TVRWS 4

*Harland Royal Academy*

The Royal Academy of Harland is a worldwide famed school that graduates the best Knights, Sorcerers and Leaders of the Society. A place that requires not just influence but also talent, hard work and luck.

Even a prince can't advance in the school with some mediocre performance. That's why none of the students could be seen as incompetent.

Noble children learn at home and society for the first 16 years of their lives before applying in the Academy. The Academy teaches them the best knowledge possible for 3 years before sending the off as the new generation of leaders in society at the age of 18.

The subjects that the Academy Teach are many but the most important ones are Magic, Alchemy, Technology and Diplomacy. One must at least specialize in one of the four. Diplomacy is the busiest followed by Magic, Alchemy then Technology.

Other classes serve around those four like the Martials Arts class which is very popular, History, Literature, Religion, Mathematics, Engineering, Astronomy and many more.

This school of elites was a place of knowledge and a castle of youth under the leadership of the two Representatives from each year. In this year, it is Prince Liam and other five elites.

Three days ago, this Academy has witnessed a confrontation that was the first of its kind when those Elites, adding a seventh former student to them, have confronted one of three Queens of the school, Vivian Moore.

A disgraceful scene happened when a noble was forced to kneel down under the rough hand of Knight Juniors to a Commoner. She didn't bat an eyelid but kept a strong glare to the ringleader of the scene, Prince Liam, her fiance no longer.

The air in the Academy dorms was freezing. Now that the top nobles are at odds, things may turn ugly on all fronts.

Some felt it was strange judging by how Vivian Moore was treated so harshly and some thought it was alright as the third-year Vivian was clearly at odds with the first-year Matilda and caused her trouble. The social status is important and all but under the judgement of a Prince, all are equal.

No matter what, Vivian Moore is now at the short end of the stick. She was deemed guilty and she got her engagement broken only two weeks before the day of the Final Exam. Some rumors went as far as saying that the Crown Prince has arranged a disgraceful engagement for her to a Baron House in the rural countryside.

However, the tides of the outside world rarely affected the inside of the Academy in this time of year as the finals drew nearer.

In a certain individual building beside the Academy's main building known as “The Students’ Assembly”, the top room was lit and two young men sat calmly inside staring at their books.

The first was a brown-haired man with green eyes who undid his suit a bit loosely around the neck and discarded his tie, his appearance gave off elegance and calmness despite his carefreeness while reading from his book, this young man was Prince Liam Harland. The other man was a strong-built one with short hair and firm eyes, this young man was Richard Windsor, son of the Knights’ Commander.

"Isn't he here yet?" Prince Liam asked.

"Edmond? I guess not, Your Highness. He must have slept on his way back or something. The so-called Diligent..." 

"Don't be so stern on him, Richard. They call you the Calm Knight last time I've heard." The Prince replied lazily.

"I'm trying my best to keep it at that, Your Highness."

"Well, I'm relying on Robert to keep Edmond from dozing off on the way."

"If that's... I guess they are here, Your Highness."

As Richard said so, the door to the Student Assembly Head office was opened for Edmond and Robert to come in.

"What's the news?" Richard asked.

Edmond fully ignored him and headed to the nearest sofa spreading his body on it and falling asleep.

"Hey!" Richard was almost triggered by that yet Prince Liam stopped him.

"Robert, how did it go?" Prince Liam asked.

"We have faced some complications, your Highness." Robert said.

"Elaborate."

"It seems my father and sister are wishing for a petty last stand. My sister came down and spoke in a vulgar tone to us and the Baron then dragged the argument until midnight then we were sent off on promise of continuing the next morning." Robert briefed.

"Vivian spoke vulgarly?" Prince Liam was somehow finding it strange.

"She roasted him… through and through." The supposedly sleeping Edmond explained while lying down.

"Anyway, your Highness can rest assured that everything will be done by tomorrow. They won't find a leeway." Robert covered the roasting story.

"How was Lord Julian’s reaction?" The Prince asked.

"He practiced silence unless when it came to agreeing with Vivian."

"I see. He doesn't want any word he says to be held against him. That's expected. Anything else interesting?"

"Eh... I think that was all." Robert said.

"Vivian is going to attend the finals." Edmond said while sleeping.

"Oh! She said that." Robert remembered.

