RHEIN'S POINT OF VIEW
The air in the palace garden was cool, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and flowering vines. I needed this moment—space to breathe, space to think.
Forelody fluttered ahead of me, her tiny wings leaving a faint golden shimmer in the air as she zipped toward the massive tree standing proudly at the center of the royal garden. "Let's go here, Pracien Rhein," she said cheerfully, perching on a low branch.
I approached, only to freeze when I noticed two familiar figures already there.
Brother Dylan was leaning lazily against the trunk, arms crossed, his ever-present smirk making it look like he'd been waiting for me. Above him, perched on a sturdy branch, was Tyler who gave a soft trill, tilting his head as if amused by my surprise.
"Oh, perfect timing!" Forelody chirped, hovering near Tyler's branch. "Tyler, could you come with me for a moment? Rhein and Dylan need to talk."
Tyler blinked once, then gave a short, low whistle that sounded almost like reluctant agreement. With a sweep of his indigo wings, he glided down gracefully, the moonlight catching on his feathers before following Forelody to another part of the garden.
I was left alone with Brother Dylan.
He didn't speak right away. The silence stretched, broken only by the whisper of leaves in the breeze.
"What are you doing here?" His voice was casual, but his sharp gaze didn't waver.
"Getting some air," I replied, crossing my arms.
He grinned, tilting his head. "Of course you are. You really do love hanging around trees. I mean, I saw you back when you were still traveling to the academy—jumping from branch to branch like a monkey."
I glared at him. "Are you seriously comparing me to an ape?"
He chuckled, clearly entertained.
Then, out of nowhere, the memory of what happened between us hit me like a slap—the way he'd kissed my neck, not once but twice.
My face went hot. "Y-you—!" I jabbed a finger at him. "Thanks for letting me remember what you did in the forest before. You kissed my neck twice! I should report you."
As if reacting to my outburst, a thorned vine sprouted from a nearby branch, slithering toward him like it had a mind of its own.
Brother Dylan didn't flinch. He simply raised a hand, and the vine stopped midair before withering away into nothing.
"Relax," he said, still smirking. "We had a deal, remember? The proof of you and Justin kissed? I deleted it already. Don't go back on your word, Princess."
I scowled but forced myself to calm down. "Fine," I muttered.
He tilted his head slightly, studying me with that irritatingly amused expression. "So... friends now?"
I blinked at him. "What?"
"Friends," he repeated smoothly. "I mean, look at us—we're both targets of the Deorcanen Clan. We might as well watch each other's backs."
I frowned, suspicious. "Your logic is completely ridiculous."
He shrugged. "Maybe. But I'm still asking."
I stared at him for a long moment before sighing. "Fine. Friends."
"Good." His smirk softened into something almost boyish. "And please, stop calling me 'Brother.' I've told you that a hundred times."
"Fine... Dylan," I said, dragging out his name just to annoy him.
He only chuckled, clearly satisfied.
Silence settled between us, not heavy but soothing, like a blanket drawn over restless thoughts. The wind stirred softly, as though it wished to sweep our troubles into the night. And in that quiet stretch of time, under the stillness of the sky, everything felt—comfortingly still.
After a few days of restless waiting, life at the academy resumed. When Dylan, Justin, and I finally stepped back through the grand gates, whispers erupted all around us.
"They're back..."
"Look—it's her. The second princess!"
I could feel every pair of eyes fixed on me. Before, I had only been Rhein, just another student who came here to study. Now I am one of the heiresses of Mnarra, and I can feel the weight of that new title pressed down on me.
We didn't have time to dwell on the stares. Principal Oak had called for an assembly, and the entire student body crowded into the main gymnasium. Her booming voice carried across the room, silencing the chatter.
"For this academic year, here are the official members of the Student Council."
Her eyes swept over us before landing on Dylan, who stood tall with his usual calm authority.
"The President, still reigning as the top student: Dylan Wilder."
The hall filled with polite applause. Dylan gave a small nod, as if this had been inevitable.
"The Vice President, our newly arrived second princess, Rhein Luoxegeime Clandeglowan."
My heart lurched when my name echoed throughout the place. I stood, trying to ignore the curious—and sometimes doubtful—looks aimed at me.
"Secretary—Justin Drake."
Justin stood with practiced ease, his sharp gaze brushing the crowd before settling back into quiet dignity.
"Assistant Secretary—Allie Frost."
Allie stood with her usual poker face and nodded to the crowd.
"Treasurer—Kate Wagner."
Kate's lips curved into a confident smirk, already radiating authority as she accepted her post.
"Assistant Treasurer—Ace Zettel."
Ace gave a casual salute that drew chuckles from a few students.
"Public Information Officer—Lovely Ash."
Lovely rose gracefully and smiled widely at everyone around her.
"And finally, Peace Officer—Zen Harrison."
Zen's expression barely shifted as he stood, a calm determination in his eyes.
Principal Oak spread her hands as if sealing the moment. "The said students were the ones who were able to secure their spots as the top eight best mnarillaza students in the academy during the selection. Carrying the title of being the best among all of you, they will serve as the leaders of this academy, carrying both privilege and responsibility. Support them as they support you."
The crowd clapped once more. Some faces brightened with admiration, others with envy. The weight of leadership settled on all of us in that moment.
By the time we returned to our classrooms, the teachers showed us no mercy. Piles of lessons we had missed came crashing down on us at once. I scribbled notes furiously, my head pounding from trying to absorb days' worth of material in just a few hours. Justin handled it with his usual composure. Thankfully, Allie lend me some of her notes.
In the middle of our class, I saw Dylan through the opened window, passing by the hallway. He caught me looking at him. He smirked which annoyed the hell out of me. Was he mocking me that I was having a hard time catching up lessons?
When the bell finally rang, relief washed over me—only to vanish when Dylan summoned us to the Student Council office.
Wow. Good.
The moment we stepped inside, I understood why. The desk was practically buried under towers of documents.
"Congratulations," Dylan said, a wicked smile tugging at his lips. "We have to finish all of these together."
Groans echoed around the room.
"All of these?!" Kate nearly dropped her bag.
"Yes, all of it," Dylan replied, already sorting papers.
Andrew, even though he felt left out because he wasn't able to join the student council, he helped us as part of the JAZA, saying that he would help his friends no matter what situation they are in.
We worked—page after page, form after form. Hours blurred together until the sun dipped low, bathing the windows in gold. My hand ached from signing my name so many times I swore I'd see it in my dreams.
Finally, Dylan stretched and declared, "Enough. Let's eat."
We trudged to the cafeteria as a group. Despite our exhaustion, there was something comforting about sitting around one long table, trays of snacks between us. The students were watching us but hey, we were just students sharing a meal! Give us a break! Don't watch, people!
'You're happy,' Forelody commented.
'I am.'