The dining hall have 3 grand table that has 20 seaters each.
My brother and I settled in the same table where nana, dad, the emperor, empress dowager, Madam Farah, Viscount Terezia, Sir Paul, Sir Rupert, Kiera, her brother Sir Rafael, and the 3 other new male scholars who look all flustered and overwhelmed.
The other scholars occupied the other tables.
It's a small welcoming celebration.
The emperor is sitting on the very end in front as a host, while father is on the right side, nana and Madam Farah are sitting across us with the empress dowager, I notice dad and Sir Rupert spare two vacant seats for me and my brother, but I immediately notice how the new scholars are on the tail end of the table.
I let go of my brother and take the seat next to Kiera who seem startled as I throw an innocent smile on her and my father who's watching me by afar, raise his brow yet his aura is too powdery pink and gold, it's funny contradicting with his jet black attire.
My brother just let me be and he go situated next to dad, while Viscount Terezia automatically stand next to brother with Sir Rupert, while Sir Paul and Sir Rafael situated on Kiera's right side, the three other scholars are standing across us with flustered expression.
The emperor look around sharply just as I feel another presence getting closer.
I look at the doorway as expected, a pair of sharp deep red ruby like eyes caught my sight, peeking at the door, his deep gold like blond wavy locks is a bit of a mess like he run a marathon, he looks like a wolf, no, a wolf mix of a golden retriever, a golden wolf, he's trying to catch his breath, he definitely ran.
"Crown prince." I was startled by the emperor's voice, and blink when the crown prince enter the room, the rest courteously greeted him as I bow quickly.
He stop on the same table and took the empty chair as a second host, at the very end which is facing his father. the emperor, and is literally close to my seat on my left.
I feel a strong gray aura on the far right, I can already tell it's my father and my brother.
The crown prince look as if he's the same age as my brother, I expected him to look a little younger.
I only saw a photo of him with his back facing, it's mostly paparazzi photos for newspaper, it's my first time seeing him in this age.
"Let's begin!" the emperor spoke pleased as we situated on our seats.
Then I just noticed a pianist at the very corner when I heard the music started playing, it's an old man, and I can tell he's extremely nervous.
Carts with silver platters are being served by the bustling servants, quickly it turned as if there's a huge banquet.
My plate has a medium rare rib-eye steak on it with a gravy, a scoop of mashed potatoes and steamed broccolis.
A silver cup with an obvious red wine is served which wasn't a surprise since children in this world are taught early how to drink wine in order to know ones limit of drinking it, it's part of the etiquette class in every household.
I don't mind at all, I live in my modern and past lives as someone who can take alcohol well without a problem.
The emperor grab his cup suggesting for a toast, as we all grab ours and lift it with the right hand.
I can sense the new scholars across me all seem tense by the crown prince's presence.
"For the empire, another excellent additions to Hestia's bright future." the emperor said satisfied.
"For the empire." My father replied with a cold expression and the others followed while I only mumble and take a sip which made Kiera squirm as I look down to her a little with our height difference, she's watching me with a flustered and surprised expression.
"It's mild, it only taste like a sweet grape juice." I mumbled to her as I put the cup down as she gulp and hesitantly take a sip and look at her cup with a blank expression yet I can see her bright pink aura says it all.
The elders converse while I grab my utensils and preparing my table cloth as I started slicing my food.
I was startled when the crown prince, suddenly swap our plates, but the steak on his plate that he placed in front of me is now sliced neatly to bite sizes.
I couldn't refuse since he silently slice the steak from my plate, which is now his.
This guy, is acting like my brother.
If that's the case, then he probably sees me as a child, not as his potential fiancée as the emperor implies us to be.
It would be nice to get along well with the crown prince and the rest of my brother's friends in this life, it will be easier to mutually agree to decline with the marriage proposal, still they're a great connection.
"Eat." he muttered to me as he keep a blank expression and start eating, his aura is too bright of a yellow, I let him be and just nodded gratefully then start eating.
He's an only child, I'm not going to be surprise if he started treating me like a younger sister, just like how he see's my brother as his older brother too.
I'm glad I took a seat far away from the elders since they've become busy conversing about politics and business.
I'll have to find a way to brought up the topic about the country Pelias to my father, and the monster subjugation too.
