Chapter 196: Extra 4. Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was a relatively recent institution at the academy. It was considered the last weekend of the month — when parents of students were free to come to the academy to visit them. This tradition was first introduced this year.In particular, it was Rachel's special order. The woman had to go to such lengths — to keep her wife from sighing sadly under the window. Leriana genuinely felt that her three «sunshine boys» could not do without her… Rachel, in turn, was tired of reminding them: that their children were almost eighteen and would soon have families of their own.

She was more cold-blooded about raising heirs and could not understand these worries. However, the wife's word was still law.

That Sunday, classes were canceled and the whole academy was filled with noise. Leriana and Rachel sat on a bench in the garden — and watched as Yoko and Razor's adopted son planted flowers. Silver also entered his freshman year this year.

— Look how pretty they are! — Leriane stretched out admiringly,» Just like Ray and I did when we were in high school.

Silver Blanche was an uncommonly handsome and pleasant young man. He reminded Razor of him in his modesty and sharp wit. He was a little taller than Yoko, with short brown hair and brown eyes. He and the girl had met and become friends on the first day of school.

Before that, he and his father had been traveling for years. But then Razor finally decided to return to the Empire so that his son could mingle with his peers and spend a fulfilling youth.

And while to Leriane Silver was a «pleasant young man,» Rachel could barely contain her indignation.

— I can't stand that jerk hanging around our daughter! — she grumbled.

— Jerk? — Leriane was taken aback.

— You are! I know he's as sly as his father.

— But Razor and I were only friends…» she protested.

— Well, maybe with you, yes. But him… I still remember him asking you to the ball last year!

Leriana's mouth fell open. There was no way she'd expected Rachel to still remember something like that. It had happened so long ago that the woman had already managed to forget herself. But Rachel kept it all in her memory and would recall the man's «fatal mistake» at any moment…

The woman mentally chuckled. Looks like the poor second prince would have to take the rap for his «sin» for the rest of his life…

Meanwhile, Leriana found nothing criminal in their children's relationship. They were planting gladioli in the garden and talking nicely. In her heart the woman was glad: it is good that the bench was far enough away, and Silver did not hear their conversation…

A couple of minutes later the teenagers themselves came up to them.

— Mommy, look! — Yoko pointed at a colorful bed, — What beautiful flowers!

— Yes yes…» — Leriana smiled, «And why are you doing it yourself? Don't they have gardeners at the Academy?

— Yes,» answered Silver, «but they work hard enough. We wanted to make their work a little easier.

I couldn't help but cringe. What wonderful children! You don't often see them like that among aristocrats.

— Oh, by the way… Where are Rachel and Richard? — I remembered I hadn't seen them since this morning.

— My sister's fighting with Bridget in the backyard and my brother's keeping them apart,» she said.

— Is that so? Well, there it is again.

According to the rumors I've heard, Rachel and Philip's daughter didn't like each other from the first day at the academy. They had a falling out at the first training session. Who knew: that their quarrels were still going on six months later.

But okay… That's their business. I sighed wearily.

— Isn't Razor coming today? — I asked.

— My father's been delayed,» Silver explained. «He was called away by the publisher this morning.

— Ah, that's how it is.

Razor published his first book not long ago. An autobiographical novel about his years-long journey around the world. The book quickly became popular — as it contained many hitherto unknown facts about the continents. I was deeply happy for my friend's success.

Meanwhile — it was not only the new step in my career that was a significant change. Near the age of forty, the man for the first time had… a beard. And Razor was so proud of it that he cherished it as the apple of his eye. Because he knew that once he got rid of it, he would look like his son's age again. Although Maxie's hurtful comments about the «goatee» were somewhat hurtful.

— Your Majesty, — Dylan was my secretary and accompanied me everywhere, — I do not understand. You're older than me, so why do I look old out of the two of us?

When the man muttered this offensively, I laughed.

Andrew Noyles died of natural causes several years ago. Dylan, his apprentice, had been my right-hand man ever since. And in some ways he was right. As the years passed, Rachel and I hadn't changed much. While everyone else around us grew up. The young man I'd rescued from the slave market had turned thirty-five this year.

— Don't exaggerate,» I countered, «You're still in the prime of your life.

— Yes… Your Majesty, don't try to console me!

We all (except Rachel) laughed. At that moment, there were screams coming from the other side of the academy. You could tell from them that Rachel had grabbed Bridget by the hair.

— Let go of me, stupid…!

