Chapter 10: Royal Capital: Demonic Blood
"The night before last, I swore to Yaris that I would never leave him or run away from him again this time."
"Really? You really swore to your master that you would never leave him again?"
John's voice trembled slightly.
Xiao Yun nodded affirmatively: "I was ignorant before and made him bear too much. Now I have matured. I want to stay, stay by his side, share his hard work, and be his right-hand man."
"...Young Master has indeed grown up."
John smiled with satisfaction, then knelt on one knee, held up Lucien's hand and kissed the back of it.
"you--"
"I express my respects to you."
"……oh."
Xiao Yun pretended to be calm and withdrew his hand.
The first time he received a hand kiss, he felt his ears getting a little hot.
John, immersed in joy, did not notice this and continued to introduce Lucien to the Royal Academy and the Magic Guild adjacent to the Royal Academy.
"...The Royal Academy's admissions rules are very unfair. However, anyone who passes the entrance exam and becomes a formal student, whether a noble prince or a humble slave, must wear the academy uniform—a white shirt with black trousers underneath, and a dark hooded robe outside. They must also live in the dormitory for the first two years of their studies, unless they are extremely weak."
"Yaris..."
"His Highness is so frail that he often spends half the month in bed, unable to ride, go out, or practice swordsmanship. Therefore, I have been granted special permission to waive his accommodation obligations. Of course, those around him would feel guilty if his fair skin were damaged by the sun and his slender fingers became thick-jointed from gripping the sword."
John did not hide his admiration and love for Yaris, his eyes sparkled
"He is different from all of us. He is the demonic blood nurtured by the five thousand years of inheritance of the Holy Family. He is a precious and fragile work of art by nature. He must be soaked in flowers and milk every day and wiped with the finest silk for maintenance."
“…”
"And he was very clever, perhaps even the most intelligent and elegant student ever recorded at the Royal Academy."
"From the age of thirteen to eighteen, he, who was always ill, read through all the books in the Royal Library in just five years, completing complex projects that ordinary students would not be able to complete in ten years. If it weren't for four years ago..."
John's voice suddenly became hoarse.
Four years ago, on the day before Jarris's eighteenth birthday, seventeen-year-old Lucien chose to run away from home.
"I'm so sorry—"
"It doesn't matter. After all, the young master has returned to His Highness."
John smiled and explained his studies to Lucien.
“…Two years is the minimum requirement for the Royal College. Students must complete at least two years of study to obtain a graduation certificate. After completing the basic two years of study, students can choose to stay at the college to continue their studies or leave the college to pursue their career ambitions.”
"Because you frequently skipped classes four years ago, you must now stay at the Royal Academy for at least six months, or nine months (Ella has eighteen months a year), and obtain minimum passing grades in four courses before you can receive a graduation certificate from the Royal Academy."
"What about the Magic Tower? My brother said that in addition to the four required courses, I also have to complete the basic magic courses."
"The Magic Path-related teaching is handled by the Magic Path Tower. As a professor at the Royal Academy, I am only responsible for the course progress during your time at the Royal Academy, although I also study the basics of magic in my spare time."
"Have you learned magic?"
Xiao Yun was surprised.
John nodded. "Your Highness said that magic and science are twins with different paths leading to the same destination. Super science is equivalent to super magic. I wholeheartedly agree. Unfortunately, I am not of the Holy Family bloodline. I lack their talent and cannot simultaneously specialize in science and master magic. Even if I try my best, my understanding of magic will only be superficial."
"The Demonic Path..."
"To avoid accidentally harming innocent people, magic teaching is usually only conducted within the magic tower covered with barriers. At that time, my lord, you will enter the magic tower and use the unique sacred blue blood in your body to experience the profound secrets of another world, ah..."
John suddenly stopped. A group of magicians wrapped tightly in black cloaks walked across the lawn in front of him, like ghosts who had strayed into the sun-drenched world.
The magicians felt the gazes of John and Lucien, stopped in unison, turned around, and bowed to Lucien.
The leading mage even took off his hood, revealing his skinny head like a skull.
"Sir—I am the intermediate mage, Al."
The voice was low and hoarse, like a ghost.
As soon as the words fell, the space began to shake strangely like water waves. Before the shaking ended, the magicians had disappeared.
"A magician wouldn't show up at the Royal Academy for no reason... Judging from their behavior and attitude... Hmm... This El should be the magic instructor assigned to you by the Magic Guild... He came to the academy specifically to say hello..."
