Rotsard was making his way to the classroom, wearing the uniform after a two-week break felt odd, especially since he appeared to lose even more weight, and the loose clothes, shifting as he walked, created an illusion of him shrinking.
The hallways and classrooms he passed by were buzzing with gossip and rumors. And, what was even more outrageous, more than a few people didn't bother to lower their voices as they badmouthed the bleached-blond-haired boy behind his back.
Things weren't any different in the classroom.
Despite it being still quite early, most of the students were already in their spots, the exceptions being Justin, Amelia Edemsworth, and two other girls who usually sat near her.
"Change seats."
"Tsk."
Rotsard stopped by the first row seat closest to the door and said to the brown-haired boy, who spared him only a glance before clicking his tongue and returning to placing out the writing utensils in front of him.
"..."
The bleached-blond-haired boy looked over him, at the spot that he would usually take, and he immediately saw the student who would normally take the place he wanted.
"...!"
The student in that seat noticed his gaze and flinched, looking away, but not before giving Rotsard a small nod.
He already gave up his seat to Rotsard, but then this brown-haired one decided to take it.
Rotsard then looked towards the empty seat where the brown-haired, who clicked his tongue at him, would usually take…
"Go back to your seat."
"Why? I want to sit here."
Rotsard said, pointing towards the spot with his chin, but the brown-haired boy shrugged his shoulders and scoffed dismissively.
"...haaa…"
Rotsard let out a tired sigh and shook his head before turning to face the rest of the class.
"Some of you seem to be under the impression that since a win was taken away from me, all of you somehow got elevated in status enough to show disrespect to a member of the Vallhall family."
"Taken from you!? You cheated! You cheated and still lost! You shamed your family na…!"
The bleached-blond-haired boy spoke up in disappointment, causing the brown-haired boy to call out in outrage as his challange was being disregarded…
"Wha…?!"
*WHAM*
…only for Rotsard to grab him by the hair and slam his head against the desk, crushing the ink bottle with the boy's face without even looking at him.
"!!!"
"A filthy peasant leeching off the Royal Academy only has to worry about getting kicked out."
*WHAM*
As the other students watched in horror, Rotsard continued speaking, lifting the brown-haired student's head only to slam it against the glass-shard-covered desk to accentuate his point, splashing ink and blood to the sides.
"He doesn't care what happens to him. Peasants enjoy rolling in filth and, if anything, he will be happier after getting expelled because he will have another reason to hate the aristocracy while he laze around and waits for other to do his job for him!"
*WHAM*
"But all of you?"
*WHAM*
"Can't you even figure out that the only family my Vallhall family pledges loyalty and respect to is the Royal family?"
*WHAM*
"And then from the rest, there are only four other families that can stand on equal ground with Vallhalls? And barely so?"
*WHAM*
"Answer me this. Do you think that any of you is worthy of condemning me if my own family hasn't said a word about my actions? Do you think that you can handle the consequences of offending the Vallhall family?"
*WHAM*
"Because this former peasant, whose family BOUGHT OFF a noble title from a ruined baron THIS GENERATION, clearly has yet to learn!"
Rotsard finished his monologue and lifted the brown-haired boy by the hair, smiling brightly into his mutilated face.
"The two of us will now go straight to the headmaster's office~ You will understand then."
He declared and pulled his classmate out of the seat and started walking while supporting him.
Whether the brown-haired boy was fully conscious or not was one thing, but he certainly barely moved his feet and he was being dragged most of the way.
While making his way to the headmaster's office like he said he would, the murmurs and whispers were even more fervent…
…only that this time they were full of disbelief and even fear…
"?!?!"
The look of the headmaster's secretary upon seeing the two boys walk in was exactly the same as the look of the headmaster himself once they entered his office.
…then, after the explanation, while the brown-haired student was being treated by one of the nurses called in in a hurry, the headmaster straightened his back and closed his eyes as he took a deep breath.
"..."
The brown-haired student sent Rotsard a hateful glare and smirked.
After all, Rotsard told the truth about how things played out. There was no chance for him to get out of that!
"Your behavior was inexcusable and you will have to suffer consequences."
"Hmhp~!"
The headmaster spoke up without opening his eyes and the brown-haired boy let out a triumphant snort.
"While the Royal Academy encourages students to treat each other as equals, there is no doubt that, as a member of the nobility, one must always keep in mind the hierarchy of the outside world. If it wasn't the Royal Academy, openly challenging a member of the Archducal family could result in the erasure of your entire bloodline."
"That's ri…! Wait.. wh-what…?"
The headmaster declared sternly and, for a moment, the brown-haired boy perked up and sneered at Rotsard, only to freeze up and turn to the headmaster, his face turning ghastly pale.
"Student Drooml, you will be informed about your punishment at a later date. I advise you to apologize to Student Vallhall before that, though."
"...! You… H-Headmaster, you cannot be serious…! That tr…! Student Vallhall attacked me first!"
The headmaster opened his eyes and looked at the brown-haired boy bitterly, causing him to jump up from his seat, making the nurse tending to him frown and stare him down.
"Student Drooml! Don't make your situation any worse. For your own good."
"!"
The headmaster's expression turned grim and he spoke coldly, causing the brown-haired boy to sit back down, drenched in cold sweat.