The servants added trays of various beautifully decorated slices of cakes, which all looks familiar.
The cakes from my dessert shops, we sell per slice for people who wants to try it or for those who eat on the go or in store café.
The crown prince firstly finish and grab the a slice of dark chocolate biscuit and cream cheesecake and put it on his plate with an unreadable expression, but his golden aura just gives it away to me, as the maid behind him collect the finished plate and utensils.
The last time, Sir Rupert was laughing when he told me that the crown prince personally lined up and visited one of my dessert café in Capital with brother when it first officially opened around 3 years ago.
I heard he hates sweets, opposite to the empress dowager who would actively send a special order all the way to the first café we have in Wisteria that started 6 years ago, just to be delivered exclusively to her back in capital within a day and instead of sugar, we use honey as a sweetener for the sake of the dowager empress' health.
I finish my dinner and pick a same flavored slice of cheesecake and put it on my small silver dessert plate, while the maid quickly ask if I'm done, and I nodded smiling to lessen her tense mood, her anxious pale yellow aura slowly turn powdery pink as she genuinely smiled and grab my finished plate and utensils.
I grab my dessert fork and started eating the sweet treat, it's my favorite out of all, I really recreated all the sweets I could think of from my modern life and took it here, it's a smart I idea that we opened a dessert and café, and candy stores that's approachable to all classes, no store could copy my recipes easily with how I made the no bake treats since most of the desserts here are made like breads of tarts, it's rare to have a velvet cake.
Dessert shops are mainly owned by aristocrats and nobles due to how expensive it is to run the business and find good quality ingredients at affordable price, I feel no guilt competing with the aristocrats, there's no rules that says grand duke's children aren't allowed to do business.
It's a great promotion when the crown prince personally visited the store 3 years ago, he even visited not only the dessert and café, but my candy store too with my brother, as the newspapers showed.
Now a lot of young ladies personally visits and flock around the store every single day, hoping to get a chance to be notice by the crown prince, the heir apparent of the grand duke, and the other scholars who often accompanies them who are all undeniably good looking.
We even made a rules of only customers dining in can stay in, loitering aren't allowed.
They really helped not just a lot of people working for my shops, but also secure my savings that I could use for my future.
I can now start experimenting with castile bar soap mixtures, and since we have a vast ore that provides baking soda for my desserts and soda drinks, might as well try creating bath bombs, and hair shampoo too with liquid castile soaps, I can create so may things and open hygiene and cleaning products, Sir Max already gave me a good feed back, I can have my brother and Sir Max try the mixtures easily now that he's near, maybe Kiera too, she likes alchemy.
I almost jump when the crown prince tap my left shoulder as I look at him quickly, he's now leaning against the backrest of his seat, done with his food.
He look at me with amused expression as I feel my face heat up when I realize I space out for too long.
I continue eating as if noting, composing myself and notice Kiera personally pick a strawberry cream cake with her eyes shining excitedly along her intense pink aura.
Even the three new scholars in front of me, they seem to be excited with the desserts even with their stoic expressions.
The crown prince just silently wait for everything to be over, even I feel so done for the day already.
It did took too long and soon, the dinner is over as I finish my drink.
I feel sleepy, so sleepy.
The emperor and empress leave first as we all see them out of the mansion, while I hug my father tightly and motion for him to come close and he pick me up immediately.
"I'll often visit whenever the job is done." dad muttered as I hum and kiss his forehead which made him chuckle while brother silently followed while hugging nana and Madam Farah.
"I have new business ideas in mind." I said excitedly to nana who laugh in delight.
"My, thank the Gods above, I have been blessed with at least one creative grandchild who doesn't only think of books, politics and swords." she said which made my brother chuckle since he's really not the one to involve in business side.
"She uses me as a testing subject all the time." my brother said defensively as I hum nodding.
"A very useful at that, our businesses are successful because of brother sacrificing his own safety." I said dramatically as he poke my side which made me squirm giggling and dad put me down carefully.
"I've already settled the issue with that servant before I came here with her grace." Madam Farah said as I nod and she kiss my left cheek while nana did too as I hug them both.
Sienna was surely let off safely, it's sooner than expected but it's better to be cautious.
We bid a short farewell and watch nana and Madam Farah left with the carriage while father took his horse with Viscount Terezia and Sir Rupert and the other knights with them.
