Chapter 8
Serendia Academy was named in hopes of receiving the protection of Serendiene, the Goddess of Light. Its school crest is modeled after the scepter and lily crown held by the goddess.
Originally, neither royalty nor nobles had any custom of attending school, but as the times changed, educational institutions for noble children gradually began to increase. Serendia Academy was one of them.
Although there are now multiple schools, boarding schools, and academies for girls attended by the children of the wealthy and powerful, Serendia Academy is one of the most prestigious schools in the Kingdom of Riddill, with a history of being the first school in the kingdom to welcome members of the royal family.
When one speaks of the three most prestigious schools in the Kingdom of Riddill, they would be “Serendia Academy,” attended by members of the royal family; “Minerva,” an institution for training magicians; and “the Institute,” which operates under the temple.
Of the three, the Institute is strongest in matters concerning the law.
Minerva specializes in magic and sorcery.
And Serendia Academy excels in every other field of learning.
First-rate instructors, an unparalleled collection of books, and facilities and equipment befitting an academy attended by the children of nobles.
Although admission required a hefty entrance fee and donations, graduating from Serendia Academy often proved advantageous when one later sought employment at the royal palace. To nobles, the title of “Serendia Academy graduate” was a status symbol of sorts.
Above all, anyone who had served on Serendia Academy’s student council was naturally treated with particular respect.
Especially now, with Felix Ark Riddill, the Second Prince, serving as the current student council president, becoming a council member could be seen as making one a prospective future aide to the Second Prince.
In the student council room where those officers gathered, one student was currently being interrogated.
Standing in the center of the room was Aaron O’Brien, son of Earl Stile and the student council treasurer.
The student council members surrounding him all stared coldly at Aaron, looking at him as though he were a criminal.
In this room, filled with taut tension, the only person smiling was the young man sitting at the student council president’s desk with his cheek resting on one hand—the president himself, Felix Ark Riddill, Second Prince of the Kingdom of Riddill.
Well, then.
At that single word from Felix, Aaron’s shoulders jerked as though he had been lashed.
Felix gave Aaron a smile like that of a merciful saint.
The audit revealed signs of tampering in the ledgers. You embezzled funds from the budget. And it wasn’t just once or twice… isn’t that right?
His questioning voice was unfailingly gentle and calm, yet beneath it lurked a chill that made the listener’s spine tremble.
When Aaron stammered, “It was, um…,” Felix covered his mouth and gave a quiet giggle.
Ah, you don’t remember how many times you embezzled from us? …I was able to confirm thirty-eight instances.
Only his voice as he said “thirty-eight” was low and heavy.
Aaron’s face had gone beyond pale and turned the color of dead earth.
But Felix continued to block every avenue of escape with that gentle smile, forcing Aaron to face the gravity of his crime.
I chose you as a student council officer because you had my grandfather’s recommendation—the Duke of Clockford’s.
Student council officers were appointed by the student council president.
Many people had offered money in an attempt to curry favor with Felix—and by extension, with his grandfather, the Duke of Clockford, who stood behind him. Of them all, the one who had offered the most was Aaron’s father, Earl Stile.
For that reason, the Duke of Clockford ordered his grandson, Felix, to select Aaron as a student council officer.
If he had simply continued performing his duties as treasurer without incident, Aaron and the House of Stile would have enjoyed a secure future.
But the House of Stile had fallen into financial hardship after lavishing too much money on the Duke of Clockford. As a result, Aaron’s allowance was cut, and he embezzled student council funds because he wanted money to spend on entertainment.
…Now that this fact had come to light, Aaron could not escape expulsion.
Felix narrowed his eyes and tilted his head, making his soft golden hair sway faintly.
I cannot punish you with anything more severe than expulsion. But… my grandfather will surely turn his back on Earl Stile.
Any student at this academy knew it.
Behind the Second Prince stood the Duke of Clockford, the most powerful grand noble in the kingdom.
They also knew that the Duke of Clockford was a cold and merciless man.
Your father needed the Duke of Clockford’s credit in order to obtain loans, didn’t he? Ah, how unfortunate. From now on, Earl Stile will be unable to obtain financing from anywhere, and his house will gradually decline.
Cold sweat beaded across Aaron’s face.
As Aaron trembled violently, Felix delivered the finishing blow with a saintly smile.
…Do you understand? Your foolishness will destroy the House of Stile.
Aaron opened his eyes as wide as they could go, bared his teeth, and let out a shriek. Then he shouted in a voice that sounded as though he were spitting blood.
Shut up, shut up, shut up! Royalty in name only… you Duke’s dog!
Aaron leapt onto the desk and tried to grab Felix.
But one of the aides standing by the wall—a platinum-blond young man—swiftly subdued him.
When the young man rapidly chanted a spell, Aaron’s legs were encased in blocks of ice. He could no longer move even a single step.