Prince Liam opened his eyes wide.

"Attending the finals, is it? Well, that's indeed interesting. Looks like we haven't seen the last of you, Vivian. Hehehe! Attending the finals, eh? Will see about that." The Prince said and returned to his book.

Richard signaled for Robert to end the report here and go for his business.

The three young men; Prince Liam, Richard, and Robert; returned to their studies while Edmond kept sleeping on the sofa without bothering anyone.

Those were four of the Capture Targets from the game, the other three are also students at the academy but in the days of finals, everyone has his favorite spot to study.

Edmond Black, despite being no longer a student, would always hang around the Prince as his assistant and shadow. Known to be the youngest Silver Ranked Knight, Edmond had a particular personality of being Diligent and Lazy at the same time.

He may look sleeping right now, which is true, but his senses are heightened all the time. However, his mind was still concerned about Vivian's matter, something was still not assuring him.

At first when he arrived with Baron Hewes and his son to the Moore mansion, the atmosphere around Vivian was heavy and her eyes looked devoid of their gleam. Yet for an hour she would disappear and return brighter than before ready for a fight, that was kinda twisted even for himself. He even thought she might have taken her own life when she disappeared for that long time.

"That's strange... you are not asleep yet." The Prince remarked.

Edmond sat up on his sofa and looked at the prince.

"I feel like... someone is coming." Edmond was about to say something but he turned to the door.

By the next second, hurried footsteps were heard behind the door and someone started knocking on it.

Edmond stood up and opened the door for one of his family's agents to appear.

"Report." Edmond felt that his gut feeling was right and something was not going as planned.

The agent approached Edmond and whispered to him. Edmond's face hardened and sent the agent away.

"Edmond, what is it?" Richard asked.

"... I'm afraid we either overestimated ourselves or underestimated Count Julian." Edmond said and turned to the Prince, "The Baron's son was assassinated."

Silence took over the room. It was expected that Count Julian Moore would make a move but they were ready... or were supposed to be ready.

"How?" The Prince asked.

"Stabbed."

"Where?"

"In the safe house."

"That's..."

Assassinating the Baron or his son was possible through poison or an accident but inside the safe house of all places!

This place is a mini castle! Forcing the way in proved to be impossible let alone sneaking.

"The Assassin?"

"Nowhere to be found."

"The weapon?"

"Nothing was left behind."

"The exact location?"

"Inside the Baron son's quarters. Very secure. The agents heard nothing."

"Probability of a betrayer?"

"Impossible. These are all Agents from House Black. If our agents were compromised then the whole spy defense system in our country is compromised."

The four young men looked grim.

"Take us there."

***

A dead body, a single stab to the back, death by excessive bleeding, the room was locked from the inside, no sign of entry or struggle, no sound was heard, the victim died while changing clothes, no sign of Magic Usage during the last twelve hours.

Three probabilities.

A suicide and the weapon used has magically vanished, a traitor among the agents of House Black, or an assassin that can walk through walls.

Unimaginable, unthinkable, and impossible.

The prime suspects? The wealthiest man in the Kingdom and his Daughter.

The evidence? None.

"It is safe to assume that it was an assassin. Then again, it is not safe at all. Sigh... the irony!" Said the Prince who was crouching and watching the corpse of the boy.

Edmond kept looking around hoping to find a single clue while Richard was moving around with a fork-like device.

"No signal of any magic being used here indeed. With all due respect, your Highness, I think the safest choice is a traitor." Richard said his opinion.

"That's not a pleasant thing to think off, Richard, and the Agents here are all trustworthy. They even presented themselves for inspection once we arrived." The Prince lazily said, "Also, it would be very boring if it was a traitor. An unknown assassin that can walk through walls... now that's something."

Richard shook his head wryly with a sigh. The Prince's bad habit of looking for the hard answers was as annoying as ever but little they can do about it.

A moment later, a fourth young man entered the room.

"I've spoken to the Baron, your Highness. The man is devastated for the loss of his son." Robert said.

"Naturally." The Prince replied without much interest.

"Your Highness, I suspect that my father and my sister are behind this." Robert said.

"Your evidence?"

"Who else would want the Baron's son dead?"

"Your hard evidence?"

