LGT Chapter 9

As soon as the shocking entrance ceremony ended, the upperclassmen and faculty quickly filed out of the banquet hall. Afterward, the freshmen stayed behind, gathering one by one to introduce themselves. The Kingdom of Rustabaran was the largest in the continent, and as expected, there were clear social circles based on status and wealth. Naturally, no one among the students recognized the Gold Dragon.

Adrian Heather picked up a cold drink from a table that the academy had prepared for the freshmen to socialize. The Gold Dragon quickly brought the drink to his lips and took a gulp. Having just heard the shocking news that he might not even make it through the first year, the dragon craved something with alcohol.

“Damn. This isn’t alcohol.”

The Gold Dragon grimaced as he swallowed what was in his mouth. Even though the academy, Basamiel, catered to the wealthy commoners, nobles, and royalty, it was still an educational institution. What had been prepared for the freshmen was various types of non-alcoholic beverages that only looked like champagne. Still, Adrian thought, better than nothing, as he leaned against the wall, observing the excited freshmen chattering away.

Around 200 new students were busy crossing the banquet hall, searching for familiar faces. Adrian drank his cold beverage, and just then, he felt someone’s gaze on him and looked up.

The dragon locked eyes with Mikhail’s crimson ones. The prince was standing a short distance away from the wall Adrian was leaning against, completely ignoring the humans lingering around him, who were clearly hoping to strike up a conversation. His eyes looked bored.

Why is that guy just standing there?

The Gold Dragon shrugged lightly and focused on drinking his beverage.

“Hey, what kind of drink is that?”

Someone lightly tapped the Gold Dragon’s shoulder. Adrian, being significantly taller than most freshmen, saw that the student had to lift themselves slightly onto their toes to address him.

“Hello.”

Though Adrian had no intention of being the first to greet others, he never gave a half-hearted response to a greeting. The Gold Dragon offered a cool smile, his warm brown eyes crinkling slightly. Then, he glanced at the glass in his hand since he wasn’t drinking for taste and had to confirm what it was.

“This is… Hilton Berry Ade. Want me to get you one?”

Since the student who had addressed him was a girl, the Gold Dragon politely offered. She blushed as she stared at the handsome classmate and gave a small nod.

Adrian chuckled lightly and led her to the table, where he poured a reasonable amount of ade into a clean glass. Handing it to her, he received a soft “Thank you” in return. Adrian nodded to show it was no problem.

“Can I ask your name?”

“Of course. I’m Adrian Heather. And—”

The Gold Dragon tapped the edge of his glass with a finger, then added with a smile.

“Consider this a little bribe for getting along in the future.”

“What? Haha. Nice to meet you too. ‘Heather’… are you from the family that runs the ‘Hedera’ trading company?”

“You know about Hedera? Yeah, that’s right. Though, I’m a bit distantly related to the main family that manages it.”

It would have been troublesome if Adrian had belonged to the main family managing the Hedera trading company. He quickly tried to steer the conversation away from his family and direct the student’s attention elsewhere.

“So, how do you like it so far? I’ve only heard rumors about Vasamiel.”

“Oh, really? I have a relative who graduated from Vasamiel, so I’ve heard some stories. They made such a big deal about those piercing eyes we saw earlier! But it was really nothing, right?”

“…Yeah.”

Adrian kept his polite smile and nodded. While it had been a major hurdle for the dragon, to most—if not all—freshmen, it was just a standard procedure.

“And…”

The girl mumbled softly. Adrian responded with a curious “Hm?” while wiping his hand with a napkin after pouring the ade.

“I heard you’re sharing a room with that prince.”

She covered her mouth slightly with the back of her hand, as if revealing a secret.

“Oh, yeah.”

“Isn’t it tough? I know status doesn’t matter inside the academy, but still… it must be a bit awkward dealing with actual royalty.”

Adrian glanced across the room at Mikhail, who stood silently, surrounded by other freshmen. The prince, looking as though everything bored him, gave a few nods to the students trying to strike up a conversation, as if doing them a favor. From where Adrian was, he could even hear people bragging about their connections with the royal family and nobility.

“Well… not yet?”

Adrian stole another glance in Mikhail’s direction, this time forcing a smile when their eyes met. While some students from noble families greeted him warmly, the prince didn’t seem particularly pleased.

