Chapter Text
THE COURTYARD was filled to the brim with students chattering, although it wasn’t anything new. They were especially talkative today. Some interesting rumors had been going around that got both students and staff worked up.
Next year, there would be a new student, and that student just happened to be the Crown Prince of the kingdom. Everyone had mixed emotions. For some of the more well-known noble houses, it would be a good chance to get closer to the Crown Prince and maybe even get on the royal family's good side. But he was rumored to be cruel, and combined with his intelligence, many students and staff worried about what would happen if the rumors were true.
Well, just like all fairytales that consist of royalty and nobles, all they can do is wait for the full story to be revealed one moment at a time. Only then will they see how the story of the new students unfolds, for better or for worse. This is a tale that only the two of them can create.
THE KINGDOM OF AURELION was the kind of place someone could only describe as a painting. The clouds weren’t as white as snow, but they weren’t dark and gloomy either. They were like soft spots of mist, the kind you could look at for hours and never grow bored of. The fauna was diverse, different from that of other kingdoms, unique to Aurelion only, and the animals lived peacefully alongside the citizens of the smaller towns. Both humans and animals looked after each other.
And then there was the capital.
A beauty that couldn’t be described well enough with words, one that a single painting wouldn’t be able to capture. The capital of Aurelion truly was the heart of the kingdom for a reason. It was a place everyone wished to live in, to visit, to reach one day.
And with the kingdom came the Crown Prince of Aurelion, Flux Aurelion.
With hair as dark as the night sky and purple eyes that shone just as brightly as the stars that lit Aurelion at night, he was the epitome of beauty. However, beauty wasn’t everything.
Although Flux was rumored to be both beautiful and intelligent, the smartest to have ever blessed the royal family, he was also rumored to be cruel and relentless to both his family and servants alike. No one could get along with him, and if they tried, he would only ruin their efforts.
However, there could only be some truth to rumors, right? How could a prince no one had ever seen, a prince who had never gone out in public, a prince who had never appeared at official events, have such cruel and harsh rumors spread about him? Did he even know about them?
Well, the answer is yes.
He was the one who wanted those rumors to spread in the first place.
“All it took was a rumor. This might actually be fun..” A boy quietly said as he passed by a group of noble school girls gossiping to each other.
"I guess only time will tell." He chuckled, a look of arrogance yet excitement layered beneath his violet eyes as he looked out at the setting sun.
ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE of the Kingdom of Aurelion, in Oakmere County, the son of Count Kaden Theron, Saparata Theron—Saps for short—walked to his father’s office, his servant Micro behind him. Saps was fast on his feet, almost as if he was in a rush. In reality, he wasn’t. Saps had something to say to his father, and despite Micro’s protests, he was stubborn and refused to allow his father to get his way, especially when it came to his own personal affairs.
“He has no right to decide for me. What does my father even think he’s doing?” Saps said aloud, Micro sighing behind him. He knew that he should stop Saps from whatever he was about to do, but he had tried many times before. Micro had known his lord ever since they were kids, and with that time came the knowledge of just how stubborn Saps could be.
“I know you’re upset with Lord Kaden, but I’m sure he means no harm,” Micro said with a crooked smile. He could feel sweat drop down the back of his neck from nervousness.
“I know what he means, Micro.” He glared at him from behind. He didn’t mean to sound hostile, he was just irritated with his current situation. Lately, it felt as if nothing ever went his way, and he didn’t quite know how to feel about that.
Stopping at his father’s office, he barged in.
“I thought I taught you to knock before entering,” his father said, not bothering to lift his head from the files he was reading.
“And I thought you knew to look at somebody when they talk to you,” Saps shot back. His comment made his father chuckle.
“Touché. I think I know why you decided to barge into my office instead of doing something worthwhile.” He finally looked up from his files, his voice shifting from lighthearted to serious in an instant.
“I think you know why. I never asked to go to that school! I told you I wanted to go to art school instead.” He glared as his father sighed. Micro stood outside the door, sweat rapidly dropping down his neck. His lord was too stubborn and never understood the concept of thinking before speaking.
“You can major in art at the school I chose for you.”
“But that’s not what I want!”
“But that’s what I chose for you, and you will obey me by going to that school!” His father had had enough. He would no longer tolerate his son’s immaturity.
“I apologize, Your Majesty. However, even I cannot keep up with the speed of His Highness.” Phainon lied.
Though nobody ever told the king, afraid that he would never believe them and also because they didn’t want to burden him with such a small problem like his son not attending sword practice.
Suddenly, both Phainon and King Deshret heard the sound of a window opening. They quickly turned their heads. Phainon immediately stepped in front of the king and drew his sword, ready to attack what they thought could be an intruder.
However, it wasn’t an intruder who had opened the window, but the very boy they were talking about himself, Crown Prince Flux. The three of them froze, staring at each other. Phainon and the king shocked that the Crown Prince had climbed through the window, and Flux just as shocked that the very people he was trying to avoid were already in his room.
“Oh… I mean, hello, Father. How have you been?” Flux said, landing on the floor and forcing a tight, closed-eye smile. He could feel his father’s eyes boring into him, and every part of him knew he was in trouble.
I’m so fucked
“Where have you been?!” King Deshret asked his son, towering over him like an iceberg about to hit the Titanic.
