Chapter 62: The Foolish Prince Was Just as Rumored
(So, Rodel Aiwood… is that the infamous Foolish Prince!?)
As Rest heard the furious voice of the blonde boy, his eyes widened in shock. He was well aware of the name, but this was his first time encountering him in person. Before enrolling, his stepfather, Marquis Rosemary, had warned him about this troublemaker.
“Listen well, Rest. Among the nobility and royalty, there are many individuals you must be cautious of, but the foremost among them is the Third Prince Rodel.”
According to the Marquis, Rodel was an arrogant and haughty individual, hardly resembling the son of a king known for his benevolence. He looked down on those around him, flaunting his status as a prince, believing he could do anything without consequence. To make matters worse, he was a notorious womanizer, having forcibly taken advantage of maids in the palace and nearly causing diplomatic incidents by pursuing foreign princesses visiting for negotiations. The list of troubles he had caused was endless. Yet, he possessed a remarkable magical talent, which only inflated his pride, leading him to think of himself as a superior being, a chosen genius.
“Listen, Rest! If that Foolish Prince tries to lay a hand on any of the girls, stop him by any means necessary! If it comes to the worst, I will take full responsibility, even if it means killing him!”
“Wait… killing him would be a bit much, don’t you think…?”
Rest had chuckled at the Marquis’s words, but now that he was face-to-face with the Foolish Prince, he understood the urge to want to do just that.
(His tone is different, but he has a slight resemblance to my foolish brother… He seems like the type who would make you feel justified in throwing a punch.)
“What’s wrong, commoner? Get out of the classroom at once! Did you not hear that I, Rodel, will be joining Class A?”
Rodel frowned, clearly displeased. Beside him, a nervous-looking, small boy adjusted his glasses repeatedly, while a large, bald-headed boy gripped the sword hanging from his belt. Surely, they weren’t suggesting they would draw their weapons if he didn’t comply?
(This is bad… What should I do in this situation?)
Faced with the three intimidating boys standing before him, Rest sighed in frustration. This was quite the predicament. If it were Cedric, he would have punched him by now, but as annoying as Rodel was, he was still the Third Prince. Resorting to violence was not an option.
“What are you hesitating for? I told you to stand up and leave!”
“Are you defying His Highness the Prince!? Hurry up and get out!”
“If you refuse to obey His Highness’s orders…!”
(How annoying… Who are these underlings?)
As the two retainers shouted at him, Rest decided to at least stand up from his chair.
(So… what should I do in this case?)
Glancing around casually, he noticed his classmates avoiding eye contact, clearly not wanting to get involved. He understood their feelings; if he were in their position, he would likely do the same.
(There’s no helping it… For now, I should at least try to reason with him.)
“I sincerely apologize, Your Highness, Prince Rodel… I did not expect to have the honor of meeting you in a place like this, and thus my reaction was delayed.”
Rest stood up and gracefully bowed his head. It was a perfect bow, taught to him by Dibble, a refined gesture that would not embarrass him in high society.
“Oh…?”
Rodel’s eyes widened in surprise at the polished nobleman’s greeting.
“…You are not a commoner, are you?”
“Yes, I am technically a commoner.”
“Then hurry up and obey my orders. You belong in Class D. Move quickly.”
“With all due respect, may I ask… have you obtained permission from the teachers to change classes?”
“Hmph… If I say so, then no permission from a mere teacher is necessary.”
“In that case, please obtain permission first. There are procedures to follow. Once the proper steps are taken, I will move to Class D.”
“You…! Are you defying His Highness Rodel!?”
The large boy grabbed Rest by the collar, lifting him off the ground so that his toes barely touched the floor.
(Oh… he’s surprisingly strong…)
He didn’t look like a magician; perhaps he was from the Department of Knights? His thick arms and large physique spoke of a man who had trained his body for battle.
“Exactly! Why should His Highness Rodel have to seek permission from a mere teacher!?”
The bespectacled boy chimed in, his small stature matching his petty demeanor.
(Just as rumored, he’s the type where logic doesn’t apply… What should I do? If Viola and Primula come back from the restroom now, it would definitely escalate.)
If the two of them… along with Yuri, witnessed this scene, they would undoubtedly confront Rodel and protest.
(Clearly, the prince and his retainers are in the wrong… but I don’t want to stir up trouble. I don’t want them to get involved with this prince.)
For now, he decided to pretend to comply and stepped out of the classroom. Then… he would report this incident to the teachers and let them handle it.
“Understood. Then I shall proceed as you say…”
“All of you! What are you doing!?”
Just as Rest was about to surrender unconditionally, a sharp voice echoed through the classroom. The owner of the voice had entered the room, a female student. For a brief moment, Rest’s heart skipped a beat, but the newcomer was neither Viola, Primula, nor Yuri.
“Celestine…!”
Rodel clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Standing at the entrance of the classroom was Celestine Crocus, Rodel’s fiancée and a noblewoman of the duchy.