And why do I feel like Richard isn't helping there at all? I sighed.

— I guess it was time to break them up…

Extra 5. Yoko's True Identity

Yoko Cassius Ashford became, in the blink of an eye, the most popular student at the academy as soon as she entered. Every time the youngest daughter of the imperial family passed by, no one could take their eyes off her.

The girl truly inherited her mother's beauty and resembled a heavenly fairy. Even her character was excellent — soft and malleable. The teachers simply adored her. The crown princess was like the perfect person who had never existed before.

How could one not fall in love with such a beauty? Yoko received her first recognition back at the admission ceremony.

But then it ended in tears. As soon as the principal's speech ended and everyone left, the boy was surrounded by the girl's «bodyguards,» the elder princess Rachel and the elder prince Richard. They cornered the poor student, and what happened next… No one knows. In any case, no one saw him after that day. S~eaʀᴄh the ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Since then, all attempts at confession have ceased abruptly. After all, these two accompanied Yoko almost constantly — and it was impossible to talk to her alone! No one wanted to make trouble for themselves.

But even under such circumstances, the desire to win over the «beautiful fairy» was not lost on the students. And one of them was the most persistent. The young man purposely waited for the moment: when the prince and the princess were not in the academy. For the whole day their classes were to go on a trip to the reserve — on the assignment of the teacher of natural history.

That day had finally arrived! The boy mustered all his inner resolve for the confession. For there might have been no other chance. The student was the son of a count and came from a good family. He also had a pleasant appearance — so he had high hopes for his success.

He waited until Yoko's class was over before he caught up with her in the corridor. She came out of class a few minutes later than her classmates, which only worked to her advantage. They would be completely alone!

— Your Highness! — A student called out to her.

Yoko turned around in surprise. Her emerald hair waved beautifully in the air.

— Do we know each other? — She asked in her usual innocent voice.

The boy was embarrassed and came closer.

— No… But can we talk?

The princess thought about it.

— Hmm… All right, then. If it's something important. I don't have class anymore anyway.

They stepped aside.

— What did you want to ask me?

Even though he had been preparing for this moment for a long time, right now Nathan was about to lose all his former confidence. After all, he was making a confession to the most beautiful girl in the academy! But he could pull himself together and utter the cherished words:

— Your Highness… In fact, I have long wanted to say… I like you!

— А?

Yoko's pupils dilated in surprise.

— You are the most beautiful lady I have ever met in my life! — He continued, -All aristocrats should be like you!

— …

The girl clutched her textbooks in her hands and still said nothing. Could I say that I was too amazed?

— I have waited so long for the moment to tell you these words…!

— «Waited for the moment»?

— Y-yes…! Those pesky prince and princesses always surround you… I think they're too obsessive. Aren't you tired of it?

— …

— I… May I have an answer to my confession? Will you agree to go out with me? — The boy asked hopefully.

The girl was silent for a while and the expression on her face was invisible. And then… A powerful blow flew into the boy's jaw. He collapsed to the floor in surprise. When he realized that there was blood running down his temple, he looked up in shock.

— What did you say again?

— W-what…?

— Garbage like you can talk? How unexpected,» the girl grinned icily.

The student was at a loss for words. At that moment, it was not the beloved fairy of the Royal Academy who appeared before him. It was… Someone else. This person was someone even her parents hadn't known before. The girl's scarlet eyes blazed with rage.

When the boy was still sitting on the floor — Yoko with all her might stepped on his stomach and forced him to lie down. The student felt his organs about to burst. There was a strong taste of blood in his mouth.

A frantic expression froze on Yoko's face.

— If you say anything about your little sister and brother again, I'll break all your legs,» she whispered in her sweet voice.

The boy choked on his own blood and was terrified. He could not have imagined that compared to the crown princess… Those terrifying twins were angels! At least they didn't enjoy it when they dealt with someone.

Yoko took her foot away when the student was on his last gasp. He coughed at once.

Whereupon the girl snorted contemptuously and walked away without a word. Her emerald hair still fluttered beautifully as she walked. No one knew about this true side of the girl's personality. Which she had been hiding since childhood, even from her own family.

«If I'm not nice, my brother and sister are sure to fall out of love with me!» — That thought always nagged at the back of her mind.

No one really knew. Even though Rachel and Richard were more like Rachel-they had inherited the strength of the Ileas clan. Whereas the only descendant of the ancient Cassius clan was Yoko.