Entrance Ceremony (2)

Despite Aaran's warnings, it didn't take long for Analeis to act aloof once they stepped into the hall. Countless lanterns drifted around the hall's endless ceiling. Little butterflies flew around, leaving a floral scent behind.

The tables before them were laden with exquisite food, and Analeis wanted to have a bite immediately. Had it not been for Aaran's glare, she might have dove headfirst onto the table.

Even as children, the nobles knew the value of connections and were busy conversing with each other. To be honest, the kids were busy playing while their maids and butlers did the talking in their stead.

Although it was merely a ceremony, each house representative had their motives. But Aaran was busy thinking about something else.

If they had house-elves, Rowling might sue these guys for copying hogwa—

Lost in thought, Aaran bumped into someone. Clicking his tongue, he looked up and saw a girl frowning as a maid fixed her scarlet hair. Her blue eyes glared at Aaran as she opened her mouth to tell him off.

But before she got the chance, Aaran bowed, admitting his mistake.

"My apologies, Princess," he said. "I, Aaran Aurelia, didn't mean to cause you discomfort."

After saying so, he looked up, noticing the girl's eyes lose their hostility. She appeared to be startled before regaining her composure and hurrying away, her gown flowing behind her.

The girl's maid quickly bowed before hurrying after her. Aaran nodded and watched them disappear.

"What was that all about?" Analeis asked. "At least accept the apology before running away. Who does she think she is—?"

"As my maid, you don't even know my fiance?" Aaran replied, looking away.

"Your... fiancée?"

Analeis went quiet as she remembered Amara's secret mission. To make Aaran fall for the young lady Seraphina, the hero's only daughter. It wasn't a task Analeis would accept, but the reward was too good to ignore.

She subconsciously raised her fist, imagining the taste of mint-flavored cigarettes on a beach. Aaran could only shake his head as the ceremony began.

All chatter died down as soon as the headmaster Igor took the stage, standing behind the diamond-studded podium.

Seven teachers sat on the seats behind, each carrying four necklaces with them. Each necklace had a crystal embedded in the center, shining even in the dim light.

"Welcome to the Royal Excellence Academy," Igor announced. "A place where the journey of your journey to excellence begins!"

Silence.

Absolute silence.

No matter how many times Aaran saw the scene, it was always hilarious. Even the teachers standing behind looked tired of hearing the cringe sentence every year.

The worst thing was… that was the only line Igor would say throughout the ceremony, leaving immediately afterward. This time wasn't any different as he left the hall.

Aaran couldn't blame the man. Igor was a warrior, a soldier. Someone like him, who never spent a day outside the battlefield, did not know how to converse with children.

With the headmaster gone, the head of the staff took the stage, unfurling a scroll.

"When your name is called, please step forward to accept the gift the headmaster prepared for you." she said with practiced ease.

Everyone's eyes fell on the necklaces. Most looked at them with a sense of pride and honor. But Aaran could only roll his eyes.

Gift? Since when were those collars called gifts?

Slave collars belonged around the necks of tamed monsters and slaves. Just like that, those necklaces tamed the nobles.

"Princess Eleanor Fairchild."

A girl with golden curls stepped up, followed by her maid. Eleanor had her chin up, but her fidgety hands gave away her nervousness.

As she climbed the stage, two of the seven teachers stepped forward, holding a necklace each. The first teacher raised the necklace with the green crystal, while the other raised the blue one.

Eleanor was confused, not knowing what to do. Upon sensing her discomfort, her maid went and stood in front of the teacher holding the blue necklace.

The princess followed her, and the teacher placed the necklace around her neck. The necklace flickered. Happy with the result, the teacher bowed before Eleanor, greeting her as per the custom.

"May this gift guide your magic and your heart, Princess," he said.

Eleanor bowed back before taking her seat behind the teacher.

"Prince Vincent Alderwood."

Another name was called. This time, three teachers stepped up. Yet none offered the highest seat… the golden crystal to the prince.

Even though the academy wanted to tame them all, it didn't mean all slaves were equal. The crystal embedded in their necklace represented their rank, with gold being the highest, red after that, followed by blue, and last, the common rank green.

Each teacher had assessed the young nobles beforehand and was now recruiting them. The necklace represented the value they placed on them.

The children didn't know that, but their servants did. That's why Eleanor's maid chose the blue rank. However, accepting a higher rank meant nothing.

The ranks could change at any moment since no one had seen the future. At the moment, the teachers were selecting students based on their potential, nothing else. If they couldn't live up to their potential, they would be discarded without a second thought.

"Which one do you like, young master?" Analeis asked.

The other servants were constantly asking the same from their masters and mistresses, so Analeis did the same.

"We won't have to pick," Aaran replied, refusing to elaborate.

Analeis tilted her head but knew better than to ask him about it.

Just then, another name was called.

"Princess Seraphina D'Albrion."

Everyone immediately stood straight. The servants, the teachers, and even the head of the staff. Only Aaran remained sitting, something that immediately caught Seraphina's eyes as she walked past.

They both knew their secret relationship. Hence, such formalities weren't necessary between them. But it seemed Seraphina didn't think so. She scoffed and ignored him.

Meanwhile, on the stage, all the teachers raised golden necklaces. A few gasps emerged from the noble crowd below. The teachers were saving their golden necklaces for her, but what happened next was even more astonishing.

Seraphina accepted all of their necklaces!

The servants were confused. They were told they could only accept one necklace. However, there was an exception for the golden ones. When offered, the student had to accept it no matter how many there were.

The head of the staff cleared her throat and Seraphina handed all necklaces to her. A moment later, the head of staff offered her a new necklace, one with seven golden crystals.

People below clapped and congratulated her, but Seraphina's eyes were on Aaran. As if proving her worth to him. Earlier, he didn't stand thinking they were on the same level. But now she showed him even as her fiance, he had to give her the utmost respect.

However, Aaran remained unaffected. He even rested his chin on his hand, acting uninterested. In his mind, he knew Seraphina was a pampered child, hence entitled as well. Being ignored would hurt her, but Aaran didn't care about that.

He wasn't interested in appeasing children. Didn't matter if they were his fiance or someone on the road.

Seraphina pursed her lips and took her seat as a special student. Strangely, there was another seat beside her. But before she could question about it, the last name was called.

"Prince Aaran Aurelia."

He got up, confidently walking on the stage. However, none of the teachers raised a necklace for him. It was an even more extraordinary outcome than Seraphina's.

Did no teacher want him?

Before the speculations got wilder, the head of staff approached Aaran, retrieving a jewelry box.

"Prince Aaran, please accept this gift from Headmaster Igor," she announced, revealing a necklace with a black crystal.

Unlike Seraphina's turn, there were no gasps. Just an unbelievable silence.

The teachers didn't dare offer Aaran a necklace because Igor had already selected him.

The black obsidian necklace.

Igor had used it to pick Aaran as the only student he could during his tenure as the academy's headmaster.

Amid the shocked expressions, Aaran bowed, eyeing the black obsidian.

"I humbly accept."