No matter the class, Erika exhalled in everything whether it be maths or literature. There was just no match for her in the classes. And it was apparent from the first day.
"What can I do? These are just basic problems I did in elementary school." Erika thought.
She felt proud and there was a hint of superiority in the smile she showed to the other students as they swarmed around her.
Though she felt a bit of a guilt for acting a little superior. Though she didn't hesitate to use and show-off her knowledge from her original world.
However, her knowledge and popularity also brought her some envy, though as the daughter of a great duke no one dared to object openly.
After the day's classes were over, a noble girl approached Erika.
"Good afternoon, lady Raubenbraum. I am Hannah Landsturm." The girl said with a respectful bow.
"Oh, good afternoon lady Landsturm." Erika replied.
She had a graceful smile in her face. But in her mind Erika was troubled.
"Where, where have I heard that name before..."
"I am Maruschka. Good afternoon lady Landsturm."
Maruschka said, a little hesitant.
"I see, you are that commoner girl that always stick with lady Raubenbraum."
"No, no, it's not like that. We are friends and roommates. So we are always together." Erika clarified their relationship.
"Yes, that's right. Lady Erika is my best friend." Maruschka flustered but also happy to be called a friend.
To Erika she seemed like a cute little kitten at this stage. Her face was a little red from the shyness she felt being called a best friend.
"I was never called that even in my previous life." She thought and felt as if her life was a success.
"oh, I didn't know that." Hannah replied unfazed.
"I didn't know lady Raubenbraum was actually friends with the commoners."
She shifted her gaze from Erika to Maruschka and then back to Erika again.
"Anyways lady Raubenbraum, I think you should be really careful. Yesterday while looking for my room, I heard some students talk about you. From the way they spoke I think they want to harm you."
"How so?!" Erika asked.
Partly surprised, partly aware, she was having guesses that someone or maybe a group was behind it.
"I know you are the daughter of the most powerful duke of this kingdom but still please be careful. I heard those students mention a 'he' who would protect them."
"Is that 'he' the person who I think he is?" Erika thought.
"Lady Raubenbraum, I think that person might be someone very powerful." Hanna let out her worries.
Maruschka beside her was worried. She couldn't help but ask,
"Is it because of me?" She asked all flustered.
Hanna, was irritated. Being a noble she didn't like the way Maruschka spoke to her but chose to ignore it anyways.
She spoke to Erika directly,
"I don't think it has anything to do with the commoner. The tone in which they spoke seems like they have long grudges with the Raubenbraum family itself."
"Did you recognise any of the students?" Erika asked.
"No, I don't really recognise any of them." Hanna replied.
"well, thank you for warning me anyways. It was really helpful." Erika smiled.
Hanna went away.
Erika sighed, "I knew it. Maybe it's the prince and his faction trying to do something."
Erika couldn't understand what the prince wanted.
"Well I'll talk to him today. Let's go Maruschka" She said.
It was almost evening when the prince returned to his room.
Some students were already present in his room.
"Oh, is the job done?" The prince asked looking at those students.
"Yes, your highness. The girl who heard us has already alerted the Raubenbraum."
"And how are things going with that teacher who was supposed to teach the commoner girl?"
"He has agreed to cooperate as well."
"Great, now all that's left is to complete the plan tomorrow." The prince had a wide grin on his face.
"But your highness, if we carry that plan now it is highly probable that the plan may fail. That Raubenbraum lady is already alert."
"Don't worry about it. I know exactly what'll happen. You may leave and remember don't be anywhere near this building when the plan is carried out."
"Yes your highness."
The students kneeled in front of Theodore and then left.
These students were actually the elite guards of the prince and their duty was to spy on other students and make sure that the prince was safe.
"Well now, I will have all of those noble rats destroyed for good."
The prince had a hysterical laughter.
But then the gate was knocked.
"Ahem," the prince controlled himself, "Come in."
Some noble students got in. Among them were the chancellor's son and the son of the knight commander along with some other students.
