Chapter 29

At the sound of the two names flowing together from the thick edge of the priest’s lips, Arkin’s nerves tightened sharply, as if pulled taut. Without realizing it, he drew in a sharp breath.

“I ask the princesses. Where are Nephitia and Zafiri?”

“Oh, well…”

As the priest pointed directly at the table where the princesses were gathered, quick glances darted back and forth between Petra and the Floria princess. A silent tug-of-war briefly took place between the two, and despite the Floria princess trying to hold her back, Petra spoke up with a resolute air.

“To tell the priest just the simple truth, Prince Zafiri called out to Nephitia in front of our accommodation, and I saw him leading her away.”

Suddenly, the surroundings fell silent. Seneca asked again with an expression that seemed to say he couldn’t believe it.

“What? Where to?”

“Well, toward the beach? The two of them were talking so happily and warmly together, and after that I didn’t see them anymore…”

“You must have been instructed that unsupervised interactions between men and women are prohibited. Didn’t the apprentice priest who guided you to the quarters tell you clearly?”

It felt as though something was lodged firmly in his throat. Arkin glanced at the priest, then back at Petra. The men had received clear instructions from Titus upon reaching the quarters. Prince Zafiri had not been present at that time. Should he say something to defend them? Would that spare them from punishment, then?

“Seneca.”

Arkin raised his hand to call out to the priest.

“Uhm, I don’t think Zafiri was there when the notice was given…”

Seneca drew a firm line with a displeased expression.

“Then Princess Nephitia, who did hear the notice, should have firmly stopped him.”

Left with nothing more to say, Arkin awkwardly closed his mouth. How embarrassing. It wasn’t a matter for him to needlessly insert himself into, yet he had gone out of his way to add words…

“I don’t know why they are acting so recklessly. If you’re going to break the rules on the very first day, why did you even come here? Is this promise a joke to you?”

It was when the priest was pouring out harsh, unsparing criticism without hesitation. Suddenly, the dining hall door was flung wide open, and a bright, cheerful voice washed into the room.

“I’m late! Sorry. Oh, are you all gathered already?”

A man with a deep tan and long, slender limbs strode right inside. Moving with an unconcerned gait, he rolled his violet-shining eyes and slowly looked around the surroundings. It felt somewhat mystical, lingering somewhere between a man and a woman. If not for his bare, ruggedly tanned and muscular upper body laid wide open, he could easily have been mistaken for a princess.

“Just where and what were you doing to show up only now?”

Seneca rebuked him sharply, but Prince Zafiri merely waved his hand dismissively, as if it were nothing.

“It’s nothing much. I felt cooped up, so I took a little walk.”

As he shook his head, his cascading, curly brown hair swung and fluttered richly. Watching his brazen demeanor in silence, Arkin bit down hard on his back teeth. Who knew when or where he had worn it, but resting atop the prince’s head was something resembling a floral wreath. Since they looked like fresh flowers, he must have worn it just now. And if he wore it, who on earth could have made it for him?

“I was dallying around a bit with the Kepet princess and didn’t realize the time was up. Nephitia, come on in.”

Nephitia stepped inside. Walking lightly with a slightly flushed face, the moment she made eye contact with Arkin, she smiled faintly.

…She’s smiling?

Arkin couldn’t bring himself to smile. He had gone and spewed nonsense just to help her out and ended up looking like a complete fool, yet here she was, beaming away without a clue about what was going on in other people’s heads.

“This is truly driving me insane.”

As if just as astounded as Arkin, Seneca’s tone grew even higher than before.

“During the training period on Credo Island, separate contact between men and women is strictly forbidden. Did you not hear that?”

“Ah, Nephitia did say that, though.”

Prince Zafiri smiled brazenly.

“Still, if anyone got the chance to be all alone with the Kepet princess, they would have acted just like me. Nephitia is a goddess, after all.”

What in the world is this utter bullshit…?

Arkin’s brow violently twisted. Over on the other side, Draconis lowered his head and snickered, while snorts of derisive laughter burst out from the table where the princesses were gathered. Unfazed by such reactions, Zafiri casually gave Seneca’s shoulder a light tap and grinned.

