It had been a week since the intense evaluation class with Professor Aldin and Instructor Morgan. My body still ached from the grueling battle, but life at Braveheart Knight Academy had returned to its usual rhythm. Today, however, wasn’t just another ordinary day. Rumors had been swirling about an important guest visiting the academy, and excitent buzzed through the academy like wildfire.
I sat in my usual spot in the classroom, flanked by Lyra, Freya, and Marius. The four of us were caught in a spirited discussion about who this guest might be.
"I heard it’s a foreign diplomat," Marius said with a knowing smirk.
"No," Lyra interjected, brushing her silver hair back. "It’s probably one of the kingdom’s war generals. They do inspections like this sotis."
"You’re both wrong," Freya chid in, her voice calm but firm. "I overheard from so seniors that it’s soone from the royal family."
The thought made my chest tighten slightly. A royal family mber? Could it be soone I knew?
As the clock ticked closer to the start of our first lesson, the room grew quiet. Professor Aldin entered, his usual stern deanor softened ever so slightly. He turned to the door and spoke with uncharacteristic respect.
"Please, co in."
All eyes turned to the entrance as a figure stepped into the room. My breath caught in my throat as the rumors were confird—our guest was none other than Alia von Braveheart, the third princess of the Braveheart Kingdom.
She walked with the elegance of a noble and the grace of a seasoned knight. Her orange hair, tied neatly with a royal ribbon, shimred in the sunlight streaming through the windows. Her amber eyes scanned the room with a mixture of curiosity and authority. But what stunned most was her attire—she wore the standard Braveheart Knight Academy uniform.
My mind raced as mories of our last eting flooded back. It was during the ceremony where I was officially nad a hero candidate of the Blackmore family. Alia and I had danced together at the royal ball, and Envi with this body hugged her from behind! it still makes embarrassed whenever I rember it.
"Shit! Why is she here?! Nao, I’ll leave taking care of that’s girl to you!" Envi said that and disappeared just like that. I wonder if he’s starting to know sha?
"Wow, she’s stunning," Marius whispered beside , his awe barely contained.
"Let’s focus," I muttered, trying to maintain my composure.
Alia introduced herself at the front of the class, her voice lodious yet commanding. "Greetings, everyone. I am Alia von Braveheart, the third princess of the Braveheart Kingdom. As of today, I will be joining you as an observer sent by my father, King Aslan von Braveheart. The purpose of my presence here is confidential, but I ask that you treat as one of your peers during my stay."
Her words sent a ripple of excitent through the class. Whispers filled the room as students gushed about the honor of studying alongside a royal.
I, however, couldn’t tear my gaze away from her. Alia’s poise, her aura—it was almost overwhelming. As I stared, she suddenly turned her eyes to . To my shock, she gave a subtle wink.
My heart skipped a beat.
"Naoki-sama," Lyra’s voice snapped out of my trance. She and Freya were glaring at , their gazes sharp and filled with suspicion.
"W-What?" I stamred, feigning ignorance.
"Naoki-dono, you know the Princess, don’t you?" Freya asked, her tone dangerously calm.
"Explain about it, Naoki-sama," Lyra added, her arms crossed.
"I-It’s not what you think!" I waved my hands defensively, but their glares only intensified.
Professor Aldin cleared his throat, bringing the room back to order. "Princess Alia, please take a seat. We will begin the lesson shortly."
Alia nodded graciously and began walking toward the desks. To my horror—and everyone else’s surprise—she stopped right in front of .
"Hey you," she said to Marius, "would you mind switching seats? I’d like to sit here."
The room fell into stunned silence.
"Y-Your Highness?" Marius stamred, unsure of how to respond.
"You heard ," she said, her tone polite but firm.
Marius scrambled to his feet, bowing before moving to another seat. Alia gracefully took his place beside , her every move exuding royal charm.
"It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Naoki von Blackmore?" she said with a smile that sent a wave of murmurs through the classroom. "I couldn’t possibly sit anywhere else. After all, you’re soone who once held tightly."
The class erupted.
"WHAT?!"
"Naoki, you traitor!"
"You flirtatious bastard"
"You! Bra Thief Hero!"
"How dare you keep this from us!"
Lyra and Freya’s eyes burned with jealousy as they leaned toward , their voices sharp. "Naoki-sama, care to explain what she ans by that?"
"I-It’s a misunderstanding!" I blurted out, sweat dripping down my face.
