Piece 8 (part 2)

"So… who started the fight?" The headmaster asked both me and Jeremy at the same time inside her office.

"It was him."

"It was me." Jeremy answered honestly, completely ignoring my finger that is pointing to his face.

"And why… did you start the fight?" The headmaster asked a follow up question, and Jeremy only shook his shoulder.

"Because Roy was really annoying me." He answered so blatantly, and the headmaster shook her head.

"Is this true?" she turned to me, and I nodded.

"Roy came to the classroom with the intention to fight. So far, that is correct." I told the honest truth as well, which made Jeremy turn his glare to me.

"I see. Then, can you tell me why a transfer student like Roy would ever want to fight you, of all people?" The headmaster asked, but Jeremy only shook his shoulder again.

"Long time revenge. He's not happy with the way we left things." Jeremy replied with what he thinks is what happened, but I have a different idea.

"Not because you're expecting an apology letter from him?" I jokingly asked Jeremy, and he turned his confused stare at me.

"Who's side are you on, exactly?"

"No one? I'm just enjoying the pace." I said with a wide grin, and the headmaster noticed the difference in my aura.

"And you… didn't join in on the fight at all?" The headmaster asked towards me, and I shook my head.

"Honestly, I'm confused why I'm even here."

"Well, me too..." She uttered with sadness, and I lowered one of my eyebrows.

Then, why would you call me here??

"In any case, it seems like the transfer student, Roy Russels, was the one who instigated the situation. He will be punished accordingly. As for you, Jeremy… I'm afraid you've gone past the line by gathering up a bunch of boys from the student council to settle a personal dispute." The headmaster gave his verdict, and Jeremy only shook his shoulder one last time.

"My ruling as the council president is only two months away anyway."

"It is a pity, but I will have to strip you off that position early. Let this be a lesson to future council leaders to not pick fights anymore."

"And I agree. It is a bad attitude to have." Jeremy said boldly, and I can tell it annoyed the headmaster a lot.

"You may leave. But, Milly… Please stay." The headmaster said while turning to me, and once again, I lifted my finger to my face.

"W-Why me!?"

"You know why. Go back to class, Young Master Jeremy." The headmaster said to the problem child himself, and the son of the Count only gave me a quick look before turning around and heading to the exit.

After he left, the headmaster let out a sigh.

"Thank goodness we didn't have to involve the Count, this time. You handled the situation really well, Milly." The headmaster complimented me, and I only laughed at hearing her so relaxed.

"It's nothing. Still, I'd like it more if I can just go crazy and beat people up."

"You know you can't do that. At the very least, I'm happy the situation did not get out of hand. Roy's family might complain, but since it was something Roy himself instigated, the school will not have problems dealing with them."

"Sure thing. Justice for everyone, like we've always wanted." I said quite jokingly, but the headmaster seemed to take it a different way.

"If you still feel odd about the incident…"

"It's a three years old incident. I've long forgotten about it, Headmaster. You don't need to worry." I said with a calm demeanor to her, and she smiled softly at me.

"Thanks. I heard Roy has changed a lot from before. Even Jeremy is widely different than how he was three years ago. But, out of everyone, I think you had the biggest glow up." The headmaster suddenly said to me, and I was quite surprised.

"Oh? And why is that?"

"Need I remind you how you were three years ago? You're a lot gloomier. You were a lot less talkative, a lot less active. I'd even consider you as heavily introverted."

I… was indeed like that, wasn't I?

It's crazy to think that three years have indeed passed. I was indeed so much more different than how I was three years ago. That incident truly changed me and the way I look at the world.

But, one thing will remain the same.

"Headmaster, my demeanor may have changed, but my goals are still the same." I said to her with a big smile, and the headmaster turned confused.

"And what is your goal?" She asked out of curiosity, but I only lifted my finger to my mouth. It wasn't something to be shared to the world, but since the headmaster has proven many times to be my ally, she deserves to know.

"I just want to see this whole city burn."

At the infirmary, a fourteen year old boy is laying down on the bed. His hands and legs are filled with bandages, while multiple band aids are strapped onto his face. He seemed to be simply resting, and there was only him and the school nurse at the infirmary.

The door to the infirmary opened suddenly, and the nurse welcomed the student who just entered.