The platinum-blond young man who had restrained Aaron with ice magic—the student council vice president, Cyril Ashley—twisted his handsome face with rage and glared at Aaron.
You insolent bastard! Your insults and assault against His Highness deserve a thousand deaths! I’ll turn you into an ice statue and hurl you out the window!
Vice President Ashley, punishing him is not your role.
When Felix stopped him in a quiet voice, Cyril turned to Felix and bowed deeply.
…I sincerely apologize for overstepping.
You were worried about me, weren’t you? Thank you for protecting me.
At those words, Felix smiled sweetly, and Cyril’s eyes grew misty with emotion.
Vice President Cyril Ashley was a remarkably handsome young man who would be called the “Ice Prince” if he kept silent, but he had a tendency to become far too impassioned whenever Felix was involved.
Especially since Aaron had betrayed the student council, insulted Felix, and tried to attack him. Cyril’s expression clearly said that even a hundred executions would not be enough.
Felix gently soothed Cyril, then turned his gaze toward Aaron, whose legs had been frozen solid.
Until your formal expulsion notice is issued, you are ordered to remain confined to your dormitory. Savor the full weight of your foolishness in letting a mere Duke’s dog defeat you.
＊ ＊ ＊
Once Aaron O’Brien, son of Earl Stile, left the room between two guards, Felix let out a sigh and picked up the documents still spread across his desk.
Now, I’d like to say this matter is closed… but we urgently need to find a new treasurer to replace him.
If that is the case, I, Cyril Ashley, will take responsibility for compiling a list of people we can trust never to betray Your Highness!
The loyal Cyril looked ready to begin compiling the list that very instant.
But Felix cut him off with a gentle smile. “There’s no need.”
Someone who would never betray me? No such person exists anywhere in this world. Anyone could betray me if circumstances change.
With a look, Felix silenced Cyril, who seemed about to declare that he would never betray him, and continued:
…Even I could.
A tense atmosphere, different from the one that had prevailed while Aaron was being punished, took hold of the room.
The person sitting in the student council president’s chair was always the one who controlled the atmosphere of this room.
By the way.
Felix smiled sweetly, almost jokingly, and changed the mood in an instant.
Then he raised the documents in his hand so everyone could see them.
Selecting a new officer is important, but we also need to continue preparing for the new student welcoming party. Also, it seems that this year, two students will be transferring into second-year classes, separate from the new students.
The transfer-student section listed two names.
Glenn Dudley
Monica Norton
This Glenn Dudley fellow. Apparently, he’s the apprentice of one of the Seven Sages—the Barrier Mage, Lewis Miller.
That single remark caused the student council members to stir.
The first to speak was Cyril, the vice president.
Lewis Miller, the Barrier Mage, is famous for belonging to the First Prince’s faction, is he not?! Could this apprentice called Glenn Dudley be an assassin after His Highness’s life…?!
I happen to have heard a rumor.
Following Cyril, the only female student present spoke up: the student council secretary, Bridget.
With vivid golden curls and flawlessly beautiful features, the intimidating beauty lowered her languid amber eyes behind her fan.
Apparently, Lewis Miller’s apprentice is the troublemaker who destroyed Minerva’s academy.
Why did our academy accept such a person?!
When Cyril began ranting hysterically, the other secretary, Elliot Howard, who had remained silent until then, raised one hand and spoke.
Well, it’s a school, isn’t it? If you pay the fees and pass the entrance exam, they’ll let anyone in.
At Elliot’s laid-back comment, Cyril stamped his feet and tore at his hair. His cool beauty was thoroughly ruined.
Students should be carefully selected based on their family background and faction! I demand that we lodge a formal protest with the headmaster!
That’s going too far. Besides, nothing’s happened yet.
It’ll be too late once something happens to His Highness!
Cyril snapped at Elliot, but Elliot did not seem particularly bothered and merely drawled, “Don’t get so worked up.” Cyril clearly disliked that attitude.
Sensing that Cyril was about to start shouting, the final student council officer, a small and rather unremarkable boy named Neil, looked at Felix helplessly.
Um… what should we do, President?
Felix looked over Cyril, Elliot, Neil, and Bridget in turn, observing the slightest changes in their expressions.
Then, without letting on that he had been secretly observing them, he spoke with a gentle smile.
Elliot is right. Everyone has an equal right to learn. Besides… you’ll protect me, won’t you, Cyril Ashley?
When Felix called his name, Cyril visibly burst with joy and pressed a hand to his chest.
Yes! Even if I must stake my life, I will protect you, Your Highness!
Thank you. That’s reassuring.
With that, Felix smiled at Cyril and introduced the next topic.
Thus, the student council officers focused solely on Lewis Miller’s apprentice and moved on to the next topic without a single one of them paying any attention to the girl named Monica Norton.
Just as Lewis Miller had intended.