"Are you the one who was looking for the great golem-mancer Ruby Craiger so much?"
The voice was loud and bounced off Darian's room's wall. Darian looked at Edger, who was blushing red and hiding his face with his palm, embarrassed, wishing the ground would swallow him whole.
The girl marched into his room with overwhelming childish confidence; her eyes scanned around the room, finding something she could point her attention to. Darian walked towards the embarrassed Edger and leaned close.
"Edger, may I know who this kid is?" Darian whispered into his ear with a dry and confused tone, as he was seeing her for the first time.
Without waiting for an invitation, that intruder strolled over to Darian's desk and sat on his personal chair, staring at Darian with an unbothered and challenging gaze.
Darian glanced back at his knight, his eyebrows tracing the annoyance in his face, "I asked to bring a golem mancer, not a brat for me to babysit !"
"Who are you calling a brat?!" Ruby snapped back at Darian's remark with puffy cheeks out from her freckled face. "Ruby is the greatest golem-mancer in the Academy!"
Darian looked at Edger with more suspicion. Under Darian's cold gaze, Edger cleared his throat and replied, "Despite her looks, Your Highness... I can personally vouch for her ability as a fine Golem Mancer."
"Whatever," Darian muttered; beggars can't be choosers, either. Finding someone to willingly support the trash prince might be like finding fish in rainwater.
He walked over to the desk and sat in the chair opposite her. Edger left the room, sensing the room shift back to business; he quickly stepped backward. "I will ask Miss Reina to bring some refreshment," he said, leaving both of them alone in the room.
"Look, kid," Darian started.
"It's Ruby!" she interrupted him immediately.
"Ah! Ruby, Ruby. Then do you know why I wanted to meet you?"
"Huhu," she smirked proudly, crossing her arms with confidence. "That knight told me the prince needs the great Ruby's help to make a golem."
Just then, the door opened softly; the maid was carrying a tray with hot tea and a jar filled with chocolate cookies. The moment the tray landed on the desk, Ruby's eyes locked onto the cookies. She stared at the cookies in the jar, which Reina put onto a plate for serving.
Darian noticed her focus on the cookies and smirked, "You can have them all."
Her eyes snapped, switching her view to Darian with shock. "Really?"
"Sure," Darian replied smoothly. "But only if you are confident in doing what I am telling you."
"Yes! Ruby can make any golem," she answered with a proud posture, taking a cookie in her hand as she owned the cookie completely.
Darian didn't argue; he reached into his coat pocket and slid a folded sheet of paper across the desk.
It was a blueprint he had designed; it wasn't great, but something about it caught her eye. She stared at it for a moment; her cheerful smile faded as she thought more and analysed the blueprint.
"Hmmm....." Ruby murmured, her eyebrows furrowing. "Everyone always wants their golem to be sturdy and super heavy, but this design... it looked so light, like it should be completely hollow inside."
"Fear not; it's a piece of cake for the great Ruby Craiger," she answered Darian as she stuffed another cookie immediately into her mouth.
"Good! When will you be able to make one?"
"Within three days. Five maximum," she declared, confidently sipping her tea to push the cookie down as she spoke.
Darian watched her closely. Ruby Craiger, huh? Was there anyone like her mentioned in the original novel? He thought to himself, but if she is really that confident in her skills, I should give her a chance.
Ruby stood up, stuffing the paper into her pocket. She jumped from the chair and started to walk toward the door to leave, yet her eyes lingered and were glued to the cookies inside the jar.
"If you want it, you can take it all, Lady Ruby." Darian replied with a chuckle, "I don't mind."
Ruby's eyes brightened; she looked past Darian towards Reina, checking her expression to make sure that there wouldn't be any disapproval.
"Hmph," Ruby mumbled, her face turned slightly red as he held the jar. "It's not like I actually like them that much...but the great Ruby shouldn't refuse any gifts"
Without any further ado, she cradled the jar tightly in her arms and marched away from the room, loudly munching as she walked away.
Darian shifted his head to Reina, who was staring at the doorway with a warm, nostalgic smile.
"What is it, Reina?" Darian asked.
"Oh... Nothing, Your Highness," she replied softly, her smile widening. "She reminded me of my younger sibling back at home."
"I see, so your younger sibling too likes chocolate cookies."
"Yes, Your Highness, but since sugar and chocolate are commodities for nobility, it's rare for commoners to enjoy them as much as nobles since they are priced as a maid's monthly salary." Her smile faded a little.
Sugar and chocolates are expensive, huh? Well, what should I have expected? This world has worse things than overpriced sweets, he thought to himself.
