The school corridor. After school.
"Are you certain about this, my lord? I am sure you said before that we better be avoiding troublesome stuff."
We were walking in the almost empty school corridor as Benjirou spoke from my shadow, voice just low enough for me to hear. Andrea is behind me, tugging the hem of my blazer. She is in a good mood, and if I am to guess, she's happy because our next destination will be a crepe shop.
While Benjirou is worrying about what just have been settled, I answered,
"I know. I hate it too. I don't want to get involved in this political bullshit. But, Benjirou... did you not notice?"
"Notice? I apologize for my ignorance, my lord. It seems I am not aware of what you are talking about."
He said in an apologetic voice, but I did not care about that and continued,
"You were at the library that time so it can't be helped. But there is something wrong about the prince. Something eerie..."
"Eerie..."
"Yes. His eyes are strange and the way he acts is the most troubling."
"You mean?"
"It is not tolerable for a prince to act as such. Do you really think that a prince would be allowed to barge in a classroom and declare an unreasonable duel suddenly? People in higher ranked societies such as this world are really prideful. It's unthinkable for the prince to act out of line."
a pause was made as Benjirou began to ponder...
"...now that you've mentioned it... that is indeed a valid evaluation."
"..."
As I went silent, I remembered something.
"Earlier, there was someone else beside the prince. He came with him but he did not enter the room. It was as if he was just observing from afar."
I knitted my brows,
"The eyes of the prince... his eyes are... how do I say this... Ominous?"
"If known by the public, this might create a certain stir in the current peaceful environment—which my lord dislikes. I see. So, that's why you accepted the challenge. I now understand! As expected of my lord."
"Huh? Ah, yes..."
I'm not thinking that far... but listening to Benjirou's voice—I better go along with him.
"Furthermore..."
I shifted my gaze to the girl who was tugging my clothes.
"...I can't just accept the fact that he used Andrea to get me angry. That's unacceptable."
Saying that, I gently placed my hand on her head and gave her a gentle pat. Andrea looked up in response, and although she showed no emotion, her face was a bit red. With her eyes directed on me, she uttered.
"as expected of the master. A lolicon."
"Guheck?!"
I accidentally tumbled by surprise. With my voice shaking and stuttering response, I retorted.
"I—I am not!"
¤
"Now then... Let's start the Students Councils' daily meeting."
It was the first words that sounded in the somewhat dark room on a secluded building. The light was off and the only illumination in that space was the screen projecting a picture of a certain somebody.
There were eight people present in the meeting. Six were aligned three on three facing each other in the long table and one on the head end at the front of the monitor. On the other end of the table, the last one of the personnel stood firm. Probably not a member of the council and was only there for some reason...
"You know why you are here."
"...Yes, Miss President."
Her voice sounded in that room. Filling the once silent place. A low voice that depicts hesitation...
"You will tell us everything you know about those two, Chika!"
...it was Chika. And it seemed like she was somehow connected to the Student council. And her reason? Only she knew.
¤
The Crepes shop is near the academy.
"Master, master! I want!"
Andrea is pointing to the stall. Although monotonous, her voice sounded exciting. Her eyes upon looking at the product brightened, and she began to drool.
"Ahaha. I got it–I got it. Wipe your mouth, will you?"
I laughed at her. It is just at this moment where you can see her in a very good mood. Andrea, who was locked for more than a century, is having her chance to enjoy the things her appearance( a 12 year old girl) suggests.
"Okay, what do you like?"
"Umm... umm..."
She was looking at the poster of the stall where various types of crepes were put together. Her eyes traveled from the top to the side, then down and side again. It was as if a thorough investigation, in which the person should scan the whole thing.
While she was busy with her own investigation, I talked to Benjirou who was hiding in my shadow.
"My lord, what do you plan on doing next? Shall we go home after buying food for lady Andrea?"
"No."
I shook my head in response.
"I want to go to the library. We have to talk about the research you've done and study the whole situation at the same time. I can see no progress after all."
"I'm sorry my lord... If only I were more competent."
He said in a sad voice.
"No. That's not what I mean."
"..."
"It's just... We are spending time here in the academy more than necessary. I have to find the only clue that I have. The base that I have created."
"I see..."
"And besides..."
"besides..?"
"Ah, no... never mind it."
I gave a wry smile.
There are people waiting for me out there. I don't know what my sister might do if she finds out that I did not go home from school.
I returned my gaze to Andrea. And then, Andrea, with a little pause, suddenly shifted her gaze towards me. She made her decision.
"So, which is it?"
"All of them."
"Huh?!"
"All of them!"
"Ah... yes..."
We ended up buying all the shop had to offer... I wonder where this girl puts the food she eats. Despite having a slender and petite body, she sure has an appetite.
"Thank you very much! Come again!"
We left the stall with the shopkeeper waving at us. Smiling and happy as he sold all he has for today.
Beside me is Andrea. She has on her hand a crepe she was eating, while in her both arms the bags that also contain more of it. I offered a hand, but she refused. She just stared at me with suspicious eyes.—I am not going to steal them from you, you know!
