Piece 7 (part 2)

After getting sandwiches (we decided to get some for Mom anyway), the walk to school continues. On our way there, a few carriages seemed to be moving past us on the big street, and I noticed the crest that was drawn on the body of the cart.

Oh? He went to school this early?

"Is that the crest of the Horus family?" Dad asked after seeing the carriage, and I opened my eyes wide.

"You recognized it?"

"Yeah. Horus is the dukedom that is ruling this city, right?"

Yeah… that is correct. However, the one sitting in that carriage is by no means the duke or the duchess.

"That's just the Count. The carriage is probably carrying the son of the Count to school." I pointed out what is really the case, and that whistled.

"So, the grandson of the Duke…? Such a child went to your school?" Dad asked after realizing, and I nodded.

"That's right. The Count is the Duke's son, and the Count's son is my classmate."

"The Count's son is your classmate?? Wow, how is it like being in the same class as him?" Dad asked quite curiously, thinking that this must be a nice conversation to have.

However, it's nothing but traumatizing for me.

"It's not that amazing. If anything, he should be amazed to be in the same class as a princess like me!" I said so proudly, and Dad only laughs hearing that.

"Not yet, you're not! Veldonia's not an empire anymore, you know?"

"Whatever~."

We both continued joking around for the rest of our short distance to school. After arriving at the front gate, we had to separate again, but I found our split to be much easier to handle than before. 

We've spent quite a lot of time together and I feel a lot better when we separated. Although, I still hugged him before I left him by the front gate.

"Look at her. It's her sixth year and she's still hugging her dad."

A comment was heard not far from me after I entered the gate, and I turned my gaze to the source. A group of three boys seemed to be present, just waiting around right by the gate. They are all wearing the same smug as the one I remembered.

Jeremy's underlings. Looks like they're about to cause some problems.

"… So?" I asked them with a cold tone, and they kept their smirks up.

It would seem that three long years have passed ever since that incident, and they have already forgotten all about what happened. I'm not sure what brought their confidence back, but I don't doubt that nothing has changed at all about them.

They're thugs, and they are bullies. Another fun fact about them is how weak they are despite all their acts.

Whatever. It's not worth paying attention to them, anyways.

I continued my walk without minding them any longer, and I arrived at my classroom. It looks like not a lot of students are present at the moment because it is still rather early. Nile is also not here yet.

Though, one attraction seemed to catch my eye.

"You didn't listen to me at all, Roy. I want them in front of me, right now. Or maybe you didn't understand what I meant when I said 'Tomorrow'?"

An annoying voice seemed to be talking rather loudly and clearly in the classroom, and I noticed the guy he was talking to seemed rather familiar.

It's… Roy? He is tall and thin. I remembered him to be rather chubby many years ago. It's been a while since I saw him since he transferred schools.

Looks like he came back here for the final year. I don't think he's in my class, so he must be in a different classroom. Certainly, he looks so different now.

"I think I understand you well, Jeremy. I just don't understand why I have to deliver you anything." Roy said to the boy who is currently sitting on the chair in front of him, and Jeremy opened his eyes widely.

That voice is indeed Roy. He does sound much heavier than before.

"Roy? Is that you?" I called him after recognizing him, and the boy wearing glasses turned his gaze to me.

Now that we are staring face to face, I realized he is a lot taller than me now. It's certainly crazy how three long years can change a boy that quickly, but he has definitely gone through puberty. He is around two years older than me, if I recall correctly.

"Milly? W-Wow, you look different!" Roy said so excitedly to me, but the feeling is similar.

"What do you mean?? You're the one who looked so different! You're so tall now. And you've been training, haven't you?" I pointed out what's so different about this guy, and he lifted his right arm.

Those are genuine muscles. This guy has been working out, and he has turned from a chubby boy into a muscular guy. Not only that, he doesn't look nerdy anymore.

"Thanks! I had some lessons in my time outside the school--"

BRAAKKK!!!!!!!

Behind Roy, a table was kicked all the way until it hit his leg. It was very loud, and it caught the attention of everyone in the classroom.