“I thought it would be nice to get some fresh air. I mean, it gets kind of stuffy around here after all, wouldn’t you agree? Come on, I’m sure always being in your office makes you claustrophobic from time to time, right?” Flux said. Phainon could only shake his head. Your Highness, no amount of words will get you out of this mess this time around, I’m afraid.
For once, Flux’s usual charm was not working. His father wasn’t faltering the way he normally did when he caught Flux sneaking back inside.
“Father, out of all days, why is it today that you just had to catch me?” he complained lightheartedly.
His father sighed, and suddenly it felt like the room had gone from unbearably hot back to normal temperature in an instant.
“You know why I’m frustrated with you, right?” King Deshret asked as he turned to a painting of Flux and his siblings when they were much younger.
“Yep.” Flux sat down in a chair, grabbing a random book from the pile on the table next to him.
“So you’re aware that tomorrow you’ll be going to an actual school, with actual people of different social statuses?” King Deshret asked again, raising one brow. He knew his son probably knew about going to an actual school, and he also knew that Flux hadn't yet realize his first day there would be tomorrow of all days.
“I’m going WHERE tomorrow?!” Flux shouted, his words echoing throughout the palace walls. The servants looked toward the source of the echo, and all they could do was smile and continue with their work.
It was about time the prince who always played pranks and snuck out finally got his karma.
THE AURELIUS CROWN INSTITUTE was buzzing with students. Today was the day they would finally get to see the faces of the two rumored students coming to their very own school. Would the crown prince really be one of them? Would the other be a prince from the foreign nation of Liyue, as some rumors claimed? Or perhaps the crown prince of the Aculon Empire was studying abroad? There were so many rumors, some so unbelievable that people could only laugh. The chatter kept growing louder and louder as time passed, until the bell finally rang for class.
Students, both male and female alike, couldn’t wait to see who their new peers would be. What class would they be in? What major? Despite all the rumors, a sense of mystery surrounded them.
“Ahem.” Mrs. Jophiel cleared her throat, waiting for her students to quiet down as they sat in their seats. Once the chatter settled, she spoke, her posture upright and her neck angled gracefully. “As you may have heard, we will be having two new students here at The Aurelius Crown Institute. This is a rare occasion, as they will be joining us in the middle of the school year. We happen to be fortunate enough for both students to be part of our class this year. I hope you will treat them with the same respect you would any other peer.”
Her last comment sent a ripple of whispers through the students.
“What do you think she meant by ‘the same respect’?” a female student asked a male student sitting below her.
He looked up. “I have no idea. Do you think they're royalty like some of the rumors said?"
“Maybe the rumors were right!” A student said excitedly at the thought.
“Nonsense… but it isn’t impossible,” a male student added.
The chatter grew louder once again. “Ahem!” Mrs. Jophiel coughed into her fist, finally gaining the attention of her students. “The two of you may come in.”
With that, two students entered the classroom.
The class could only stare. Standing before them were two very handsome young men, and just as one of the rumors had mentioned, one of them was the Kingdom’s very own crown prince. The other, however, remained a mystery. Who was he? A prince from another kingdom? A master sword artist? Or just a regular noble? The thoughts raced endlessly through their minds, and the two new students felt as though they could hear them all.
“Good morning. I am Flux, the Crown Prince. I will be your new classmate this year. I hope you will treat me the same as you would anyone else. It is a pleasure to be accepted as a student here at this school,” Flux said, doing his best to appear polite and maintain the perfect image of a crown prince, even though it disgusted him on the inside.
Beside him, a certain white-haired boy knew better. Flux’s words didn’t quite match his true personality, not after their first meeting earlier, when the two had bumped into each other on the way to the principal’s office.
He’s such a liar, Saps thought, the so-called prince’s fake smile irritating him to his core.
“Aren’t you going to introduce yourself to our new classmates, dear friend?” Flux said, knowing that the last part of his sentence would almost certainly annoy Saps. The two of them were anything but friends, even though they’d only known each other for less than an hour, it seemed Flux already knew exactly how to push Saps’ buttons.
“Hello, I am Saparata Theron, son of Count Kaden Theron. However, I would appreciate it if you called me Saps instead. It is a pleasure to be here as a student, and I hope you will all help me become accustomed to this new school,” he said, smiling.
The girls in the class felt their hearts skip a beat. Sure, he was only the son of a count, nothing impressive, but he was handsome, polite, and had seemed to have a charm that could make any girl want his hand in marriage.
No way this nobody is suddenly popular, Flux thought to himself. He didn’t understand why the son of a mere count would be so admired right off the bat. Sure, he would admit that Saps was handsome and had a smile that, even for him, was hard to ignore.
Wait. What was he thinking? Snap out of it, Flux. That’s the son of some mere count. You’re the Crown Prince. You’re better than that, he scolded himself silently.
“Ahem.” Mrs. Jophiel coughed, the poor woman knowing that once she went home she’d be drinking water nonstop. She had been coughing far too much lately just to get her students’ attention.
“The two of you may take your seats while I get things ready for our first lesson of the day. Once you choose a seat, that will be your assigned one for the rest of the school year,” she said.
For some reason, the two of them both chose spots right beside each other. Noticing that, they glared at each other for a few seconds out of annoyance, however before they could get up and pick another spot, Mrs. Jophiel had already begun the lesson.
Sitting at their new assigned seats, they glared at each other intensely. The two of them knew that starting today, tomorrow, and in the future, they would be rivals, from beginning to end.