🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter : 12
Seton’s eyes widened when he realized that the person he had interrupted was none other than the Crown Prince of the Croprus Empire, rumored throughout the empire to be completely insane.
He tried to sit near Briseis, but the moment their eyes met, his body froze.
“Come here. Sit here and talk.”
When Calisten spoke as if giving an order, Seton glanced around to see if anyone else was nearby. But the only other person present was Cassius, originally from Class 2, and the two barely knew each other.
“Tell me in detail.”
“Uh… well… all I know is that she fell down the stairs…”
“Could you keep it down?”
Briseis warned Calisten, who blinked not once and stared at her.
“Seton Peril. Tell me everything in detail.”
Seton glanced at Briseis but, intimidated more by Calisten, he spoke up. Briseis was kind, but the Crown Prince in front of her was already infamous for his ruthlessness.
“Someone pushed Bri down the stairs. That’s why she couldn’t attend first period the day before yesterday and ended up in the infirmary. Demian went to check on her.”
“I see.”
Calisten smiled at Briseis, who frowned, not wanting to speak with him.
“Oh, I see.”
He continued smiling at her, and Briseis ignored him, focusing on her studies.
Seton sat behind Briseis, and his twin, Evishi, sat next to him, giving a questioning glance. But Seton didn’t know what was happening either, so he just shook his head.
By the time the morning assembly was about to start, all the students had gathered.
“Veron went to Class 2,” Ronald whispered to Briseis.
“Why?”
“The class limit is twenty students. Those who weren’t up to par were moved down.”
—Screech—
“Good morning, everyone.”
Finally, the teacher in charge of Class 1 entered. He quickly scanned his notes before beginning.
“Three new students have joined Class 1. Miss Delilah has been personally sent by His Majesty the Emperor, requesting instruction here at this academy.”
Perhaps intending to introduce them all at once, the teacher gestured for Delilah to stand.
Delilah stood up with a bright smile.
“Next is Cassius Rosefel. I hear he was a key contributor to defeating Emperor Viaten.”
The other students whispered among themselves as they recognized the white-haired young man as Cassius Rosefel. He was already quite famous.
Cassius’s family was on the brink of ruin, but his fame didn’t come from wealth or status—it was because his family’s decline limited his potential.
He was an exceptionally skilled warrior, consistently taking second place in annual jousting tournaments. He had been knighted at a young age and had medals personally awarded by the Emperor. Essentially, he had grown up on the battlefield.
His reason for attending the academy was obvious:
He served the protagonist.
“Next is Calisten Ethan Croprus.”
Because of the Crown Prince.
Calisten had helped Cassius whenever his family faltered. Even in the original story, Cassius was loyal to the point of giving his life for Calisten. After failing to confess his feelings to Delilah, the original Cassius died for her sake, driven by that same loyalty.
Unable to confess to the woman his lord loved.
“Everyone, come forward and greet your classmates.”
The three students stood and walked forward.
“Please take care of me. I’m Delilah. This is my first time at the academy, and I’m very excited. I live in Demian’s mansion… and… I hope to become a mother by the time I graduate.”
At Delilah’s almost-declarative words, everyone’s attention went to Briseis. She ignored the stares of other students, keeping a cold, focused gaze ahead.
“Heh, nice dream. Next.”
The teacher moved on, pretending not to notice. Cassius blushed, awkwardly greeting them.
“I’m Cassius Rosefel. Nice to meet you.”
“That’s all?”
“Ah… yes… um…”
He scratched the back of his neck, and the teacher chuckled lightly.
“You, too.”
“Yes, please take care of me.”
Surprisingly, Calisten spoke simply, and the teacher, trying to act like he wasn’t observing, said,
“Be kind to these three students. Veron, Jeria, and Fedon have been moved to Class 2.”
Though Calisten smiled, everyone sensed that it wasn’t a genuine smile.
