"If I may."
"Thank you, my prince..."
As the mysterious girl took the second prince's hand and was stepping down the carriage steps, all eyes were glued to them.
In any other situation, the blue-haired second prince would be n cloud nine because of finally getting more attention than his older brother whose carriage arrived right behind his, but he was far too preoccupied with the blond girl by his side.
..until...
"The other carriage!"
Someone from the crowd suddenly shouted and everyone's attention changed focus...
The first prince's carriage's shadow suddenly grew dark as the starless night and expanded looing extremely threateningly...
Then, through the cracks of the still closed door, heavy half-liquid-half-gas-like darkness started pouring disturbingly as if the carriage was bleeding.
"!!!!"
With no warning, the door opened soundlessly and everyone flinched but no one dared to disturb the overwhelming silence.
...the inside of the carriage was completely black...
Instead of the pompous high-lass, the threatening jet-black rectangle of the door looked like the entrance to the void itself or a maw of the king of nightmares....!
"...!"
Then, something emerged from that space.
A black-haired youth in the Academy's white and black uniform.
"Ah...!"
Few weaker-hearted students started shaking at the mere sight of him.
The left side of his face was handsome enough to charm many of the present ladies while the right half was covered in hideous burn-scars that could make children cry.
"..."
The youth scouted the area around the carriage with his fearsome black eyes - many students have turned away in terror - and stepped down on the ground
Even though everyone saw him move no one heard him make even the smallest sound, even though the whole crowd was staying so silent that each of the students could hear their neighbors' heartbeat.
In the midst of that, the scarred youth seemed as if he wasn't a creature of this world.
"...hmph..."
Then as if having confirmed something the youth scoffed dismissively and turned back towards the carriage before kneeling on one knee.
"My prince, my lady, it is safe, no one here is capable of causing you any harm."
"...!"
The terrifying youth's voice turned out to be unexpectedly pleasant for the ears.
"Ahhhhh!"
When he finished speaking the veil of darkness fell from the carriage and was replaced by the golden light causing the crowd to erupt in gasps of awe.
From the light emerged - hand in hand - the first prince of the Bellcephora Kingdom Horeo Marets Bellcephora and his fiancé, lady Miriette Lisea Espine.
The pair looked so dashing that people started blushing just from being allowed to stay in their presence.
By this point, no one even remembered that the second prince was even there, let alone that he brought some unknown girl of an unknown origin together with him.
The diversion was a rousing success and all three of the conspirators could breath out in relief.
Miriette and Horeo were smiling for the crowd while Zoemi was staying down, waiting for their next move.
As the future royal couple walked past the kneeling darkness magician, the first prince glanced at him and turned to his fiancé.
"You were right, my love, this attendant of yours has indeed gained my approval. Zoemi Auequas, raise from your knees, we shall enter the Academy together."
"Thank you for the honor, my prince."
The stunned spectators observed with held breath as the terrifying youth bows to the first prince and started following the couple inside the building without changing the strict and cautious expression clearly ready to strike down anyone foolish enough to threaten the pair.
"The first prince and lady Espine! They came together!"
"The return of Ghosts! That guy is the successor of the Ghosts of Bellcephora!"
"Lady Miriette has a Ghost as her attendant!?"
"Prince has gifted his fiancé a Ghost of Bellcephora as a bodyguard!"
"They were SO cool!"
Those were only a few voices that raised in the commotion that commenced the moment when the outstanding trio disappeared inside of the dormitory building.
In the chaos that occurred the long-haired blond girl coiled a strand of hair around her finger deep in thoughts.
The creators did announce a secret DLC character, but I never expected him to show up...! I need to watch out for him for sure... The new character was supposed to have a dangerous route... I better just stick with what I know that will work...|
She furrowed her brows before turning towards the furious second prince and clenching his arm reassuringly.
---
"I don't want to be rude but..."
Zoemi peeked through the window at the excited bunch and winced.
"Didn't we fall from the frying pan straight into the fire? I've heard at least a dozen people calling me the Ghost of Bellcephora's successor - and just a reminder - they are the most hated traitors in the history of the kingdom!"
He turned around swaying on his feet.
"We... Probably should have thought about this a little more before we acted..."
Horeo was scratching his head with concern.
And there also was Miriette sobbing, slumped in the corner...
"I'm soooorry! It's all my fault...!"
She sniffled.
"No, no. I agreed to this plan, it's my fault too."
Horeo grabbed Miriette's hand and helped her stand up.
"Don't cry, my lady, I overdid it too... waaaaaaay too much..."
Zoemi stumbled towards them with unfocused eyes.
"No, Zoemi, don't even try to shoulder all the responsibility by yourself! You've done your best to do what Miriette and I asked you to and it is our fault. End of discussion. How is your mana, by the way?"
The gold-haired prince declared before breathing out and asking in a concerted manner.
"I'm lightheaded from the depletion...!"
Zoemi saluted towards Horeo with a dumb smile.
"Huh. So that's why you talk so weird. I knew I recognized your symptoms of the mana depletion."
"I'm sooorryy!"
Horeo nodded in realization while Miriette cried out loudly, overwhelmed by the embarrassment.
"Oh, shush already!"
Horeo scoffed at her, shaking his head.
If not for level-headed first-prince, the three of them would be seen in this unbecoming state and everything they did so far would end up in a catastrophic embarrassment.
It was okay to make a scene to take the attention off of the scandalous behavior of the second prince, but definitely not at the cost of the first prince's reputation!
The golden-haired boy grabbed his friends and hastily evacuated deeper inside the building.
When he was approaching the room that he knew was his, his two attendants had finally found him.
Yes – attendants not the attendant.
Even though the students of the Aspakeony Academy should be allowed only one servant to accompany them, Horeo was a prince and could bend that rule a little.
Actually, he make sure that two attendants accompanied him just in case a situation exactly like this would occur.
"Here. Veo, take Miriette to her room, give her a relaxing bath, brush her hair, tuck her in... I don't know - just help her relax, she can't stay a mess like this. It's embarrassing to watch."
Horeo said and pushed Miriette towards his female attendant - a short twenty-something brown-haired girl in a maid's outfit.
"Teo. Take Zoemi to his room and throw him into a tub - just make sure he doesn't drown! After that just put him to bed, make sure he won't hurt himself. And watch out - he's an idiot right now, he may do something stupid that he would never have done normally – he get can get quite grabby while he's going through mana depletion. Just... Just be careful."
He explained and pushed Zoemi towards his female attendant - a short twenty-something brown-haired girl in a butler's outfit.
""As you wish, my prince!""
The twins bowed their heads towards their master at the same time in perfect sync.
"But what about you, my prince? You are quite helpless without us~!"
Asked Veo helping out the crestfallen Miriette suffering through the immense regret and embarrassment.
"Oh, ha ha, very funny. I'm going to find the headmaster and try to explain to him why have we performed such stupid stunts in front of everyone."
The first prince rolled his eyes – clearly used to this type of teasing coming from that particular twin, and explained.
"Good luck with that, my prince."
Said Teo while putting the dizzy Zoemi's arm over her shoulders, using the earth enchantments to prop the black-haired boy upright.
"Yeah, I'm going to need that. I'm counting on you, girls."
Horeo sighed and turned away from his attendants.