YM778.TV Chapter 726: Hidden Behind The Facade
"I\'ll make this short." George raised his cup with a big smile on his face. "I offer this toast to our newest member! May Dud Manor prosper this year as well. Cheers!"
"""Cheers!"""
Everyone drank in honor of their newest member, Hecate Von Magdar.
George and Noah had snuck into the academy\'s kitchen earlier to get some food for the private party in their Manor.
Originally, they thought that they wouldn\'t get any new students this year. After all, not many Duds dared to apply to Magical Academies because of the potential discrimination they would face.
The Duds enrolled at Brynhildr Academy weren\'t exempted from this rule. If Henry hadn\'t been a part of Dud Manor and didn\'t hold the title The Mage Slayer, the other Duds would have faced more harsh criticisms.
Fortunately, someone like Ethan joined their ranks. So, even if Henry was no longer in the academy, the blue-haired young man\'s latest performance was enough to shut up all opposition.
The members of Dud Manor believed that as long as Ethan was with them, they could hold their heads high without being afraid of being discriminated against in the academy.
"I hope you enjoy your stay here in Dud Manor, Hecate," George said. "If Ethan tries to bother you, just tell me. I\'ll make sure to put him in his place."
Everyone laughed at their Head Prefect\'s declaration because this was something that was impossible to happen.
For most of them, George\'s existence was just comedic relief. They didn\'t really think much of his ability to perform the duties of a Head Prefect, so they weren\'t expecting him to do as well as Henry in his term.
"Thank you, Sir George," Hecate replied. "I am honored to be here. I also look forward to having a wonderful stay in the academy, so everyone, please take care of me."
More cheers erupted as the closely-knit group applauded their newest member.
Ethan, who was clapping with everyone else, was paying close attention to Hecate as if trying to look for traces of the Princess whom he and Joanne had left in the past.
However, no matter how much he looked at her, aside from a few facial similarities, Hecate and Princess Ramona were very different from each other.
\'Get a grip, Ethan,\' Ethan thought. \'She cannot be her. They only share the same last name and a few facial features.\'
Perhaps, knowing what he was thinking, Sebastian and Ethan\'s Other Half sighed inside his Sea of Consciousness and remained silent.
They didn\'t even feel like teasing the young man at this time, knowing that it would leave a bad aftertaste afterward.
"Smile, Ethan." Luna tugged the young man\'s robe as he gave him a smile. "This is supposed to be a happy celebration. Why do you look sad? Are you perhaps thinking of Princess Ramona?"
Ethan had told all of his lovers about his adventure in the past, so all of them were familiar with the Princess who had left a deep impression on their lover.
"You\'re right, Luna." Ethan smiled. "This is a happy occasion."
The young man then gave his lover a peck on the cheeks, which made George start booing in his direction.
"Hecate, remember this. Ethan is already taken," George stated. "He has many lovers, so if you don\'t want to get heartbroken, you should stay away from him."
"… Isn\'t that normal?" Hecate inquired. "Nobles can have multiple wives, can\'t they?"
"But he\'s not a noble," George commented. "Right, Ethan?"
"Sir George, did you forget that I\'ve been given the title of Honorary Knight?" Ethan asked in a teasing tone.
"Boooo!" George crossed his hands forming an X. "Although Honorary Knights and Baronets are technically nobles, they are not regarded as such. You need to increase your rank to be considered a true noble."
"I guess I\'ll pass then," Ethan replied. "I\'m fine being an honorary knight."
Ethan was tempted to tell George that his family owned a castle.
But he knew that even if he did tell his Head Prefect about it, George wouldn\'t believe his words, so he didn\'t bother.
As the party continued, Hecate found herself surrounded by the members of Dud Manor, including Luna and Lilian.
The two happily chatted with her and asked more about her homeland, which was the Magdar Kingdom.
Ethan, on the other hand, sat in the corner of the Common Room and sipped from the glass of champagne that George had snuck out of the kitchen.
He was thinking about his sister, Joanne, and was wondering if Schwartz Manor was holding a similar celebration like what they were doing to honor her arrival.
***
Schwartz Manor…
Emma was paying close attention to the young lady, who was surrounded by Nobles who lived in Schwartz Manor.
After seeing her performance in battle earlier, they had confirmed that Joanne was an extremely powerful Witch, so they wanted to form close ties with her.
Even those who had mocked and treated Ethan like trash in the past said nothing but praises for the handsome young man, hoping that their flattery would pull the talented First Year into their inner circle.
Even Langston, who hated Ethan very much, was doing his best to act like a proper senior to Joanne, telling her to not hesitate to call him if she ever encountered any trouble in the academy.
Joanne graciously accepted everyone\'s attention and played the role of an arrogant First Year who enjoyed being praised by others.
What Emma didn\'t know was that Joanne wasn\'t acting at all.
After being cooped up alone in the Castle of Caer Wydion, this was her first time being surrounded by so many people, all of whom were flattering her because of her talents.
Of course, she also understood that some of these praises were empty flattery, but that didn\'t change the fact that she was the center of attention, which she enjoyed.
Aside from Emma, there were four more young ladies from the Meredith Clan who also specialized in Dark Magic.
They enrolled in the academy to become part of Joanne\'s entourage, protecting their Young Miss from those who wished to harm her.
Ethan also gave Emma an order to keep an eye on his sister and to immediately report to him if she found anyone acting suspiciously around his sister in Schwartz Manor.
\'They\'re already treating her like a potential partner,\' Emma thought as she eyed Langston and the other guys who were giving Joanne appraising gazes.
Although she was only twelve years old, Joanne was truly a beautiful girl.
They were certain that by the time she graduated from the academy, she would have grown into an extremely beautiful and outstanding young lady with assets that could match their noble status.
Nearly half of the students in Schwartz Manor were nobles who had come to the academy to look for future partners.
Emma could only sigh in her heart. Without a doubt, if any of these rascals made a move on Ethan\'s sister, the young man would start throwing fists, sending them all flying in every direction.
Of course, Ethan\'s Promised One knew that her Young Miss wasn\'t a damsel in distress.
Hidden behind that cute and adorable facade was a little devil who had charmed an entire kingdom for the sake of her one and only best friend.