<h4>Chapter 416 136 - Back to the Aspakeony Academy (part 7)</h4>


    "[Zoemi, I...]"


    |Cut her off.|


    "(If you say so, master...)"


    Miriette''s message spell was pressing onto Zoemi''s conscience but the ck-haired boy not only didn''t turn around to face her, he straight-up asked his sentinels to reject the spell whatsoever – which one of them did, although not without audible doubt.


    "(Mater, are you sure...? If you want to steal her then, you know, you should talk to her.)"


    The sentinel asked in a worried voice.


    |The more confused both of them are, the more believable their reactions will be. That''s the point. I will talk things out with them when the time is right.|


    The ck-haired boy thought dismissively while doing his very best not to nce back even though he heard the rustle of Miriette shifting around in unease.


    ------


    "Zoemi, we need to talk."


    The lecture came to an end and the gold-haired prince and his fiancee stood up from their seats and approached the ck-haired boy...


    "..."


    ...who also stood up and waved past them going straight for the blue-haired teacher who was about to leave the ssroom – which was quite a feat considering that he was doing so while also needing his cane to move around normally.


    "Teacher Perserios! How are the preparations for the ceremony going along?"


    Zoemi asked all excited while walking to the hallway together with the blue-haired young woman.


    "Pfff...! I was wondering whether we would have to go to your territory to give you the wedding invitation since you told your father that you will not speak to him before we restart the preparation."


    Rokiana couldn''t stop herself this time and snickered before ncing at her future step-son.


    "I was going to return to the Academy anyway so things would resolve themselves quite well."


    The ck-haired boy lightly shrugged his shoulders and pointed out.


    "Then? A month? Two? A bitter? Or maybe sooner?"


    He moved the subject along as the break between the first and second lecture wasn''t all that long and he didn''t want to bete.


    "Eh? You would want me to wait that long? Come on, student Banemor. Do you expect me to wear some baggy dress just so my stomach wouldn''t stick out making it too obvious?"


    Rokiana scoffed and rolled her eyes with a tired expression, before sliding her middle finger alongside the line of her waist.


    "It''s going to be next week sharp. Today is myst day before taking the leave, actually. I will send someone to get you a day or two earlier if you don''t mind – You need to be present during at least one rehearsal after all."


    She added while Zoemi was staring at her stomach with confusion...


    "...huh...? HUH?! You?! No way~!"


    ...until something clicked in the boy''s mind and he gasped,pletely awestruck, and looked up at the proud expression that the blue-haired woman was making.


    "Yes, way. You are going to be an older brother in a few months so try to behave. Although I think I know what you attempt to aplish... Self-sacrifice is not allowed, alright?"


    Rokiana nodded and her expression became serious as she warned the ck-haired boy while tapping his shoulders with her right hand.


    "Oh – and Devios would love to meet up with you. He was supposed to be the student here this year, but the duties of the heir of our territory are a bit too time-consuming to allow such luxury... But we can talk about itter. Now, go back to the ssroom and try to be good."


    The tapping changed into reassuring patting, as the blue-haired young teacher gently guided the ck-haired student back towards the direction they both originally came from.


    "...ah...! Okay!"


    Zoemi flinched in realization and nodded, he walked a few steps before turning around with a concerned look on his face.


    "...was I at least convincing...?"


    He asked cautiously, not wanting to directly say – with acting as a bad guy – because of all the ears listening in from every side, but it was plenty obvious, especially for the blue-haired woman.


    "It was a start – to really drive it home, you should at least pick up a fight with someone and win by andslide. That would send the right message."


    She smirked cheekily and dered.


    "I thought so too. Good thing I already have that crossed off the list. Take care~!"


    "...?"


    The ck-haired boy breathed out in relief and waved goodbye to the slightly confused Rokiana, who, after all, wasn''t aware of the boy''s earlier encounter with overzealous students in front of the faculty office.


    "Hmhmhmm~"


    Zoemi hummed while walking back as many students were crowding at the door of their ssrooms to have caught a glimpse of him.


    Acting as if he was basking in the attention, the ck-haired boy straightened his back and donned the proudest smirk that he ever mustered, all while supporting himself on a crystal cane that, truth be told, was getting an almost equal amount of attention as his person.


    Someone must have already spread the information about the little show that four dozens of students decided to volunteer to participate in.


    "I''m open to talks, you know~?"


    Zoemi spoke loudly enough to get the attention of all, without actually having a specific person to whom he was directing his words.


    "You can decide for yourselves, or pass it to our parents. Those who don''t think that either of the princes is a good option for Bellcephora kingdom''s future, now have a valid third option, with Zoemi Benevi Banemor. Research it in your spare time and see whether my words hold some truth or not~"


    "[MASTER, WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING?!]"


    He announced with a lighthearted shrug – and the moment he did, one of his puppets connected with him via the message spell and shouted in pure shock and disbelief.


    |Stirring up a lot of trouble and hopefully controversy too.|


    "{...did you talk it out with ANYONE beforehand...?}"


    Another one of the puppets joined in and asked in a tired voice.


    "[MASTER HAS A MARTYR FETISH!]"


    The first puppet responded to the other question with an usatory shout.


    |I will exin it all, but this is the moment that my words have the greatest impact.|


    "[AND YOU ARE CHOOSING TO MAKE YOURSELF INTO A VILLAIN?! WE ALL HAVE BEEN WORKING SO HARD TO SALVAGE WHATEVER WAS LEFT OF YOUR IMAGE AND YOU JUST...!]"


    |...what exactly were you doing...?|


    The shouting puppet was venting out their anger, but instead of getting their master to feel guilty or reconsider his decision, they made him ask with a terribly grim expression.


    "[...! N-nothing in particr... Bye!]"


    Either because that particr puppet was around or whether Zoemi''s mood tranted so well in his thoughts, the shouting puppet lost everyst drop of the bravado and muttered in panic before cutting off the connection.


    |Listen up little ones – if you want to scold me about notmunicating with my allies, maybe you should take the advice from your own book ande clean with your own ns?|


    The ck-haired boy scoffed, returning to the ssroom and splendidly ignoring every other student before taking his ce right as the next teacher showed up for his lecture.


    "{We are all your creations through and through so... we will exin things at ater date, master.}"


    "..."


    The other puppet pointed out before cutting off their connection, leaving Zoemi grumpy all the way until recess.