Chapter 646: Stay Away from My Rival

Back when Ezra had felt the pain caused by the Duke of Bergwyn speaking directly into his mind...

A different scene was unfolding elsewhere in the Grand Royal Hall.

Several Young Nobles and Non-Nobles had gathered around a table away from the dance floor.

Music filled the hall, and the guests continued moving between their seats and the open floor.

The soft clinking of glasses mixed with their conversations, while the bright lights above reflected off the polished tableware.

However, the young people gathered around this particular table had little interest in the dancing.

Their attention was on Ezra Ashenlocke.

"What’s that idiot even doing?"

Felix Ashenlocke stared towards the dance floor with hatred in his eyes.

He held his glass loosely, his attention fixed on Ezra, who had yet to begin dancing with Diane Bergwyn.

"Maybe he has cold feet because of the number of Bergwyns watching him."

Tristin Aethelmont replied with a mocking grin.

He leaned back in his chair and tilted his head towards the dance floor, where several members of House Bergwyn who had gathered around Ezra and Diane were already dancing.

"Look at that idiot. He’s so frozen with fear that he can’t even move."

Tristin pointed towards Ezra and laughed.

The others sitting around the table followed his gaze.

A few of the Young Nobles exchanged amused looks before joining in.

Even some of the Non-Nobles seated nearby turned to see what had caught their attention.

To them, Ezra’s brief pause was an opportunity to make fun of him.

They didn’t know what had happened inside his mind.

All they could see was a young Alchemist standing with a precious Flower of the Kingdom, while other people were already dancing on the dance floor.

That was enough for them to draw their own conclusions.

"I never liked that Ezra guy."

A Young Noble lady seated near Desmond Derlis spoke while slowly rolling the cold fruit juice in her glass.

The liquid shifted against the sides as she moved her wrist, and she glanced towards Ezra with an expression of dislike.

"Ehnnn... I thought many girls liked him because he is really handsome and cool too."

Desmond leaned closer to her.

He moved far enough that she could feel his breath against the side of her neck.

The Young Noble lady stiffened, and a blush quickly spread across her cheeks.

"His... too... arrogant."

She struggled to finish the sentence.

Her attempt to sound displeased was ruined by her own voice.

She looked away, trying to regain her composure while Desmond watched her with a faint grin.

He seemed to find her reaction amusing.

The other girls seated nearby exchanged glances.

Some smiled behind their glasses, while others pretended to be more interested in their drinks.

Desmond was the main attraction among the young men gathered at the table.

Several Young Noble and Non-Noble ladies had chosen seats close to him, and he appeared perfectly comfortable with the attention.

He didn’t need to do much to keep the conversation going.

"But who would have thought Ezra would be labelled a psycho killer?"

Gareth Ashenlocke spoke calmly.

Unlike Felix, he wasn’t laughing at Ezra’s apparent hesitation.

His remark concerned the news that had spread throughout the Grand Royal Hall earlier.

The accusation against Ezra had given everyone something to discuss.

Even people who had never spoken to him now had an opinion about the matter.

"Psycho killer, my foot."

Basil Evermont looked at Gareth with a dismissive expression.

"There is no way that plain-ass fool could kill an entire group of experienced Alchemists. Not just one or two, either. The report says close to hundreds of them. And according to the article published by the BNC Broadcasting Group, that useless Baron of Sterling was only an Adept Alchemist."

He sneered as he finished speaking, as though the information itself was enough to prove his point.

"Just an Adept?"

Logan Drakes narrowed his eyes at Basil.

"You do realize an Adept Alchemist is quite strong, especially for people like us who haven’t even reached the Adept Alchemist rank yet."

Logan raised the hand holding his glass of red fruit wine and pointed it towards Basil.

A little of the liquid shifted inside the glass, but he paid it no attention.

His expression made it clear that Basil’s words had struck him as foolish.

An Adept Alchemist was not someone a young student could dismiss so easily.

Reaching that Alchemist rank required more than simply learning the basics of Alchemy, and the difference between an Adept and a lower-ranked Alchemist was not something to laugh about.

At their current stage, most of the people sitting around the table had yet to reach that level themselves.

Basil opened his mouth as though he wanted to argue, but another voice interrupted him.

"I’m even shocked Basil actually reads the news."

A young Non-Noble lady said with amusement.

A few people at the table laughed.

"Haha... Haha... Haha..."

Desmond joined them, laughing lightly with the Young Noble and Non-Noble ladies seated close to him.

Basil’s face darkened.