Alia, clearly enjoying the chaos, chuckled softly as she settled into her seat. "Let’s focus on the lesson, shall we?"
The room quieted down eventually, though I could feel the weight of everyone’s stares on throughout the entire lecture.
...
...
When the lesson ended, it was lunchti. I decided to introduce Alia to Lyra, Freya, and Marius, as well as Luna, our class representative. The atmosphere was tense, especially with Lyra and Freya glaring at whenever Alia spoke to directly.
"It’s a pleasure to et you all," Alia said warmly, extending a hand to Luna.
"The pleasure is ours, Princess," Luna replied, bowing slightly.
"Please, just call Alia. I’d like to experience being treated like a normal student while I’m here."
The group exchanged glances before reluctantly agreeing.
After a brief introduction, we took Alia on a tour of the academy. Her enthusiasm was contagious as she admired everything from the training grounds to the library.
"This is incredible," she said, her eyes sparkling. "I’ve always wanted to experience school life. My tutors were excellent, but being hoschooled can’t compare to this."
Her words made realize how much she must have longed for a sense of normalcy. Despite her royal status, Alia seed genuinely thrilled to be here, surrounded by peers rather than palace walls.
We ended our tour at the canteen, where we shared a al together. The atmosphere gradually lightened as everyone grew more comfortable around Alia.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully until the final bell rang, signaling the end of classes. As we prepared to leave, Alia approached with a request.
"Naoki, could you escort to the headmaster’s office?" she asked, her tone casual but firm.
I glanced at my friends, who gave skeptical looks but ultimately nodded.
"Sure," I said, trying not to sound too eager.
We parted ways with the group, and I led Alia to the headmaster’s office. When we arrived, the door opened to reveal Arsene von Braveheart, the eldest princess and headmaster of the academy.
"Ah, Alia. And you’ve brought Naoki. Good," Arsene said, her tone businesslike.
"Co in," she added, motioning for us to enter.
The air in the office was heavy with an unspoken seriousness. Arsene wasted no ti explaining the situation.
"Alia’s presence here is not rely ceremonial," she began. "There have been troubling incidents at the academy—students disappearing without a trace. We suspect the involvent of dark magic, possibly demon worshipers or demons themselves. As headmaster, I cannot investigate directly without drawing attention. That’s where Alia cos in."
Alia nodded, her expression resolute. "I volunteered for this mission. My holy magic allows to sense demonic energy, which makes uniquely suited to uncover the truth."
Arsene leaned back in her chair, a subtle smirk playing on her lips. "I’ll admit, I was surprised when Alia offered herself for this task. She volunteered imdiately after learning you’d be entering the academy last week."
Her words made pause. The idea that my presence might have influenced Alia’s decision felt... surreal.
"It’s unusual for Alia to take such an interest in soone," Arsene continued, her sharp eyes locking onto mine. "Usually, she either ignores n entirely or gives them her signature icy glare. I know you two were childhood friends, but what exactly did you do to lt her cold heart, Naoki?"
The sudden question sent a jolt through . "W-Wait, lt her heart? I didn’t—"
"Arsene!" Alia’s voice cut through the air like a whip.
I turned to see Alia glaring daggers at her older sister. Her amber eyes burned with indignation, and a faint golden aura began to radiate around her. It was as if she were silently commanding Arsene to stop.
"Oh my," Arsene said, her smirk widening. "Is that a threat, little sister? How unbecoming of a princess."
Alia’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson, but she didn’t back down. Instead, she turned her gaze to , trying to regain her composure.
"Naoki," she said, her tone serious again, "I’m assigning you to protect Alia. You’ll assist her in uncovering the truth about these disappearances. This mission is critical. Failure is not an option."
Before I could respond, a notification appeared in my mind.
---
[!!!NOTIFICATION!!!]
Quest: Uncover the Dark Secrets of Braveheart Knight Academy
Reward: 50 Goddess Points
Penalty: The academy will fall into chaos, resulting in countless casualties.
---
Suddenly Envi appears and says "Nao we can’t let this happen! You have to protect her and complete this quest!"
"That’s what I intended."
I clenched my fists, determination flooding my veins.
"I won’t let you down," I said firmly.
Alia glanced at , her usual confidence replaced with a hint of vulnerability.
"Then let’s do this together," she said softly.
I nodded, ready to face whatever darkness lay ahead.
...
...
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