Chapter 12
Saturn realized that the person he had just intruded upon was none other than the Crown Prince of the Croppers Empire—famously known as a madman—and his eyes widened in shock.
He moved as if to sit near Briseis, but the moment his eyes met with him, his body froze.
“Come here. Sit here and talk.”
When Callisten Ethan Croppers spoke as though issuing an order, Saturn instinctively looked around to see if anyone else was nearby. But the only other person present was Cassias Rosfell, who had originally been from Class 2. The two of them barely knew each other.
“Explain in detail.”
“W-well… all I know is that she fell down the stairs….”
“Could you be quiet for a moment?”
Briseis warned Callisten, but he didn’t even blink as he looked at her.
“Saturn Peril. Explain in detail.”
Saturn glanced at Briseis, but Callisten was far more intimidating, so he simply spoke. Briseis was a kind person, while the Crown Prince in front of him was already known as a ruthless and dangerous figure.
“Someone said Brise was pushed down the stairs. That’s why she couldn’t attend the first class the day before yesterday and was in the infirmary. Damian went to check.”
“Oh.”
Callisten smiled as he looked at Briseis, while she frowned, not wanting to engage with him.
“I see.”
He said that and continued staring at Briseis with a smiling expression. Briseis ignored him and continued studying.
Saturn sat behind Briseis, and his twin brother, Ebusi, sat beside him, giving him a questioning glance. However, Saturn didn’t know much either, so he simply shook his head.
By the time homeroom was about to begin, all the students had arrived.
“Veron moved to Class 2.”
Ronald whispered this to Briseis.
“Why?”
“There’s a limit of twenty students per class. Those who fall behind in ability get moved down.”
—creak.
“Good morning, everyone. I hope you have a pleasant morning.”
Soon, the professor in charge of Class 1 entered. He scanned the notices he had brought and then began speaking.
“There are three new students in Class 1. Miss Delilah has been placed here directly under the Emperor’s request, as someone he wished to have trained at this academy.”
It seemed the professor had intended to introduce them all at once. He gestured for Delilah to stand.
Delilah smiled brightly and stood up from her seat.
“Next is Cassias Rosfell. He is said to be one of the key figures in defeating the Emperor of Viaten.”
When the students heard that the white-haired man seated in the middle was Cassias Rosfell, they began whispering among themselves. He was quite well known.
Cassias’ family was on the verge of ruin. However, he was famous not because his ducal family was poor, but because his family’s situation was holding back his talent.
He was a remarkably skilled warrior, a runner-up in the annual equestrian martial tournament, and had earned knighthood at a young age. He even bore an imperial medal awarded directly by the Emperor, having spent much of his life on the battlefield since childhood.
The reason he was attending the academy was obvious.
The one he served as his lord.
“Next is Callisten Ethan Croppers.”
It was because of the Crown Prince.
Callisten had been the one who helped Cassias whenever his family was in trouble. In the original story as well, Cassias had been so loyal to Callisten that he would have given his life for him. In fact, Cassias’ death in service of Delilah—after failing to confess his feelings to her—was partly due to his loyalty to Callisten.
Because he could not confess his feelings to the woman his lord loved.
“Now, all three of you, come forward and greet your classmates.”
The three students who had been standing stepped forward.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Delilah. It’s my first time at the academy, so I’m very excited. I’m also living in Damian’s estate… and… by the time I graduate, I hope to become a mother of a child.”
At Delilah’s almost declarative words, everyone’s eyes turned to Briseis. Briseis ignored their gazes and looked ahead with a calm expression.
“Heh. That’s a nice dream. Next.”
The professor pretended not to notice and moved on. Cassias, his face flushed red, greeted them while trying to hide his embarrassment.
“I am Cassias Rosfell. Pleased to meet you.”
“Is that all?”
“Ah… well… yes.”
He awkwardly scratched the back of his neck while smiling, and the professor chuckled lightly as if amused.
“You go ahead as well.”
“Ah, yes. I look forward to working with you.”
Unexpectedly, Callisten spoke casually. The professor pretended not to notice and carefully observed him.
“Then treat these three students well. Veron, Zeria, and Fedon have been moved down to Class 2.”
Although Callisten was smiling, everyone seemed to think it didn’t look like a genuine smile.
With a distorted expression, like someone whose temperament had been twisted, Callisten smiled as he looked toward the seat Delilah had returned to. Beside her sat Damian.
