"That's not a very nice thing to say now is it?"
"L-let me go this instant you son of a bitch!"
"How rude! I have no idea what you are talking about all I saw was you winding up to hit someone and then you mysteriously stopped."
"I am a count of the kingdom release me at once! If you want to keep your life you will heed my command. Aggression against a noble is punishable by death".
"Calm down unless you want to lose your fingers. In the academy we are all the same. Status and rank mean nothing, the lowest commoner can talk casually with a prince or princess without consequences it's just that the status quo is held between classes."
"Now I have just witnessed you verbally and almost physically abusing a member of the academy, what do you think will happen if I report you to a staff member? I doubt it will go well."
"Your bluffing! Even if you were to report me we have the number advantage it would be our word against yours. We would obviously win the argument."
"Now that would be true if your followers were to back you up however who was to say they were here and that they saw any of this. They couldn't help if they didn't see anything. There's an old nursery rhyme about piggies where I come from."
Grabbing this pinky I exclaimed
"This little piggy went to the market "
Then the ring finger
"This little piggy went home"
Then the middle
"This little piggy broke off the bone"
Snapping his finger a satisfying crunch then snap filled the room.
"Now do you want the same treatment? If you don't then you were never here. You never saw this and you never insulted her yes?"
"Y-yes sir"
"Absolutely sir."
Oh and if you go after her again. Letting out a hint of bloodlust and letting my 'natural' smile free " You'll lose a lot more than just a finger"
"I don't take nicely to people messing with people"
Evelyn was curled up in a ball tears till present as they dropped from her chin.
"Lets go I'll buy you a nice hot drink to calm you down"
Letting out a meek nod she followed like a lost lamb. I needed to change her fundamentally before she was sent to the slaughter.
~~
We were in the café built into the academy. The bell for the next lesson had gone but it could wait I had more pressing matters ahead of me.
"Two cups of tea, extra honey and milk please."
"Aren't you supposed to be in class?"
"Usually I would however I have been delegated a task by the council to help a student. So two cups of tea please."
Sliding a couple of silver pieces I waited for our order before returning to a table in the corner of the room.
"Here drink it slowly. It should soothe your nerves albeit a little."
"Thank you."
"Don't sweat it I was only doing what I should. However I would like you to make a decision on whether you will accept that nice lady's offer. I have a feeling we won't have another opportunity after this. Either way I will guide you but it would be easier with you nearby."
"I- Are you sure I'm not a burden?! I don't want to cause you and them more trouble than I already have. "
Furrowing my brows I let out a sigh.
"For the nth time, haven't I told you that I don't mind. If anything I'm sure they would be more than happy to have you around. Who knows you might even find yourself a nice boyfriend. So what do you say?"
Shaking off those thoughts I struggled to comprehend the fact that I had absorbed part of Misha's sly personality.
"Y-yes I would love to."
"Let's head back and finish the rest of the classes."
Still I pissed off a count pinned a king against me and the academy is against me. What a fun first set of weeks. I just hope my plan worked.
~~
~Sephardim Lancaster~
That boy. Did he know I was watching and how? He's devious and sly and his intelligence is nothing to scoff at. He's dangerous and all my senses tell me to avoid him or placate him and now he's swayed the cursed princess into being independent. I was only looking over him because I feel bad and he had similar circumstances to me. Being from commoner birth my past was buried under a noble title, that was allegedly held by my ancestors making me of 'noble blood' It was all bullshit the kingdom told to keep commoners in their place since 'commoners couldn't hold power'. That boy held similar power and I worried about what would become of him however I was told I was not allowed to support him. I could only look on and support from the shadows but it seems that I was being played all along.
My main question was How did he know?
~Noir~
Standing up and stretching I let my joints pop, the feeling gaining me a semblance of pleasure. All this fighting has caused my body to become sore even if I don't sustain any damage.
A boy with lavender hair and bright eyes walked up to me. He was decently tall with his academy blazer sling over his shoulder. He gave off a pretty calm and friendly vibe and his looks were above the average of this world if I had to be honest.
"Hello it's a pleasure to meet you I am Kirasagi but you can call me Kira. I wasn't here yesterday since I was unfortunately ill. "
"Oh? I'm Noir your classmate it's a pleasure meeting you as well."
"Say Noir are you walking today? Can I join you?"
"Ah can't do, I'm walking today with Evelyn do you mind?"
"No! Not at all, I can always walk with you next time."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Evelyn, I hope you have a good day. Noir! You should be careful, I don't know what has happened but everyone seems to be on edge and something feels wrong."
