Let’s Go Together

‘This brat… he even manages to be disgusting at a time like this.’

After figuring out Arnos’s thoughts, Ryan was somewhat speechless.

But as the speech ended, thunderous applause erupted once again throughout the hall.

Ryan had to admit that Arnos, with such prestige and his position as student council president, would find it incredibly easy to trip him up in the academy.

And facing the provocations of that brat Arnos… Ryan indeed often couldn’t hold back.

Sure enough, as soon as the opening ceremony ended, that kid Arnos started walking this way; if not for a large group of fangirls blocking his path and making him unable to move an inch, Ryan might have had a “brotherly quarrel” on the very first day of school.

However, even without Arnos, Ryan’s situation wasn’t great; after the assembly, most people walked towards the castle in groups.

Some had two escorts plus two or three friends, easily making their group size fall below double digits.

Thus, Ryan and Flora suddenly appeared isolated and very conspicuous.

Many people, seeing this, couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“Let’s go.”

Ryan didn’t care, but he also had no intention of staying put to be gawked at like a monkey.

But he soon noticed that Flora was staring into the distance — at another equally conspicuous trio of isolated individuals.

The Blue Lion Young Miss, Stella Yarros, and her two escorts.

Although the Yarros family, the main branch of the Blue Lion, still held sway, the Yarros family’s position was actually very delicate.

The “Pope” of the Holy Alliance from a hundred, or even several hundred years ago, though a universally recognized leader, was neither an emperor, nor was the Holy Alliance an empire.

The only territory the Pope could influence was his directly administered Papal States…

Although the Pope had once been glorious a decade ago, with a certain Pope being ridiculed by the Marquis of Fiery Jest, and after being defeated by foreign enemies, local lords successively declared independence, nominally respecting the Pope and calling themselves vassals, but no longer were there many countries that obeyed the Pope’s command.

The Blue Lion family was now in such a situation.

These elders only respected the Yarros main branch superficially; the children of the various affiliated Blue Lion families naturally wouldn’t show Stella Yarros any good regard.

Of course, the Blue Lion family was not a country; rather, it was an interest group within the Empire.

Therefore, they remained very united externally and didn’t easily allow internal members to break away.

Furthermore, the main branch of the Blue Lion family now showed signs of revival… for example, Serena Yarros, who was heavily entrusted this time.

Thus, they didn’t dare to truly do anything to Stella and chose instead to distance themselves from her.

But to outsiders, this appeared as independence.

‘(Sigh.)’

Ryan naturally knew that Flora had deep feelings for the main branch of the Blue Lion family and indeed the entire Blue Lion family.

So he took a detour and walked towards Stella.

However, before he arrived, Stella had already taken a step towards them.

But at this moment, Ryan approved of Stella’s “green tea” tactics.

“Crown Prince Ryan, Miss Haggia, long time no see. I never thought I’d encounter you at the academy.”

“Long time no see, Miss Yarros.” Flora greeted the other party warmly.

“Long time no see.” Ryan, remembering to maintain his good manners, said somewhat gently and nodded.

Seeing him act this way, Stella was visibly happier and began to express her gratitude for Ryan’s apology last time.

But in reality, Stella had sent at least eight letters of thanks over the past few days, which had started to annoy Ryan.

At the same time, Ryan noticed that in the eyes of the other students, many of whom hadn’t witnessed their previous interactions, a mixture of contempt and pity for their group became even more pronounced.

Some even looked at them as if they were already dead.

‘(How miserable.)’

Ryan couldn’t help but sigh in his heart.

“Well then, this is where we part for now. Let’s meet again when we have time!”

Upon entering the castle, Stella reluctantly bid farewell to the two of them.

As a sixth-year mage, her classroom was not in the same direction as theirs.

“I think you’ve probably realized that the more we interact with the Blue Lion Young Miss, the worse our reputation and public image will become.”

“But Paloria is too important,” Ryan reminded.

“I know,” Flora said, looking energetic.

Seeing the golden-haired girl still frank and open, but clearly full of pressure and exhaustion… made Ryan consider the thought that even if he disliked someone, he might put aside hostilities and lend them a hand.

Not long after, the two arrived at the classroom.

The Royal Academy didn’t have many students in each grade, typically just two classes.

One for knights, one for mages.

After the fifth grade, the two classes merged into one, plus students who had to repeat a year.

Therefore, the fifth grade had a hundred students, and almost two hundred escorts.

So what the two of them entered was less a classroom and more a place resembling a grand auditorium.

Furthermore, having been delayed by Stella, as the last two to enter, they immediately attracted the attention of hundreds of eyes.

“It’s really Crown Prince Ryan… Oh my god, why is Ryan in fifth grade?”

“Is it still too late for me to go back to fourth grade?”

“This morning… it was truly terrifying.”

The crowd no longer dared to speak ill of him, but words of fear never ceased.

And Ryan couldn’t possibly resort to physical violence over such trivial matters.

“Your Highness, smile, smile!”

Flora winked at him from beside him.

Ryan immediately…

“Ugh, what is he trying to do? He’s not planning to eat us, is he?”

“Mom and Dad, I’m sorry, I can’t inherit the family business anymore…”

“It’s over, it’s over, it’s over! I’ve provoked so many enemies over the years! Please, spare me!”

Some girls who looked more fragile immediately burst into tears from fright.

Flora was also stunned; Ryan had sworn to be gentle just now, so why was his smile so stiff and sinister here?

‘(Tch… I actually feel pressure,)’

Ryan could treat opponents with disdain, but asking him to smile with the intention of getting along with others… it would be better to let him fight his enemies.

“Your Highness, let’s quickly take our seats.”

Flora could only urge Ryan to take the next step.

That being said, the seats in the classroom all appeared to be full.

The remaining spaces were mostly cleared out by students with well-known tacit understanding, or they had already placed their bags there early.

Now, as Ryan, completely oblivious to their subtle signals, walked over, the students were instantly scared into a flurry of chaos.

Quick-handed knights could quickly grab their belongings and clear space, while mages completely forgot how to cast spells, only able to hug their valuables.

Stationery, food, utilities… leaving a pile on the tables and chairs.

“Your Highness, the second row on the left.”

Those chaotic seats, naturally, were not suitable for Ryan, who was the Crown Prince.

Considering his intention to recruit talents, Flora suggested a spot she thought was fairly good.

The other students in that row had all moved away, leaving only one gloomy and dispirited student who seemed to have forgotten to flee, sitting trembling in the middle seat.

Ryan recognized this as one of the talents he had discovered by the lake earlier, and walked straight towards him.

But halfway there, he suddenly turned back and grabbed Flora’s hand.

“You come along too.”