A few weeks have gone by and ever since I received the engagement ring from Halvine and we hung out a few times, but each time it felt awkward since it seemed like she was always forcing herself to do so and in the back of my mind I was thinking she still harbored negative feelings about my daek skin, but even so I wore the engagement ring to in public like she instructed, and the other students were surprised that someone like me has found future marriage partner, and for some reason I started to receive extra attention from the human females, even though I didn't do a thing to warrant it, I sit in class listening to professor Quill on the collapse of the Golden Empire, where several kingdoms rose up and declared themselves independent, but before he got the chance to dive into the details, the bell rings, and interrupts him, he sighs and said.
"well it looks like tomorrow we'll be continuing this history lesson."
I stand up and leave the classroom thinking to myself.
"the end of Golden Empire is probably the reason why there are several countries with different kings in the human territory."
As I walk down the hallway, to return back to the Lionheart Mansion, a girl with long blonde hair and light blue eyes stops me and asks.
"are you Darius?"
I think to myself.
"she looks familiar, but I can't seem to recall her from any of my memories from the past."
I respond.
"yes, how can I help you?"
she sighs and asks agitated.
"you don't know who I am?"
not wanting to guess wrong and risk offending her more, since she carries herself like she belongs from a noble family, just like Halvine, I shake my head, and genuinely apologize for not recognizing her from my past memories.
"sorry, I'm still a first year with zero knowledge of the noble families."
she wags her finger at me.
"well you are engaged to Halvine Laconia, so you better get yourself acquainted with the other nobles."
I look around hoping nobody overhead her and I ask curiously.
"how did you know that?"
she answers proudly.
"something like a noble lady from the most famous household of this kingdom being engaged by a dark skinned commoner with no family history, is not an easy subject to keep hidden from the many families."
I then ask.
"so which family household are you from? and what is your business with me?"
she clears her throat and politely answers while shaking my hand.
"Claire Tromair, from the Tromair Family."
my body instinctively goes into fight mode upon hearing that she is Claire Tromair, I think to myself while she stares at me confused at my reaction.
"that long hair threw me off, she must have changed to shorter a hair style somewhere in the future, like how she had it the two times we fought in my previous life."
she then continues her answer, still looking confused on my reaction.
"I've came to find you, so that we can speak privately about an important matter that may lead to the downfall of the Laconia Family."
I wonder.
"downfall? does she mean that they will be targeted for an attack?"
she then asks.
"will you hear me out."
I snap back into focus, and answer.
"yeah, I'll here you out."
As I follow her, I look at her cape and see the the Tromair Family crest, consisting of a bird, holding an arrow on the right claw and wielding a sword on it's left claw, and lastly holding a magic staff with it's beak, I smirk.
"even though magic staffs are now obsolete, the Tromairs still respect it enough for them to have it as part of their family crest."
As I follow her out of the main academy building, I ask myself.
"why would she approach me about something important? I'm not a Laconia yet."
she leads me into the back exit of the main building and we sit down at an empty gazebo, I the ask before she gets a chance to say anything.
"why are you approaching me with this? why don't you inform the head of your family? or any mrmber of the Laconia Family."
she sighs and replies frustrated.
"I already did, but they all laughed at me because they thought it was absurd that anyone would go against the almighty Laconia Family."
I take a couple of deep breaths and respond.
"alright let's say I believe you, how do you expect an outsider like me to prevent this from happening?"
she answers.
"I don't know how but since you are engaged to Halvine, use this opportunity to convince her that she and the Laconia Family are in danger."
I then ask.
"so how what makes you think that the Laconia is in danger? do you have any proof?"
she sighs.
"I overheard a talk between two family members of another noble family."
I respond.
"from which family?"
she replies.
"I don't want to throw out accusations, but if you promise that you will help me gather evidence against them, I'll tell you who I overheard."
I think to myself.
"I should probably avoid getting involved, but if what she is saying is true then it wouldn't hurt to see if there is any merit to her accusations."
I sigh and reply.
"alright I'm in, but I need to know which noble family, so at least I know where to start."
she looks around to make sure that no one unexpectedly sneaks up on us and then whispers.
"The Sinclairs, they've been gaining much recognition as a noble family that have joined the many other noble families that are held at high esteem, just below the four major families."
I think to myself.
"her telling me their family name is not really helpful for me since I'm still not very well informed about the noble families in the human kingdoms."
I then ask her.
"do they have any defining characteristics that would help me recognize any of them."
she takes a moment to think and answers.
"they have green hair, and their family crest is a leaf with a sword going through it at a ninety degree angle."
