"Is it hurting, Papa?"

Chrono asked with a caring tone while concealed from outside world as rested above Zeph’s head yet struggling to conceal his inner urge to burst into laughter.

"Danny, I hope you’ll be in charge of preparing his meals from now on,"

Zeph understanding the hidden message in the young dragon’s words glanced at the girl walking beside him, who appeared as a boy.

"I... I understand," Diana responded, avoiding eye contact as she walked with Zeph towards their Classroom.

As they walked, Diana couldn’t help but recall the sensation of impact when she had struck that object.

Though it had been a reflex, her mind registered the brief moment, and she knew she needed to take a break from her training for a few days.

Upon reaching the classroom, they encountered the ice queen, Valeriana Hedrian, at the gates.

"Hello, Ariana,"

Zeph greeted Valeriana, but she seemed preoccupied, her attention fixed on Diana. Zeph guessed that Valeriana might be contemplating her true identity through hearing her thoughts.

Thanks to the protection of Guinier, Zeph could hide his thoughts, but the little dragon perched on his head was far from discreet.

Zeph patiently waited for Valeriana to speak, but she rubbed her forehead before entering the Classroom.

He couldn’t help but wonder if he had glimpsed a crimson hue on her face.

Zeph felt a mixture of surprise and confusion, but he had no choice but to follow Diana into the classroom.

As he entered, he noticed Thalia waving at him from the first row.

He made his way towards his desk, with Diana following behind.

Before he could reach his seat, a hand stopped him, and he turned to see Gliender Valhale.

"Zephyr Liander, nice to meet you. You must be unaw—"

"Hello, Gliender. Please, you can call me Zeph. After all, we will soon become a family," Zeph interrupted with a friendly tone.

Gliender was taken aback by Zeph’s words, and after some thought, he concluded about zeph being asking to become friends in future "Um, yes, of course, why not."

They shook hands, each forming different expectations about the future. Gliender then asked, "By the way, Zephyr, I mean Zeph, is it true?"

Gliender inquired about the authenticity of the information Rihane had given him, recognizing that it was not a small secret but something that could determine their fates.

"Trust me, it’s true,"

Zeph assured him, and Gliender nodded before taking his seat as Thalia too called Zeph making him too, took his seat.

"Zeph, come here,"

...

Valeriana’s POV

I entered the hall of the academy, making my way toward the classroom, when I noticed Rihane sitting in a corner, completely opposite her usual cheerful self.

I looked at her, trying to understand the reason for her unusual state.

’"Should I go or not? What if those two bullies me again?"’

I heard her words and thought about the people she just mentioned,’Is there such uncivilized people in our class?’

I can’t help but become curious about such people who can bully a girl like Rihane.

"’Aaaaahhh, no! If Thalia asks about my silky hair or alluring horn again, what should I say to her?"’

I knew it — that girl was up to no good.

But who would have thought she would start showing her true colors just after reaching the second year, now she started showing her interest in same gender,’ Disgusting ’.

I kept hearing her thoughts as I needed to confirm the identity of the second person.

Except for Thalia, who is in the class, I have to be cautious about, and I could at least warn Zeph about that person.

’"He kissed me! What will I do? Whom should I tell this to? It was my first. Should I tell the professors about Zeph bullying me?"’

Zeph did what?

No, wait, how could kissing count as bullying?

Isn’t this straight harassment?

How can he do it?

’No, wait,’ it must be that girl’s effect as it is impossible for Zeph to get such good ranks with such a trashy personality.

Is Thalia contagious?

I have to separate them soon, or Zeph will become just like her too.

Ignoring this depressed girl, I moved towards the classroom as Rihane is a cheerful girl with lots of friends; anyone will definitely help her calm her mind.

But Zeph doesn’t have any friends. I guess I have to help him again.

I moved towards the classroom and as I arrived outside, I saw Zeph and a boy from our classroom, his name was Danny Reinguard.

I have seen his theory marks. It was full marks in all subjects, and I expected him to be my rival until I saw his practical marks.

’What the hell?’ As I looked towards Danny, my mind went blank.

"’Oh my, I used these hands of mine to touch his thing. It was really big. What will happen to me now? No one will marry me"’

Don’t tell me Zeph has already being corrupted.

I looked towards Zeph as I can’t believe Thalia’s disease has also infected him.

"’It must have hurt him. I shouldn’t have used so much force on his thing. But what to do? It was so big. I got flustered, and my reflex suddenly acted and touched his..D-Dic..."’ 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

’No!’

I averted my eyes swiftly, not wanting to hear any more disgusting thoughts.

I looked at Zeph and understood that he, just like Thalia, is interested in the same sex.