He turned towards the people laughing at him and glared at them.

His fingers tightened around his glass, and his jaw shifted as he tried to contain his irritation.

The more he looked at their amused expressions, the more annoyed he became.

They had been discussing Ezra a moment ago.

Now, they were laughing at him instead.

Basil clearly didn’t appreciate the change.

"Whatever the truth is, this should affect his reputation, right?"

Tristin asked.

He lifted his glass and took a sip of red fruit wine before placing it back on the table.

His earlier amusement had not completely disappeared, but his question carried more interest than his previous remarks.

Because the accusation against Ezra was really serious, and even if the truth remained uncertain, a report of that scale could not simply be ignored.

"It will, but the problem is that not everyone is morally stupid enough to see the killing itself as a problem."

Felix replied calmly, while he crossed one leg over the other and rested against the back of his chair.

"You saw how people reacted when the breaking news came out."

His tone remained calm, but there was a clear point behind his words.

The guests had heard the accusations.

Some were shocked, while others had been more interested in what the information meant for Ezra’s position and reputation.

The matter had certainly attracted attention, but that did not mean everyone would turn against him.

Felix understood that distinction.

The truth of the accusation and the public’s reaction to it were two different things.

If the people of Britannia were not willing to condemn Ezra over the alleged killings, then simply repeating the story would not be enough to destroy him.

"That is why, when the second semester begins, we have a lot of work to do."

A familiar voice sounded from nearby.

Tristin immediately stood up.

The Young Nobles and Non-Nobles seated around the table followed his example, pushing back their chairs and rising to their feet.

Everyone stood.

Everyone except Desmond Derlis.

"Greetings to the Second Prince."

The group greeted Prince Daniel Aethelmont, who stood before them with his hands inside the pockets of his white-and-gold trousers.

The prince’s arrival changed the atmosphere around the table.

The young people who had been laughing moments ago straightened their backs and adjusted their expressions.

Their attention shifted from the conversation about Ezra to the royal figure standing before them.

Daniel was not alone.

Two of his close aides stood beside him, while three more followed behind.

His personal Guards and servants walked at the rear, maintaining their positions as the group approached the table.

The arrangement made it clear that this was no casual visit from an ordinary upperclass student of Royal.

Prince Daniel had brought his attendants with him, and his presence demanded the respect expected of the Second Prince of Britannia.

"Brother."

Prince Tristin smiled when he saw his elder brother.

Daniel gave him a brief look before waving a hand at the others.

"Sit."

The gesture allowed the young people to return to their seats.

A few maids soon approached with additional chairs and refreshments for the prince and his five aides.

Like Daniel, the aides were Young Nobles attending the Royal Academy, and their presence around him was not unusual.

They settled into the available places while the servants made sure everyone had what they needed.

Desmond, however, did not bother to change his posture.

"Hey Prince Daniel."

He offered the greeting lazily, making little effort to hide his lack of respect.

"I see you still haven’t learnt respect."

Daniel replied calmly.

His expression tightened slightly as he looked at Desmond.

The young man had made no effort to stand when the prince arrived, and even his greeting sounded as though he were addressing someone of little importance.

"I do whatever I like. Isn’t that already common knowledge?"

Desmond answered with a grin.

He remained relaxed in his chair, seemingly unconcerned by Daniel’s displeasure.

One of the prince’s aides reacted immediately.

"How dare you talk back to the Second Prince of Britannia?"

Jemima Dewinter shouted.

She was a Young Noble lady and a Third Year at the Royal Academy, just like Prince Daniel. Her face had grown tense, and she leaned forward as she directed her anger towards Desmond.

The prince’s disrespectful treatment was one thing.

But watching Desmond behave as though royal authority meant nothing was another.

"Calm down, Jemima. You’re only wasting your time on him."

Barry Dewinter spoke in an even tone.

He sat beside the others without raising his voice.

Unlike Jemima, he didn’t seem interested in challenging Desmond over his attitude.

He knew the sort of person Desmond Derlis was.

Arguing with him would likely lead nowhere.

"Tsk."

Jemima clicked her tongue and sat down again.

She folded her arms across her chest and turned her face away from Desmond, though the irritation on her face remained.

Gareth waited until the exchange had ended before speaking.

"So, what did you mean when you said we have a lot of work to do, Your Highness?"

He looked towards Prince Daniel with curiosity.

The prince had arrived at a convenient moment.

His words about the coming semester had caught everyone’s attention, and Gareth wanted to know what he had in mind.

Daniel’s expression changed.