I watch them pass the long way and disappear to my sight when the gates shut close.
"It's getting cold, my lady." Sir Ulysses said as I nodded and we all get inside.
I leisurely walk my way and followed my brother who escorted me to the main lobby where the new scholars are lines up with Kiera.
I let go of him as I stand next to Kiera while the crown prince is up on the platform while brother joined him with the butler Sir Thomas.
"Let's begin with proper introductions." my brother said pointing to the boy on the right side.
"I'm Siel Ruben, I passed as 12th in ranking of the Sectre, from Wisteria, 2nd son of the knight assistant to Sir Terezia, my father is Sir Salazar Ruben." the boy with light brown hair and dark brown eyes covered with round spectacles, spoke timidly.
"I'm Yaran Ester, 9th in ranking, my father is one of the guard knight of her majesty, the grand dowager's palace, Sir Roman Ester." the navy green haired boy with light hazel green eyes spoke in an excited tone.
"It's Dominic Hans Silvia, 4th in rank, 3rd son of house of Viscount Silvia of Wisteria." the boy with reddish purple hair and ocean blue eyes spoke sharply.
"I'm Kiera Rose Mabel, 13th in rank of Sectre, from house of Baron Mabel of Wisteria." she spoke brightly while I suddenly feel pressured when everyone's eyes landed on me.
"Althea Lucine Argyros, daughter of the Wisteria grand duchy." I introduce shortly and stare at my brother who have his brow raised.
"Your rank." he said with a glint of amusement in his eyes as I throw a glare at him.
"1st." I muttered looking away, flustered as he cleared his throat and hum.
"I'm Dritan Ares Argyros, I'm the student council president of the academy and in my senior year, his imperial majesty, His Highness is the vice, Sir Paul here is the Secretary, while the rest here are the other council members, the Wisteria's scholars are already assigned to join and replace the student councils every time one graduates, it's an academy's rules to make sure no one would dare abuse the academy's system, only student representatives aren't under the scholars influence." my brother explained.
"We'll start with the house rules first, it's simple, we never allow strangers inside, if you have a visitor, send a request ahead of the time to me first, it needs to be approved before your visitors enter, second, strictly ladies must only stay on west wing and men only on the east, let's draw the line there." my brother said and I shrug.
"We have curfew hours, must be inside the chateau before dinner time, or else the punishment is to clean all the dishes." my brother added.
"And ladies, if you plan on gathering a tea party or attending any gatherings, we don't restrict it, just make sure to inform ahead of the time."
Kiera and I just nodded while I chew my bottom lip.
"Alcohols aren't allowed unless it's served on occasion, but now that we have ladies residing with us again, we're banning alcohols completely, this is the last time alcohol is allowed."
The scholars didn't react and only shrug and agreed.
"Everything else, you can ask anyone in this room, especially Sir Thomas here." brother said as he pointed to the old man who's smiling brightly.
"You can hand Sir Thomas your list of food preference to let the chefs know immediately, your allowance for supplies you need will be handed every month, learn how to handle your own money properly, servants room are just down floor, there are connected bell in the rooms, ladies' assistants on the west wing, ground floor while men's assistants on the east wing, ground floor, that's all for now, you can go and rest." my brother said dismissively as Wendy and Kiera's maid, Midas, quickly handed the lists of our food preference, the boys' maids handed over their lists too.
The crown prince left upstairs first followed by my brother and the rest of the male scholars.
Sir Ulysses and Sir Orion escorted me to my room followed by Wendy and Daisy first, while Kiera, her maid Midas followed upstairs and head to the west wing.
We parted our ways to our rooms as Sir Ulysses and Sir Orion guarded the west wing.
Daisy and Wendy assisted me in cleaning up and changing to a white long sleeves sleep dress.
I sit on my bed as Wendy brushes my hair gently, it makes me feel even more sleepy.
"Sleep now, your highness, you still have to wake up early tomorrow." Daisy said as I hum and lay down, covering myself with the thick white duvet.
"Go rest too, I'll be fine now." I mumbled as they nodded and go, leaving me by myself in my room and they shut the door while I snap my fingers, using a little mana to turn the lights off.
I buried myself surrounded by a soft pile of pillows, it only took a while for me to fall asleep.