"Rise and shine!!", Rafaela opened the curtains of Wade's bedroom.
"Ten more minutes please- ", Wade mumbled and covered his face with his blanket.
Rafaela grabbed his blanket with both hands and threw it up, "Wake up already!"
But to Rafaela's surprise, Puff was sleeping beside him completely naked and her arms wrapped around his waist.
"You-", Rafaela clenched her fist, " -PERVERT!!", and punched Wade in the face that made him fly across the room.
"W-w-why m-me?", he grumbled with his face flat on the floor.
"Huh? Is it breakfast time already?", Puff sat down and rubbed her eyes showing her bare petite body.
"What is wrong with you!?", Rafaela shouted at her. "I have been telling you for a whole week that female students are prohibited to sleep in the male's rooms!!"
"But- "
"No buts! The next time that that I will catch you doing this again, I will report you to the principal and have you expelled, got it!?"
"Okay.", Puff replied with a sleep face and covered herself with Wade's blanket and went back to sleep.
"Don't go back to sleep! Go take a bath and get ready for school!", Rafaela shouted.
"Geez, you're so loud.", Puff slowly got off the bed and walked towards the bathroom. On the way, she grabbed Wade's foot while he was lying face down on the floor and dragged his unconscious body with her towards the bathroom.
Rafaela quickly ran to them and slapped her hand. "-Leave him."
And she pushed her into the bathroom.
"I feel like something happened to me this morning but I couldn't remember a thing.", Wade said while rubbing his left cheek. "–strange."
"Nothing happened that you should be concerned of." Rafaela replied as she placed the freshly cooked bacon and eggs on the table.
"Now, eat up or you'll be late."
"Thanks for the food!!", Wade and Puff said in unison.
"Puff, I'll say this one last time so that you will understand. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE BOY'S DORM.", she said with a very strict tone.
"Why not? You're here, right?", She replied with oil all over her mouth.
Rafaela grabbed a tissue and wiped the oil on her face. "Well, I'm just keeping my word since I lost to him and the principal knows that I'm just following the consequences of our duel."
"Well, he is my brother and I will stay with him however I like. I'm sure Seb won't get mad since I'm the first student who got and angel mode armor on the first try.", She grinned at her.
"You little piece of- "
"Now, now, let's talk about that some other time. Let's just finish the food before it gets cold.", Wade said to calm them down. "By the way, I haven't seen Alex yesterday."
"She didn't show up at our private training yesterday either.", Puff added.
"Wait-, you were training with Alex?", Rafaela curiously asked.
"Yep! The day after she lost to me, she asked me if I could train her. She even calls me "Master" ha-ha-ha!"
"I hope you didn't break her or something.", Wade said to her.
"She was absent the whole day yesterday, too. I hope she's not sick." Rafaela worriedly said.
"You should drop by her place and check on her." , he said.
"Yeah, I'll drop by her room later."
"Now, hurry up or we'll be late. It's almost eight.", Rafaela stood up and cleaned the table of the used plates.
Wade and Puff grabbed their bags and went to the door.
"We'll be going first, see you at school!", Wade said as they went out and closed the door.
"Somehow, I feel like a houswif-", Rafaela's face turned red after realizing what she was about to say. "NO! NO! NO! NO! I don't feel that way for that pervert at all!"
She grabbed sponge and gently cleaned the plates. After the plates, she continued to wash the spoons.
She grabbed the spoon from Wade's plate and took a long look at it.
It was like her mind went blank and her instincts took over. She sticks her tongue out and slowly leaned the spoon towards her mouth like something had taken over her body. " I wonder what he tastes like?", She thought to herself.
Suddenly, the door opened and Wade went running inside. "Dammit, I forgot my note-"
"GAAH!"
Wade grunted as fell to the floor when a spoon flew towards him and hit him in the forehead.
"What's the matter with you!", he shouted while holding his forehead.
"It's your fault for suddenly barging in and surprising me!", Rafaela shouted back with her face bright red.
"Hey, your face looks red. Are you alright?", he worriedly asked.
"I'm fine! Just go already!", Rafaela turned around and continued washing dishes.
" Okaaaay, If you say so.", he then took his notebook from the table and went out.
"THAT WAS CLOSE!!"
"The whole island is within its radius. That is why students can't activate their aura armors outside the academy.", Ms. Mary was seriously discussing her subject when she saw one student staring blankly at the window and not paying attention to her class.
She slowly walked towards him whilst talking.
"But there has been a new invention that allowed students to use their aura armors outside the academy on special occasions."