With a strangely twisted expression, he glanced at the seat Delilah had returned to, and at Demian beside her.
Demian didn’t understand why the mad Crown Prince was looking at him. When their eyes met, he forced a smile and looked forward.
And so, first period began.
Briseis was actually relieved. Thanks to Calisten not disturbing her during class, she could concentrate just as usual.
❖ ❖ ❖
“Let’s have lunch together.”
At Wilhelm Academy, students had to bring their own lunches. Originally, there had been plans for a cafeteria, but it quickly disappeared.
The students attending Wilhelm Academy were children of prominent central nobles in the Croprus Empire.
If a single meal caused a health issue, it would be a major problem. Noble children might appear healthy but were often very picky. Some had allergies, for instance.
So most students either ate in their classroom or in designated areas according to personal dietary needs.
“Where will you eat?”
Briseis originally intended to eat with Evishi, but Seton and Evishi, flustered, hovered nearby, watching Calisten.
“I’ll eat wherever you eat.”
Briseis figured Calisten wouldn’t leave her side anyway.
“Seton, Evishi, can Calisten join us?”
“Ah, sure.”
“I’m fine with that.”
“Kaz too.”
“Alright.”
Since Cassius seemed unsure what to do, Briseis suggested they all eat together.
“Where do you usually eat?”
“On the rooftop.”
Briseis grabbed her lunch, and Calisten, having brought a large lunchbox, also carried hers.
“Hold it level. Otherwise, it’ll tip over.”
“Okay, thanks.”
Calisten, obedient as ever, smiled, and they headed to the rooftop.
Surprisingly, someone had already claimed a spot.
“Try this.”
“Ah.”
Delilah had Demian sitting with his head on her lap while feeding him.
“This is usually our spot,” Seton said immediately.
“Then you guys eat over there,” Delilah said with a smile, pointing to the opposite side.
“I made this. How is it?”
“Delicious. I thought you were just smart, but you can cook too, Dilly.”
“Thank you.”
Delilah smiled and fed him another bite.
“Do we have to eat here?”
Calisten frowned at the scene.
“Let’s just eat here,” Briseis said stubbornly, unwilling to move just because of the other two. She sat on a bench, placing her lunch on the round table.
Then Calisten opened his three-tier lunchbox.
“I made all of this.”
“You can’t cook.”
“I learned. From Kaz.”
“Oh, right. Makes sense.”
Cassius laughed and sat beside Calisten, and somehow Briseis ended up next to Calisten as well.
Seton and Evishi also sat nearby and opened their lunches.
“Try it, Bri.”
Calisten offered a tart. Since it was unlikely he learned baking while on the battlefield, Briseis pretended to indulge him and took a forkful.
“Tasty.”
“Why did you only bring stuff like this? Just vegetables.”
“Look closer, there’s apple pie too.”
Calisten frowned at Briseis’s lunch.
“Eat what I brought.”
She almost refused, but the tart he made was surprisingly delicious, so she accepted.
“Kaz must be good at cooking.”
“Yes. I made mine too. Want some madeleines?”
“Yes, please.”
Watching Briseis eat a madeleine, Calisten said,
“You’re like a rabbit.”
“Stop talking nonsense. Try one yourself. It’s good.”
Cassius picked one up with his fork and gave it to Calisten.
“Feed her. Ah.”
Calisten told Briseis to eat it, but she ate it herself.
“I had to eat it because of your nonsense. Really good, Kaz.”
“Thank you.”
As their conversation continued, Delilah and Demian’s chat drifted over.
“I’m taking folic acid lately.”
“What’s that?”
“A supplement for preparing for pregnancy.”
Briseis’s expression darkened at that, and Calisten’s did too. Seeing this, Cassius asked, confused,
“By the way, Bri, why are you eating with us if you have a husband?”
Cassius truly didn’t understand.
“If I were her husband, I’d be jealous if a wife as beautiful as Bri sat and ate with other men.”
