"Can I help you?" Michael asked, his erald eyes turning sharp as he stared at the fallen youth who had tried to knock him over.
In an instant, the gazes of all but a few youths within the room turned, focused on the scene, sensing a fight brewing.
"You must be lody’s fiancé," Braydon stepped over the youth who had been toppled to the ground, coming face to face with Michael, wearing a serious expression. "I’m surprised that you were able to pass, are you sure the examiner didn’t make a mistake?"
His words caused chatter to erupt around the room.
Michael scowled inwardly, disregarding the poor attempt at banter. He was more concerned about his first words.
If people had only been questioning his identity earlier when he arrived arm in arm with lody, they now knew for certain. While his identity being exposed wasn’t necessarily a bad thing this early on, it certainly put a lot of unwanted attention on him right now.
"And you must be the son of that lord, Blueberry or sothing right?" he shot back, unable to hide the small smirk that tugged at his lips.
The surrounding atmosphere seed to beco stifled at his words. Majority of the youths in the room were from the noble circle, it was clear they knew of Lord Marbury’s status.
Braydon’s expression turned fierce, his face reddening slightly before a velvety laughter sounded out from the crowd. Everyone turned towards the sound with shock, wondering who would dare laugh at soone like lord Marbury.
Sure enough when everyone stepped aside, a figure with long flowing blue hair was covering her mouth, trying and failing to stop the laughter from escaping her lips.
With her laughter the only sound in the room, lody soon noticed her mistake. She cleared her throat and walked through the crowd, appearing next to Michael.
"I knew you’d pass," she said sweetly, wrapping her arm around his.
Her action evoked two very different kinds of emotions within the room. Braydon and many of the other youths wore shock at the public display of affection, whereas Michael felt his heart sink into despair.
It was one thing letting everyone know they were engaged, but another entirely rubbing it in the faces of her old suitors.
"How unsightly," Braydon said, unable to hide his anger. "Is this a way to conduct yourself in public lody?"
lody’s gaze turned frosty as she turned her attention onto Braydon, "Speaking of conduct... Should you be addressing a man’s fiancée in public?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, "or is your Marbury family above noble etiquette?"
"I do not recognize this engagent!" Braydon shouted, his eyes gleaming with anger. "There has been no announcent of the joining of families, nor have the proper considerations been made in accordance of noble tradition..."
"Therefore—"
"You really are pitiful," Michael cut him off, shaking his head. "To think that you’re so desperate you’ll cite an old noble tradition as the reason for your ddling."
"Y-You!"
Michael stepped forward, his height looming over Braydon. Despite being the sa age, the latter was a head taller.
"Face it, Braydon... lody is mine, and mine only." He said, barely above a whisper. "Stay away from her or there will be consequences."
"Y–You!"
Michael stepped forward. Though they were the sa age, his height forced Braydon to tilt his chin up.
"Face it, Braydon..." Michael’s voice dropped to a low, steady whisper. "lody is mine. And mine alone. Stay away from her — or face the consequences."
Michael casually lifted his left finger and a small yet deep red ball of mana began to rotate effortlessly on top. Even against the glow of the lanterns, the mana was eye catching.
Braydon’s face was painted with shock briefly before he could hide it, but this was enough for Michael to know his intimidation had at least so effect.
"This isn’t over..." he huffed, yet the words sounded la, especially after the shock he’d shown earlier when Michael revealed his status as a Crimson mage.
The noble youth turned on his heel and left, after which the curly-haired teen followed quickly after him. The room broke out into chatter as a result and Michael felt many different kinds of gazes directed at him.
Inwardly he let out a sigh. He hadn’t wanted to make a scene in public, but the circumstances hadn’t allowed for anything else.
Michael knew that if he backed down in front of Braydon, it would only make his life even more difficult in the future. He hoped that by showing he was not a pushover, he could dissuade others from trying to ss with him.
Of course this might only extend to those in this room. He didn’t even want to think about others who were already in the academy that were interested in lody.
"Why are you so damn popular?" Michael whispered harshly to the girl still wrapped around his arm.
lody sighed, "It’s not just ..." she replied softly, "they also want the status and power of my family."
Her family? Aren’t the Winterborne’s just a noble family in charge of Whtievalley Town? Surely its not worth this much attention?
Just as Michael was about to probe further, he heard a slow clap from the front of the room, getting everyone’s attention.
"My little seedlings." A figure appeared, garbed in a crimson robe with a long red beard. It was the headmaster Bartholow.
"Those of you in this room have passed the entrance examinations and can now be considered a fully fledged student of Arcadia Academy," he said with an amiable smile, "allow to be the first to congratulate you all on this wonderful achievent."
The crowd stirred with excited chatter at the headmaster’s words. While it was true that most of those present had perford well in the entrance exams, there was still a sense of uncertainty.
Bartholow’s words had finally confird their acceptance into the academy, bringing a sense of relief.
"Now now, I know you’re all excited, but there are still so things we need to do." He explained, letting out a small chuckle.
Michael frowned, feeling a sense of unease. The examination had given him enough stress—threatening to expose his white birthright ring and subpar talents, but now the headmaster had sothing else planned?
Sure he had miraculously found out that he had a unique soul, but he was made to sit through hundreds of students taking the examination before him. Being in such a stressful state for so long had grated on his nerves—he was now exhausted.
Whatever... Please just make it quick, he said in his heart with resignation.
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