Oakswood Academy (2)

"I can't believe we're finally here!" Remington buzzed with excitement, wearing that grin that sent shivers down Dane's back. It was the kind of grin that meant that trouble was coming.

"I still don't understand why you are so excited about going to school," Dane scoffed.

That grin plastered on Remington's face seemed to grow. "It's where it all begins!"

Remington just couldn't contain his excitement. After seventeen long years he was finally where everything took place. Oakswood Academy. It was the main setting in the game 'Sweet Pheromone, Ophelia's Coming!' It was your typical otome game that Remington loved playing in his last life, not that anyone would ever know.

In his past life, he was a pharmaceutical scientist who was known to be very strict and work oriented. . .a herbology nerd. He kept the other nerd aspects of his life a secret from his fellow coworkers.

'Sweet Pheromone, Ophelia's Coming!' took place at Oakswood Academy where Ophelia, an omega daughter of a lowly viscount, stumbles upon four extremely handsome men who do everything in their power to try and win her heart. 

And he was finally here! To see it all unfold before his very own eyes! Though there were some parts he wasn't looking forward to.

A small laugh that sounded more like a giggle bubbled up out of him. He'll finally get to meet the characters up close and personal. He had always wanted to meet the love interests when he found out he had been reincarnated into a world that was similar to the game he used to play. He especially wanted to meet Grove Kingdom's crown prince, Demian Maxwell.

Demian had always been Haruki's favorite and the whole reason why he started playing the game. Demian Maxwell's character design had been a proud, stern yet mischievous young man with dark blue hair and alluring blue eyes. He was both studious yet laid back, honest yet a prankster, but most importantly, he was reliable and a romantic. The game version of Demian had been Haruki's ideal type and now, he couldn't wait to meet the living personification of the handsome prince. 

Was Remington worried that the prince would be a let down compared to the game's version? No. Did he realize that there would be differences between the two? Yes. Remington was looking forward to getting to know this version of Demian Maxwell and if he came to like him. . .well, then Ophelia will just have to have one less love interest pestering her for her attention.

A long, drawn out sigh pulled Remington from his thoughts before he could delve deeper. "You must remember who you are," Dane chided him.

Remington flashed him a grin that was similar to a Cheshire cat. "I know that I'm not behaving in a way befitting my standing but remember, I'm playing a poor beta of a poor Baron's family." His grin grew wider with each word spoken. "I can finally act the way I want without drawing too much attention. My stunning personality will also help buy into my character and no one will know that I'm some stuffy prince."

Seventeen years ago, Haruki Sato found himself waking up as an infant after a terrible incident led to his death. That little infant wound up being the Ashen Kingdom's second son, the omega prince, Remington Arlow. He really hit the jackpot in this life.

Dane's facial features morphed into horrid confusion. "That is true," He finally mumbled.

Dane was really Dante Williams, though he hates the name Dante. Dane was one of the youngest knights to have reached the third rank and was Remington's personal knight, and best friend.

The carriage pulled to a stop in front of the gate leading into the academy. A guard came to check their carriage and review their student passes. After they received the all clear, the guard stepped aside to allow the carriage to pass through.

"Please try not to cause too much trouble while we're here," Dane clucked at him like a tired mother hen. "Come and get me if you feel like your suppressants are not working or if you come across too many alpha pheromones."

"You're worse than father," Remington chuckled. His father came across as a stern, upright, and unyielding king but behind closed doors he was a bright and cheery worrywart who was the definition of a mother hen-though probably father hen in his case.

Dane's face visibly paled. "Please do not compare me to the King." His voice sounded bleak as if he were expecting some invisible consequence to fall upon him.

Remington rolled his eyes and continued looking out the carriage window, the fringe of his soft brown hair falling into his eyes. The academy was set up like a small town. There were various buildings for classes, recreational supplies, and food. There were various shopkeeps spread out among the academy grounds a slight ways away from the academic proportion that were approved by the headmaster. The goal was to create a safe and closed environment for the students if they chose to not leave the Academy during their free time.

The carriage drove past the shopping district part of the academy and headed straight for the towering church-like monstrosity that was the main building of the school. They needed to head there to pick up their room keys so they could unpack before the new student orientation.

The carriage came to a stop in the carriage pull off lane and Dane and Remington got in line, which wasn't too bad since they arrived at the earliest possible time.

"Name?" The bored looking female staff member asked in a monotone voice.

"Remi Sato," Remington answered using the alias he had been using for the last ten years. He had a feeling that the people who recognized that name would be shocked to find out that it doesn't belong to some stuffy old guy with gray hair.

"Dane Willy," Dane told her when it was his turn. The two of them smiled when they saw that their dorm rooms would be right beside each other. "I really thought we would be in separate buildings with your luck," Dane said, his voice light as if he had a huge brick taken off his shoulders.

Remington didn't say anything to that because he secretly agreed with him. With four dormitories afforded to the boys, Remington really thought his chances of being close to his knight would be slim, even if they received their keys at the same time.

* * * *

Demian got out of the carriage after a servant opened the door for him. He was arriving later to the academy than he originally intended. 

They had been delayed by an hour thanks to one of the carriage wheels breaking. It had rained the night before and the mud made it difficult to see any upturned stones in the road.

He set out in a brisk walk and headed towards the entrance of the grand building that housed most of the staff, the cafeteria, the library, and the main core classes. Large, light brown stone steps led up to a large open room with large, arched windows. There were two hours left before the opening ceremony.

The opening ceremony was held only for first years. Each year, the top scorer would give a speech. Demian wasn't sure who it was, only that they were from the Ashen Kingdom. He had been informed by the Dean that he fell in second place by two points. Demian wasn't sure who it was but he couldn't wait to meet the person behind the brain that had outsmarted him on a practical exam.

He walked over to the desk that had been set up in the large room. There was a woman wearing a messy bun of mouse brown hair. The bored expression that she wore looked more pronounced with large droopy eyes that were also a similar shade of mouse brown. Demian could almost see large round ears drooping in boredom on top of her head. He released a small chuckle with that thought.

After receiving his key and his assigned building and room number, he made his way outside. He had just taken a step off the last step when he heard a girl's voice screeching.

"Oh no!"

That frantic voice and the scratching of heels against concrete was the only warning he had before a small and slender body barreled into him. The body slammed into his chest with a muffled 'oof!' before teetering back. His arm reached out and wrapped around the slender waist out of reflex to keep the girl from falling backwards.

"Are you alright, miss?"

The girl shook her head in a daze before looking up. Her large aquamarine eyes were a striking resemblance to the ocean he had seen once before.

"Sorry," the girl mumbled, her blonde hair came loose from behind her ear and a few strands plastered themselves onto her cheek. "Oh no, I'm gonna be late!" Most students were required to check in two hours before the ceremony to give them time to find their rooms.

The girl mumbled another apology before taking off like a shaky fawn up the large steps. Demian followed the girl's movement worried that she might fall again in her frantic scramble.

A snort ripped out into the quiet air once the girl was inside.

Demian turned toward the noise and felt his pulse quicken immediately. Peeking out from behind some bushes was a slender young man with dark brown hair that shimmered like freshly melted chocolate. His small eyes were larger and upturned in the back rims of his eyes and the pupils encased in them were a warm pink tipping into red, just like a sunset on a summer's night.

The boy looked at him and his thin red lips twisted into a smile similar to a cat looking at its prey. Before Demian could say anything, the boy turned around and disappeared from his sight.