Chapter 27: A Dull Place

Looking down at the boy kneeling on the floor, trembling uncontrollably, Richard spoke with an expressionless face. "From this moment on, you are no longer a student of St. Academy. Do not appear before me again."

Upon hearing this, the boy froze for a moment, as if unable to believe what had just happened.

Seeing the boy's stunned expression, Richard's patience wore thin, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

Finally, the boy snapped out of it, stammering, "Thank you… thank you, Your Highness!"

He continued to express his gratitude profusely while struggling to stand on his still-shaking legs. Step by step, he backed away toward the door, eventually disappearing from the classroom.

Richard's expression remained unchanged. He simply shifted his gaze, turning his attention to his desk mate, meeting her wide, questioning eyes.

This was unbelievable!

Anran was utterly baffled by the situation. The boy had just been expelled from the academy, yet he was acting as if he'd been granted a great favor. What was wrong with the world?

The atmosphere in the classroom felt off, too. The looks in the other students' eyes were filled with anger, but it wasn't directed at Richard—it was aimed at the boy who had just left.

What's more, after Richard issued his order, the teacher seemed to exhale in relief. Even though the Morris family held significant influence in Rosewood, Richard was still just a student. Why would a teacher be so intimidated by him? This was what puzzled Anran the most.

Noticing the confusion on Anran's face, Richard's interest was piqued.

He raised an eyebrow, his violet eyes fixed on her as he asked, "What? Do you have a different opinion?"

His voice, still deep and magnetic, had lost its earlier coldness and now carried a teasing, almost seductive tone.

For some reason, Anran felt uneasy and instinctively looked away, breaking eye contact with those unsettling violet eyes. "It's nothing," she replied.

Richard didn't seem displeased. Instead, he continued, "Oh? I thought you might stand up for him."

Perhaps detecting the mockery in his tone, Anran couldn't help but retort, "I just thought his reaction was strange, that's all."

Not one to let her off the hook, Richard pressed further. "Is that really all?"

Anran refused to back down. "Why? Disappointed?"

At this, Richard's lips curled into a faint smile. "Of course not. I think a kitten with a bit of a temper is much more entertaining."

"You…" Anran gritted her teeth.

Forget it. She wasn't going to fall into his trap. If she responded, wouldn't that mean admitting she was the "temperamental kitten" he was referring to? Anran scoffed softly and turned her head away, missing the flicker of amusement in his eyes.

However, some in the class didn't miss it.

In their memory, Richard had never smiled at anyone outside the Morris family. Yet, in such a short span of time, he had smiled twice at the same person. The impact of this was immense; some even doubted their own eyes, wondering if it was an illusion.

But, having witnessed the earlier incident with the boy, no one dared to voice their astonishment, no matter how shocked they were.

Richard, of course, noticed the lingering gazes around him. His deep violet eyes swept across the room, and wherever his gaze landed, people instinctively lowered their heads. Some even began to tremble.

The rare spark of interest he had felt was now completely extinguished by the stifling atmosphere.

With a cold tone, Richard remarked, "What a dull place."

With that, he rose from his chair, his tall and imposing figure exuding an intangible pressure. The teacher, who had only just regained some color in her face, instantly paled again.

However, Richard had no intention of pursuing the matter further. He simply left the place that had soured his mood.

It wasn't until his tall figure had completely disappeared from sight that the oppressive tension in the classroom finally began to ease.