Chapter - 33 : Delinquent Prince

(Continuation…)

(Third Person View)

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"How pathetic can you be?"(Darrow)

Darrow's words acted like a snare, designed to provoke Rai and stir a mixture of resentment among the commoners and disdain from the nobility.

It was a classic trap that targeted Rai's position, torn between the two factions' envy and disdain despite their long service to the Empire, just like his own.

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However, only Rosalind(:Viviana) knew how much she was internally laughing upon hearing Darrow's words directed at Rai.

Nonetheless, Darrow's comments on Rai made many students in the crowd show their intrigued expressions as the sound of muttering increased by a second.

Yet, the crowd remained within the bounds of passive spectators, none daring to emerge from the shadows of the gathering to voice their displeasure openly…

"Forget about begging to join in Lord Arjivon House.

"Someone like you doesn't even deserve to be a Student at AzureIsle Military Academy[AMA]."(Darrow)

Darrow's words resonated, seemingly gaining support from the crowd.

His self-assured smirk reflected a feeling of victory as the tension in the air grew.

In the midst of the escalating whispers and discussions, Rai stood unfazed, maintaining his composure in the face of judgmental stares.

The chaotic hum of conversation filled the air.

–MUuRRmMrR~

The atmosphere was charged with anticipation, and Rai's thoughts wandered away from the current situation–

[What should I do after this nuisance ends…?]

[...maybe, I should have a dinner date with Viviana?

[Hmm, what time is it now?](Rai)

Rai glanced at his wrist, which has a round Medieval Leather Wrist Watch.

[8:13 PM]

[You know what?!

[This might actually work.](Rai)

Rai's mind drifted, his thoughts entertaining frivolous ideas and contemplating his plans and distractions amidst the chaos.

If Darrow had overheard these musings, he would have coughed up a mouthful of blood in anger.

[But before that, now I should be angry according to the Darrow script, I guess.]

Rai thought comically, as if he finally wanted to follow the plot, which he never cared for.

However, for some reason, he really is angry–

…a tidy bit.

But the anger was definitely not because of Darrow's, which he felt from his initial comments.

Maybe he was a little bothered by the noisy chatter disturbing his peace.

And he has to say that the smirk and winning look on Darrow's face is really–

Irritating and a little ugly too.

Rai's uninterested and dull eyes glanced at the noisy crowd, scanning them all, and then his eyes landed on the Protagonist for a second.

On the outside, Rai maintained the same uninterested eyes as before, but the person in play(:Arjivon) knew it wasn't.

At this moment, no one but Arjivon felt it.

Caught under Rai's penetrating gaze, he experienced a discomfort that verged on being exposed.

His very core felt laid bare, his intentions, ideals, and strategies as transparent as an open book.

It was as though his adversary held the key to his innermost secrets, while he himself remained oblivious to the depth of his foe's insights.

However, Arjivon had not yet had a chance to fully comprehend the severity of his error of judgment.

He was stubbornly unwilling to admit that he had been playing with fire the whole time due to his sense of pride.

Rai's gaze eventually shifted to Darrow, his eyes adopting an even more indifferent, detached, and lax demeanor.

It was a look infused with a unique essence and a profound sense of superiority.

No, it wasn't just hatred – it was akin to a dragon's gaze upon an insignificant fly.

In Rai's view, Darrow wasn't even worthy of his rage.

He even felt silly for being angered by his earlier comments.

It was a clear expression of that attitude, a gaze that conveyed the utter insignificance Darrow held in Rai's eyes.

And yet, despite the inconsequential nature of a fly, if it continually buzzes beneath a dragon's nose, even the most formidable creature can't help but be irritated.

That was the same look that Rai's face was conveying–A complete and utter Unworthiness.

And Darrow seemed to sense this too.

"You, how dare you look down on me?"(Darrow)

Darrow seethed, his trembling index finger pointing accusingly at Rai's indifferent gesture of glancing at his watch.

His rage was palpable, evident in the way his hand trembled with hatred.

[That's all it took for him to explode in anger, a mere reason for being ignored.](Rai)

Rai observed, watching as Darrow's composure shattered, leaving him in a state of complete fury.

"Ah~"(Rai)

Rai sighed, holding an empty glass upside down, highlighting its lack of juice.

"Kavir."(Rai)

He called out suddenly, extending his hand in Darrow's direction and calling his Shadow by name.

Kavir, positioned across from Rai, understood his intentions.

With precise force, he hurled a grape juice bottle toward Rai, sending it hurtling through the air toward Darrow's head.

Darrow's confusion was evident in his expression as he registered the flying object, his mind struggling to comprehend the situation.

–whizz~

In an instant, the bottle whizzed by mere inches from Darrow's head, eliciting a startled reaction from him.

?!!..!!!