"... Nothing, your Highness. Just a hunch. I apologize." Robert retreated then remembered something, "Right, my sister tried to pass some poisoned wrapped candy to the Baron's son. It can be used against them."

The Prince raised his head with a blank expression.

"Really?"

Edmond put his hand in his pocket and retrieved the wrapped candy.

"Vivian Moore tried to pass this to the boy with her... feminine charms." Edmond said.

"Pffft! Really?" The Prince stood up and picked the candy. "I never thought she would use her feminine charms for anything at all."

The Prince seemed highly interested in the case even more now.

"Your Highness, if we confronted her with that..." Robert said.

"With a poisoned Wrapped Candy? She will make fools out of us. The evidence was in our holding and we can't convict her with something she can turn on us. Don't bother." The Prince tossed the wrapped candy to Robert.

"Let me at least try, your Highness. I will corner her and make her admit it." Robert said.

"Do what you see fit on your own risk." Said the prince while turning around.

A grin appeared on Robert's face as he withdrew from the safe house.

"You will let that kid screw around, Your Highness?" Asked Edmond.

The Prince looked solemn for a second before nodding.

"Let him go. The waters in House Moore will try to look settled for the time being. We can just give it a poke and see how the ripple moves. Keep a close watch on House Moore." The Prince said.

"I will send an agent." Edmond nodded.

A smile appeared on Prince Liam's face. Sure as hell things should get more fun.

"Just when did House Moore get such an interesting assassin?" He said while looking around.

***

"You! You have done it. How could you?"

Whoa there!

What's up with this Mr. Muscle for Brain over here pointing fingers at me?

"What is it, Robert?" Father said with an annoyed face.

"Robert, don't go in... Oh, no. I am sorry, I tried to stop him." Stepmother appeared too.

Now the whole circus is present.

"What is wrong, little brother? Why aren't you in bed this late?" I asked.

"Don't say 'little brother', you wretched person! I know what you have done. Admit it at once!" Robert said with absolute anger.

"Robert! No..." Stepmother acted concerned.

"Robert! Control yourself at once." Father was genuinely angry now.

"... Father, please listen. This wretched daughter of our house has caused a mishap this night and I have evidence." Robert said as he put a piece of wrapped candy on father's desk.

"Oh! How nice of you, brother, bringing candy to us. Sadly, little boys shouldn't eat candy at night or candy will eat their teeth, it will give them a toothache, ouch ouch." I said an embarrassing thing I saw on a children's channel while acting all cute.

"SHUT UP!" Robert lost to his anger and pushed me away.

I wasn't sure how such a kid possessed such power but I was launched from my place and crashed in the bookshelf behind me.

It was painful but nothing serious.

"YOU BASTARD!"

Father roared at Robert and a thick book flew from his desk right to Robert's face.

The scene was comical from every angle as Robert flew with the book through the door.

"No! Stop! Don't hit him!" Stepmother kept screaming and ran to protect Robert.

"Saskia, step aside." Father spoke coldly to her.

"No, please wait!" She desperately tried to protect Robert but I had to end it here.

"Father, it's alright. I am not hurt." I stepped beside father even though it's painful as hell.

Hurting Robert will be the first step on Father's Destruction. In the game, Robert runs to the Academy after being beaten by Father and the Heroine steps up for him with a series of accusations from the things Robert has on Father.

"I'll teach that ungrateful son how to act in front of me." Father was hell-bent on teaching Robert a lesson.

"Now is not the right time, father. Trust me." I whispered to him and he somehow listened.

He kept glaring at Robert who averted his eyes from father's. Once father looked away and returned to his seat, I was the one receiving Robert's and Saskia's glares.

Good grief! This house is messed up.

At least my father is my only Ally.

I calmly collected the heavy book father threw at Robert and returned it to the desk. It was titled [The 555 Crushing Tactics]. I guess they are 556 now… if you catch my drift.

"So, little brother. What is the horrible deed I committed this time? Did I perhaps bully another young pretty lady?" I asked Robert who was being helped up by his mother.

His face looked swollen but his eyes were still giving the glares.

"You have given this Poison Wrapped Candy to the Baron's son." He said while pointing at me.

"I did?" I tilted my head innocently.

"This insolent..." Father slapped the desk once again.

Robert and Saskia flenched, she tried to hold Robert back but his ego was driving him now.