She stopped in front of Wade and tightly pinched his ear. "Do you know what that invention is, Wade?"
"Ow! Ow! Ow!", Wade cried as his ear was being pinched and pulled by Ms. Mary. "I don't know-, ow!"
"It's called the Aura Armor Signal Emitter or AASE.", She said as she pulled his ear one last time.
"OW! I'm sorry! Stop it already!"
Ms. Mary let go of his ear and slowly walked back front.
"Midterm exam is closing in and everything that I'm discussing here will come out. So listen carefully and pay attention, especially you, Wade."
"Yes, ma'am.", he weakly replied while rubbing his ear.
"WHAT WAS THAT!?", she snapped at him.
"YES! MA"AM!", "SCARY-", he thought to himself.
Everyone giggled and laughed at him.
*DING* *DONG* *DING* *DONG*
"Finally! Another day over."
"Want to go to the mall?"
"Gaah! I'm starving!"
Melissa packed her things and checked on Wade.
"Is something wrong?", she asked. "I've been glancing at you the whole day and it seemed like something is bothering you."
"Wow, you sound like a stalker.", Wade said with an annoyed expression.
"Who are you calling a stalker!?", Melissa grabbed her bag with both hands and swung it at Wade's face. *BLAAM! *
"I-I'm sowwee- ", Wade apologized with his face flat on the window. He then slowly crawled back to his seat. "Actually, I'm a bit worried about Alex. I haven't seen her yesterday and the whole day today, too."
"Now that you've mentioned it, I haven't seen her around, too. She always had a big presence that it's quite noticeable when she's gone.", she replied.
"Hey! Melissa! Wade!", Rafaela called out to them from the classroom door.
"Hey, Raven!", Melissa hurriedly ran towards her while Wade was walking very slowly.
"Do you need something?", She delightfully asked.
"Actually, the principal wants to see-", she looked at Wade looking very lethargic.
"Hurry up will you!"
" Gaah.", Wade groaned. " What do you want from me?"
" The principal wants to see the both of you."
*Yawn* " What for?", he asked.
" It's about Alex."
" Ah! You're finally here!", Puff greeted them with a huge grin. " What's wrong Wade? You look very sleepy?"
Wade grabbed her head tightly with one hand and lifter her up.
" And who's fault do you think it is?", he angrily asked.
" I don't know what you mean.", Puff said while looking away.
" Stop clinging to me when we sleep already.", he looked at her face with an annoyed expression.
" You should stop doing that already, Puff.", Melissa said. " Didn't Raven told you last time that sleeping in the boy's dorm is not allowed?"
" Hmfph! I can sleep wherever I want!", Puff replied with both hands on her hips while still being held up by Wade, swinging like a chandelier.
" Don't worry-, you're exempted from that rule.", Sebastian said as he entered coming from the room beside the principal's office.
" See?", Puff said with a smug face.
" What!", Rafaela exclaimed. " But-, Principal-"
" Anyway-, that's not why I called you here-", Sebastian said as he sat on his chair and took a letter from the drawer of his table.
" What's this?", Wade dropped Puff and opened the letter Sebastian gave him.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Wade stood in shock as he read the letter.
" I, too was surprised when I read it.", Rafaela said.
" Why? What's in the letter?", Melissa immediately peeked behind Wade's shoulder to read the letter.
" What!?", she exclaimed. " Alex is-, Alex is-, GETTING MARRIED!!!?"
" Yes.", Sebastian calmly replied. " It seems that she had known about it for a couple of days and left without saying anything. "
" When I checked her room during lunch break, all her things were gone except for a pair of aura bracelets and a letter on her desk.", Rafaela said.
" Does her club know anything about this?", Wade asked them.
" Nope.", Puff quickly replied. " Her club even members confronted me thinking that the reason why Alex was missing is that she was depressed that I beat her."
" Seriously?"
" Why didn't she say anything? Aren't we her friends?", Melissa said.
" The real question here is-, Why did you call us here?", Wade seriously looked at Sebastian. " Is there something we need to know, Seb?"
Sebastian's facial expression let everyone in the room know that what he was about to say was serious.
" As you know, it's my job to find out the background of every student in the academy. As for Alex's case, she's actually the princess of Orbsberg, the mining capital of the continent."
" Seriously? Orbsberg is one of the largest Kingdoms of Anthropos, the human continent.", Melissa was clearly astounded.
" We've been friends for almost two years, and I didn't even know. I'm a failure as a friend.", Rafaela frowned.
" Her family wanted complete confidentiality of her status as a princess. But the way I see it, her family just did not want her around so they made her go to a faraway school and even changed her last name."