“But why do you ask?”

“…Well, yesterday, I heard sounds of fighting coming from your room. Apparently, someone barely dodged a falling flower pot as they passed by your window.”

“…”

Adrian immediately raised his head at the mention of the flowerpot. So that was the person who screamed. Feeling embarrassed, he rubbed the back of his neck. Dragging other people into his squabble with the prince had been a nuisance.

“…It wasn’t a big deal. I’ll apologize to them.”

“Oh, no need!”

The student waved her hands frantically, startled by Adrian’s response.

“Everything’s fine! I wasn’t saying you needed to apologize. And besides, it wasn’t even you who threw it, right?”

Adrian’s expression became somewhat odd at her excessive concern. She had a point. No one, no matter how bold, would expect an apology from the prince over something as small as a flowerpot.

The real problem was that her voice had been too loud, drawing the attention of everyone nearby. Naturally, one of those eyes belonged to the prince himself.

With his silver hair slightly falling forward, Mikhail tilted his head, a faint smirk playing at his lips as if daring them to say more. While the student had merely brought it up, the prince’s cold gaze was locked directly on the Gold Dragon, as if trying to kill him with his eyes. For a moment, Adrian was at a loss for words under the intense stare of Mikhail’s crimson eyes.

The one responsible for the sudden quiet in the noisy banquet hall finally spoke.

“Well? Go on. Who threw what?”

If he were a typical noble, he would have diffused the situation, but Mikhail wasn’t just any noble—he was a prince. He didn’t seem to have any intention of clearing up the awkwardness. Instead, he stared directly at Adrian, as if daring him to speak.

The Gold Dragon gave him a look that said, “Do you seriously want me to say it?” He then downed the rest of the ade in his hand before pointing at Mikhail with his finger and saying, “You threw my flower pot.”

Why even ask when you already know? Adrian didn’t understand why he had to restate something everyone was already aware of, but he answered the prince’s question as requested. A few students around them gasped, nervously gauging the prince’s reaction. It was crazy to point at royalty, even in the academy.

Mikhail’s crimson eyes scanned Adrian from head to toe, but his reaction shattered everyone’s expectations.

With a short, incredulous laugh, Mikhail scoffed, “You heard him, right? From now on, just call me like that guy did. I’m not interested in hearing ‘Prince’ this or ‘Your Highness’ that while I’m at the academy.”

Having said that, Mikhail turned on his heel. Tired of the forced pleasantries and telling everyone to just call him by his name, he was clearly done with the whole situation. He swung the large doors of the banquet hall open and walked out. The rhythmic sound of his fine leather shoes on the marble floor faded as he disappeared.

“…Sorry. I think I spoke too loudly.”

The girl mumbled timidly. Adrian, still watching the prince’s retreating figure through the doorway, reassured her.

“Don’t worry about it.”

That guy always talks like that, Adrian complained inwardly as he casually set his empty glass back on the table. He had no intention of staying in the banquet hall much longer anyway, so this was a perfect excuse. Pretending to go after the prince gave him an opportunity to slip away.

***

Thanks to the opportunity provided by the prince, Adrian left the banquet hall and returned to the dormitory. Upon entering, he immediately noticed Mikhail sitting on his bed, reading a book. Since Mikhail didn’t acknowledge him, Adrian just shrugged and started to hang his coat on the rack.

Without looking up from his book, the prince finally spoke.

“You threw my cup.”

“…What?”

“That damn flower pot was probably nothing compared to how expensive that cup was.”

Mikhail gestured toward one of the flowerpots by the window, as if to imply he knew Adrian had carefully glued the shattered flowerpot back together.

As Adrian listened, he neatly hung his coat on the rack.

“Well, yeah, I did.”

“So, let’s call it even.”

Adrian glanced over at Mikhail, who was still absorbed in his book.

“Fine, but—”

There was one thing that still bothered him. Adrian hated dealing with unnecessary complications, so he preferred to clear things up if they were on his mind.

“…Just to clarify, I didn’t throw the cup; it was a vase. And you immediately threw my book afterward.”

Flap—Mikhail turned the page of his book, ignoring Adrian as if he had nothing more to say. He didn’t seem interested in continuing the conversation at all. 

Ah, so you just want to let it all slide? Adrian watched him for a moment, gazing at him as one would at a petty child.