….
….
….
"Edward."
"Um, Edward?"
".W-What?"
I woke up from my slumber.
It was so tiring that I ended up falling asleep.
I rubbed my eyes and looked in front of me.
It still hasn't ended?!
I wanted to run away from that annoying ceremony but the speeches were endless.
"How long was I off?"
"Around an hour, I think?"
Jayden replied.
"You shouldn't sleep, Edward. It's disrespectful to people speaking."
Milleia scolded me.
She sure looks like the one in the game.
I thought when I saw her puffing her cheeks.
"It's so boring-aaaaaaaaah"
I yawned and stretched my arms.
The one giving his speech smiled awkwardly and continued to speak.
Shit!
She's glaring at me.
A brown-haired girl who stood out easily in the crowd because of her absurd beauty was staring at me coldly. She was a [Sub-Heroine] and was in her third year, Louisa Trueheart, the daughter of the Duke Trueheart, so she had the same status as me. More importantly, she was the president of the student council of the academy. She had a very strict personality, so she was probably angered by my disrespect.
I knew her and had already talked to her at a few parties and banquets. It was better to say that I have talked to all nobles [Main Characters] over the last few years since my birth. The children of high-ranking nobles knew each other well. The banquets were there to force them to befriend each other as they were the future big shots.
"The ceremony is now over. We will leave you an hour so you can rest, visit and see your friends. Class will start tomorrow for the first years. You may leave."
As soon as the headmaster said that, I stood up.
Finally.
Another minute, and I'd have fallen into a coma here.
"..."
"..."
"..."
As I walked, I noticed that Milleia and Jayden were following me again!
"Why are you following me?"
I asked, annoyed.
"We are in the same class, we should remain together."
"How do you know we are in the same class?"
I frowned at Jayden's words.
Milleia giggled at my question and handed me my blazer.
"You forgot your card."
I looked at my academy card and a snake-like creature was engraved in red on it. It was enough to prove that I was in the [Basilisk Class].
The other three classes were [Phoenix Class], [Dragon Class] and [Pegasus Class].
Yeah, I was in Milleia's and Jayden's class though I already knew it.
"Um, I don't have any friends here, so can I come with you…?"
Milleia asked while fidgeting with her fingers.
Don't look at me with those puppy eyes!
It's a lethal attack!
[<Are you a virgin?>]
'Yeah and I'm proud of it. You should be proud of your virginity as well, Cleenah.'
[<I-I'm not a virg->]
'No one is believing you, even Jarvis.'
[Affirmative.]
[<What?!>]
"Please me as wel-"
Jayden started fidgeting so I stopped him with my hand.
Enough.
I will never get the same reaction that I had for Milleia for you, Jayden.
"Do what you want, but don't stay behind me like my lackeys."
I said and walked ahead.
I should become friends with them, it would be easy to deal with future events. Rather, I wanted right now to act casually but currently all eyes were on me. I shouldn't act out of my character, otherwise it will out suspicions, at least for now.
"H-Hey, isn't he amazingly handsome?!"
"He's as hot as the prince, ah~"
"Can't believe that I cursed him…"
"He can assault me whenever he wants…"
What the hell are they speaking about?
The heated gazes were directed toward Jayden but something felt off…
Putting my blazer on my shoulders, I left the hall with Jayden and Milleia.
"Hey, Edward, you're a noble, right?"
Jayden put his hands behind his head and asked.
"Yeah."
I nodded, stifling a yawn with my hand.
"I am Jayden Rayena. Let's get along well, Edward."
He reached out his hand to me with a grin.
I smiled and removed my hands from my pockets to grasp his hand back.
"Yeah, let's get along Jayden."
"My turn now. I am Milleia Sophren, pleased to meet you Edward!"
Milleia smiled happily and squeezed my hand.
What a soft hand…
Was she really using a sword? There were no calluses at all on her palms.
"I'm Edward Falkrona."
""!""
"What?"
Both seemed shocked when I said my name.
Don't tell me they heard bad opinions about me?
Fuck.
"You're the son of the Duke Falkrona?!"