"SH*T!"(Darrow)

The crowd, previously witnessing the unfolding drama, gasped in shock at the close call, while Darrow cursed in fear, his realization of the danger narrowly averted.

"...relax."(Rai)

Rai, however, remained calm and collected and muttered a few words.

–flop(:catch)

As the juice bottle soared by, he effortlessly caught it in his hand, halting its trajectory with a simple gesture.

Darrow glanced at Kavir, who stood fifty feet away, a mixture of surprise and relief on his face.

"*gulp."(Darrow)

His gaze flickered between Rai and Kavir as he gulped down the saliva in fear of what could have happened.

"W-what on Earth was that?!!"(Darrow)

Darrow exclaimed, his voice a mix of confusion and agitation.

"..."(Rai)

Rai didn't respond, instead turning away from Darrow and strolling back to the table.

–plop!

–pour~

He leisurely removed the bottle cap using his thumb and poured the juice into his empty glass, then settled into his chair with a crossed-leg posture.

"Um~ Sweet."(Rai)

Rai exaggeratedly remarked as he took a sip from the glass, savoring the taste.

"Now you may continue, Student Darrow."(Rai)

Rai said, tilting his head upward in a gesture that seemed to grant permission for Darrow to speak.

Of course, the gesture was more of a taunt than genuine permission.

...a fact that was clearly not lost on Darrow or the crowd.

"...pusp~!"(???)

Amidst of all this, someone in the crowd quickly cut their laugh in the middle, which was about escape.

This brief moment of suppressed laughter garnered a few curious glances within the crowd, but as it wasn't the main focus of the unfolding events, it was soon forgotten.

"What's the meaning of this, Student Karnal?

"How can you attack me like that?"(Darrow)

Darrow's tone shifted as he tried to play the victim card, coming out of his dazed state.

"Kavir, didn't I tell you to use less force the other time?

"Now look at what you have done.

"Hhaa, you scared the sh*t out of that dude."(Rai)

Rai's voice carried a hint of amusement as he reprimanded his Shadow.

As the scene played out in front of the spectators, both commoners and Nobles began to doubt Rai's identity due to his use of vulgar language, which seemed unbefitting of his status as a prince.

Rai looked more like a Delinquent Prince.

"I apologize, your highness."(Kavir)

Kavir spoke with a truly genuine apologetic tone.

"You have to be.

"Don't do it again."(Rai)

Rai said as if he really meant what he was saying, with a little to no honesty in his voice.

Nonetheless, the exchange between Rai and Kavir seemed comical to those watching, an interaction that defied the norm and injected an unexpected twist into the tense atmosphere.

As Rai's words reached the crowd, a hushed silence fell over the hall.

Out of all the people present there, Rai was the only one who was comfortable with this silence.

"Haha…."(???)

But suddenly, a burst of laughter erupted, shattering the silence that had enveloped the room.

It was evident that the same person who had previously held back his laughter was the one leading this outbreak too.

But this time around, it did not stop with a snicker or with only him.

It spread from one individual to another, creating a contagious wave of amusement that had been suppressed for some time.

However, not everyone found this turn of events fun, especially two people.

One is Darrow, obviously the first to take offense, his face growing even redder as he became the target of mockery.

And the other person is yours truly, Silverthorne Rai Karnal.

One reason is disturbance to his peace.

And despite his outward demeanor, he wasn't thrilled with the attention drawn to him.

"That's it, now you have really done it, Student Karnal.

"I will make you regret for mocking me.

"Just you watch."(Darrow)

[Ooh! Now he is trying to single me out.](Rai)

Rai concluded, not surprised by Darrow's reaction.

Darrow's words were like an open declaration, not only to Rai but to everyone in the crowd.

Or, more particularly, for his fellow House Leaders.

He is giving a warning–

–Whichever House Rai joins it will be announced as an Enemy of Darrow House.

This will make Rai not join any House as no one wants a trouble magnet.

But that will only work for the House group below his Rank.

Darrow was probably aware of this fact too.

It's just that his belief was that no House of higher rank would want to recruit Rai, whom he deemed a worthless individual.

[He is still using his brain despite his second-rate routine dialogues.

[Whatever, I will leave that for tomorrow's-'ME'-to handle.](Rai)

Rai wondered internally, slightly amused by Darrow's predictable approach.

"Are you done now?

–Rai's voice broke through the moment, his tone casual yet laced with a hint of impatience.

"If so, I am leaving.

–He added, getting up from his seat, intending to leave(:escape).

"I don't want to seem like a bully."(Rai)

No, in fact, he was already turning his back to Darrow as he uttered those words.

However, before completely leaving, he made sure to give Rosalind a quick glance from the corner of his eyes, making sure he conveyed his message.

Following him, Kavir and David fell into step, their echoing footsteps marking their departure and leaving the crowd in a state of trance.

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(To be continued…)

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Chapter words : 1775

Total words : 48.01K