Over a toast

THE MOMENT ALL first years were in the hall, the professors had begun their simple orientation. It was short and quick, and every official student can easily remember all of it. And by the end of the discussion, servant staffs were called inside, each carrying large paper bags.

"Those are your tailored summer, spring/autumn, and winter uniforms made according to the measurements you wrote in your files. It also comes with school shoes, comfortable and light boots, and cloaks that match your uniform. There are also things inside for you from your department and choice of course." Yahto explains.

"For the science and engineering department are lab coats, protective eye glasses and certain tools. For the medicine department are lab coats and certain medical tools. For the culinary department are kitchen tools. For the art and business departments … are just things you probably won't even use despite your choice of course, but we had them put some anyway. For the knight department are black leather fingerless gloves suited for all four courses and close combat training, and a set of combat boots as well."

"And of course, we never forget about the academy's insignia badge." Greyson interjected. Just then, the servant staff also handed them the academy's golden and crown-shaped pin badges. It's a symbol that you are an official student of the Golden Crown Academy, thus it is a must wear item.

"Now then, may I have all seven representatives here in front?" Russet calls, and Hades along with the three women and three men chosen as the representatives, rose from their seats and strides up front.

As they stood in a row, Greyson walked to Ecru and carefully handed a iron black round pin with a golden '10th' written. "This is a symbol that you are the 10th Official Student in the Hawkeye Council and also the First Years' Representative. Do you swear to fulfill your duties diligently for the academy?" He asks.

Ecru's smile was visible and said, "I swear," then pinned the black round badge on top of her left chest.

Greyson later shows her a cushion of six silver feathers with a ruby on each tip. It's about an inch lengthwise and half an inch in thickness. Each ruby has a letter skillfully written with golden ink. 'M' for the Medicine Department, 'C' for the Culinary Department, 'A' for the Arts Department, 'B' for the Business Department, 'S&E' for the Science and Engineering Department, and 'K' for the Knight Department.

"Pin these to your companions." Greyson stated and Ecru obeyed naturally.

As all the other six were pinned with the badge, there were asked to face the others. Hades stood still as he was the last to be pinned. He stared down on her, and she was close to him, but was rather focused on the pinning the feather badge on his left chest.

"I expect that you do your role properly." She whispers, keeping her smile, and it was only for him to hear. She then backs away and looks up to his face, he was smiling faintly back at her.

'Basically, she said I'm merely an ally when it comes to academy affairs', he thought. He was thankful enough that she felt the same way about not having to do anything with each other. 'Being similar to one does have its own perks', he thought again.

"I'll be sure to meet those expectations of yours, Your Highness." He mumbles and lightly bowed his head before turning to the other students. Ecru walks to his other side and stood there with a smile.

Russet steps up to the front, "With Her Highness Ecru Grimes as the leader, these are the members of the First Years' Council. Whenever we, the professor are not present, you may approach them for help. And with that decided, this ends our meeting for today, have a nice evening everyone!"

Everyone applauded and were smiling naturally. They were satisfied with the results, but deep down, they know there would be backlash for letting a commoner take that feather badge. Not that they mind, since he's second only to the imperial princess anyway.

After that, they were given permission to head home. Hades and Livia are now walking with the sulking Rufus in between them. Why again? It's because Livia also had a feather badge, she was chosen as an Art Department representative for their year. And with Hades taking the badge, Rufus, naturally, wasn't given one.

"Are you going to sulk until dinner party? Please don't, you'll ruin the mood." Livia says, only making Rufus frown more.

"Maybe I should've taken culinary instead! I want a feather badge too!" He cried, Livia clicked her tongue and was close to losing patience on this childhood friend of hers. She's known how much of a brat he is, thus it's not surprising or annoying to her anymore. But today's an exception, since she saw someone she completely loathes.

"Stop acting like a spoiled brat, Rufus. My patience is thin today." With just those words, Rufus completely zipped his mouth. She's a different kind of person when pissed, he knows that much, and was a victim that. Hades watched them quietly. 'The more I watch them, the more they feel like a couple', he thought and simply smiled.

"Let's just end the day over a toast, I'm feeling a bit tired over all the excitement." The two agreed and they quietly headed to the Lefort vacation manor.

"WHAT DO YOU think about him?" Hearing a question from her older brother, Ecru looks at him and made a confused face. They were in a carriage, moving back to the Imperial Palace, their home. It was a quiet ride, until Silver decided to ask an unnatural question.

"Who?" She was clueless.

"… Hades. He seemed genuinely interested in you." Silver mentions, and leaned back on his seat. Ecru became more confused. That man is interested in her? There's no way that's true, and she knows that he doesn't want anything to do with her.

"I think he's a true genius and a skilled swordsman, he seemed quite the gentleman as well… for a commoner, that is." Ecru stated her honest opinion. She's suspicious of him, and that's why she doesn't want anything to do with him.

"I had some men to investigate him since I did find him suspicious as well… but he was surprisingly a normal commoner with a past where he went through literal hell. Other than the fact that he's openly cunning, I don't think he'd be one to cause you any harm." Silver countered, and Ecru simply stared at him.

'Why is he being persistent about this?'

"Was that source reliable?" She asks, and he nodded.

"What else could be more reliable than Steele Armed Guild's information?" He asks, apathetically. He then shut his eyes. "I suggest that you let him approach you, make him dance at the palm of your hand, and make him yours. He might be stronger than I am, and you need someone like him by your side when I'm not around." He says before finally entering his short rest.

Ecru was bewildered, she didn't know what or how to react to her brother's words. She's known Silver as someone conscious and cautious of his own surroundings, including the people around him. He is extremely sensitive about a person's character, because everyone who approaches him has either plans of harming her or goals of making her theirs.

'And yet… he let his guard down on a man he briefly met? No, there's no way that could've happened—', just then, a thought came and crossed her mind. She found herself chuckling at that thought.

'… it's not that Brother let his walls down… that man simply broke it down', she thought to herself and smiled. "… of course, no one is more dangerous than the enemy who's a person similar to you." She mumbled to herself.

Ecru honestly found it quite ironic. The first time she met his jet eyes, she knows that befriending him would not do her any good. She doesn't care if he's a man stronger than her brother, she doesn't care if he's a man who will not harm her. Having someone like him by her side… will only result in her leaning on him.

And she will never repeat that same mistake again.