" What do you mean?", Wade asked him as he gently patted Rafaela's head.
" Alex is the daughter of the king of Orbsberg and a chamber maid from the palace. And being an illegitimate daughter of the king, the queen and her three brothers treated her poorly. She was physically abused and is always isolated during royal gatherings."
" Those damn royalties. Thinking that they are above everyone else because of their status but don't do any of the hard work.". Puff said with an annoyed expression.
" But why would they need Alex now? And how is this connected to her marriage?", Melissa asked.
" I asked one of my close friends from Orbsberg and found out that the queen was assassinated five months ago.", Sebastian opened another letter and gave it to Wade.
" Because of what happened, the king was greatly depressed and was unable to run the kingdom. So he left the oldest son in charge. But just after a few weeks, the eldest son and the second son had a fight. The second son did not approve on how his brother runs the kingdom. He defected to the neighboring country which was one of the longest enemy of Orbsberg, Vaniris. Vaniris has longed for the minerals and gold that Orbsberg has been abundant of. But the king has been successful in defending the kingdom for decades. Now that the second son is leading the Vaniris troops, the king's strategies that has been handed from generation to generation was not very effective anymore and Orbsberg has been losing battles day after day.", Sebastian stood up and slowly closed the curtains of the office.
" That's when the eldest son suggested to the king to form an alliance with one of the strongest countries of Anthropos in terms of military strength, Lauritius, the land of gladiators."
" And he plans to marry Alex to one of the princes of Lauritius to form the alliance, thus having one of the strongest army on their back, in hopes that the Vaniris troops will stop attacking or he plans to win the war and conquer Vaniris.", Wade added his hypothesis based from Sebastian's information.
" As expected from you, Wade. You know how these things work.", Sebastian validated Wade's statement. " Have you read the last part of Alex's letter?"
Wade and Melissa looked at the letter once again-
" I've made a lot of friends and memories within your beloved school. I wanted to stay much longer, but I have to do this for the sake of my country. But if someone could change my fate, I hope it wouldn't be too late."
" That girl-" ,Wade smirked.
" If she just wanted to be saved, she could've just said so.", Melissa said with a relieved expression.
" As this academy's principal, it's my duty to assure that every student with in my care will have a successful and promising future that coincides with their own decisions.",
" Hmpff-, you just love your students so much.", Puff and the girls giggled.
"-maybe so.", Sebastian scratched his head. " Anyway! I'm assigning the four of you on a special mission!"
The four of them stood in line in front of Sebastian.
" You are to rescue Alex and bring her back here, where she belongs."
" Yes, sir!", two snappily answered.
" Of course.", Puff laughed out loud.
As they were about to leave, Sebastian called out to Wade.
" Wade, please stay. I need to discuss one more thing with you. You girls please go one ahead."
" O-okay, sir.", Rafaela said as she slowly closed the door with Sebastian and Wade inside.
" What is it, Seb?", Wade curiously asked him.
" Actually, I have another favor to ask you"
" Hmm?"
*TRUMPETS SYNCRONIZING*
Alex entered the palace gates with her luggage. Inside the palace were the king's royal guards, the king's most trusted advisers, the king sitting on the throne and the first prince standing beside him.
" The first princess of Orbsberg! Princess Alexandria Orbsberg!!!", announced by one of the king's guards.
Everyone turned their heads to see her. Some had already seen her in the past. For others, it was their first time laying their eyes on the hidden princess of Orbsberg.
Alex stopped in front of the throne and gracefully bowed.
" Father, I have come home.", She courteously said.
" My! She's all grown up now."
" That's the illegitimate daughter of the king?"
" I must say, she's quite the looker."
" She's finally here."
Mumbled the people inside the palace.
" I'm sure you are well aware on why you were summoned back to the country after being away for two years.", the king addressed her.
" Yes, father, I am aware.", she answered while still bowing her head.
" Be grateful that for the first time, you will be useful to the kingdom and your family!", Said the first prince.
" Yes, it would be an honor, brother Lazarus.", she replied.
" Well, if you know what you're purpose here and whole-heartedly accept it. Then we have nothing else to discuss. You are dismissed", Said the king.
" Thank you, my king."
Alex stood up and walked away dragging her luggage with her.
Before she could enter the palace doors towards her room, prince Lazarus walked towards her with a cold expression on his face. Behind him was a tall red-haired man in a black suit.
" We hired a butler to keep an eye on you and tend to your every need. Make sure to do your role and for once prove your worth in this family.", he said.