The faint displeasure he had shown towards Desmond gave way to something more hostile.

He placed his attention on the people gathered around the table, making sure they understood what he intended.

"We have to use this opportunity to completely ruin that maggot’s life at the academy. I want to make him quit the Royal Academy himself."

The Second prince spoke with a restrained but unmistakably aggressive tone.

The words were clear enough.

Daniel did not merely want Ezra to suffer a damaged reputation.

He wanted to make his life at the academy so difficult that leaving would become his only choice.

The recent accusations had given him an opening, and he intended to use it.

"Ehn... Ehn. But why the hatred, Prince Daniel? I don’t remember Ezra doing anything to offend you."

Desmond leaned forward and placed an arm on the table.

A soft grin appeared on his face as he looked at the prince.

He seemed curious about Daniel’s motive, though the way he spoke suggested that he already had an idea.

"Except Tristin, of course."

He turned towards Prince Tristin with a mocking smile.

Tristin’s expression immediately changed.

"Desmond."

He gritted his teeth.

The warning in his voice was plain, but Desmond merely looked at him with the same amused expression.

He had no intention of withdrawing his remark.

Gareth decided to answer the question himself.

"Ezra is a thorn in Prince Daniel’s side because he wants to marry Lady Vera. But you already know who is very close to the Lady of Ash."

He looked at Desmond as he spoke.

The words caused Desmond’s grin to fade.

For a brief moment, he looked directly at Gareth without saying anything.

The change was small, but it was enough to show that the subject had touched on something he did not find amusing.

Then he leaned back in his chair.

"You Young Gentlemen of this kingdom are always fighting over a lady’s heart. Don’t you find it disgusting?"

Desmond asked.

His tone had returned to normal, though the mockery in his expression had not entirely disappeared.

"Disgusting?"

Prince Daniel stared at him.

His displeasure was no longer difficult to see.

The way Desmond spoke made it sound as though Daniel’s plans were nothing more than a childish contest over a girl.

"You’re busy planning a young man’s downfall when you couldn’t even get the girl in the first place."

Desmond laughed lightly.

His mocking grin returned, and he rested comfortably against the back of his chair.

The words were deliberately chosen to provoke Daniel.

Rather than offering the prince any respect, Desmond had turned his intentions into a joke for everyone at the table to hear.

Several of the young people remained quiet, watching the exchange.

They knew Daniel’s position, but they also knew Desmond’s personality and position as well.

The latter was not someone who could easily be made to follow another person’s wishes, even when that person happened to be a prince.

"I’m not a fan of seeing men fight over one lady, but I do understand the obsession with a Flower. Especially when that Flower is Vera."

Desmond continued calmly.

His expression settled as he spoke her name.

The title of Flower carried its own weight among the young people of Britannia.

It was not surprising that a prominent young lady could attract the attention of many Young Gentlemen, and Vera Ashenlocke was no exception.

Desmond understood the appeal.

That did not mean he approved of the way Daniel intended to deal with his rival.

"But you know Ezra is my rival."

He raised one hand and looked towards the prince.

"I don’t like people messing around with my prey before I finally get to snap it into pieces."

Desmond snapped his fingers once.

The sharp sound cut through the conversation for a brief moment.

He wore a pleasant smile, but his words carried a warning.

"Basically, stay away from Ezra Ashenlocke. At least for this second semester."

He paused.

Something seemed to occur to him, and his expression shifted into exaggerated thoughtfulness.

"Oh, my bad... You’re already going to graduate by then. Haha...Haha..."

He laughed lightly again.

The remark made it clear that he had not forgotten Daniel was a Third Year.

The prince’s time at the Royal Academy was limited, and Desmond had chosen to remind him of that fact in the most irritating way possible.

Daniel’s expression grew colder.

Before he could respond...

BAM!

Jemima slammed her hand against the table.

"I have had enough of your rude attitude, Desmond Derlis!"

The impact rattled the glasses resting nearby.

A few drops of fruit wine splashed against the inside of one glass, and the conversations at the table stopped.

Jemima glared at Desmond, her anger finally overcoming her patience.

A few guests sitting nearby turned towards the commotion.

Their gazes lingered on the group for a moment, curious about the raised voices and the sudden strike against the table.

However, their interest did not last long.

The music continued across the Grand Royal Hall, and the couples on the dance floor remained the center of attention.

After a brief look, the nearby guests returned to their conversations and the ongoing performances.

Whatever argument was taking place around the table, the dancing was far more important to them than a group of Young Nobles and Non-Nobles exchanging aggressive words.