“Sorry. For me, it was a moment I simply couldn’t afford to miss. I lose all self-control when I see pretty people.”

“Go on in and take your seat.”

Seneca let out a deep, exasperated sigh as if thoroughly fed up. Running his hand back to sweep through his long hair, the Vine Prince strode heavily inside. Was it merely an illusion for a brief second when those violet eyes of his glanced subtly toward Arkin?

“I’m going to lose my mind starting from day one.”

Seneca dragged his palm down his face, utterly sick to his stomach. Staring in disbelief as Zafiri took a seat right next to Kaichen alongside Nephitia, his gaze snapped upward with a sharp twitch.

“Wait a minute, what is that attire supposed to be? Why is the upper part of your tunic missing?”

“I didn’t like it, so I altered it a bit. I happen to prefer showing off my body. Look, isn’t it nice?”

Zafiri nonchalantly pointed to his own physique. Without an ounce of soft fat, bulging and sleek muscles densely packed his sturdy-looking upper body.

“Is it okay to break the rules just because you have a nice body? I’ll bring you a new tunic, so go change.”

“Ah, what a shame. Aren’t you all thinking otherwise? Especially for me, since I’m quite a feast for the eyes, it must be a real pity.”

Baring his white teeth, Zafiri grinned playfully. He gave his stomach a casual rub with his palm and tapped his broad chest muscles, producing a sound like knocking on tree bark.

“A pity, my foot. Please, just do as you’re told… Never mind.”

Seneca let out a series of deep sighs and waved his hand. Concerned that too much time had been wasted, he muttered that since this was the first time for such an occurrence, he would let it slide just this once before bringing up the next topic.

“As you’ve already been told, you will remain on this island for the next half-year. During this period, you will receive education to familiarize yourselves with the founding backgrounds and customs of each country, undergo various training courses to master the virtues of a monarch, and learn how to govern your bodies and minds.”

Just as his focus was beginning to drift away from a story he had already heard entirely, the priest’s tone shifted significantly to a graver pitch.

“With each training course, various tests will also be conducted to rigorously forge your patience, mental fortitude, and courage.”

“Wait, a test? Aren’t we just supposed to receive the oracle at the end?”

Someone in the table where the princesses were gathered asked urgently. It was likely Princess Petra of Stoneguard.

“Naturally, because we must report back to your respective homelands whether you diligently applied yourselves to the training course. That is precisely why you must strive to earn good evaluations in this tournament. Is there some kind of problem?”

Princess Petra showed an unusually sensitive reaction.

“I hate doing things without warning like this… Um, we’re given plenty of time, right?”

“You don’t need to worry too much. We will merely evaluate whether you have thoroughly learned and absorbed the virtues to become a fine monarch and whether you passed or failed the test. It will surely prove to be a very enjoyable process for all of us.”

However, the priest continued speaking with an unreadable smile masking his true intentions throughout.

“Now, starting tomorrow, we will spend about ten days getting our daily living habits in order first. Without subordinates to wake you in the morning, you will train to wake up at designated times on your own, wash yourselves by yourselves, dress yourselves, tidy and clean your own spaces, and gather right on schedule. Mastering even just this much takes quite a while, you see.”

“Anyone can do that much. Are they openly treating us like children?”

Kaichen grumbled. Yet, the Lightning Prince’s hair that had been about to spike up alongside his irritation slumped back down smoothly under the intensity of Seneca’s fiercely glaring eyes.

“We shall see if everyone arrives right on time. The bell announcing classes and meal times will ring five times in total; if you fail to arrive within that window, you will receive punishment, so be prepared.”

Every time the priest’s lips moved, his shaggy beard and terrifying knife scar twitched right along with them.

“Once this process concludes, formal education will finally begin at that time. Until then, you will focus strictly on establishing basic daily habits. Do you understand? On the very first day education begins, we will tour various parts of the island. I will show you the World Tree where the World Alliance began, several locations where tests will be held, and aside from those, the areas you are permitted to enter as well as the places strictly off-limits. We will also show you the training grounds to hone your physical bodies and the paths where chariot races will take place.”