I then stare blankly at her and wonder.
"I think there was a guy in my class that has green hair, but I can't remember his name."
she asks annoyed.
"what's up with that face you are making?"
my attention returns to her and I answer.
"my bad, I was thinking."
I pause and take a moment to think.
"should I tell her about him?"
I sigh.
"I'm not sure of you are aware but there is a guy in one of my classes that has green hair."
she smirks.
"of you can, try to befriend him."
I grumble.
"I'm not sociable person."
she nods in agreement.
"yeah, you lack proper manners, and still talk like a commoner."
I retort.
"got it, just insult anyone who is different from me."
she replies.
"no that is not what I meant."
she sighs and apologizes.
"I'm sorry I'm aware that I came off as rude, and a lot of children of nobles can be arrogant and rude,
but no we shouldn't insult anyone."
I grumble.
"then you should practice what you preach."
she pouts.
"I said I was sorry."
I then ask.
"so do up have any tips on how I should befriend him?"
she takes a moment to think, and replies while shrugging her shoulders.
"honestly I've never gotten along with other nobles, except for some of my family members."
I sigh disappointed that she couldn't give me any helpful tips.
"great, I guess I'll have to figure this one out myself."
I then think to myself.
"wait did she just say she some, does that mean she doesn't get along with her other family members."
I ask her.
"is there a reason why you don't get along with your other family members?"
she answers like if it was obvious.
"you may not be aware of the dynamics of noble families, but ever since the peace treaty between the independent kingdoms, the power struggle to be the head of a prestigious noble family rose."
I wonder in my thoughts.
"I expected to be conflicts with other families, I didn't think there would be inner conflicts for power."
I then ask hoping that it is not a dumb question.
"so what are the benefits of being the head of the family?"
she shakes her head like I'm unbelievable, but she sighs and answers it.
"the head of the family makes all the decisions and gets to meet the king in meetings to give advice on important matters concerning the kingdom."
I think to myself.
"noble families don't get much privileges in the Demon territory, and the only ones who get to meet the Demon King, are his generals like Mistress Isabelle."
Claire them stands up and said to me.
"well, good luck trying to make friends with him."
I suddenly remember the necklace with the stone attached to it, and think to myself.
"even if she isn't aware about it, I still need to see if she has any idea what it is and the reason why it sent me backwards in time."
I stand up and stop her from leaving.
"before you go I wan to aak you something important."
I take off the necklace and show it to her.
"have you seen this necklace before?"
she grabs it and begins to inspect it.
"it looks like a cheap necklace, but no I've never seen it before."
I sigh feeling deflated.
"damn it."
she notices the disappointment in my face and then said.
"I might not know but, I know someone who is an expert at appraising jewelry and accessories."
she hands it back to me.
"I'll take you to get it appraised, on the condition that you befriend that guy in your class."
I respond.
"sounds tempting but we are not allowed to leave the campus."
she chuckles.
"oh I forgot you are still new to all of this."
she grins.
"students from noble households are allowed to roam outside of campus grounds on the weekends."
I stare at the necklace, thinking to myself.
"even though it isn't really important to find out more about this necklace, I need some peace of mind that I'm not insane about the concept of time traveling."
she then asks.
"I don't mean to offend you when I ask you this, but is that necklace important to you?"
I think to myself.
"for now I won't reveal that I killed her for it, maybe I will one day, but for now I must lie."
I remember when I was found at the doorstep of the orphanage, that I was wearing the necklace and the sisters assumed that my parents left it to me, I sigh and respond.
"I think it belonged to my parents, I'm not to sure."
she asks confused.
"what do you mean? did they never tell what that necklace was?"
I answer, even though I'm well aware that they are no longer alive and Mistress Isabelle was the one who left me in that orphanage.
"I was left abandoned in an orphanage by them, when I just one year old, so I don't have any memories of them."
I hold out the necklace in front of her.
"this is the only thing they left for me."
her eyes became watery, and she hugs while sniffling.
"oh I'm sorry, I didn't know that you were an orphan."
she continues while still sniffling.
"I have no idea how I would have dealt with not knowing my parents."
feeling completely surprised by her unexpected hug I think to myself.
"is this really the same Claire Tromair that I knew before?"
she pulls away wiping the tears from her eyes.
"alright, forget about the deal, I'll take you to get the necklace appraised this weekend, but I still need you to befriend the kid from your class."
suddenly we get interrupted by someone clearing her throat, we both look to our side and see Halvine staring holes through us with her hazel-green eyes.
"looks like I've got a cheating fiance on my hands."