But even so, seeing her as happy as she is... I just smiled and left her be.
"My lord... you sure do have a soft spot for Lady Andrea..."
"S-shut up!"
That was an unnecessary comment!
—We headed back to the academy. To the library.
¤
"Is that all?"
"Yes. That's all I know, Miss President. But the time of the ambush at the Forest of Mos happened, that person appeared out of nowhere. He saved all of us there, and even the heavily wounded heiress of the Duchy Family de Blaze-Wisteria was saved by that yet seen magic. And the little girl that's always with him was unexpectedly strong and can even use ancient healing magic(Refer to Chapter ) they are someone one shouldn't go against."
"Unseen healing magic?!"
"Ancient magic?!"
"That's impossible! Ancient Healing magic has been lost for about a millenia now. It couldn't be!"
The dark room was filled with uncertainty and confused chatter of those unidentified personnel who were lurking in the darkness of the room. Hearing what Chika had reported, the formerly silenced room was filled with chatters. Until,
"I see."
her words took back the former silence of the dimmed room.
"It's true that healing magic that yet to be seen might possess either potential or risk for the Magical Academy, no, even the whole Magic Continent. It is a good idea not to go against that person for now. Not until we know all his abilities and goals!"
Her sweet yet confident voice sounded all over the room astonishing all the listeners. And with a light smile, she said after a pause,
"Ah, I know. I heard that the prince and that person had this dispute three days ago. Is that a fact?"
"Yes, miss president. The fact that the prince made contact with him and took the initiative of challenging him to a duel is true."
The person sitting on the left side of the table in the middle answered while flipping the somewhat illuminated book-like on his hand.
"Also, the report said that after the conversation, the prince left the room with knees trembling in an unbelievable manner."
He added as he turned his sight to the end of the table where the president was sitting.
"Fufu, is that so?..."
She put her arm under her huge chest.
"What a perfect opportunity we have here."
"W-what do you mean by that, Miss president?"
Chika asked with a worried expression written on her face as she heard the president make a light laugh.
"What, I just thought of using that stupid prince to see how he fights. It is nothing big but indeed a wonderful idea."
"You can't do that! To make such a statement at a member of the royal family, isn't that overboard, miss president?!"
"Overboard? Royalty or not, stupid will always be stupid. Those incompetent Royal pigs! If only they didn't exist then this Capital was more... better than today! Especially that useless woman of the de Blaze-Wisteria who can't even use magic at all! They should all just go down and become history for the good future of this Royal Capital of Magic Continent!"
Chika was left silent with wide eyes hearing these words from the president. And it even turned the place into turmoil.
"Yeah, the president is right!"
"They should all just go down and become slaves!"
"Incompetent fools!"
With the agreement of all in her words, she turned to her raising the edge of her mouth and said,
"What, you don't agree with us, Chika? Even after betraying those swine?"
Following the gaze of the president, all eyes turned to her with malice drawn on them. This left a huge perplexed expression on Chikas' normally cute face. A betrayal? What could she mean, is only they know.
"It is all set then! All of you, make announcements of this duel, and set the fight in the Magical Arena and make this battle as a mandate. Let everyone see the ability of that Yuiren, and no one should not be missing! For everything will be..."
As the light turned on,
"...very interesting!"
a face that looked exactly identical to Mai surfaced in the glow of light. And if a difference is to be told, then that mole under her left eye can be used as one identification.
¤
*DINGDONGDINGDING
As the familiar bell sounded echoing all over the school, Guren and Benjirou are also done with their talk. It's already getting dark, and the time to go home has come.
Benjirou insisted on staying behind. He was ashamed by the little information he got. Thus he decided to gather more. Guren gave his consent.
"Andrea, wake up. It is already time to go home.."
"Hummn?"(Note:This is Andrea making strange sounds when she wakes up.)
The boy headed back to the place where they stayed, the de Blaze residence. And behind his back, without him knowing, scheming was already made.
"O-ouch!"
"Sorry, Are you alright—huh..?"
After a bumping on something, a squeak of a girls voice sounded in pain,
"...Chika?"
"Eh? Yuiren-san? Wh-why are you still out here?!"
It was Chika spacing out while heading back as well.
"Why? I was in the library. How about you? Why are you still out here, you're a first year right? Your class has already ended."
"Ah, eh, ah... Toilet? I went there... Yes, I just got out. Ehehe. Ah! I am going to be late! See you later Guren-san! Andrea-chan!"
She dashed after making a suspicious response. Gurens' expression didn't change at all but he knew something was off. Especially when the toilet is on the opposite side of where she came from.
"Late? She's really bad at lying..."
He said weakly as he dragged the still hazy Andrea, back towards the second years' floor.
"Master, is that okay? To leave that suspicious response untouched?"
"Leave it be for now. The truth will eventually come out in time."
As he gave his somewhat reasonable answer to Andreas' serious question for the first time, he headed back to their place. It is peaceful for now, yet another curtain had begun to be lifted. And a flag of scheming was raised once again.
...To be Continued...