Damian couldn’t understand why the mad Crown Prince was looking at him, so when their eyes met, he forced a smile and looked away.
Thus, the first class began.
Briseis thought it was fortunate that Callisten, who surprisingly did not interfere with her lessons, allowed her to attend class as usual without disruption.
❖ ❖ ❖
“Let’s go eat lunch together.”
At Wilhelm Academy, students had to bring their own lunches. Originally, there had been plans to operate a cafeteria, but it had quickly been discontinued.
The students attending Wilhelm Academy were the children of central nobles, the elite among the Croppers Empire’s aristocracy.
If any illness were to arise from shared meals, it would become a serious issue. Moreover, noble children, though seemingly healthy, often had very particular preferences.
Some had food allergies.
Because of this, it was most common for individuals to bring meals tailored to their own diets and eat them in class or in designated areas.
“Where will you eat?”
Briseis had originally planned to eat with Ebusi, as she always did. However, Saturn and Ebusi hesitated near her, glancing at Callisten.
“I’ll eat wherever you eat.”
Briseis felt that even if she tried to distance herself from Callisten, he would not leave.
“Saturn, Ebusi. May Callisten join us as well?”
“Ah, yeah.”
“I’m fine with it.”
“Let Cass join too.”
“That’s fine.”
Seeing Cassias hesitate, Briseis invited him as well.
“Where do you usually eat?”
“On the rooftop.”
Briseis answered and packed her lunch. Callisten also brought a large lunchbox he had prepared in advance, and he even carried Briseis’ lunchbox.
“Hold it properly. Otherwise, it’ll tilt to one side.”
“Alright, I’ll hold it carefully.”
Callisten replied obediently like a well-behaved animal, smiling brightly. Then they headed to the rooftop.
When they arrived, someone had already taken the best spot.
“Please try this.”
“Ah.”
Delilah was feeding Damian while he lay with his head resting on her thigh.
“This is usually where we eat.”
Saturn said as soon as he saw them.
“Then you should eat over there.”
Delilah pointed to the opposite side of the rooftop, smiling again as she spoke to Damian.
“I made this myself. How is it?”
“It’s good. I thought you were only smart, but you’re good at cooking too, Dilly.”
“Thank you.”
Delilah smiled brightly and continued feeding him.
“Do we really have to eat here?”
Callisten frowned as he looked at the scene.
“Let’s just stay here.”
Briseis felt a stubborn reluctance to move elsewhere just because of the two of them. She walked to the opposite side and took a seat. Sitting on a bench as usual, she placed her lunchbox on the round table.
Then Callisten spread out a three-tiered lunchbox and said,
“I made it all myself.”
“You can’t cook.”
“I learned. From Cass.”
“Oh, yes. That’s correct.”
Cassias smiled and sat beside Callisten, and Briseis ended up sitting next to him as well.
Saturn and Ebusi also sat nearby and opened their lunchboxes.
“Try this, Brise.”
Callisten handed her a tart. Given that he had been traveling battlefields, it seemed unlikely he had learned baking, so Briseis pretended to be fooled and took a bite with the fork he had given her.
“It’s good.”
“Why did you only bring things like this? It’s all greens.”
“If you look closely, there’s apple pie too.”
Callisten frowned as he looked at her lunchbox.
“Eat what I brought instead.”
She hesitated for a moment but agreed, since the tart he had given her was unexpectedly delicious.
“You’re quite good at cooking, Cass.”
“Ah, yes. I made mine as well. Would you like a madeleine?”
“Yes, I’d love to.”
Watching Briseis eat the madeleine, Callisten said,
“You look like a rabbit.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. You try one too. It’s good.”
Cassias handed him a madeleine with a fork.
“Feed it to me. Say ah.”
Then Callisten said that to Briseis, but she ignored him and ate it herself instead.
“You said something silly, so I ate it. It’s very good, Cass.”
“Thank you.”
As their conversation continued, Delilah and Damian’s voices could be heard.
“I’ve been taking folic acid lately.”
“What’s that?”
“Medicine for preparing for pregnancy.”
Briseis’ expression darkened at those words, and Callisten’s expression also grew somber. Cassias, not understanding the atmosphere, asked,
“By the way, why is Brise eating with us when she already has a husband?”
He asked sincerely, unable to understand.
“If I were her husband, I would feel jealous seeing such a beautiful wife dining with other men.”