"Thanks for the concern Kira."
Walking off he seemed to talk to another small group who were outside. To be honest I'm a little skeptical about his intentions but I could feel no hostility from him. Looking over at Evelyn she still seemed a little hesitant even after our talk but I was sure that she would be fine.
"Are you ready to go?"
"Y-yeah. Please look after me!"
"You'll be fine, I already told you that it wasn't a problem."
Giving her a swift but firm pat on the head I walked out of the room and started to head towards the gates.
What fresh hell is this!?
In front of me were a line of guards along with a familiar face. The guy that I let walk was standing there trying to look as imposing as possible, his clothes were nearly pressed and he had metal pieces of armour strapped to vulnerable parts of his body.
Looking at me he gave a shit eating grin before recollecting himself. Upon which he wore a more condescending smirk like it was natural.
"His Royal Highness King Von Agidyne VI has arrived!"
A tall man with dark red hair stepped out of a black carriage with a golden symbol of a wolf on the door. He has the muscles of a warrior but time had obviously worn on him as his stomach protruded. His face had seen better days as it was riddled by wrinkles and a large scar traced down his cheek.
The knights in their armour kneeled the clanging and scraping of metal plates bending under pressure and caused a great amount of noise.
He just stood there neither approaching nor initiating dialogue. Looking behind me Evelyn shrunk back into herself fear evident in her stance. Looking back I played it cool hoping nothing. would happen. I wouldn't be able to fight them it would certainly lead to my death, the best I could do is stall and look for an escape route.
Taking a step forward I was met by a heavy pressure. Although it would make anyone who was normal at my strength kneel I was used to high pressure from my battles with Misha. I used my aura and mana to decrease the burden on Evelyn on top of her natural mana.
"You dare stand before a king!"
"I'm still on the academy grounds. The rules state that all are equal from commoners to kings. I need not kneel down. I believe we need to have a chat about certain circumstances anyways."
The frosty look from the king increased the longer I stood in defiance. But he couldn't do anything as long as I stayed behind these gates.
"Evelyn come here now!" The king finally demanded her presence.
She visibly shivered at her name being called out. She really didn't want to go with him.
"I believe we have some things to talk about with the king about that. I apologize but I will be talking for Evelyn since she seems to be having difficulty talking in front of you. Evelyn has been stressed and neglected by you until recently from my investigation and her words, and you have suddenly decided to arrive at academy grounds and act like you care about her well being. We have had a conversation about what she would like to do and she has decided to stay away from you for now. We would like you to deliver her belongings to the academy grounds so that they can be collected."
"I will not have some brat dictate what I do with my family. Come here Evelyn! "
Looking over at her, she was cowering. Giving her an reassuring pat on the shoulder i leaned in to whisper to her.
"Evelyn I can't stop them unless you tell them what it is you want. Whatever you say or decide I will support you, so stand tall and proud."
"I-i want to... want to... stay with noir."
The area became cold in a flash
"You what?"
"I said I want to stay away from You!"
"That's good, I'll take it from here."
"You heard her say what she wanted. She has made her decision and I will not allow you to force her into saying what you want. I will say it once again, please deposit her items to the academy. she wants nothing to do with you and you have lost the right to say anything close to fatherly.
If you will excuse us."
Walking back into the academy grounds I decided that I would just jump over the fence and find another way home.
Ducking down an arrow flew past my face. Looking back I was met with a young knight with a long bow notching another arrow.
I grabbed the now broken arrow that was on the floor and threw it back towards him. The broken halves dug into the ground in front of him.
"I wouldn't recommend doing that again, I would take that as you intentionally trying to harm me and I will protect myself.
let's set a boundary. You and I will never meet again, you will never fight me and I won't cause trouble for me. You will do what you have always done and act like Evelyn is dead to you.
If not that would cause a lot of problems for us both especially in a city run by the academy. "
Before he could even think of answering we continued to walk back into the academy before finding a location to jump over the wall.
~~~
"Thank you so much for standing up for me."
"Isn't there an Agidyne kid in A-class?"
"Yes he's my brother, The king adopted him to be put on the throne however he doesn't hold royal blood but was rather gifted his blood by the king. I was to be married off and my children were to take the throne in the case of anything happening to him."
"Oh? so it's a cover up, that could be useful information all things considered."
"Isn't there anything I can do to repay you?"
"It's no problem, you can help me once we get back with magic and training in return."