The Loli Gets All the Passive Skills

As the grand doors to the banquet hall swung open, Vivienne stepped inside, the scent of roasted meats, freshly baked bread, and fine wines wafting through the air. The hall was grand, filled with elegant chandeliers and rows of long tables covered in pristine white cloth. Students and faculty alike were seated, chatting, and enjoying the feast. All eyes briefly flicked toward Vivienne before turning back to their conversations—though not without whispered murmurs.

Let them stare, Vivienne thought as she walked forward, chin held high. She had endured worse.

Amadeus, the insufferable rabbit in a top hat, hopped along beside her with a bounce in his step.

"Ah, a hall full of nobles and hopefuls trying to outdo each other in charm and cunning. I can smell the pretentiousness in the air," Amadeus remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Vivienne glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "Just try not to cause trouble."

Amadeus feigned an innocent look, placing a paw over his heart. "Me? Cause trouble? I'm offended you'd even suggest it!"

Vivienne sighed and found an empty seat near the middle of the hall. The moment she sat down, Claire, who had been seated a few chairs down, waved slightly and walked over to sit next to her.

"You're back," Claire observed, her sharp red eyes briefly scanning Vivienne as if checking for signs of distress.

"Yeah," Vivienne replied, her tone casual. "The headmaster just wanted to talk."

Claire nodded, accepting the explanation without further questions, but her eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you well?"

Vivienne blinked. "What?"

Claire frowned. "You looked... distracted earlier. Like you were talking to someone."

Vivienne's blood ran cold for a second. Right. She'd almost forgotten—no one else can see or hear Amadeus.

She cleared her throat, forcing a small laugh. "Oh, just talking to myself. First-day nerves, you know?"

Claire gave her a skeptical look but didn't press further. "If you say so."

Meanwhile, Amadeus snickered from Vivienne's shoulder, invisible to everyone else. "Oh, this is going to be fun. Imagine if they knew their esteemed vampire princess was seeing things."

Vivienne gave the rabbit a subtle flick on the ear, causing him to stumble slightly. He recovered quickly, hopping back to his smug pose.

Claire raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong?"

Vivienne shook her head. "Nothing. Just... adjusting."

Claire nodded slowly. "Fair enough. Just keep your wits about you. This place is full of ambitious people. They'll take advantage of any sign of weakness."

Vivienne's gaze hardened. "I know."

Amadeus leaned closer to her ear. "She's not wrong. But they don't know you have me. And really, that's their loss."

Vivienne resisted the urge to sigh again. If this rabbit keeps this up, I'm going to lose my mind.

The banquet continued, with laughter and conversation filling the hall. But Vivienne's mind stayed sharp, wary of the eyes watching her.

'This is so annoying.'

While she was sipping on some kind of fancy drink she snatched from a waiter, she felt the room switch. In walked in two beautiful young women. The princesses of the Midgar Kingdom. Iris and Alexia Midgar.

Vivienne's gaze drifted toward the grand entrance as the soft hum of conversation quieted, replaced by a ripple of murmurs and reverent whispers. Two young women stepped into the banquet hall, their regal presence immediately shifting the room's atmosphere.

The first, Iris Midgar, exuded elegance and authority. Her long, crimson hair cascaded over her shoulders in soft waves, and her posture was impeccable. Her red eyes scanned the room with a steady calm that commanded attention. She wore a tailored navy and gold uniform, similar to the academy's but with subtle embellishments that signified her royal standing. A sword hung at her side, gleaming faintly—a reminder of her combat prowess.

The second, Alexia Midgar, had a more subdued but no less captivating presence. Her silver hair was shorter, framing her face with a sleek elegance, and her crimson eyes were sharp and analytical. Unlike her sister, she wore a faintly bored expression, as if she had been dragged here against her will. Her version of the academy uniform was crisp but understated, as though she didn't care much for grand appearances.

Vivienne sipped her drink slowly, pretending not to care as the two princesses made their way into the hall, though she couldn't help but feel the weight of their presence.

Great. Nobility. She set her glass down with a small clink. Just what I needed.