Lazarus was a tall handsome man, brown eyes and long lashes with a long blonde hair the same as her mother, the queen.
" Yes, brother.", she plainly replied.
" Hmph! The older you become the closer your face resembles the woman that once broke the queen's heart. My blood boils just by looking at you."
" Then don't look.", Alex coldly replied and promptly walked away together with her new butler.
" Tch-", was all prince Lazarus could say as Alex turns her back and walks away.
Alex looked around palace walls feeling nostalgic. The tall, grey brick walls that was filled with different paintings were still the same as she left. She reached her hand out to touch one of the paintings, but before should could touch it, her butler gently held her hand.
" Huh-? What's the matter?", she was surprised.
The butler took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the painting of the dust.
" Please, continue.", he said.
" Y-you're weird.", she smirked. " In a good way."
She giggled at him for his gallant but over the top attitude.
" Good to see that you are still your cheerful self.", said a man from across the hall.
Upon recognizing the man's voice, Alex quickly turned around and ran towards him.
" Brother Zach!!"
She jumped into his arms and hugged him tight.
" How are you doing, my sweet little sister?", Zach, the third prince of Orbsberg asked her as he gently stroked the top of her head while she was hugging him.
Prince Zacheus is the third prince of Orbsberg. He was tall, wears glasses and has golden brown hair like the King and Alex. Unlike his two older brothers. Zach had no interest in politics and war. He has his focus on science and knowledge. And he was the only person in the royal family who treats Alex with love and care.
" I'm always fine, except when brother Lazarus opens his mouth.", she joking replied.
" Ah, brother Laz has always been sharp with his words. It's better to ignore the things he say than to dwell on it."
" I know. You've told me a hundred times already.", she smiled at him. " You're the only one in this palace that I could talk to brother Zach."
" So-", prince Zach held her hand and walked with her inside the palace's wide halls. " –how was your time at the Academy?"
" It's actually very fun.", she replied with a very bright expression.
" Really?"
" Yeah! I was part of the student council and I was even president of the boxing club there!"
" Student council? What's that?", he curiously asked.
" Well-, it's like a small group of students that helps in various occasions and also helps in maintaining the order in the academy."
" Wow, you must be pretty famous there."
" Well, kinda. Hehe.", Alex giggled as she hide her embarrassment.
Alex, prince Zach and her butler continued to make their way up to the second level of the palace where the rooms are located. Alex's room was located the end of the hall, so they continued chatting as they walk.
" Did you make any friends there, lovers-?", prince Zach just had to ask.
" Eh-?, I do have a lot of friends, both male and female. But I don't have a love-, ugh-"
Alex was startled when she bumped into someone as she was not paying attention on where she was going.
" I'm very sorry, I wasn't paying attention.", she quickly apologized.
She had a quick glance at the person and was surprised. This person was a woman with a very pale complexion. She had a grey robe and a large scythe on her back. A long pitch black hair, perfectly carved face and a pair of clear black eyes and was staring blankly through the large palace windows.
" Don't mind it.", she coldly replied and looked back into the window.
Alex continued walking and tried to forget about what happened.
" As I was saying-", she continued. " I don't have a lover, but I did have someone that I though special of."
" What!? Who is it!?", prince Zach couldn't hide her over-protectiveness when it comes to Alex.
" Calm down will you.", she said. " His name was Wade. He's lazy, lethargic and gloomy-"
"Eh-, those guys are your type?", Zach interrupted.
" –but!", she continued. " -He was calm and peaceful. Just by being around him puts your mind at ease. He did not care about gender or status. He just does what he wants and it makes me a little jealous."
Prince Zach and her butler looked at her face and immediately understand that Alex really does not want to take part in any of this conflict. She just wanted to enjoy her life.
"Not like I'd ever see him again. So that's that.", She smiled at them.
"Alex, I'm sorry- ", before prince Zach could finish talking. Alex was surprised when someone suddenly grabbed her wrist.
The three of them were shocked. They did not notice anyone coming near her. Let alone grab her in the wrist.
They looked at the person and it was the woman on the hall staring blankly by the window.
"W-what is it?", Alex tried to ask.
" Please release the princess' hand if you don't want me to cut yours.", said the butler.
Suddenly, the woman released a wave of bloodlust that spread through the entire floor. The three of them had their legs trembling just by feeling such strong bloodlust.
"W-what's the meaning of this!? Phantom!?", prince Zach asked her even with his will being forcibly broken.
"Did I hear you correctly little missy- ", she spoke.
"You've met him, didn't you? The man named, WADE- "
-END OF CHAPTER 14-