"Ugh,"
"You're awake?"
"Huh,"
Ard opened his eyes and immediately sat up. He saw Abel sitting in a chair directly across from the bed where he woke up, giving him a relaxed smile.
"Eva," Ard said, turning to the side.
He felt instant relief seeing Eva sleeping soundly right next to him on the bed. He then immediately turned back to look at Abel, furious.
"What is the meaning of this, Brother? Why did you bring Eva and me here? (He looked around) Is this... your room?" Ard asked.
"Hmph... you useless little brother. You're always in such a rush. Can't you just calm down for a minute? Besides, why did you come to the academy? You nearly ruined my plans," Abel replied.
"What plans?" Ard asked, annoyed.
Abel tossed a bundle of papers onto the bed right in front of Ard. Ard immediately picked it up and read it. His eyes widened, then he looked back at Abel.
"Why do you have a list of the students here? And why are all my classmates on it except for me and Eva? Even Alicia is here? Explain what this means, Brother," Ard demanded.
"Well... I investigate everyone who has malicious intentions toward our kingdom and the world. But as for your classmates, it's because, well, they are your classmates," Abel answered.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Ard asked.
"Look, Ard, you know what position I hold in the kingdom, right?" Abel asked.
"Intelligence or espionage," Ard answered.
"Correct. That's why I have that list. Why did I investigate Alicia? Because we suspect Marquis Einhard intends to rebel against the kingdom. The others are on there because they're your classmates. I just wanted to know what kind of people they are and whether they're involved with what's currently happening at the academy or not," Abel replied.
Ard thought for a moment. "It's true... Alicia's father was initially suspected by the kingdom, but it was just slander... Alicia's father ended up defending the kingdom... except in my first life, because I joined the rebels, Alicia went with me," Ard muttered in his head.
"Hey... why the daze?" Abel asked, snapping his fingers.
"Oh, sorry... what do you mean, 'what's happening at the academy'?" Ard asked, confused.
Abel glanced at Eva to make sure she was still asleep. Ard noticed Abel and his eyebrows instantly furrowed.
"Why are you looking at Eva, Brother?" Ard asked, annoyed.
"Whoa... don't get mad. I was just making sure she was still sleeping... she woke up for a moment earlier, so I made her sleep again because I need to talk to you. The reason is that what's happening at the academy is connected to Edmund, the Imperial Crown Prince," Abel replied.
"Edmund? I already beat him up that time, didn't I?" Ard asked.
"That's why I said you almost ruined my plans... there's a dark cult operating around the academy. Edmund is a member, as are Julius and Devon, but the leader is on the Student Council, and since I saw you come out of the Student Council earlier, I have to talk to you," Abel answered.
"Huh," Ard muttered in his heart. "What do you mean by 'dark cult'?" Ard asked.
"A cult that wants to bring darkness to the world by resurrecting the Demon God Malekh because, to them, it's not a fairy tale. And (he glanced at Eva) they need Princess Eva to carry out their plan," Abel answered with a serious face.
"Seriously? At the academy? Why do they need Eva?" Ard asked. "Ugh... what have I gotten myself involved in now?" Ard asked in his heart.
"From what I know, they need a vessel to hold the Demon God, and Princess Eva is a suitable subject. And yes... they're nesting at the academy," Abel answered.
"R-Really? Is there actually something like that at the academy?" Ard asked, growing even more confused. "This... is unexpected, but after hearing Eva's story about what happened in her nine lives, the cult is likely real," Ard muttered in his heart.
"Of course it's true. That's why I brought you here before you got involved any further, got it?" Abel replied, sounding a bit annoyed.
"You said the cult leader is on the Student Council, Brother? Who? From our kingdom?" Ard asked. "It doesn't seem possible that it's Mirea or Claudia... but who?" Ard asked in his heart.
"If I already knew, I would have dealt with it. I brought you here to speak with you privately so you'd be careful about this threat, because I don't know who the leader is, and you seemed close to the Student Council President. One more thing: I need you not to be surprised when you see my change in behavior. Starting tomorrow, I'll act harshly outside, like when I called you a bastard earlier. But don't worry, I didn't mean it. I need to project the image of an egotistical and arrogant prince so I can join them," Abel answered.
"Okay, I get it. But please don't tell anyone we're brothers. No one knows I'm the 'trash prince' of Fredonia, except for Alicia, Eva, and her guard," Ard countered.
"Hmm... is that so? So you registered here as a commoner... no wonder you're not in the princes' quarters on the fourth and fifth floors of the dorms like me," Abel said.
"I ran away from the kingdom. If I registered using my status as a prince, I'd be caught right away, wouldn't I, Brother?" Ard replied.
"Huh... you ran away? Seriously?" Abel asked, shocked.
"Yep, pretty much... I was going to be exiled by Dad anyway, so I just ran away," Ard answered.
Abel immediately rubbed his face and looked tired, shaking his head. He stood up and "Smack!" He flicked Ard's forehead, making Ard hold his head with both hands.
"You're so reckless! And why are you flirting with your classmates, including the Imperial Princess? You truly deserve the name 'trash'! What if Dad or Brother Alexis finds out... you could be actually exiled, you know that?" Abel yelled, angry.
"Ow... that hurts... I'm sorry, Brother, but you're wrong... I'm not flirting with my classmates... besides, how do you know?" Ard asked.
"When I saw you in the garden that time you helped the noble girl Julius was targeting, I immediately investigated you and watched you. The result... I'm disappointed and sometimes wonder if you're even my little brother," Abel replied.
"Haha... sorry, Brother, but honestly, I don't know anything about that," Ard countered.
"Ah... whatever, I'm tired of talking to you. The important thing is that you have to be careful... you're strong, so I don't think anything will happen to you. Please protect Princess Eva. Don't let her fall into the cult's hands. And one more thing... you know the prophecy in our kingdom, right?" Abel asked.
"Yeah, yeah... 'If a black-haired prince is born into the royal family, then the Demon God's seal is about to open'... something like that?" Ard asked.
"Yes. That's why... you have to be careful, understand? You're the black-haired royal. When you were little, Dad deliberately ordered the royal wizard to change your hair color to red, like mine and the others. The goal was so no noble would panic and try to kill you or consider you a cursed child who would open the Demon God's seal, got it?" Abel answered.
Ard turned briefly to look at Eva, who was still asleep, then looked down at his shoes. "So what Eva said was true," Ard muttered in his heart.
"There's also a prophecy in the Empire: 'If a princess is born into the royal family with silver hair, then the Demon God's seal is about to open.' That's why you have to protect Princess Eva," Abel replied.
"Understood, Brother, I get it," Ard replied.
"Please write a letter to Dad or Brother Alexis. At least let them know you're at the academy," Abel insisted.
"Later," Ard replied.
"Okay, I'll write a letter to them," Abel countered.
"Wait... don't, Brother, please don't. I have a reason for being here, but I can't tell you. Please understand, Brother," Ard replied, scared.
Abel immediately studied Ard's face, who looked terrified of him revealing Ard's location to the King or the Crown Prince.
"Haaah... okay, but I'll only give you one year. If you don't write a letter next year, I will write one to them, understood?" Abel said.
"Understood. Thank you, Brother," Ard replied, relieved.