"Naza, over here!"
Once again, the illegitimate Young Master of the Odum Family was smiling warmly.
There's a rumor regarding the infamous scummy troublemaker.
Nazareth Everette Odum is possessed by a fairy.
"I mean, why else would he suddenly become... become, well... become this?"
"According to a distant cousin of mine who had a friend with a boyfriend with an acquaintance who sat by their table, he managed to make out some of the conversations they had. Apparently, he had a dream-"
"-But come on, really? There's no way a dream can affect someone like that. You either had to have died-"
"-Or remembered a past life, or something-"
"-Or be possessed by a fairy..."
In conclusion:
"Yeah, possession seems pretty reasonable..."
Here's the thing about the Noble Academy. People here don't like trouble. In fact, no one likes trouble, but some people like making it. The most well-known troublemaker of all is... well... it's obviously Nazareth Odum.
But here's another thing about the Noble Academy. The people here are sharp and quick-witted. From birth, they are aristocrats first and people second. No one is truly kind, nor are they benevolent. Behind that mask of innocence hides a serpent's den and the weak will always fall the quickest.
And what about those who are weak, but hold a position of power that you wouldn't want to offend? You use them as scapegoats and ridicule them from behind.
It is by god's mercy that Nazareth Odum was such an idiot and fitted this category well. So what if he was the bastard son of the Odum Family? So what if he can crush them with a finger? In the end, this crazy bastard just wants to kill his own brother. How tacky! Never seen such a clumsy scheme. The whole school knows about it, you know?
So what if this changes? So what if the notorious scummy troublemaker becomes a saint? So what if the entire game and setting flips? Well, this is aristocracy.
Here's one final thing about the Noble Academy. The people here can read the mood. They can read your eyes, your body language, your posture. They can read everything in regards to social behavior, because this is how aristocrats are trained. Do you think all of them are just dumbass cannon fodders in some story? If that was so, then what was the point of entering this school, where their very purpose is to someday lead the entire nation?
The position of a noble has no room for a dumbass!
The only one who committed these canon-fodder-like actions was that bastard kid from the Odum's and those lackeys of his!
But, if, say, this kid suddenly smartens up and becomes likeable, what do you do then?
You damn well please him.
If he smiles at you, great. Easier to approach, less like his brother and sister.
If he's friendly towards you, wonderful. Don't offend him. Remember, he's an Odum. And if he says he's changed into a better person because of some dream, cool, let's go with it.
The most reasonable excuse is to obviously make him into a mystical fairy.
Possessed by a fairy. The vermillion fairy. The darling of the school. How enchanting, how lovely, how sweet! Admire him, admire him from afar, adore him, adore him up close.
It was hypnotism.
Should the students thank the gods for making this kid all nice and sweet? When he changed, he really changed. It wasn't hard to not hate him anymore.
"Ah, Miss Lettuse, let me help you carry those boxes."
"Are you okay?"
"Are you sure you don't wish to go to the infirmary?"
"At least let me bandage those wounds."
"Please, I really want to help..."
It... really wasn't hard at all.
A good personality and a very attractive appearance courtesy of Duke Odum and Alyoise Webbers can make a fine-looking youth.
With black, silk hair, a pair of vermillion red eyes, an unusually pale complexion, and a thin build that made him look a little vulnerable, the shallower populace deemed him to be lovable despite his many past mistakes.
Not that they forgot those mistakes. They will never forget those mistakes.
But sometimes, if the enemy turns kind, it is better to grit your teeth and accept it, even if there's a history of enmities. This is a political maneuver, especially if the enemy holds more power than you.
After Royce, Tybalt, and Finneas greeted him at the entrance of the school building, Neo found himself enclosed tightly once more.
Tybalt cheerfully had his arm wrapped around his smaller shoulders (curse his height!) and was talking to Royce at a speed that was incomprehensible to his own ears.
Days like these were becoming a regular sight. Coming to school, meeting up with his companions, studying together, all actions that had him feeling like the luckiest man in the world. To think that something as simple as this would have made him feel so happy. He could have had this all along if he had only seen what was in front of him.
Neo felt a light jab on his side. He turned and found Finneas staring at him with a raised brow. It had looked like he was speaking to him.
Neo snapped away from his daze and stared confusingly at the other boy. "I'm sorry, can you repeat that?"
The brunette looks at him strangely.
Hmm, was it just him, or did it look like Finneas was starting to gain an attitude?
"I asked, do you have any plans on Sunday?"
"For what?"
He rolled his eyes. "For the literature project, Odum. You know? That thing that Rickman is making the entire class do for the sake of his own amusement?" These days, Finneas has also taken to calling him by his last name. Strangely enough, it made Neo feel that their relationship was becoming closer rather than distanced.
"Oh! You just reminded me..."
Finneas huffed. "Typical. Listen, do you want to go over our lines-"
"What's this about Sunday?"
Royce butted into the conversation.
"None of your business, Benedick."
"Now, now, Finny. Don't tell me you want Naza all to yourself?" Tybalt teased. "Just because you were lucky enough to replace that Frederick Meyers for the role of Gilde-"
"It's not like that, you asshole!"
And then they started bickering.
Royce turned his attention to the youth.
"So you really are playing Lady Rose?"
Neo smiled sheepishly, remembering when Professor Rickman had slipped everyone in class a piece of paper with the characters they were going to be assigned to for his 'official' production the other day. "I didn't think Professor Rickman would actually make us perform the play." He looked like he was going to cry. Ah, to be forced to play the role of the tragic heroine. Despite his height, he is still a man! "There were so many cute girls in class who could have done it too..."