"I'm just visiting." The student said to the nurse, and the nurse understood. However, the only patient who was in the room only became surprised at his visitor.

"J-Jeremy…?" Roy asked out of pure concern, but Jeremy only walked over to the side of his bed silently.

"I want to apologize. The things I've done to you three years ago, they were indeed terrible." Jeremy said boldly, and Roy couldn't believe his ears.

"You think I can just accept that?"

"I know you don't. That's why I'll make it all up for you. Your family's clothing brand, I'll buy it." Jeremy uttered so randomly, and Roy opened his eyes widely.

"Truth is, my father has been eyeing your father's business for a long time already. The reason why I've picked on you was to simply see whether or not your father might react, to see if I can maybe stir your business aside."

"You are.…fucked up."

"I know. But, it was all from a business's perspective. As nobles, and as businessmen, that's something you should be able to understand as well.

Then, a great obstacle appeared before me. Something I never thought was real. An enemy that no matter how much I prepared for, I can never defeat."

Jeremy suddenly started talking in a different tone, and Roy knows right away who Jeremy was talking about.

"… It's Milly, isn't it?" Roy guessed correctly, and Jeremy closed his eyes.

"That night… I was faced with a reality.

No matter how powerful my army is, if the opposition is simply too powerful, then I could never win. No matter how much I prepare, if the enemy is simply too powerful, then my chances of winning are none.

I read the history books. The first war of Veldonia was won by the Empress's genius planning. She is someone I look up to, a genuine war strategist who is capable of dismantling her enemies inside out."

As Jeremy told his story, Roy really tried his best understanding. He may have spent the last three years simply doing nothing but training his body, so he doesn't exactly follow along in school subjects that deeply. But, he is still aware of the legendary feat of the Empress during that first war.

"But the second war… truly reminded me of what I experienced.

One million men against one singular knight. I had three guys with me, all who are children of really high ranking knights and trained under them. They were all armed with broomsticks that had been snapped in half. And yet… their opponent is a thin frail girl who is not only younger than them, but is also weaker than them.

I've never felt… so powerless."

Jeremy's words were genuinely how he felt, and Roy opened his eyes widely seeing Jeremy's true color. And after telling his story, Jeremy turned his cold glare to Roy.

"I'm sorry for hurting you, Roy. I'm sorry for bullying you all those years back in the day. However, I've changed, and I don't wish to stay like that any longer.

I am currently preparing myself for the inevitable. Right now, we are still respecting each other's positions. But, once that line is crossed… I still don't believe that I even got a sliver of a chance to win it.

Help me, Roy. I'll do exactly like I have promised you." Jeremy gave away his request, and Roy was left pondering.

Roy's family business has been declining as of late. The sales coming from the fashion brand isn't as popular as it was in the past. It would be really good if someone can buy it from them, considering the current state of it at the moment.

This has become beyond what Roy imagined. Things have turned a lot more serious than he initially thought. This decision could literally change his life.

"I… liked Milly. Deep down, I really just want her to keep protecting me like in the past." Roy said exactly what's on his chest as well, but Jeremy knew better.

"Allow me to remind you… that monster thinks nothing of anyone. That smile she showed you earlier, you know that it's nothing but a fake smile."

"I… know that." Roy said rather saddenedly, and deep down, he cannot refute Jeremy's words. His feelings are only one sided, and there's no promise that she might return the same feeling.

"She is just a frail girl…"

"No, she isn't. Roy. She is more dangerous than an elite knight. I can tell you that much."

"How? How can I ever believe that?"

"Because Moss, Licht, and Artin are all talented children of multiple powerful knights of Ardjestyn, and they are trained under elite knights. The three of them can work together and have defeated their teachers ever since they were young.

Those three couldn't even land a finger to her."

Jeremy's words turned Roy wide eyed, but since Jeremy is saying it with such a serious look, then it must be true.

Roy had to make a decision. Between his feelings, or his family.

The options were very easy to make.

"Whatever price my father asks… I want that to be what we receive." Roy answers with such a serious tone, and Jeremy grinned upon hearing the reply.

"Very good. This will be a simple trade secret between you and I. All you have to do is one simple thing."

Jeremy gave his plan to Roy, and the unfortunate son of the baron can only listen. It is the plan that will forever change the school, and quite possibly change the whole city.

Something that will set the revival of Veldonia in motion much faster than before.