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Rejected

"Princess Myriam, you are very beautiful. To be honest, I am still dizzy."

Andrew said with a gentle smile.

"Oh my, thank you very much Lord Andrew."

Myriam replied with a smile and Andrew froze again.

"Hmpf! You said the same thing to my sister not long ago!"

Albert snorted at Andrew.

"Y-You!"

Albert ignored the raging Andrew and spoke to Myriam.

"Myriam, did you think about my offer ?"

"T-that's... I'm still thinking about it, Prince Albert..."

Myriam replied hesitantly.

"What offer ?" Andrew asked suddenly.

"H-Hum Prince Albert would like to organize a marriage between us to strengthen the bonds between our countries..."

"What?!"

***

Orion, who was alone in a corner, was looking at Liana and Arnold chatting.

But he noticed that Liana kept avoiding his gaze with a sad face.

Orion got somewhat worried, so he decided to speak to her.

Normally, he would never join a conversation between two royals but he forced himself.

Taking a deep breath, he walked toward them. Liana, seeing Orion coming, was surprised. She averted her gaze and spoke back to Arnold as if he was her best friend.

Arnold was surprised but happy that his crush was finally acknowledging him.

"H-Hum excuse me ?"

But his happiness was short-lived as he heard a stuttering voice behind him.

Turning around he saw the most average man he had seen in his life. The man was short with an average face. His blue navy suit was nice but he could easily be forgotten because his classmates were above him in everything.

"Who are you ?"

Arnold was displeased that his sweet time with Liana was disturbed.

"H-Hum I-I'm sorry to disturb you, Prince Arnold. I am Orion Kenway..."

Orion said, averting his eyes from the angry Arnold.

"Oh! You're the famous guy with a useless ability, right ?!"

Arnold asked with a laugh.

Unfortunately, his laugh was rather loud, so all the people in the hall turned toward him.

Orion was stunned that his name was that famous, though badly. But it lasted just a few seconds when he felt all the stares from the others.

Arnold smirked at seeing the pathetic sight of Orion quivering. He heard rumors about Liana being close to a useless hero.

He felt angry and wanted to do something to him, but he was surprised that he came toward him on his own volition.

"So are you the great hero who can fix our broken weapons ?"

Arnold asked with a smile.

"Pffft"

"Aahaha!"

Vincent and John couldn't hold back anymore and laughed.

*Laughs*

*Sneers*

Soon the others followed.

Liana was very angry but with all the stares at them, she preferred to act like she didn't care.

Orion felt pathetic but still replied.

"Y-Yes it's me..."

"Hmm...I see, so why are you here ?"

Arnold asked in a strong tone.

"I-I wanted to talk to Lia-na."

Orion replied, glancing at Liana.

Arnold was red from anger but before he could speak, Liana did.

"Prince Arnold, I had to talk to the others so, if you would excuse me."

Liana bowed and walked off.

*Silence*

Orion was frozen from her action.

'Did she ignore me...?'

Before he tried to digest what had happened, Arnold's voice rang out near him.

"Ahahah! Pathetic! Here I was believing those foolish rumors. There is no way in hell Liana would hang around with a useless guy!"

Arnold said with a mocking laugh.

His words were so loud that they all understood what had happened.

The more shocked ones were obviously Orion's classmates. In a month she never acted that coldly towards Orion.

"Hmpf! She finally understood that he was useless, right brother ?"

Vincent, who was with his brother talking to the white-eyed siblings, muttered.

"It was just a matter of time."

Jordan replied arrogantly and there was even a little smile on his face.

The three siblings from the Nychterin Empire just looked at Orion.

"Who is he, Lord Andrew ?"

Myriam asked curiously, as she was not aware of that.

"Ah! He is Orion, my classmate. During the last month, he was really handful because his ability wasn't that helpful. Unfortunately, because of that, he is bothering Princess Liana, sigh..."

Andrew said with a saddened expression.

"I hope he stops taking advantage of his status as a hero to bother others..."

Andrew added in a sad tone while smirking inside.

It was because of Andrew that rumors about a useless hero spread fast in other countries. He also spread rumors about Orion being a bother to the princess Liana.

Then he skillfully talked to the other nobles about how a marriage would be beneficial for the future.

Finally, he manipulated the nobles, saying that he was worried about Orion's life, which indirectly gave them the idea to kill Orion.

By doing that, he successfully separated Orion and Liana. On top of that, he reinforced his image as a benevolent hero who was worried about the Empire.

"I see..."

Myriam nodded with a frown.

Her image of Orion quickly lowered.

'Is it really like that...?'

As for Albert, he was lost in what Andrew said.

He had just come the day before, so he had just heard rumors, but from what he saw yesterday, his sister was more happy than before.

'Whatever. It has nothing to do with me.'

Shaking his head, he tried to flirt again with Myriam.

Albert and Andrew were also interested in Evelyn Nychterin but his brother was scary with his stoic face, so they chose to start with the easier person, who was Myriam.

***

Orion was still frozen from what happened.

The sneers and mockery were just getting in one ear and out of the other.

Arnold seeing Orion like that was feeling very good.

"Hey Orion!"

Orion broke from his daze again.

"Y-Yes ?"

"You are not suited to be even near her, so stop daydreaming."

"...!"

Arnold said the words again in a loud voice and left toward his next target.

A few meters away from them.

"Sienna, he is coming towards us or rather you."

Claire said to her friend.

"I know."

Sienna replied and looked at Orion's lonely figure with her blue and green eyes.

She completely ignored the walking figure of Arnold just near him.

"Greetings beautiful ladies, I hope I don't bother you ?"