My head hurts.

I can’t help but rub my head as I made my way inside the classroom, not wanting to distract myself anymore.

My focus should be on my studies, not other people’s interests.

As I took my seat, Zeph was too sat beside me but now there was no need for me to distance myself from him as he is interested in boy’s, So, it’s good.

As previously, Even if I had sat beside him but kept a hand-distance from him but now, after knowing that he swings that way.

I don’t need to be cautious of him.

.

.

.

.

On the way to Valeria Academy, a white carriage adorned with golden carvings approached the grand gates of the academy.

"We have arrived at the academy, Your Highness,"

Alora, with a calm and soothing voice, replied, "Thank you, Sir Coachman," and gracefully stepped out of the carriage.

She wore a kind smile as she made her way towards the academy’s entrance.

The coachman watched Alora’s departing figure, unable to contain his smile, moved by the kindness he had witnessed.

His gaze then shifted towards a butterfly wing being carried away by the breeze, but he was lost in admiration for the future queen of Vendal Kingdom.

Upon entering the classroom, Alora was surprised to find that the seating arrangements differed from her expectations.

It didn’t take her long to spot her target,’Zephyr Liander’

Approaching Zeph with a warm smile, she greeted him, "Hello, Zeph. It looks like we’re sitting together."

Alora noticed Valeriana in the second rank and Thala in the fourth, seated beside Zeph,’It seemed to be a seating arrangement based on their ranks’,

Alora decided to not remove Thalia from her seat even though that seat belonged to her due to her being Third Rank, So, she moved towards Danny Reinguard.

"Move from your seat, Danny,"

Alora requested maintaining her image, Diana promptly stood up, driven by her loyalty to the royal family, though she was unaware of the frown appearing on Zeph’s face.

"Stop, Danny. Alora, don’t assume we’re that close for you to sit here,"

Zeph’s firm tone surprised not only Alora but also Valeriana, Thalia and Diana. This was the first time he had spoken to someone this way in the entire year.

Alora felt a sudden surge of surprise and frustration, hearing such a tone used against her.

’How dare he?’

She wished for nothing more in that moment than to see Zephyr begging for forgiveness while rubbing his nose on floor.

"Guess the princess is getting delusional,"

Again hearing Zeph’s remark her anger surged but due to presence of many people, she controlled it and while maintaining her composure, she moved to the second row seat, her fists clenched.

She was determined to make Zephyr regret humiliating her.

Zeph’s POV

Once I took my seat, I couldn’t comprehend why Valeriana was sitting So close to me today, is she opening up with me but When I tried to speak to her, she seemed to ignore me.

’Perhaps it’s some family issues that made her to not talk at that time,’

I pondered, suspecting that the pressures from the old members of the royal family might be affecting her mood.

After all, the novel had mentioned how, after Valeriana’s mother’s death, she had been trained to become the perfect princess, likely under considerable strain.

Even though her father was supportive and shielded her from the elder’s pressures but as the sole heir, Valeriana still had to carry a heavy responsibility for her kingdom.

Perhaps her attempts to close the distance between us were her way of seeking emotional support from me.

She was, at the end of the day, a rather naive girl, and I found her innocence endearing.

While I pondered this, I noticed Alora entering the classroom and heading straight for the first row.

It was challenging to decipher her intentions.

"Hello, Zeph. It looks like we’re sitting together,"

I was taken aback by her decision to sit beside me,’Maybe she had decided whom to target after all’

As in the first year, I had thought to use her but at the end, I had to put that plan on hold due to the complexities involving Valeriana and Thalia —Handling another heroine and at that most vicious one was challenging

I didn’t respond as she then moved towards Diana and instructed, "Move from your seat, Danny."

I suddenly felt frustrated at those words as Diana stood up obediently due to the loyalty sown by her family’s elders, which infuriated me.

The reason that fueld my anger was the reason behind death of Lysander Reinguard.

Diana, in her naivety, failed to see through the Royal family’s manipulations. Even her father hadn’t expected such a betrayal.

After Alora became queen, she had targeted the Reinguard family, Reason, She was neither able to control Diana Reinguard nor Her father.

But here’s the catch, She was the one who had pushed Lysander to oppose the demon queen by placing him on forefront even knowing about his physical state.

She did all this only to get the shadow-creating technique from the Obsedian Order.

Yes, Obsedian Order was the cause here, Playing in background once again.

I would have ignored her this time, but the moment I noticed her using her ability on Diana, even though Diana had stood up to leave, my patience snapped.

’This bitch’, I thought, irritated, as she seemingly employed her «NeuroGrim» ability on Diana, despite knowing that Diana was manaless....

to be continued