For the next few months, Viv visited the princess, he would either talk to the princess and ask about the world, or just eat the snacks she prepared and grab a gold coin or two.
After one such visit, Viv waved goodbye as always, as he flew back to the orphanage.
Perhaps she isn't that bad.
Vivillian flew into the crack of the window, and the black dove slowly transformed back into a boy.
Yawning, Viv turned to go back to sleep, but paused as he saw who was there.
Standing just a few feet before him, was a wide eyed, jaw dropped Elva, holding a pillow in his arm.
"What....?" Elva stuttered in fear, as he stumbled back against the wall.
Before Elva could turn to run, Viv lunged forward and covered his mouth, tackling the taller boy onto the ground.
"Don't make so much noise."
"Mmmfphh...!" Elva struggled, and used his longer legs to kick off Viv.
Except, Viv flew quite a distance and harshly landed on the ground across the room.
"...Oh."
Elva didn't expect it to be so easy to kick him away.
"Ow." Viv stared up at the ceiling, back on the floor as he laid sprawled out pitifully.
"Never mind then, I thought you were a strong monster." Elva was disinterested and resumed his usual demeanor after discovering how weak Vivillian was. "Turns out you're just a weak one."
"How harsh."
"Ironic coming from you."
"I'm just a realist." Viv got back onto his feet, wiping off the dust on his clothes. "Don't tell anyone."
"If I did, they would burn me with you at the stake." Elva put away his toothbrush.
There was an awkward silence as none of the boys talked, and they both quietly went to bed.
—
In the afternoon the next day, a court official came to keep track of the children, and to also deal with Viv's placement as a noble heir.
Viv and the court official were both left alone in a meeting room, Viv sitting on one couch and the official sitting across.
The official looked at his papers, his rectangular glasses lowering as he frowned. Sipping the tea the nuns had prepared, his gaze slowly turned to Viv.
"Your mother was a cat beast men?" The official raised an eyebrow at the tail waving distractedly on the couch.
"Yes."
".." The official frowned, as he scratched his head. "Since nobles usually don't marry with commoners, you're probably the only legitimate noble beast men in the Slachal Empire."
"Cool."
"Cool?"
"Nevermind." Viv forgot slang from Earth didn't make sense here.
"Anyways, since your house estate records show that you were rather underfunded despite your status, and the fact you are an orphan with no known living connections, there's two choices you can make."
Vivillian tilted his head.
"You can either renounce your title as a baron's heir and enter society as a commoner, adopted and raised with no trouble." The Official signed something on his paper. "Or, with a lot of paperwork, you will be sent to the prestigious Einsvul Academy when you turn 13 and you must graduate with above average grades to keep your noble title, as well as be rewarded a small fortune to get your life started after the Academy."
Vivillian blinked, not expecting to hear Einsvul academy emerge from the official's mouth.
Einsvul Academy was the place where LaD took place, and many national events would take place and eventually lead to the female lead and chosen otome game character to save the world.
It truly was a prestigious school, with many foreign princes and princesses coming to enroll when they reached age 13 or older.
It was also a very challenging school if you were not prepared beforehand, it focused on making students excel in essentially every subject as well as equipping them with magic skills for defense and attack.
That was also why most knights came here to train before they formally swore allegiance to their Lord, because it made an apprentice excel tremendously.
Although Viv was interested in where the Otome game would take place, he would have never voluntarily enrolled if he didn't have to. However, the reward of a small fortune and a diploma from Einsvul basically guaranteed a peaceful life.
If he didn't go, he would then be stripped of his title and go through a commoner's hardships, which would just be troubling for him.
"...I'll go to Einsvul." Viv made up his mind, a guaranteed future was ahead of him.
Even if Viv ends up failing the courses and drops out, there's essentially no consequence. The only thing he would have to look out for were future events, which were easy to remember and keep track of if he wrote it down.
"I'll send the official papers later to the orphanage then." The Official nodded, expecting the answer. "You will inherit the Baron's official title once you turn of age."
The Official got up, cleared up his papers and prepared to take his leave.
"Farewell, Your Grace." He nodded and left.
Viv sat on the couch, sighing as he prepared himself mentally to start studying later.