kings

Chapter 76: Master Brown’s Lesson

Elara:

Sunday morning began with an unexpected phone call.

I had barely finished rubbing the sleep from my eyes when Violet’s name flashed across my screen, and the moment I answered, her first words weren’t even a greeting.

"Where are you?" she demanded, sounding as though she had already decided that wherever I was, she was coming there.

I stared at the ceiling for a moment before giving her the address of the mansion, and apparently that was all the invitation she needed.

By the time I had finished my morning run through the surrounding woods, stretched, showered, changed into a comfortable pair of trousers and a warm woolen top, and made my way downstairs, I heard the sound of a vehicle approaching the mansion.

When I stepped onto the porch, a car was already making its way up the stone driveway. I had expected Violet, but when the doors opened, Myra stepped out alongside her. My eyebrows rose before I could stop them.

Violet wasn’t exactly hostile toward humans, but she wasn’t someone I would have imagined going out of her way to seek one out either. Yet somehow, the more time she spent around Myra because of me, the softer she seemed to become toward her.

Watching them together now, I couldn’t help smiling.

Violet gave the mansion one long, appreciative look before turning her attention entirely toward me. "You really know how to disappear for a weekend, Princess," she said, walking toward me with her usual confidence.

Myra, meanwhile, had barely moved. Her eyes were traveling across the mansion, from the enormous windows to the stone pillars, fountains, gardens, and elaborate architecture surrounding us.

The look on her face immediately reminded me of myself when I had first stepped through those doors Friday evening. I had probably looked exactly like that - completely overwhelmed and wondering whether I had accidentally walked into some fantasy movie.

"It’s beautiful," she whispered, almost to herself.

I smiled. "I know."

She finally looked at me and immediately seemed embarrassed by how openly she had been staring. "Sorry."

I waved her off. "Don’t be. I spent half the evening staring at everything too."

Since I had informed Mrs. Nettle about Violet’s arrival, breakfast was already prepared when we walked inside. There was more food on the table than the three of us could possibly finish, but that didn’t stop Violet from immediately praising the spread while Myra looked increasingly nervous about eating anything. I had to practically force her to sit down before Mrs. Nettle appeared and insisted that she eat.

By the end of breakfast, even Myra seemed more relaxed, and Violet had somehow managed to make her laugh twice. It was strange how quickly those two were becoming comfortable around each other.

Maybe I really had accidentally created a friendship between them simply by bringing them into the same space.

We had barely finished eating when Master Brown appeared and announced that it was time for our lesson. His gaze moved toward Violet and Myra, and to my surprise, he simply told them they were welcome to join if they wished.

I expected both of them to politely decline, especially because neither had any reason to spend their Sunday learning royal history. Instead, Violet immediately agreed. Myra hesitated for perhaps three seconds before nodding too.

As we walked toward the study, Violet leaned closer to me and lowered her voice. "Do you have any idea how respected Master Brown is?" she whispered.

I shook my head.

"He’s considered one of the greatest royal advisors in Starfall’s history. Half the noble families would probably pay a fortune just to have him teach their children for a month." She glanced at me knowingly. "You realize being personally taught by him is basically considered a blessing, right?"

I looked toward the study door. "I didn’t know that."

"Obviously." She rolled her eyes playfully. "You arrived here barely knowing anything."

"Thanks for reminding me." I returned with a smile.

She laughed. "I’m just saying, even if you don’t care about royal politics, you shouldn’t waste this opportunity."

She was right. I didn’t particularly care about politics, but I couldn’t deny that I needed to understand the world I had been thrown into.

Yesterday’s lesson had started with something surprisingly simple: my family tree. Master Brown had spent nearly two hours explaining the Argentis bloodline to me, beginning with the generation that had first inherited the throne from the Moonveil family and continuing through every monarch until my biological parents.

It had been strange seeing the names of people who were technically my ancestors written across parchment while knowing absolutely nothing about them.

Some had been rulers remembered for their victories, others for their reforms, and a few for decisions Master Brown diplomatically described as "controversial." By the end of the lesson, I had a basic understanding of where I came from.

Today, however, was going to be much more complicated.

Master Brown placed several documents across the enormous study table before taking his seat at the head. Jasper stood nearby, as he had yesterday, while Violet and Myra settled into two chairs beside me. I opened the notebook in front of me and prepared myself.

"Today," Master Brown announced, "we will discuss the current political structure of Starfall."

My attention sharpened immediately.

He began by explaining that although Starfall had once been ruled by monarchs, the realm was now governed by five Regents representing the five most powerful noble houses - Valemont, Greymark, Ravenshade, Ashbourne, and Moonveil.

The names immediately stood out to me, for obvious reasons. And suddenly, the political lesson felt far more personal than I had expected.

Master Brown continued explaining how each Regent controlled different areas of Starfall’s administration and how their influence extended far beyond the academy. The five families didn’t simply hold titles. They controlled territories, resources, military forces, trade routes, magical institutions, and political alliances.

The Regents collectively formed the ruling council, and while no single Regent officially held absolute authority over the others, their influence differed depending on the matter being discussed.

I quickly began writing everything down.

For the first time, I was beginning to understand why everyone reacted so strongly whenever one of those names was mentioned.

These weren’t simply rich families. They were the people who had ruled Starfall for decades. And somehow, I was now sitting in the middle of their world as the lost heir to the throne they had replaced.