"If you need some overpriced diabetic junk, you can take as much as you want from the Palace next time we visit the castle."
"Thank you very much, Your Highness," she replied with a smile.
Darian walked outside his dorm. The light was about to fade; it was time for dinner. He walked towards the cafeteria for dinner.
Although nobles were technically allowed and expected to dine inside their lavish private rooms, Darian, after his possession, always ate at the cafeteria; it wasn't because he loved the food or enjoyed the company of others; he was there to monitor other students, especially the protagonist. Here, he could monitor the plot and further plan for the future.
As he entered the grand, bustling hall filled with students of lower nobility and commoners, he saw Elaine sitting alone at one of the non-fancy wooden tables. She was quietly eating her food, as usual. The moment her eyes met Darian, her face brightened, and she waved her hands at him.
Darian ignored her wave completely, walking straight past her towards the empty table at the corner, and started eating his meal. But he didn't lower his guard. He knew what was supposed to happen next; he recalled what was going to happen.
Right on cue, the atmosphere of the cafeteria shifted as three familiar noble girls entered the room along with several other male nobles. They purposely strode their path towards Elaine, who was sitting alone and eating without disturbing anyone.
"What are you doing here bitch? Who told you to sit here?" one of the male goons barked and slammed his hand on the table, rattling Elaine's plate.
Darian, who was watching them closely, knew the truth: Those bastards should have already eaten their food; they're just here to pick a fight with Elaine.
Elaine flinched and looked up with a scared, timid expression. Her voice trembled as she tried to defend herself. "B-But.... they said anyone can sit here ....."
"Huhhh!??? What did you say, bitch?"
Before she could finish her sentence, one of the goons sneered and stepped forward, grabbed her hair, forcefully pulling it hard. A sharp gasp of pain escaped her lips as she panicked, her eyes instantly welling with tears of terror.
"I am so sorry, Ahhh....it hurts; please forgive me."
Darian stayed grounded in his seat; his eyes darted around the cafeteria. He noticed that other students, even the self-righteous ones, were looking down at the floor, completely terrified to interrupt. He knew why the ring leader of those goons standing behind was no one other than Nevian Celiot, the heir of the Celiot dukedom. The House of Celiot is one of the seven dukedoms, like Blayland and Korvinne; provoking them would be like suicide for their academic reputation, let alone their family.
Great, Darian thought to himself, leaning back slightly and bracing himself. The classical damsel-in-distress rescue plot, Kayle will be entering in 3... 2... 1...
He stared at the entrance of the cafeteria.
nothing happened.
The door remained shut. Absolutely no one entered.
What the hell, Darian cursed, his brow furrowed with irritation. Why isn't he here? he should have been here by now! fuck it.
Darian stayed put, watching the scene devolve. With the male lead completely missing, Darian's frustration increased; he clenched his fist.
Since she doesn't know her place, how about we teach her a proper lesson? Let's punish her. He walked toward her, his hands moved, aiming towards her neck. Darian couldn't hold it anymore.
If he touches her fuck the plot; I will punch his face, for sure. Darian vowed internally.
"Stop this nonsense. Do you have no pride as nobles?"
The loud sound crackled along with the door being forced open in the cafeteria. Everyone's attention turned towards the sound.
Darian's jaw nearly dropped in front of his eyes. It was not Kayle. It was Seris.
What is she doing? Where the fuck did Kayle go, Darian thought to himself, if someone who should have interfered, why is it her, villainess, saving the protagonist? Why now of all?
She walked towards the seat where the whole ordeal was happening.
Nevian paused his hands and turned his head towards Seris, his smile started to become more menacing."Young lady of the Korvinne, we were merely trying to teach our junior about the hierarchy of nobility."
"And what kind of teaching is that by harassing her in front of everyone while she is eating her meals? And also, in the academy, there is no noble hierarchy by any law, so what you are doing is either assault or bullying, which is a crime by the academy's principles." Seris countered, her voice cold and stubborn. She didn't flinch, standing her ground against the group.
Nevian stepped closer to Seris. His eyes were dark and scanned her whole, like a predator evaluating its prey. Darian watched from his seat, knowing what his personality was, a vile snake that never forgets the person who hurts him or stands against him.
Oh, Lady of the Korvinne... he replied with a smirk, but his face didn't try to hide his frustration."Perhaps you don't like our methods of punishment? Hmmm....., fine, leave her, guys."
He gave a serious one last look before he left. The goons followed him after; they exited the cafeteria, but tension remained in the room.
