Roland held his arm lightly around Princess Rosa's shoulders with perfect courtesy, without trying to grope her or letting his eyes wander.
After all, a man of his standing had people watching his every move. At a public occasion like this, he practically lived under a spotlight, and by the next day, people would be scrutinizing him through a magnifying glass.
Princess Rosa, however, suddenly looked entranced.
She stared blankly at Roland for a long time before coming to her senses and hurriedly lowering her head. "S-sorry. I suddenly remembered something."
Roland admired her bashful expression. She looked so much like a startled fawn that he could not help smiling.
Then Princess Rosa raised her head again and mustered her courage. "May I ask you a few more questions?"
There was a glimmer of hope in her eyes-the longing for knowledge.
"Ask whatever you like, Your Highness," Roland said.
"Really?" Princess Rosa's eyes lit up, though she still sounded a little tentative. "Then, from what you've said, you intend to provide education to the common people of the Lainer Kingdom as well. How will you go about that?"
Roland looked at her in surprise. "I thought Your Highness would ask about those gifted young talents in the Mage Tower."
"Their futures are already laid out before them. They don't need me to ask," Princess Rosa said softly with a sigh.
"That makes sense," Roland said. "By comparison, those who can't enter the Mage Tower deserve more concern."
Princess Rosa looked just as surprised. "You're a mage yourself, yet you can turn your attention to commoners..."
"There have always been individuals who betray their class," Roland said. "Unfortunately, there has never been a class that betrayed itself.
"Those who achieve great things can find a balance between the interests of different