"Alright, so the story goes like this…

"

"Reo.

"

Reo straightened his back all rearing to get Zoemi up to the task as fast as possible but was stopped by the black-haired boy's raised hand.

"Slow down, we didn't even move past the inner gate. How about we casually talk about something else first and return to this subject after we will leave the capital?

"

Zoemi smiled charmingly and cooled down the eagerness of his upperclassman without putting too much weight on the request, making it seem as if he wanted to learn more about the green-haired boy.

Which was kind of true, of course – after all he wanted to make sure that Reo would not turn out like Xenith with his character twisted to the extreme, but actually had a lot more to do about Zoemi's worries about being eavesdropped on by the wrong people.

"Wh-wha… you want to talk about something else…? Wh-wh-what about…?

"

The green-haired boy stuttered while shifting around as if the charms of the black-haired attendant have physically slapped him around, making him lose all his confidence and turn into an embarrassed mess.

"I was wondering whether you really have time to take me to the Banemor territory, for example – after all, today is the day that the students are going back to the Aspaeony Academy… oh, and while we are at that subject, who has been given the position of the principal while lord Vereq is missing?

"

Zoemi casually acted as if he didn't realize that Reo was – to use the probably already outdated phrase from Zoemi's previous world – down bad, responded while tilting his head and making a curious expression.

"When it comes to me, well… the Academy is important for the social interactions and all, but let's be honest – after my rather easygoing lifestyle up until a few weeks ago, my opinion isn't all that great. And I realized that this is bad – I might be way over my head here, but I decided to show my father that I exist… ekhem… that I at least should be considered a candidate for succeeding the position of the head of the family.

"

Reo started explaining and was very honest about everything – at least until he realized that Zoemi might think of him as childish or silly, and hid his real reason, making it seem as if he was striving for glory and recognition as was a more proper way of thinking for the nobility.

"And as for the headmaster… apparently the king asked lord Shuze to stand in, but he refused, saying that he much rather be looking for his friend instead and left the academy…So after some negotiation, lord Ikarweth was put in charge for the foreseeable future. My only opinion on him is that he is a little bit too pompous, but he isn't a bad person – apparently, he is researching ways of increasing mana reservoirs, and the students assisting him only have good things to say about him.

"

The green-haired boy added, answering the latter part of the black-haired boy's question.

"Hmhm… I see. I don't really have much opinion about lord Ikarweth, but if his highness has decided to support him, I will put my trust in that person.

"

Zoemi nodded with a solemn expression.

He really didn't think much about the middle-aged red-haired magician who seemed to have a bias for more powerful students – and who was the same person who got absolutely crushed by Mizoe, Zoemi's father, when the pale-blue-haired man arrived at the Academy to check on his wounded son…

…so he actually was leaning to a more negative outlook on the situation…

"I wonder where lord Vereq could have disappeared to… don't you think that the timing is suspicious? What if the murderer who murdered Xeonith had got him too? Or maybe lord Vereq is chasing after the murderer this very moment?

"

Reo picked up on the change in Zoemi's mood, reading his expression as being interested, so he happily provided his own input too, in an attempt to make it stay that way.

"Yes, the timing is suspicious indeed, but I can't help but doubt whether the murderer is involved in any way with the disappearance of the headmaster…

"

|In the first place, Aspakeony would have sent more than just one corpse puppet after him, and certainly wouldn't go herself.|

Zoemi spoke out loud but certainly stopped himself from actually voicing all of his opinions on the matter, as it was even less suited for the conversation in the moving carriage than the plan to get the Banemor territory back under the crown's rule.

"Then, what do you reckon could have happened to him?

"

As it was clear from Reo's innocent question, the slight hesitation in the black-haired boy's voice wasn't used to decipher his true intentions.

"I simply have no idea. Nonetheless, it sounds like you want to prove to everyone that you aren't just a jolly prankster, which is very admirable. I'm glad that you asked me to assist you – although I can't promise that the whole plan would be a success. Still what made you try and turn a new leaf?

"

Zoemi shrugged his shoulders and smoothly changed the subject to the one with fewer potential traps.

"I was already planning on something like that regardless, but with what happened to Xeonith, and seeing what the adults act only with their best interest in mind instead of trying to uncover the truth… I just decided that I would like to change something. My family is one of the more influential ones in the kingdom and if I will take over it, I can steer it into the better direction than it is heading now.

"

Reo's expression turned slightly more serious while still staying very much embarrassed through and through and he revealed, keeping himself in check to not be too fidgety while saying all of that.

"…

"

Zoemi opened his mouth but then closed it again holding himself back from pointing out two things that bothered him.

First, was the way Reo addressed other nobles that his father had to deal with – even though in that world at the age of fifteen a person was already considered an adult by the law, and Reo was over sixteen by that point too, so he should be treated as an adult – which showed the environment that the green-haired boy grew up in.

He was never treated seriously, always dismissed as being the rowdy child that has little to no self-awareness and he seemed to be stuck in that mindset even now when he decided to change.

The other point of interest was the phrase about steering the family in the better direction – that seemed like the green-haired boy knew about some sort of policy that the Moyena house had chosen that he didn't agree with at all.

It might have even been connected with some sort of conspiracy or even – considering that Moyena family members were all well-known supporters of the first prince Horeo – a sudden decision to become turncoats.

That was of course pure speculation on Zoemi's part but was worth keeping in mind.

Unfortunately, the trust between Zoemi and Reo wasn't enough to allow for the in-depth discussion about the second problem – but after a short consideration, the first one was a matter that could be resolved faster as long as Reo was made aware of the problem.

…the black-haired boy didn't even realize that him worrying like that about the green-haired former prankster capture target was a leftover affection towards his favorite character…

"Reo. You are also a member of those so-called adults – if you will put others in the position of power over you before you even met them in person or talk to them, you are already mentally preparing to let them win. Children are taught to follow and obey the adults – but in politics, there are only people useful to you at the moment, and those who are not, regardless of what some people might try to impose on you.

"

"…!

"

Zoemi's words seem to shake Reo to the point of making him speechless.

"…?

"

Actually – although Zoemi's words did have a clear effect on the green-haired boy, the shaking part was actually the fault of the carriage suddenly stopping- which made Zoemi raise his brow and look out of the window.

They weren't even out of the capital yet – from the carriage both of them could still clearly see the silhouette of the royal castle towering over every single other building.

Actually, from the place they stopped, the view was especially good – considering that they were very close to the execution ground.

…a rather eerie spot to take a break in…

"Why did we stop? Hello? Mister coachman? Is everything alright?

"

Reo asked in a worried voice and knocked at the carriage's wall.

"I don't know, my lord – there are people in armors approaching us and they are blocking our way.

"

"…

"

The clearly very anxious and worried coachman responded in a shaky voice, causing Zoemi to furrow his brows and activate his stealthy shadow enchantments ahead of time.

|…huh…?|

But just as the black-haired boy did so and his senses became heightened – he suddenly flinched and looked straight at the completely empty execution ground.

…thanks to his ability to see the unique shadows, Zoemi could never mistake one person for the other, even if they were identical twins, or extremely well disguised. – but that was what has made this situation so odd and confusing…

|…is… is Ludier Galamroze hiding HERE…?!|

…because the presence that bothered Zoemi so much was the shadow of the wanted murderer who helped him in finishing off Xeonith. The same man who was supposed to disappear into the night moments later….