"Well now that we done with the regusterstion, you can head to the dorms. Since you already sent the previous ones to the same one, you know where it is right?"
"Yeah, yeah. I know where it is Liam. You always get so sore after testing."
"Your family's talent is just not fair... it's just not fair at all! Your niece and nephew had S-class affinities. Your daughter had one alongside having a super quality core! Not to mention your eldest... both an EX-class affinity and an ultra grade core... He is practically guaranteed to become a Transcendent! He is one of the seven students with such talents in the academy. Oh- but that number will soon increase again."
"Hm? Is there another Transcendent seed enrolling this year?"
"Well~ I am not really supposed to tell you this but there is another one being added to the list. It's someone you know too."
"Mr. Liam, saying that really doesn't specify anything considering my father, but is it the daughter of his highness the crown prince?"
"Oh? How did you know? She has only just enrolled today so the information wasn't released."
"It's just that... his highness and she is right behind you."
"Pfft- Your highness, welcome! Sorry for my late greetings."
"Tsk, tsk, you know it's bad to gossip behind people's backs Liam... you haven't changed at all since the school days."
"F-forgive me your higness. I just wanted to introduce the youngest son of Archduke Veriandale to his potential classmates."
"Ho~ Claude's son is also going to Class S? Can't say I'm surprised considering his other children, hahaha."
"It's been a while, your highness."
"Yeah it has been at least a year. Let us go catch up in the cafe we used come in the past."
"Yes."
"Ah- and Liam."
"Yes, your highness."
"I am cutting your paycheck for this month. Don't gossip anymore about the students, alright?"
"T-thank you for forgiveness, your highness."
We all followed the crown prince and his daughter from behind and entered a cafe. The crown prince had the looks of a twenty year old with a short and wavy golden hair and eyes of the same color. His daughter too, had the hair and eyes of the same color, but with a longer hair reaching her back.
I had seen both of then a year earlier, and though the crown prince has treated me kindly, his daughter seemed to ignore me instead. I remember that she didn't talk with any other kids in the banquet, and just followed around her parents. Could she just be shy?
"Hey, you! Stop staring at me. I know that I am very cute but you must know your place. Haven't you heard, I am a Transcendent seed. So even if both of us go to the same class, I am still at a higher level than you."
Or maybe not.
"My apologies, your highness. I was just taken aback by your beauty and perfection. That golden hair of yours is like sun-"
While I was talking (flattering) his daughter, the crown prince who was talking with my father seemed to notice our exchange.
"..."
"..."
"... Your son is really the spitting image of you from back then, or should I say like an upgraded one?"
"Y-you jest, your highness. This is all due to the etiquette lessons he has received... he also seems to be taking after my wife."
"Ah. I see, so he is just using words to manipulate my daughter then, just like what your wife did to you?"
"Please spare me your highness... she will kill me if she hears of this. But rest assured, Darcy really is just using the textbook methods of the imperial etiquette rules. He really isn't trying to be rude."
"Haiz... children seemed to grow up too fast these days, even planning against each other. I remember crying for an entire week after being enrolled here, but look at the these two."
Hearing what they were saying got me embarrassed, so I cut my flattery, I mean my talk short. The crown prince's daughter wasn't really offended by (empty) words, and even seemed to be a bit happpier.
"Hmph! At least you have a good pair of eyes on you. It takes skill to notice my excellence."
"Thank you for the praise your highness, you flatter me."
"Good. I will take you in as my underling in school. You can just follow my commands, and I will cover for you if you get in trouble."
Underling? Where did she learn that word from?
"Pfft, hahahaha-"
"Wha, father, why did start to laugh?"
It was the crown prince who had just started to laugh at what the his daughter just said.
"Underling, huh? Really brings memories from back then..."
"Y-your highness, we will have to take our leave now. I need to help get Darcy settled in his room."
"Oh, yes. Come visit the imperial castle after you are done."
"Thank you, your higness."
Dad quickly pulled me out of the café, as if trying to escape from something.
"Father, did you happen to be an underling of the crown prince back then?"
"..."
"I will take that as a yes, then."
"...no. Rather... I happened to take him as my follower during his first year here."
"... Father, were you really okay in the head as a child?"
"Hey! It- it wasn't my fault you know... unlike his daughter, he hid his identity while enrolling in the school. I just thought he was a crybaby noble and took care of him... I would punch my younger self if I had the chance. So that why you should remember too!"
"Remember what?"
"Mistakes of the Academy stay in the Academy, we never mention it again."
"..."
After this little exchange, we got on the carriage Mr. Kelvin had readied and drove to the dorms. Settling in wasn't really eventful as Class S dorms consisted of individual rooms in a huge mansion with five floors, with first and second year students living in the first to ninth and tenth years living in the fifth.
The room I got for myself was the room right on the corner, giving it a rather conspicuous spot. According to the staff working here, half of the rooms were already full, and this was the best one I could find according to my preferences.
I got my luggage placed into the room, and then went downstairs to bid my goodbyes to my father and Mr. Kelvin. After they left, I finally got nervous for the first time. No matter how much I pretend, I am still a child at heart, and being in a foreign place on Mt own is rather scary. My siblings are also not in their rooms due then leaving on missions during their allocated "breaks".
So I head back to my room, just as I am about to reach my room I see a person moving to the room next to mine without anybody to help them. A long, brown haired girl with a luggage that looked to be bigger than her own body.