Croy dashed out of the party of Fire Pillars. As he shoved the door open, the boy who had been standing outside stared at him in confusion.
"Where did the two girls go?" Croy growled impatiently.
Even if Princess Kadutor was the heir to an entire kingdom, he couldn't care less. She could have been the queen herself - it didn't matter to him. Croy was furious!
Not only had she dragged him into this mess, but she had then disappeared without a trace! Now he probably had a problem with that damned Leon as well.
The boy blinked in confusion for a few seconds. Then he grinned.
"Ha, I knew this was going to be interesting. They went toward the girls' dorms."
Croy took off, only to hear Fredrik burst through the door right behind him.
"Croy! Croy, damn it, wait up!"
Croy didn't wait. Fredrik barely managed to grab his arm, but Croy just kept running, practically dragging his friend along.
"I know you're angry, but what are you planning? She's a princess!"
"Like I give a damn. She made a game out of this - at my expense!"
Fredrik saw he wouldn't be able to stop his friend this way.
"And what's the plan? You're not actually going to be known as the guy who hits girls, are you?"
"I'll give her a good smack in her pretty face, and if she had any balls, I'd kick those too!"
This was the Imperial Academy! Gender didn't matter here - if you could dish it out, you had to be able to take it.
They turned a corner and spotted Princess Kadutor and her friend, Emma, standing by the girls' dorm entrance. Croy opened his mouth, but Emma's voice cut him off.
"You can't just do that, Ali!"
For a moment, Croy was shocked to see the usually shy girl so emotional. He'd only heard her speak twice before, always softly and timidly.
Emma continued lecturing her friend.
"That Leon could have seriously hurt him. What were you thinking?"
Princess Kadutor looked at her friend curiously but then frowned and turned her head toward Croy and Fredrik, who were watching from behind the corner. She grinned mischievously when she saw Croy.
"Sorry, Emma," she said first to her friend, then waved at the two boys.
"Welcome to the girls' dorm! I don't think you should be here."
Croy's face was twisted in rage. Emma, spotting them, looked shocked at first but then shrank back as if their presence had sent her scurrying away.
Croy approached Princess Kadutor.
"I think we have something to settle, Your Majesty."
The last word was spat with disdain. Croy stopped just an arm's length from the princess, towering over her by at least a head.
"Do we?" she asked innocently.
Croy took a deep breath.
"Oh, we do. I should smack you right here and now."
"Excuse me? First, you rescue me, and then you want to hit me?" She laughed, as if Croy's actions were utterly absurd.
Now it was Croy's turn to look confused.
"Rescue? You think I rescued you?"
Princess Kadutor nodded, smiling at him.
"Yes, twice, actually. Once from that disgusting, arrogant, self centered imperial noble and once from dying of boredom at the party. I'm grateful."
Croy couldn't believe it. The princess had orchestrated this whole thing because she'd been… bored?
Bored?!
'Calm yourself.'
Croy felt his anger rising again. He was still furious - but starting a fight with the princess here wasn't the best idea.
He had to find out more first. Then, if he wasn't satisfied, he could still smack that pretty smile right out of her face - probably. She was strong, he couldn't forget that.
"So, why were you at the party in the first place?" he asked, trying to control his rage.
Princess Kadutor pointed at her shy friend.
"Emma begged me to come along," she stated flatly.
Fredrik, for the first time, joined the conversation after he had caught his breath, tilting his head as he addressed Emma.
"Really? You don't look like someone who'd want to be there. Uh, no offense."
Emma shook her head slowly.
"It's fine… I just wanted to know what it was like…" she said softly.
Then she turned to Croy, nervously fidgeting with her fingers.
"Uhm… I'm sorry about Alisha. She can be a bit… willful sometimes. It's my fault she was even there. I… I've always struggled with being around a lot of people, and I thought the party would help me get used to it..." Her voice grew softer with each word.
Somehow, her words made Croy feel a bit guilty for storming in so angrily.
Then the girl looked him directly in the eyes for the first time, and Croy flinched instinctively. There was still that monstrous Mana he sensed whenever she looked directly at him… But neither Fredrik nor Leon and the other one had noticed it. How could they not?
The girl continued, "I think she did it for me… When she saw how uncomfortable I was, she wanted to step in. She's a really good friend, you know?"
Princess Kadutor shook her head, but Croy could see she was a bit moved.
"Those two idiots were just getting on my nerves," she said.
Fredrik chimed in again.
"How do you two even know each other?"
"We're both exchange students from Al'Kadutor. I grew up with Emma," answered Princess Kadutor.
Croy raised an eyebrow, seeing Emma in a new light. If she'd grown up with the kingdom's princess, she must be nobility too.
Sensing his gaze, Emma seemed to shrink back again.
"Ah, no, you misunderstand… My father is the King's chief Spellcaster, but we're not nobility… I just spent a lot of time in the palace…"
Princess Kadutor, Alisha, gave her friend a warm hug.
"And there's nothing to be ashamed of," she said reassuringly before turning to Croy and Fredrik.
"And you two? Did you know each other before the academy?"
Croy shook his head.
"No, but I have Fredrik to thank for everyone thinking I was a creep on day one. Actually, they still do."
Princess Kadutor laughed.
"Don't worry, at least you've changed my mind. With my authority as royal heir, I now officially recognize you as non-creepy, and acknowledge your valor in saving two innocent young ladies from nasty scoundrels."
