While Nozomu was taking Taisetsuna to near the wall of the Academy to wake her up again, in the Empire, Ahmed Khan, the only son of the Emperor was in the back garden of his father’s Castle frowning while reading a book and seated on a bench in the shade of a tree.
One of his father’s Ministers was next to him because, besides being the Emperor’s Minister, he was also the Prince’s tutor.
The old Minister cleared his throat and asked, “Your Highness, is something upsetting you? You seem somewhat distracted.”
“You noticed? Well, maybe it has something to do with that deadline my father gave you and the other Ministers. You have always been with me. You taught me how to read and write, while my father... Well, let’s just say he is not the most caring of parents. Did you already think of a plan to carry on with his idea of conquering the Principality?”
“Your
After lunch, Taisetsuna went straight to the field and talked with Hinotsume.Mizukonta was not there because she went to look around to check for damage and to find other Dragons to talk to, and she would return the next day with the news.The afternoon classes started, and Taisetsuna could barely concentrate. Strategy class started and ended, Potions class started and ended. The entire afternoon went by, and she couldn’t focus.As they were going to the outside to check on the Unicorns, Nozomu elbowed her. She forced a slight smile and didn’t say a word.He then pulled her to the side, and while the others kept on walking to get to the Unicorns, he asked in a low tone, “Worried? Do you remember what I said? It is no use worrying without a certain.”“I know, but… Hinotsume said that we should worry if the tremors happened for days or got stronger. Guess what, this is the second day, and there was a strong tremor…”“That means nothing. Raluth could be moving during his sleep. But if i
In the main room, the Principal was seated at his table, with Muse Sirel to his left.He clapped his hands to call for attention and said, “It has come to my attention that a certain student has poisoned one of my Teachers two times already. I need to warn everyone that this is a very serious matter. My Teachers are not here to be bullied. They are here to teach you, and you would be wise to respect them if you intend to graduate.”Chujitsuna sighed, and she slithered to the middle of the room, standing there in the space between the tables with her arms crossed.She faced the serious Principal and said, “Teacher Muse got angry with what happened in the morning during the unarmed class, and said that she was going to punish us during the armed fights against her. I don’t k
The next morning, Nozomu arrived at the main room, rubbing his eyes. Hinen was right behind him, with Robert at his side, and both were yawning.When they sat down at Taisetsuna’s table, she asked, “Why are you guys so sleepy?”Nozomu grabbed Draiky by the head and sat him at the edge of the table. “Because of this guy. He kept us up all night. He was trying to choke Hinen in his sleep, and Robert and I had to grab him. When we fell asleep, thinking that he would be quiet, we woke up again to find Hinen screaming for help. Did you tell him to kill Hinen or what, Tresuria?”“No… This one didn’t do such a thing. But... maybe Draiky is still angry with Hinen because he was mocking Chuji and this one yesterday. He has a mind of his own, a
Muse Sirel jumped up and went to meet the students, while the Principal shook his head slowly, “Chujitsuna was right in one thing; Muse is nuts.”When the students heard her clapping to call for attention, they all looked at the serious Dwarf woman.She faced Chujitsuna and made a slight bow. “That was a good fight, Chujitsuna. I was not expecting to be fooled or defeated like that.”In return, Chujitsuna made a slight bow to her and answered, “Thank you, Teacher, and I apologize for insulting you. I only wanted to make you angry. I didn’t mean any of that.”“Well, it sure worked. I must also congratulate you on the way you tricked me yesterday during class. I have been underest
Meanwhile, in the ‘Ifranluan Empire’, the Prince was seated in the meeting room, with his deceased father’s Ministers with him.Some servants were serving tea for them while the Prince was looking at the World Map, and he glanced over the file with the amount of treasury in his safe room.He approached the teacup to his lips, pretended to drink it, and then asked, “Tomorrow will be the burial service for my father, mother, and sisters. Is everything taken care of?”One Minister slowly nodded after looking at his colleagues. “Yes, we already took care of that. No need to worry, my Prince. I mean, my Emperor!”“I am not the Emperor yet; only tomorrow, after my father’s burial.”
Early in the morning, Nozomu hugged the Princess from behind, as she was trying to fix her hair. She kissed his earlobe and pushed him away with a smile so that he could get dressed as well.When they went to that bedroom to pass the night, a few servants saw them in the corridor, holding hands and whispering, and they all suspected what they were about to do. So it was no surprise that when they left the bedroom, every servant and guard they crossed paths with were trying to disguise a smile.The Princess shrugged when Nozomu whispered they had given an excuse for a few gossips, and when they entered the dining room for breakfast, the Princess’ court was already there, and they all bowed with a disguised smile at the late couple.As they both sat at the table, one Noble said with a slight smile, “
A few days passed, with nothing out of the ordinary happening. Classes, relaxing, fooling around, sleeping. Except for the occasional ground tremors, of course, that didn’t happen every day but still happened.Then, one afternoon, Nozomu received another message from the Princess, asking him to go see her and that Koyaga would also be there.He left, leaving behind Taisetsuna biting her lower lip, wondering if he was going to be with the Princess in the evening again.When Nozomu arrived at the Castle, the guards at the gate told him that the Princess was in the back garden with Koyaga, and he could go meet her because she was expecting him.He rode Rampage around the Castle, and he easily spotted the two women seated on the same bench where he was a few days ago.The Princess waved at him, and when he dismounted, she received him with a hug. “Hello, stranger! Long time, no see! How is everything in the Academy?”
A few grunts followed Nozomu’s words, and one Noble asked, “You realize that by saying that you are insulting all of us? Comparing us to a commoner!”“I didn’t compare anyone to anything. I just pointed out the fact that every single one of you earned your title from your family, not from something you did. Your ancestor, the one that originated your Nobility, was the one that did something so outstanding that he started a Noble family. I have read that some were in wars with the Empire, others were Adventurers, and one or two were Merchants that became so rich that they were invited to be the advisors of a Prince or a King that ruled at that time. I never read about one that killed two hordes of Goblins and two Drakes, and that will probably make me and Dame Taisetsuna enter the History books as well. Not an easy fact, I may add, but it sure fills me with well-deserved pride.”The same Noble answered, his