John analyzed calmly.
"...Is this the mage?"
Xiao Yun thought of Ulysses, who was about to be promoted to a high-level magician.
"J-Master, do you know Ulysses?"
“He’s a very smart and hardworking person.”
John showed a subtle expression.
"Most of the mages in the Magic Tower are orphans adopted by the Magic Guild. They begin training in magic at the age of five at the latest. As they age, it becomes more difficult for them to develop super-perceptions related to magic, such as extra-dimensionality and hyperspace. Unless they are special beings like the Holy Family, who naturally have magic blood flowing through their veins."
"Ulysses first encountered magic at the age of twelve. Due to his age, he was ruthlessly rejected by the Magic Guild, even with a letter of recommendation from the Minister of the Interior. Later, through extraordinary perseverance and hard work, he spent four years awakening his perception of extra-dimensionality and hyperspace, finally gaining recognition from the Magic Guild and becoming a junior mage. Now, he may even become the first mage Prime Minister in the history of the Empire..."
"My feelings towards him are very complicated. I admire his hard work, diligence, and perseverance, but I also hate his sophistication, cunningness, and unscrupulousness... But I'm also glad that he chose to be a tyrant's dog in order to get ahead. I don't have to worry about him surpassing me and becoming His Highness's most trusted confidant..."
(…John didn’t know that Ulysses secretly pledged allegiance to Jarris?)
Xiao Yun muttered secretly.
John saw the absent-minded look on his son's face and quickly changed the subject: "Sorry, I said something boring. I'll take you to the dormitory--"
…
…
The Royal Academy treats all students equally, whether they are the future heir to the throne or a beggar with a letter of recommendation from aristocrats. Once enrolled, they must obey the academy's arrangements, cannot choose their roommates on their own, and cannot be picky about dormitory conditions.
Therefore, after learning that Prince Lucien, who had run away from home four years ago to skip classes, was sent back to the academy by his brother the Grand Duke and ordered by his cousin the Emperor to complete the last six months of his studies, the students began to whisper, and their uneasy eyes peeked at Lucien on the lawn through the windows of the classroom and dormitory.
Xiao Yun knew nothing about this.
Follow John across the lawn and into the double dormitory arranged by the college.
The room is about 50 square meters, evenly divided into two 20-square-meter bedrooms and a living area. Each bedroom is equipped with a bathroom and a dressing room, as well as a small balcony of 3 square meters.
(As expected of the Royal Academy… The student dormitories are even bigger than the house I emptied my savings to buy in my previous life…)
Xiao Yun's heart was in turmoil.
"The conditions are simple. Please overcome them. Six months will pass quickly."
John Deere looked apologetic.
"Compared to... ahem... I'm not a delicate princess. When I'm wandering, I can spend the night outdoors just the same..."
"You are indeed as magnanimous and approachable as His Highness."
"Compared to my brother, I am still——"
"According to regulations, students are not allowed to use servants and guards while at school, so I have arranged your course for four days of study and one day of rest to ensure that you can return to Silver Moon Palace regularly to meet His Highness."
"Teacher, you don't have to use honorifics with me. Although you regard my brother as your master, I am your student now and you are my teacher."
"Yes, sir."
John lowered his head, and when he looked up again, his expression was stern: "From now on, I will teach you strictly with the attitude of a mentor treating a student."
…
In the evening, Xiao Yun's roommate appeared. He was a blond boy with freckles on his fair cheeks and a simple appearance.
The young man saw Xiao Yun and showed an uncertain look of surprise: "——Mr. Lucien?"
"Do you know me?"
"certainly!"
The young man nodded repeatedly, his blue eyes unable to conceal his excitement. "We've all heard of you and your brother! Especially His Highness Yaris... Is he... Is he really as beautiful as the rumors say? More beautiful than the most noble ladies in the palace? Like a fairy?"
"I think—"
"Everyone says that Young Master Lucien's appearance is only 30% similar to Your Highness's... and that 30% resemblance is so striking and precise, like a painting by a famous artist... Your Highness himself would definitely... If Father knew that I was rooming with the younger brother of His Highness Yaris, whom he hated the most, he would be so angry that he would faint!"
"ah?"
"I almost forgot to introduce myself. My name is Adrian, I'm sixteen years old, and my father is Duke Adlon of Dalavia."
Adrian said this innocently, completely unaware that his previously stable life would become turbulent because of the seemingly impromptu dormitory arrangement.
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