Seris didn't spare the time looking at the goons or any others in the cafeteria. She instead walked to Elaine, who was trembling and crying on the bench. She looked down at her face, which was cold, and it was a combination of disgust and concern at the same time.
"You are so weak and disgusting," Seris said flatly without flinching. "How can you expect to survive in this academy alone in the world like this?"
Without waiting for a reply or gratitude, she threw a clean towel onto her table. She paused while turning when she saw Darian. Her eyes darted at him for a second, but she turned it back and left the cafeteria.
Darian didn't think twice; he stood up, abandoned his half-eaten food, and started to follow Seris. Darian knew one thing: even if Seris might not be the one from the novel, Nevian is the same as the one in the novel, and he might do what he likes to do against someone who stood against him.
He followed her slowly without her knowing; he could hide his presence, patiently following her towards her dormitory, and as Darian predicted, Nevian was waiting and standing on the path.
"What are you doing now, Senior Nevian?" She looked at him, she charged her mana for a spell, in case something went wrong.
"Oh, nothing, lady, as you said about nullying a junior, but there is a loophole he walked towards her," laughing and menacingly panicked, and used magic.
"ICTUS VENTI..."
A large stream of air knocked Nevian to the ground. He stood up again and laughed.
"Since the lady attacked me without provocation, this counts as self-defense."
His goons attacked her with weapons, and she used earth magic against them
"Terra-pil..." The rocks lifted from the earth, aiming towards the students, knocking one or two in the process, but they were somehow able to evade.
"Damn this bitch" another one rushed, charging at her
"AESTUS IGNIS...." She used fire to attack the person who was coming close to her.
She fought many of them. Darian, who was hiding and using his mana gaze to examine them, saw Seris's attacks getting slower and weaker, less precise, which was expected he thought himself since in the novel, she would have awakened further, even having a great mana pool in her heart, she could effectively cast more powerful spells, because of her incomplete circle, still holding this much against seniors, what a monster!
"Let's see you can block this, AESTUS AQUAE," Seris called the goon to attack them again.
But Nevian, already waiting for the opening, shouted the chant "AESTUS IGNIS SUPERIORA!"
A massive, overwhelming flame of fire erupted from his hand, and it vaporised her water spell on the last attempt. Seris channeled her mana and pulled the earth to make a barrier.
"CLYPEUS TERRAE," the rock lifted from the ground as a barrier, aiding in preventing injury and protecting her from the fire spell.
Immediately, Nevian chanted "FULMIS ICTUS SUPERIORA,"
A barrage of stronger lightning came from his hands, which hit her earth barrier spell and cracked it open, knocking her to the wall and stunning her in the process.
Nevian laughed at his victory; the sound echoed through the hallway.
"Hahahaha, well, young lady, you have nowhere to run."
He nods. Two of his remaining goons stepped forward, holding her by the arms and pinning her to the wall. She glared at Nevian, her jaw clenched, refusing to utter a single cry of forgiveness.
Her stubbornness only made Nevian's twisted amusement grow. He walked towards her. His eyes, scanning her helpless, filled figure; his predatory and sickening glance was properly visible in his eyes. He slid his hands towards her thighs slowly; his touch made her skin crawl.
"I really should have a little taste of the future emperor's fiancée before he actually marries her," Nevian whispered in her ears, manically laughing, "Don't you agree, Lady Seris?"
"You know what, senior, maybe you should have a taste, but how about offering first to royalty?" Darian walked in from the darkness.
Nevian looked at Darian. "Oh, it seems we were followed by an uninvited guest."
He walked towards Darian. "You should leave some crumbs for us, your highness."
Darian walked towards Seris, who was panting and exhausted, and looked directly into his eyes. he smirked at her, holding his hands on the tip of her cheek, and smirked and took his hands away from her.
"You know what, Senior Nevian," he clenched his hand tight. "I am not hungry anymore,"
Before Nevian could turn his head back, Darian punched the guy who was pinning her left against the wall. The impact was so strong that it knocked him out at impact.
The other guy reacted quickly, but darian has alredy planned his move. He pulled his tie on the neck, pulling it towards Darian's knee, hitting his face and pulling the tie, and throwing him against the ground. The impact didn't knock him out. Darian walked toward him and lifted his leg, and twisted it.
TWACK.....
"AHHHHHHHH..." he screams as Darian dislocates his legs.
He pulls his tie from his neck and wraps it around his wrist, and looks at Nevian, who is furious and looking kike he is going to explode.
"Fuck the plot and rules. It's time to properly teach you some manners you lack, you noble piece of shit."