"You said the same to Leon," muttered Croy.
Princess Kadutor tilted her head.
"Who's Leon?"
Because of the nonchalant way the Princess said that, Croy found himself laughing - until he remembered why he was there in the first place.
"Hold on, I'm still mad at you!" But his words lacked the force they had before.
"I told you, you saved us."
"Don't act like you couldn't have handled it on your own!"
Fredrik suddenly stepped forward, standing between Croy and Princess Kadutor.
"Alright, let's all calm down. I know you're angry, Croy, but it seems you really did help them."
Emma also stepped forward.
"Ex-exactly! I'm very grateful… and I feel bad too. You know what? Alisha will make it up to you!"
Emma smiled for the first time. Princess Kadutor looked at her friend, surprised.
"I will?"
"You will!" Emma's tone was nearly commanding. "You're just as responsible for this."
The princess looked as though she might protest but sighed and looked at her friend, resigned. Croy was impressed. He hadn't thought the self-assured princess would listen to anyone.
"And what should I do?" she asked calmly.
Emma looked at Croy, studying his expression. He worked hard not to give away what he was feeling.
Then it seemed, an idea struck her.
"How about you invite him to dinner as an apology?"
"What? I mean… fine."
She turned to Croy.
"I... I invite you to dinner, Belmont."
Her voice wasn't exactly cheerful, but it wasn't resentful either. Rather it seemed... nervous?
But it seemed, she did know his name. Croy smirked. Then he raised his hand and hardened his expression.
"No thanks. Absolutely not."
"I know you're thrilled, but- Excuse me?!"
Princess Kadutor's eyes widened. Croy shook his head.
"You may be beautiful, but your character is awful. I'd never go on a date with a woman like that."
All three of them stared at him, jaws dropped. Princess Kadutor blinked rapidly. Fredrik was the first to recover, shaking Croy as if he'd lost his mind.
"C-Croy! That's a princess asking you on a date!"
"A princess who gets a kick out of watching guys fight for no reason. I think that's called sadistic… or maybe even perverted?"
"No!" shouted Princess Kadutor, throwing her hands up defensively. "I just wanted Leon to experience what it feels like to be harassed!"
"Then you could have done it yourself," Croy replied dryly.
"Well… I was worried he might enjoy it. Then I would've died of disgust!"
Her face flushed slightly.
Croy looked at her with a stonelike expression.
"And besides," the princess continued once she'd regained her composure, "I knew you were strong. Much stronger than others think. You'd never have lost."
"Oh?" Emma interjected.
She looked at Croy in surprise. "She never says that about anyone."
Croy regarded the now serious looking Princess.
'A sensor, huh? She's got to be in another league.'
But her assessment was wrong. Croy wasn't strong. Not compared to the other monsters here at the academy.
"I lost to Jradan."
The princess shook her head.
"Don't play it down. That was only because it was your first time holding a sword. I'm sure Jradan noticed that too. Besides," she pointed to her brown eyes, "my eyes and senses are different. I can tell these things."
For a moment, they stared at each other intently. Then Croy sighed.
"If this happens again, then…" but his voice trailed off.
What exactly was he planning to threaten with? This was getting ridiculous. He just wanted to go to bed.
"Forget it. Come on, Fredrik, let's go."
"Huh? Did you forgive her?"
"No," Croy replied, looking at Princess Kadutor - she didn't avert her gaze, "but only for today, it's forgotten."
The princess gave a thin smile.
"How gracious of you, Sir Belmont."
Croy had to grin. That was the same thing he had told her. He responded by making a theatrical bow and saying:
"A gentleman must show mercy - even to brazen, selfish princesses."
The princess's mouth twitched, but she said nothing.
Croy took that as his cue and turned to speak to Emma one last time.
"Goodnight."
The girl smiled back at him. "You too."
With that, he and a bewildered Fredrik returned to their quarters.
***
As soon as the boy named Croy Belmont and his friend rounded the corner, Alisha heard a snicker beside her.
She closed her eyes and tried to stay calm.
'Ignore her,' she told herself.
"Pfft… Pfft! I can't, your face!"
Emma burst out laughing. Alisha spun around, grabbing her friend by the cheeks to pinch her.
"Don't laugh!"
But Alisha's face was bright red. She had acted as nonchalant as she could, but… asking a boy her age on a date had been too much!
She was a secluded princess, not a movie star! Her father had always made sure no boys came to her with such intentions, and now she had been the one to do it, with absolutely no experience as well!
"All because of you! Why did you have to suggest that, you little witch!"
Alisha pinched Emma's cheeks, but her friend couldn't stop laughing.
"And... And then he said, 'No thanks,' like you'd offered him a cup of tea!"
Emma clutched her friend's shoulders to keep from falling over.
"You were so flustered, I thought you were going to explode!"
Alisha wanted to sink into the floor. Had Belmont noticed? She prayed he was just an oblivious boy.
Then she smiled as Emma finally started calming down. Her friend only showed this lively and open side around her. It made Alisha feel special. And Emma was just as special to her.
She sighed.
"Oh, Emma, I'll get you back for this…"
Emma shook her head, smiling.
"No, you won't. But tell me, is he really that strong?"
Alisha was still a bit rattled from the boy's outright rejection. But honestly, she'd only done it to get back at Leon…
And to see if her hunch about Croy Belmont was correct.
"Yes," she said finally, "he's a far bigger monster than you think."