Through the Portal, our convoy was able to reach our destination in just under an hour. It was that long, or short, because the other side of the Portal was on a spot several kilometers from the walls of the Imperial Capital.
Even after becoming royals, we still needed to pass the gate for legal and security purposes. We should have documented our arrival at the Imperial Capital now that we were now royals.
From the city gate, we traveled several minutes on the roads and streets of the capital before we got to the academy. The carriage stopped in front of the academy gate and dropped us in.
"Ah... the fresh air of the academy..." I exhaled. "So many things happened this summer, so it made me feel like I never seen it more than it was supposed to be."
"Yeah, it seems like it." My sister agreed to my words. "But we finally made it here. Let's go to the dorms."
"Alright, Sis."
After logging in at the guardhouse, my sister, Iris, and I went straight to the dorms so that we could unload our own luggage in our own individual rooms.
The classes would resume tomorrow, so there were many students roaming around the campus already as we walked our way. A few minutes later, our paths set apart as our dorms were separated by year and gender.
But that did not stop me from secretly coming over to my sister's room almost every night. Iris had become my lover, and we had already engaged in intimacy, so I would be visiting another room from now on.
"Well then..."
Once I was done unpacking my stuff and arranged them neatly in my room, I took a seat on the bed and laid my back on the comfy mattress. I looked at the ceiling with my arms open, thinking nothing. If I was thinking about something, it was definitely something completely nonsense.
It was not like I was physically or mentally exhausted. It was probably more about accepting the fact that I would be spending a fraction of my life here again. It could also be my expression of relief after going through those experiences in the summer.
"Alright."
After minutes of doing nothing, I finally got up from the bed and walked out of my room. It was perfect timing since I could sense Iris just coming out of her room and my sister was about to reach our rendezvous.
It was not long before the three of us regrouped at the academy gates. Iris got there first, then me, and finally my sister.
"It's still morning and we have some time left before our classes tomorrow. Like I said earlier, I will be visiting Christine today at their manor. How about you two? I assume you have plans today, yes?"
Iris approached and then hugged him.
"Good day, Alexander. Please excuse me for the intrusion."
"You are always welcome here, Raphael. You are family. In addition, it would be rude not to entertain a prince as well as a titled marquis."
"You have a point."
"Very well, let's go inside, shall we?"
The three of us proceeded to get inside the manor. On our way to the dining room, we happened to pass by another relative of Iris— Maryjane Arcenciel, her paternal aunt and the current Imperial Court Mage.
"Iris, I am so happy to see you again."
"Me too, Auntie."
The aunt and niece wrapped their arms around and gave one another a lovely, tight embrace. When my eyes made contact with Maryjane, I could sense some awkwardness in them before she took her glance away.
It must be embarrassing for her to remember Iris's proposal of her becoming my woman. I had no idea if she had made a decision. If she had not yet, I did not mind giving her more time to think.
She then immediately regained her composure before looking at me casually again.
"Your Highness Raphael, it's our pleasure to have you here and join us for a lunch."
"No, the pleasure is mine, Miss Maryjane."
"If you say so, Your Highness. Anyway, do you have anything you like for lunch?"
"Not really. I'll take whatever is served on the table."
With that, we headed to the dining room.