The red haired youth stared at him with an unamused expression. "You call that cute? The women in this academy are so bloodthirsty and monstrous." He shivered. "It's like every one of them wants to be the new Vespera Odum and join the army. I'm afraid Rickman would be murdered if he dared give the role of the 'fragile' and 'sickly-looking' Lady Rose to any one of them."
"Who says he's afraid? That fucking old man would do anything to make our lives miserable." Finneas growled, after finishing his one-sided screaming match with Tybalt. "Thank god Meyers transferred out of the classroom due to mysterious reasons. That guy was an idiot and would have made us fail this project."
"True, true. It is good that Freddy had to go."
"That bastard was getting too comfortable with Neo, anyway..."
As Royce, Tybalt, and Finneas agreed with the fate of Frederick Meyers, Neo had other thoughts.
"But I thought Frederick was nice." Neo tilted his head. "He made a good Gilde, and was always very polite." I thought we could have been friends.
'He was also your brother's subordinate.'
Was the thought of the trio.
"Okay, enough about Meyers. Odum," Finneas addressed him seriously, "may I come to your estate on Sunday?"
"I don't mind it. Will it be an informal visit?"
The boy nods solemnly. "If you will allow it. We can work on our lines for the project."
"En."
"Eh? That's not fair! Naza, I want to come too," Tybalt quipped, tugging at Neo's sleeve childishly. "It's been so long since we visited!"
"What do you mean 'we'? No one invited you!" Finneas pointed his finger at Tybalt aggressively.
"Now, now, Finny. You're not the only main character. I'm playing Rose's cousin, remember? Gilde and him have a scene together, not to mention, I've been double-cast as Lady Rose's fiance." Tybalt smirks.
"Oh. Then you can also come, Tybalt."
"Really?" The other asked excitedly.
"Hold on, you bastard...!"
"If the two of you are going to go, then I'm coming as well. I'm playing Rose's faithful servant."
Finneas scoff. "For like, three scenes."
"Don't you die at the beginning, Roy?"
"Why you...!"
Before the conversation can turn into another argument, Neo thoughtlessly added, "Does that mean the three of you will all come visit me?"
The trio stares at him in silence, argument forgotten at Neo's words.
Neo looked around, confused. "What is it?"
Finally, Tybalt shrugs. "I personally didn't think you would be so generous as to extend the invitation."
Finneas immediately fell upon him like a vengeful harpy. "Yet you still want to pick a fight with me, huh? You little shit!"
"Oh, Finny, you know I adore your temperament."
Neo watched the three with fond smiles.
He hadn't appreciated their company. Royce was seen as an annoyance and Finneas was more or less a servant. Tybalt was his most frequent visitor, but the visits were used to scheme out another assassination attempt. Neo didn't realize how lonely it was. He has gotten used to the constant bickering of his companions, that he hasn't realized how rigid and silent they were in the past, with his hatred polluting their dynamic. He swears, he never wants to go back to those days ever again.
"Hmm, maybe we can have tea right after the line readings. And cakes." He suggests.
"That would be a first." Finneas snorted. "The last time we gathered at the Odum Household, all we talked about was how to kill-"
"-an ice crab." Royce covered the other boy's mouth. "But we don't do that anymore, right?" He asked with a pointed look.
Finneas, sensing the warning coming off of Royce's gaze nods.
Royce lets him go.
Neo nods, ignoring the slip-up. "I've been thinking of having the three of you over for work and tea. That's what friends do, right?"
He smiled a little and continued walking, not noticing that the trio of former lackeys did not move, frozen in place as identical expressions of denial and awe reached their faces.
The image of a black-haired beauty lightly smiling while elegantly walking made people around him gasp. The illusion of flowers behind his back was sparkling more than usual. Even Aurelion, who was walking a few paces back with his own companions couldn't keep his usual straight face. The red-tinged ears proved his embarrassment. He glares harshly at his brother's group. Protective friends his ass. Those boys are wolves hidden in sheepskin.
"Yes." Tybalt was the first to react, coming out of his daze to catch up. "That is what friends do."
Let Royce and Finneas gape a little longer. He gets to have Naza all to himself for now.
"Hey, wait up!"
Or not.
He sighs. Ah, the things he has to share, he thinks, almost fondly for a moment before he caught himself.
Neo was happily smiling, unaware of the strange emotion on Tybalt's face as he talked about the sweets that could be served for their visit.
"-Lillia to bake an apple pie and make some more of her tiramisus. Ah, and Rainier was talking about the Pu'Er tea that he recently bought from the market..."
Tybalt turned to the oblivious youth.
Aish, this cute and troublemaking spider will be the death of them all. He snorts to himself at the thought, a sly smile makes its way onto his face.
Well, he wouldn't mind being caught in its web if it stays this way forever.
The spring breeze carried a scent of cherry blossoms and the sky was bright and blue, with the sun shining upon them. Small clowds drifted about, and as Neo gazed towards it, he could faintly see a crescent-looking smile forming.
Not really paying attention, even with Tybalt's gentle guidance via an arm swung over his head, Neo finds his face bumping into something warm and solid.
Well, this is quite a cliche.
"Naza...!" He immediately found himself being pulled, and the next thing he knew, he found himself standing behind Tybalt and Finneas while Royce stood beside him in a... protective manner?
Coming out of his daze, he tried to see who was blocking their way.
Three tall figures looked at them imperiously.
"Odum," The one in the middle intoned, arms crossed and a voice like ice, "We need to talk."