Academy

A boring and uneventful carriage ride was what awaited Tanya upon her quick recovery. Her parents and Ben were indeed quite worried about what had happened, but decided to back off upon Tanya's most persistent requests.

"Tanya, please tell Mommy if you are feeling alone at school. I will always be there for you!" Tanya's mother hugged Tanya and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

"Yes, mom." Tanya replied.

"Be sure to study hard and come home with good grades." Tanya's father said with a hint of encouragement.

"Don't worry, Sis. Your big bro will help you transition into academy life. Just trust me and everything will be great!" Ben patted Tanya on the shoulder and smiled warmly.

As a senior student of the academy, Ben would be doing his last year before finally graduating. At which point, Ben would be able to pursue a noble career in the capital or go back to the duchy and begin training to take over as the next Duke of Vermillion.

With a senior student as her guide, Tanya felt fairly confident in transitioning over to a humble academy life. Tanya May have been an emperor in her past life but she did not enjoy education in her childhood as 'Tane'. Being a mere commoner, 'Tane' had to build his way towards higher positions as a military man.

He started his career as a common soldier. After a week fighting a bloody battle, he was promoted to Trooper. After another month, his direct superior was killed in battle and Tane was subsequently given the rank of Sergeant. Tane did not stop there, he quickly rose through the ranks until he finally became a 5th class officer, at which point he was given the noble rank of knight.

After all of this time in the battlefield, Tane was able to study in a prestigious military school where he achieved top marks in all of his subjects. Although he was already at age 22, Tane did not let down. He was then promoted to a 4th class officer and given the rank of Baron.

Baron Tane would grow from there and eventually become the emperor of a vast empire, unlike anything that this kingdom could be.

Now, Tanya Sera Vermillion is about to enter a royal academy at a proper age. This type of 'high school' scenario seemed quite foreign, but not to be stressed over nonetheless. Tanya would simply play it as she did the courts of her previous life.

"Young Miss, you will be in the same carriage as me. Young master Benjamin will be in the carriage just ahead of us." Penelope reminded Tanya. Dressed in a respectable maid outfit, the beautiful Penelope gave an emotionless look.

"I understand." Tanya and Penelope went into their carriage.

"Goodbye!" Tanya waved at her parents as the carriage slowly went off into the distance.

"Young Miss, I hope you are prepared for the academy. The first day may be confusing and stressful, but I hope you can pull through it and not let it stop you from becoming valedictorian." Penelope smiled out of view from the rest of the world, only towards Tanya.

"Oh? Does that mean you want to 'do it?' That encouragement only makes me want to work harder, Penelope~" Tanya winked.

"Perhaps so."

12 hours later, Royal Academy:

Tanya, Penelope, and Ben got out of their carriages and faced the huge front gates of the Royal Academy. Two heavily armoured guards in plate armour opened the gates immediately after spotting the trio, giving a bow as they did so.

Upon walking through the gates, the trio were greeted with candy for the eyes.

A huge circular fountain with intricately built angel sculptures laid in the middle of a huge open circular plot of grass. The grass seemed so green that the vibrant colours almost popped when paired with the ring of roses that circled the field. If one were to describe the buildings, they would only be able to describe them as three 200 metre long mansions which sealed the garden from all sides but the entrance.

"Looks beautiful, right?" Ben smirked.

"It indeed has some style." Tanya commented.

"But it would not possibly be more beautiful than you~" Tanya whispered into Penelope's ear.

"!!!" Penelope blushed for a moment before forcing her cheeks pale again.

"I wonder… Is Miss Yuri going to be here too?" Tanya smirked as she asked this.

Just as she said this, another carriage stopped behind her. While not as fancy as the Vermillion duchy's carriages, this one still had a beauty in its simplicity. Without any fancy horses of special breed, it seemed as if the owner of said carriage was a lower ranking noble.

"Lady Carter, we have arrived." An old carriage driver said before a beautiful blonde haired girl stepped out of the carriage.

'Oh? How convenient. Ask and you shall receive.' Tanya turned around and broke off from the group, heading towards Yuri with haste.

"Oh, Lady Vermillion!" Yuri smiled and approached Tanya warmly.

'Has she gotten over last time?'

Tanya gave a disgusted look at Yuri, turning her head away with crossed arms.

"Hmmph!" Tanya pouted,

"Lady Vermillion… are you mad at me?" Yuri began to feel her eyes moisten as she began to tremble slightly.

"Feel this." Tanya grabbed Yuri's forearm and placed the latter's hand right on Tanya's chest.

"Lady Vermillion~ why did you do that?!" Yuri was visibly shocked as she felt her hand squeeze onto a remarkable soft and comfortable object.

"Do you feel that? It beats for you. You still have not taken responsibility for stealing it…" Tanya gave a gentle blush for effect, closing her distance with Yuri's face.

"Lady Vermillion… Tanya… Stop making fun of me!" Yuri ran away with a tomato red face.

'Well it seems life in the academy will be fun to say the least.'