"Ah, royalty enters the scene," Amadeus whispered, perched invisibly beside her plate. "Things just got interesting."

Vivienne shot him a side glance but remained silent.

Claire, seated beside her, straightened subtly and lowered her voice. "Iris Midgar... The Sword Princess. She's known for her strength and leadership. Alexia is her younger sister—the so-called 'Black Sheep Princess.' She's... complicated. She dated my brother back when he first started at the academy. I don't like her."

Vivienne nodded, though she didn't need Claire to tell her who they were. Elisabeth had mentioned the Midgar royal family during one of her rants about mortal politics.

The crowd parted slightly as the two princesses made their way to their seats at the head table. Their very presence seemed to magnetize attention—especially Iris, who greeted a few nobles with polite nods as they whispered behind their hands.

Vivienne took another sip of her drink, whispering, "Great. What are the odds they'll notice me?"

Amadeus snickered. "Oh, very high. You're like a lone wolf among deer—you practically glow with intrigue."

Vivienne rolled her eyes. Fantastic.

Just as she was about to look away, Iris's red gaze flicked toward her, briefly locking eyes with Vivienne. Time seemed to slow as Vivienne held the royal's gaze, refusing to look away. There was no hostility in Iris's expression—only curiosity.

Then, just as quickly, Iris's gaze shifted away as she turned to greet one of the instructors seated at the head table.

Claire let out a low breath. "You caught her attention."

Vivienne groaned internally. "Of course, I did."

Alexia, meanwhile, had taken her seat with an air of indifference, brushing a strand of silver hair from her face as she lazily picked at the food in front of her.

"She's the dangerous one," Amadeus muttered in Vivienne's ear. "The quiet ones always are."

Vivienne leaned slightly on the table, watching the room's dynamics unfold. The attention was no longer on her, for now. But the presence of the Midgar princesses felt like the prelude to something larger—something inevitable.

The banquet resumed its hum of conversation, but Vivienne couldn't shake the feeling that the night had only just begun to stir the undercurrents of something far more complex.

'And knowing my luck, Vivienne thought dryly, I'm probably right in the middle of it.'

The banquet buzzed with energy again as conversations resumed, though Vivienne could still feel the occasional glance cast her way. The princesses of Midgar had settled into their seats at the head table, but the ripple of their arrival hadn't quite faded. Nobles and students alike were whispering—likely speculating on why the sisters had chosen to attend such a mundane event.

Vivienne leaned back slightly in her chair, swirling the last of her drink in her glass as she watched the scene unfold. She wasn't here to get involved in politics or royal games—at least, that's what she kept telling herself.

"Enjoying yourself, Princess?" Amadeus's voice was low, playful. He lounged on the edge of her plate like it was a throne, his top hat tilted at a smug angle.

Vivienne sighed. "How long must I pretend not to notice people staring at me like I'm a rare exhibit in a zoo. I know I'm beautiful but this seems a little too much. There are plenty of beautiful people in this room."

Amadeus let out a soft chuckle. "To be fair, you are a vampire princess sitting in the middle of a room full of mortals and nobles. Of course, you stand out."

Claire, who had remained by Vivienne's side, gave her a knowing glance. "Your appearance may be rather eye catching, however there's more to it. You have an air about you—something that makes people curious. That, or they're intimidated by your bloodline."

"Or they're bored and looking for gossip," Vivienne muttered, setting down her glass with a soft clink.

Suddenly, a wave of silence swept through the room again as one of the royal sisters stood. It was Iris. She adjusted her uniform and looked out over the banquet hall, her red eyes calm but authoritative.

"Students of Midgar Academy," Iris began, her voice clear and steady. "I won't keep you long, but I wanted to take this opportunity to welcome you all—especially the new students—to this academy. You are here not only to grow stronger but to forge your own path and prove yourselves worthy of your ambitions."

There was a brief murmur of approval from the crowd, though some of the older students simply listened in respectful silence.

Vivienne's gaze remained fixed on Iris. The princess had a commanding presence—something that couldn't be taught. It was natural, instinctive. Despite herself, Vivienne felt a small spark of respect for her.