"Yes, you did. But when your plan to poison him failed, you sent an Assassin to finish the job for you."

"An Assassin?!" Father became more grumpy now.

Simply accusing me of sending an assassin is unthinkable, a little lady can't send an assassin but a Lord can. Robert was accusing my father through accusing me as he didn't dare to direct such charges to his father.

"That's right. An assassin broke into the safe house, killed the Baron's son and vanished." Robert said.

""What?"" Father and I were shocked. I was acting of course.

We both fell to silence for a while until Robert rudely interrupted.

"There is no point in denying it. His Highness has inspected the scene himself and will pass judgment on you." Robert said.

This idiot is still trying to scare me.

"To be honest, little brother. I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Poison Candy, Assassins, Evil Schemes... I enjoy a good story as much as the next young lady but that is too far fetched.

First of all, I was merely bullying the poor little piggy when I gave him candy, I am no killer. And as a sign of good faith, here goes nothing."

I took the wrapped candy, unwrapped, and ate it in one go.

"Vivian, wait!" Father tried to stop me but it was too late.

"If there is poison then… it is intoxicatingly delicious!" I said while keeping an eye on my 'Condition' at the System's Profile. Thankfully, nothing happened.

I made a confidant face looking down on Robert.

"And you said it yourself, little brother, the Assassin vanished from the scene. I doubt that such a capable Assassin will leave a trace behind in whatever bunker his Highness kept Baron Hewes and his son in. Now, what makes you think that his Highness will even think of confronting me?" I said.

"Humph! Who else other than you would want him dead?" Robert retorted.

"Is that so? I can think of a million person other than me who would want him dead." I said.

"And how so?"

"Simple! As my little brother, I am pretty much offended that you haven't figured that one out on your own."

"Just say it."

"Fufufu! Little brother, you disappoint me. Don't you see, little brother? I, your Big Sister, am angelically beautiful." I said while shaking my long black hair.

""Huh?""

Even Saskia was having trouble understanding my point. Father, on the other hand, scratched his chin then made an understanding face.

"If not for being engaged to his Highness in the past, Vivian's suitors would have blocked out mansion's gate on every social occasion." Father said.

Robert and Saskia made funny faces hearing the assist from pops.

"True. Also, what father doesn't know is how many knights have approached me lately willing to swear loyalty to me. Also, many Young Lords in the Academy took the chance to ask me for a Dance in the past Spring Festival when Prince Liam accompanied the commoner girl instead of me."

"Her name is Lady Matilda."

"Whatever. The point is, little brother, how many Young Lords from these big families that would be willing to take down an opponent like the little piggy with an Assassin? Simply all of them. It was just surprising how fast and skillful it happened."

I said my piece and stood beside my father.

"Indeed. Vivian is right. You, get out of my face at once." Father agreed with me then kicked out Robert.

I could see the envious look in Robert's eyes. Me standing beside my father like that was something only 'that person' could do. If he was here, he would have invaded the Academy, dragged out the prince and gave him the beating of his lifetime.

Robert never got Father's recognition despite being the current heir. However, Father clearly showed me favor. I doubt Saskia or Robert will stand still and keep that going on.

Robert left the room and his mother followed him. Father sighed and looked at me.

"I'm only giving you enough backing in what you can't face alone."

"Thank you, Father."

"I wanted to ask you something."

"Yes."

"Now that you are no longer going to be Princess Consort, what are your plans for the future?" He asked.

Frankly speaking, I am concerned about that too. Neither I as Nadia nor I as Vivian had any knowledge on how to proceed in the professional life from now on. Still, I have a System and some otherworldly futuristic knowledge I can exploit, add the ‘Industrial Revolution Era’ to the mix, things may actually turn interesting in any professional field I pick. There is even a New Continent that is fully undiscovered yet. The chances are everywhere.

"I am still sorting many things out, Father. For a starter, I may be able to help in the Family Business or I may find my own way. I am still under the pressure of the situation in hand but I'll make my head by the coming Summer Festival."

"Good, I'll wait for your answer. Go now."

"Yes, Father."

I walked out of the study and closed the door behind me.

Today was a huge victory for Team Vivian. Barely 6 hours after reincarnation and I am making it my b.i.t.c.h.

« New Quest added: {Survive} »

Now that's just some bahd shit!

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