Jayden asked in a shocked tone.
"Yeah…"
"My apologies, Lord Edward!"
Milleia immediately bowed and Jayden followed her gesture.
"W-What?"
I felt awkward in that situation.
My Edward's side felt normal but my Nyrel's side didn't want such things from Jayden and Milleia, because they were people I knew well.
"Hey, look, Edward is at it again!"
"He became very handsome but his personality is still worse…"
"Will he ask for that girl's body ?"
"Speaking of that girl, isn't she super hot?"
"The black-haired guy as well…"
My reputation, which was already rockbottom was digging the ground now.
"Raise!"
""Yes!!"
"Okay, listen. In this academy, status is important, but there is a clear rule not to abuse one's status. Do you understand?"
I explained to them and they nodded like calm children.
"Leave that aside, you want to be my friend but you are acting subservient towards me?"
"Man…"
"Edward…"
I'm happy that you are touched by my words, but don't cry in public!
The eyes around me were worse than before.
"I really thought nobles were arrogant. The first I saw you, I acted friendly because I thought you were from a small noble house and you seemed different…I was right, thanks Edward."
Jayden thanked me and patted my shoulders.
"I-I as well thought that, I'm sorry to have misunderstood you…"
Milleia averted her face and scratched her cheek.
Didn't they hear the headmaster when he called me by my full name?
"Leave that now, I know a good place. Follow me-"
I turned around and fell on a familiar girl.
She looked a lot like my mother.
"Elona…"
Elona Falkrona, my younger sister, was there.
An uncomfortable feeling swelled inside me.
It was because I knew she was one of the people who would kill me if I took the wrong turn.
I know you'd ask me why the hell I didn't feel that with Milleia and Jayden. It was simple. Elona and Simon, my foster brother, were my family. The feeling of betrayal was too bitter for me. I could feel it.
I know I was in the wrong, but I couldn't control my emotions.
"Do you know her, Edward?"
Jayden elbowed me.
"..."
I looked at Elona.
She didn't seem to glare at me.
Her eyes and lips were quivering as she eyed me from head to toe.
It feels like she was relieved…
[<Isn't that obvious? You disappeared for a month. She's still your sister.>]
'You are telling me she was worried about me? She hates me, there is no way.'
[<Still, she feels worried about you.>]
'...'
"No, I don't know her. Probably a random lost girl."
"W-What…!"
Seeing Elona's hurt expression, I felt really bad.
What the heck was that?
I was feeling two exact opposite feelings.
[<You have a split personality, there is no doubt anymore.>]
'Shut up!'
I walked away.
"H-Hey Edward, she seems to know you man."
Jayden tried to stop me.
This guy became too casual in a few minutes, whatever.
"Ignore her."
"U-Um…"
Milleia didn't know what to do.
"Edward!"
A loud voice stopped my steps.
I turned around and saw a brown-haired and red-eyed guy of my age. My foster brother, Simon Falkrona.
"You are noisy Simon."
I said in a low tone.
Before I knew it, a crowd had formed around us.
Was that a show?
Guess, be it in games or the real world, a crowd would form as soon a fight arises.
"Noisy? Of course I'm noisy, our sister was worried about y-"
"She ain't my sister, I already told you that. Did you forget that I left the house?"
Remembering something, I started to lose my composure.
That shitty father.
[<Edward calm dow->]
'No, Cleenah.'
I have to clear my name.
"Were you, Elona and that shitty father blind and deaf when I announced leaving the house?"
I walked toward him and asked in a mocking tone.
"I was the one leaving but you all set everything up, as if I was driven out."
I felt pure anger remembering the news I heard.
It was said that because of my unsightly acts and ineptitude, I was driven out by my father.
What the hell was that?
They can't even leave me alone even when I leave?
"I-It's not like that, Edward…"
Simon was unable to answer me correctly.
"Oh, Eden curse me for having been born in that shitty family."
I shook my head.
"The only one who was there for me was mother."
I'm sure if she was alive in the game, she would have been with me until the end, regardless of my acts, trying to put me in the right way.
"!"
I ignored Elona's tears and left.
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