Iris continued. "This academy has always been a place where legacies are born and tested. But remember this—your titles, your families, your past accomplishments... none of those will matter if you can't stand on your own. Power must be earned, not inherited."

The room fell completely silent at those words. Even the instructors seemed impressed.

Claire leaned in slightly, whispering, "She always gives speeches like this. She believes in merit over status. It's why she's respected."

Vivienne nodded but stayed quiet. She was impressed. She could tell Iris meant every word.

Ding

Vivienne blinked as the familiar chime echoed in her mind, followed by the glowing text of the system interface appearing in her vision.

---

[Passive Skill Unlocked: Truth Detector]

You have an innate sense for detecting sincerity in others. When someone speaks with genuine intent or lies with conviction, subtle cues become more noticeable to you. Effectiveness increases the longer you observe the speaker.

---

Vivienne's lips twitched into a small smile as the description faded. Finally, something useful, she thought. She glanced back at Iris, who was seated calmly after her speech, and felt the lingering resonance of truth in her words. No pretense, no deception. She actually believes what she says.

Claire noticed the slight change in Vivienne's expression and raised an eyebrow. "You look... thoughtful. Something on your mind?"

Vivienne shrugged, trying to seem casual. "Just thinking about how rare it is for someone in her position to be so honest. She's not just saying what people want to hear."

Claire's eyes softened slightly, as though Vivienne had just passed an unspoken test. "That's why she stands out. And why some people can't stand her."

The hall erupted into polite applause. Even Alexia gave a half-hearted clap before resuming her meal.

Amadeus whispered, "Well, that was inspiring. Almost makes you want to give a motivational speech yourself, doesn't it?"

Vivienne rolled her eyes. "If I ever start giving speeches, though, just end me."

Claire chuckled softly, though her attention was still subtly focused on the princesses. "You may want to keep an eye on them, still. They're not here just to make speeches."

Vivienne's brows furrowed. "You think there's more to it?"

Claire's eyes darkened slightly. "There's always more to it when the royal family is involved."

Before Vivienne could respond, a new voice spoke up—loud, confident, and laced with arrogance. "Well said, Princess Iris. But surely you don't believe strength alone decides everything?"

The hall grew tense as the voice's owner stood—a tall boy with short silver hair and piercing blue eyes. His uniform was pristine, adorned with the insignia of a noble house. Vivienne caught the faint glint of a family crest pinned to his collar.

Claire's expression hardened. "Great. Here comes Conrad Valen. One of the more... ambitious nobles."

Vivienne narrowed her eyes as Conrad continued, addressing the entire hall. "Power is important, yes—but so is influence, legacy, and strategy. A lone wolf, no matter how strong, will always lose to a pack."

As Conrad spoke, his voice confident and dripping with superiority, Vivienne felt something strange—like a faint static hum in the back of her mind. The words were polished, deliberate... but hollow.

He doesn't believe what he's saying, Vivienne realized. It's all a performance—a way to assert his status.

Amadeus, still invisible to everyone but her, hopped onto the edge of her plate and whispered, "Oh, you caught that, didn't you? He's a charmer, but he's as shallow as a puddle after rain."

Vivienne's smirk widened as she leaned slightly toward Claire and whispered, "Conrad's bluffing. He's not here to make a point—he's here to show off."

Claire glanced at her, surprised. "You can tell?"

Vivienne's crimson eyes glinted. "Let's just say I'm good at reading people."

Claire nodded slowly, clearly impressed. "Then you know how dangerous that can make someone like him. Bluffing or not, nobles like Conrad can sway people with their words alone."

Vivienne crossed her arms, her gaze narrowing. "Maybe. But if he's all talk... that's a weakness."

Iris's gaze remained calm, though Vivienne caught the slight tightening of her jaw.

Amadeus chuckled. "Oh, I like him already. He's begging to be put in his place."

Vivienne smirked despite herself. "Yeah... This is about to get interesting."

The room seemed to hold its breath as the tension between royalty and nobility crackled in the air like a live wire. All Vivienne would do was sit back and watch—for now.