"Greetings your highness." They bowed and said in unison.
"Skip the small chat. We don't have much time. I don't want to wait anymore to take the Raubenbraums down."
"As you say your highness."
They came inside the room and stood straight in front of the prince.
"Listen Weilding, you and Paul, don't have to participate in tomorrow's plan. You two are well known and would become suspects immediately."
Paul Von Hiedelberg was the son of the chancellor. The right-hand man to the prince.
He was a capture target in the game and very popular with the game's audiences.
"As you say your highness." The two them said with their right hand close fisted on their chest and heads bowed.
"The rest of you will commence tomorrows works. It will be a great opportunity to get rid of Erika."
"Yes, your highness." The rest of the students replied.
These were the students from the anti Raubenbraum faction. They wanted to take the Raubenbraum territory for themselves.
"Erika is totally oblivious of our plans, so attack her tomorrow in her room. You are not very famous students so no one will know about who did it."
The students were a bit afraid.
"Y, your highness, I don't think we s-should do it ourselves. Let's just force someone to attack her. Maybe we can use the commoner to do it."
One of them suggested.
"No, this will not work." Prince rejected the proposal without even thinking.
"If you want to get pieces of the Raubenbraum land, then you'll have to do it yourselves. Don't take any roundabout way." Prince said in a harsh tone.
He was extremely annoyed with the cowardice they displayed.
"Anyways, there are just some girls in the room. They won't be able to hurt you." He added.
"I have heard that both the girls are very beautiful." One of the students said.
Everyone understood what he implied.
"Yeah, let's do it ourselves." They laughed.
The prince was disgusted as were Weilding and Paul. But they didn't care what happened to them.
"Except for Paul and Weilding, you all may leave." He could no longer stand to be in the presence of these people.
"As you wish your highness."
The students left after bowing to show respect to the prince.
"Will you really let it happen your highness?"
Asked Paul and Weilding after the others left.
"I don't care anyways."
"Paul I have a job for you."
"Anything your highness."
"Notify your father to inform every noble household whose sons are present here to send their forces to near the Raubenbraum territory during this summer and also tell him to make financial preparations for a war with the Raubenbraums. Also tell him to keep it a secret from everyone."
Paul bowed, "As you wish your highness."
"Weilding, take the royal knightage out and camp near the Raubenbraum territory."
The prince said looking at Weilding.
Weilding however was a bit worried. He knew what the prince wanted and it was not something he wished to do. He was worried that the knightage may become weak after a battle against the Raubenbraums.
"Your highness, the Raubenbraum forces are strong. Our knightage may suffer huge casualties if we fight them. It will weaken the power of the royal family."
"Do you think I am such a fool to use my own forces to fight against the Raubenbraums?" The prince laughed.
"Relax, the knightage will only be there for show. I will let those filthy nobles finish each other off and then march into the Raubenbraums and all other territories unopposed."
Weilding relaxed a bit.
"Oh, indeed it's a great plan your highness. But will his majesty agree to it?"
"Don't worry about him. Once he sees the results, he will be pleased."
"I don't want the filths remain in this kingdom for much long. The summer vacation will start in a few months. We will prepare our forces at that time."
"How do you plan to justify this operation your highness?"
"Leave it to me I have plans." The prince laughed.
"You may leave now."
Two of them left after showing their respect to the prince.
The prince was tired and went to rest after taking off his uniforms and wearing some night dress.
At that moment, someone else knocked the door.
"Ah, what now? Won't these filths let me rest?"
His attendant opened the door.
It was Erika's maid Bauer.
"Excuse me, is his highness free? Lady Erika wants to meet him."
The attendant looked at the prince, who shook his head left and right.
He didn't have the slightest wish to meet anyone, not to mention the fiance he hates the most.
"Sorry, his highness is busy now. He can't meet anyone."
Bauer left without saying anything. She expected something like this to happen. She also noticed the students leaving the room earlier.
She felt that something was really wrong and reported everything to Erika.