The chatter of the students could be heard outside as I woke up the next day. I pulled myself out of bed, entered the bath prepared by John, freshened up, and came out to change.
The uniform was a crisp white button-up shirt with a high collar and subtle silver embroidery along the cuffs and collar edge, topped by a deep navy blue blazer with the academy symbol stitched over the left chest. The emblem featured a stylized wand crossed with a quill inside a circle of stars. A slim, dark blue tie was added, along with silver cufflinks engraved with academy initials. The pants were straight-cut, dark charcoal with a clean finish, and it was paired with polished black leather shoes with subtle silver lining along the soles.
It was nice and simple-fitting for a fantasy setting. But I quite liked this elegance. Maybe some things weren't that bad after all.
After changing and having a light breakfast prepared by John, I headed out of my room, where Glenn and Rowan were already waiting for me.
"Good morning, Azure," they both greeted.
"Good morning. Why haven't you gone to your class yet?"
"We just wanted to make sure our brother doesn't get lost on his first day at school," Rowan said with a bit of snickering.
"You both already showed me my class yesterday. Do you think I'll forget in just a day?" I said flatly.
"Doubt it. Our brother does have amnesia, right? So its our job to protect him." Glenn beamed and held my hand.
Rowan held my other hand and they both pulled me with them.
Were these twins really like this in the novel i read? Are these two really those?
Glenn and Rowan took me straight to my classroom. Nobody had arrived yet. It was still quite early for class to start.
"Um... maybe we can take you to our class? Our friends will be there," offered Rowan sheepishly.
"No, its fine. You go meet your friends. I want to check the library by the way," I tried to shoo them.
"Since when did our brother become a bookworm? Then maybe we can go with you." Though their smiles twitched, they still offered to come.
Why take effort if you don't want to?
"No, I want to go alone. Your friends might be waiting for you. You should just go."
I was finally able to shoo them away.
As I had expected, there was no one in the library either. Nobody would want to study on the first day, after all. The library was really big-twice or maybe thrice the size of the one in the manor. I was awestruck. There were multiple kinds of books, which really made my day.
I was in heaven. This would surely be my favourite spot in the entire academy.
As I became lost in the books, I lost track of time. I was immersed in a pile of books when the bell chimed, and I realized where I was.
I rushed out of the library and toward my classroom, through the grounds that had become almost empty. Noises could be heard from the room.
I'd be doomed if the teacher had already come. I'd surely be tagged as a latecomer if not as a villian.
As I reached the door, I suddenly crashed into someone. The student seemed to be quiet sturdier than me, because I dropped with a loud thud.
"OW!! What the hell! What are you doing here, bastard-"
I unconciously cursed-a very bad habit picked up in my world-and instantly regretted it.
I had crashed into Aurelian Maximus Hart, the Prince of Oriolis and the first male lead met by the heroine in the Petals of Fate. He was second in line to the throne, a fire magic holder with a fiery appearance-golden hair and almost orange eyes. In the future, he would be the one to acquire the Phoenix's power.
"What did you say just now?"
I could feel a dangerous aura surround me as he asked the question.
Oh no. He was mad.
In the novel, Azure and the prince studied in the same class, but Azure didn't cross paths with him until the heroine came. He usually remained alone. And here I was, inviting trouble on the very first day.
"I apologise, sir." I straightened up and put my hand forward with the intention to pull him up.
He took my hand and stood up, still visibly upset.
"I'm really sorry." I bowed. "I actually have a really bad habit of cursing inappropriate words, even though I'm a noble." I laughed awkwardly.
It wasn't a lie, though.
"You seem to be a high-class noble's son from your appearance."
I decided to play dumb. I don't know the prince, so that he'd lose interest in me.
"I humbly request you to let this slide this time. It won't happen again."
I went into full formal mode, which kids generally find boring, and quietly walked to a seat in the corner.
He seemed to be dumbfounded. When he returned to reality and tried to reach out to me, the teacher entered the class.
I thanked the universe then.
All students settled down as the teacher-a tall man in crisp robes with silver-rimmed glasses-stepped to the front and gave a brief nod.
"Good morning, everyone. I am Professor Leonhart de Caprio, and I'll be your class mentor for the year. I specialize in basic elemental magic and magical theory. You may call me Professor Loen or just Professor."
He began outlining the school curriculum, mentioning things like weekly training sessions, rotating classes between theory and practice, and something called Combat Etiquette-which sounded terrifying.
I really thought the prince would've forgotten and lost interest in me. But I was so wrong.
I could feel curious glances aimed at me thoughout the class.
Here I had expected a peaceful year.
And the day had just started...