On the cobblestone path that, connected the mansion to the pool courtyard, two figures could be seen walking next to each other, two figures who were in the same class, two figures of different political hierarchies, a princess and a son of a viscount.
Hajime poked Aveline's small nose, which kept her glasses from falling off.
"Is someone mad?"
Aveline rubbed her brows then she glanced at the man next to her, his annoying smirk, his eyes that seemed to enjoy watching her and his tattoo: their tattoo.
He poked her nose again.
"Fine, fine I'll leave you alone."
Aveline opened her mouth but no words came out as she closed it again. They eventually reached the iron gate that separated the mansion from the academy grounds, the iron gate that seemed to signal the pause of their relationship, the iron gate that stood in the way of their growth.
Standing in front of the gate, a forced smile appearing on his face, pretending to be okay with her silence, taking out his key from his pocket and putting it into the silver lock, slowly turning it sideways, opening one gate while closing another, however this time, Aveline spoke up.
"I'm not mad," she said as she pinched his nose back.
Hajime smiled and pushed the gate open, allowing the garden to come into view, the purple flowers outshining the other flowers, the purple flowers that resembled Aveline.
"Say did you dream about anything?" he asked as they walked through the empty garden.
She tilted her head.
"Nothing at all?"
"Nope I've never dreamed before." she said, "Did you?"
"Me neither, I do dream often though."
She nodded before opening the door and holding it open for Hajime.
"Flowers first."
"It would've been more funny if you said ladies first." he chuckled.
"Ladies?" she questioned.
Hajime entered the mansion, the scent of wood entering his nose as he saw a princess, wearing shorts and a tank top, lying on the sofa, her legs hanging up on the back of the sofa, her head resting on the cushioned seat, holding a comic book in the air.
"So much for being sick huh?"
His voice startled Veloria. The comic book slipped from her hands, hitting her right in the face before falling on the floor. She glared at Hajime as she blindly tried to grab the book back.
"I was just reading the final scene." she said, "Now I have to start over."
Hajime walked towards the sofa, picking up the book that lay underneath the sofa, handing it to Veloria.
"Can't you just continue where you left off?"
"Nope. I have to start over. As the writer intended."
"Then shouldn't you start at the very beginning?" he asked with a smirk on his face.
Veloria rolled her eyes, "That's too far back."
"It's only a comic book so it should be a quick read," Aveline said.
Both of them raised their eyebrows.
"She speaks." Veloria said, "Did something happen between you two?"
"Did you kiss her Hajime or did you kiss him Aveline? Or did you finally say the L word to each other?" Veloria squealed like a fan girl.
Hajime gave Veloria's forehead a flick.
"Nothing happened," Aveline said, her eyes narrowing at Hajime.
"I'm going to take a shower," she said as she climbed the stairs, staring at Hajime as if waiting for him to tease her.
Hajime grinned.
"Want me-"
"No," she said.
The sound of pages turning caught his attention. Veloria wasted no time as she continued to read the comic. He rolled his eyes before he sat down on the sofa next to her, staring at the painting hanging on the wall, quietly waiting for Veloria to finish reading so that he could tell her his plan.
The lock jingled, and the door swung open as another princess entered, her hair wrapped neatly in a bun, a smile on her face as she saw Hajime, closing the door behind her, elegantly removing her pink shoes, revealing her socks that had tiny cookies sewn onto it, a thud resounding through the living room as she tossed her shoes onto the floor before swiftly sitting next to Hajime.
Her warm breath tickled his ears, her scent intoxicating him, his gaze shifting to the woman in front of him, her pink dress which revealed her modest cleavage, and her sparkling eyes, a succubus in the form of an angel.
"Calantha, you're a little close."
"I'm not even touching you." she said, "Unless you want me to?"
Those were words every man wanted to hear yet Hajime had to control himself. He was leaving Calantha for last.
"If you want to start a war with Fleurdelis Empire, go ahead," he said.
"A war?" she leaned in closer, her nose rubbing his cheek, blowing a gust of air onto his neck.
"Aveline is my partner."
"Oh so does that mean you won't participate?" she said, "I guess I bore you huh."
Veloria closed her comic book and removed her legs from the back of the sofa, sitting upright, intently staring at the duo, who looked like a couple, before she stood up and went upstairs.
"I'm not going to be a part of whatever that is," she said, disappearing upstairs.
"We're alone," Calantha whispered.
Hajime gulped. He knew the maids were supposed to be doing the groceries, and Sakura should still be in class. Brielle said she was going to hang out with some friends. So he essentially had time for Calantha.
"Calantha, no." Hajime said.
"Am I not beautiful?" she asked as she cupped her boobs, her cleavage hypnotizing him.
"Who wouldn't think you're beautiful?" Hajime said.
"Then?" she threw herself on him, resting her head on his lap, her face inches away from his crotch, watching the dragon slowly rise, a smile appearing on her face.
"Your body is answering me." she licked her lips.
She was supposed to be a princess, a princess who survived the brutal training of her mother, a princess who wanted to become an Aicte, a princess who lost her sisters yet here she was, acting submissive. No, she was acting desperate. He asked himself why she would be desperate. Perhaps to live but he felt that wasn't quite right.
"Calantha, be honest," he said, "Why do you want me to bond with you?"
"So we can reach Aicte and Avyris together of course."
"I think you're lying to yourself."
"Huh?"
"Tell you what, I'll participate if you take off your mask," he said, staring into the eyes of the woman, who was lying in his lap.
Calantha's smile wavered as she stood up, scratching her cheek.
"I think I got carried away, I'll see you later Hajime," she said, her footsteps growing fainter and then fading completely upstairs.
Hajime stood up and adjusted his pants before heading upstairs.