Roy and I turned towards the guy who was still sitting on the chair, and his left foot was lowered after kicking the table. His cold glare was kept directly to Roy, and he seemed to be ignoring me completely.

"Roy… it looks like you found yourself a great teacher after running away from me three years ago. I wonder who that teacher is, for you to be so brave and so willing to ignore me."

Jeremy said coldly with his hands folded, and Roy doesn't seem to be trembling at all. In the past, the fat and nerdy Roy would've already gotten on his knees, begging for forgiveness to the great god that is Jeremy and his underlings.

But now, not only is Roy very different from before, Jeremy's guys are nowhere to be found. Roy has no reason to be afraid.

"It's an expensive table. You shouldn't kick this around." Roy said as he moved the table aside, and Jeremy finally made a move.

Jeremy stood up from his seat and clapped his hands. He started approaching Roy, and his body size is still arguably slightly larger and taller than Roy's. And I don't quite get what it is with boys, but these two seemed to be quite well trained.

"Are you seriously ignoring me right now, Roy Russels?" Jeremy asked with his annoyed tone, but Roy only chuckled.

Before the two could do anything, a few footsteps seemed to be coming from the door. Everyone turned their eyes to the group of boys who just arrived in front of our classroom, and it seemed to be a bunch of male students who were quite well prepared for this occasion.

Jeremy… as I thought, he's been amassing some soldiers in the past few years. 

Ever since he became the student council president two years ago, he's been collecting some juniors who look like they can fight. I was slightly wondering what the hell he was doing when I heard of that rumor, but it seems like they have become very apparent now.

It's to set some people straight, if they were to oppose him.

And now, at least ten male students are guarding the exit. All of them looked pretty strong for students, and they are certainly led by Jeremy's underlings who are smiling widely at the very front.

"Nice to see you again, Roy!! It sure has been really boring without you!!" One of Jeremy's underlings, a guy with spiked hair, said loudly to the guy with glasses.

"You brought your children. As always, you were never brave enough to face anyone by yourself." Roy said quite confidently, but Jeremy isn't wasting anymore time.

FWOOSSSHHH!!!!!!!!

A fist was thrown that quickly, without any warning whatsoever. But, contrary to what Jeremy thought, it never landed on anything.

I opened my eyes widely when Roy only moved his head slightly. He saw the punch coming from miles away, and he dodged it before it could even reach his face.

Jeremy found it rather disturbing that Roy had dodged his fist, and he threw another punch. Seeing that he is being attacked so bluntly, Roy decided to jump back to dodge any incoming attacks.

Now that space has been created, Jeremy used this chance to use his arsenal. He turned his eyes to the guys outside the classroom, and he tilted his head towards Roy. With that, a signal has been given, and Jeremy's soldiers have received the green light to beat Roy up.

"Finally!! It's been a while!!" Jeremy's underling said as he stepped into the classroom, and Roy noticed that he won't be fighting just one enemy. He prepared himself for what's coming, but a finger has arrived on his shoulder.

Roy turned his confused stare to me, who was poking his shoulder. I only gave him a faint smile while staring at his face silently, as if I was asking for permission. Roy laughed a little after seeing me, but he shook his head.

"I can't ask you for help again… My pride is only going to get ruined." Roy replied with a confident grin, and I only stepped back with a grin as well.

"Is that so…? What a pity. In that case, show me what you've been doing the past three years." I said while stepping away from him, and he gave me a thumbs up.

Behind him, Jeremy's friend with the spiky hair has already arrived, and he threw his kick straight to Roy's butt. Unfortunately for him, Roy has an eye at the back of his head, and he was able to dodge the kick with ease.

BAAKK!!!!!!

Very quickly, the spiky hair got thrown into the crowd of guys. His right cheek on his face looked quite red from the punch, and everyone realized that it was all Roy's doing.

What a smooth movement. He is definitely trained.

"I'll show you, Milly. I'm not the same kid as I was three years ago." Roy said confidently with his back turned to me, and I just laughed hearing that.

"Sure thing. This is gonna be worth watching while eating."