As Javier walked towards the board to check his class assignment, he sighed inwardly.
"Here we go again," he thought. "Just like Japan. Checking class assignments, pretending to care about who’s in my class... Ugh."
Before they reached the board, Javier’s attention was drawn to the courtyard. There, Buddy and Pikko were sprawled out lazily on the grass, basking in the sunlight. Nearby, several guards were slumped on the ground, panting and clearly defeated in their attempts to lead the stubborn Pekkos to the stables.
Javier stifled a chuckle. "Heh, classic Buddy. No one tells him what to do."
But his amusement didn’t last long. A commotion drew his attention to a massive entourage—a large group of maids and royal guards escorting a girl dressed in extravagant attire. She looked about his age, her noble presence demanding attention as people parted to give way.
Before Javier could roll his eyes, the girl locked eyes with Liana. A sudden spark of interest lit up her face. Without hesitation, she marched toward them, her entourage scrambling to keep up.
Standing in front of Liana, the girl spoke in an authoritative tone. "You. Elf maid. Leave this boy and come serve me instead. I can guarantee you a generous payment far beyond what you’re earning now."
Liana, ever composed, bowed slightly and replied in a calm, polite tone. "I’m sorry, Princess Kliatana, but I am currently serving the Armand Household. I cannot accept your offer."
The princess frowned, clearly unaccustomed to rejection. She stepped closer, her voice taking on a sharper edge. "I am a princess. Do you understand what that means? I’m offering you an opportunity to serve someone of true importance."
"I appreciate the offer, Princess Kliatana, but I am currently in the service of the Armand Household and have no intention of leaving my post."
The princess frowned, her tone growing more insistent. "Surely you’d reconsider? Serving a royal family far outweighs your duties to a mere noble house."
Liana shook her head gently. "I apologize, but my loyalty is not for sale."
Frustrated, Princess Kliatana’s demeanor shifted. She straightened, her chin held high as she declared, "Do you even understand who you’re speaking to? I am a princess of the royal family! I command you to reconsider!"
That was the last straw for Javier.
"Oi, bitch," he said, his voice cutting through the air like a knife. The casual insult made the princess’ entourage gasp audibly. "When she says no, that means no. Don’t they teach you basic manners in the royal palace?"
The guards immediately bristled, stepping forward with their swords drawn. One of them snarled, "How dare you address the princess that way, brat!"
But before they could advance further, two enormous Pekkos appeared on either side of Javier, flanking him like loyal sentinels. Buddy let out a deep, guttural squawk, while Pikko spread her wings menacingly.
The guards froze in their tracks, their swords trembling slightly.
Javier tilted his head mockingly, a smirk playing on his lips. "Oh? Raising your swords against a noble, are we? Some royal guards you are."
Princess Kliatana, visibly flustered but trying to maintain her composure, snapped, "You insolent boy! How dare you speak to me this way!"
Javier raised an eyebrow and leaned forward slightly, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "And with all due respect, Princess Bratty—" he emphasized the nickname with a mock bow. "Shouldn’t you be teaching your guards and maids some manners? Seems like their behavior reflects poorly on you."
The princess’ face turned crimson, her entourage too stunned to respond. Buddy and Pikko, as if understanding the moment, bobbed their heads in unison, their movements almost mocking.
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Princess Kliatana finally snapped, her voice shrill with anger. "I am a princess of this kingdom! My father is the king! I can ensure you suffer for this insolence—enough to make you and your entire household regret it for generations!"
Javier cocked his head to the side, his expression completely unfazed. "So?" he said with a casual shrug.
The princess’ eyes narrowed dangerously. "Your household is just of Count rank! One word to my father, and your family’s title will be stripped away in an instant!"
Javier’s smirk widened into something resembling a predator’s grin. His tone turned sharp, mocking, as he leaned forward slightly. "Surely you forgot something, bitch princess." He exaggerated the insult with a mocking bow.
Kliatana stiffened in rage, but Javier continued. "Yes, my family is only of Count rank, farrrrr below your kingdom’s grand, shiny ’royal title.’" He added air quotes with his fingers, the sarcasm practically dripping off his words.
The princess smirked triumphantly, crossing her arms. "Hah! At least you know your place, you lowborn scum!"
But Javier’s grin only grew sharper. He stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with defiance. "You forgot one very, very important thing, bitch!" His voice carried across the courtyard, drawing the attention of onlookers.
The princess recoiled slightly but managed to maintain her composure. "And what would that be, brat?"
Javier folded his arms and raised a brow, his tone now edged with authority. "The Armand Region is an autonomous region. The Count rank given by your precious father? It’s nothing more than a title—a convenient excuse to make my family pay more tribute to your kingdom. But in exchange for what? Soldiers? Protection? Pfft, what a joke."
The princess’ confidence faltered. "What are you implying—"
"Let me spell it out for you, princess," Javier interrupted, his voice now commanding. "The Armand family’s soldiers are the only ones maintaining the border between your kingdom and the Demon Territory. That’s right—my family’s personal soldiers are the ones keeping your comfortable palace life safe, while you sit around and play dress-up."
He gestured dramatically toward the horizon, as if pointing to the unseen borders. "The Demon Territory and Armand Region are split by a massive sea, sure—but the main land route to the other kingdoms? That runs right through our border."
He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous, almost mocking whisper. "Ever heard of the wall that keeps demons from marching straight into your little castle? My family built that. The fort stationed there? That’s ours too. And here’s the kicker—the Demon Territory isn’t even at war right now. It’s ruled by a Demon King who values peace, just like we do. But let me tell you, if that changes? Your kingdom is the first to fall if Armand soldiers stop doing their job."
The princess stood frozen, her face paling as murmurs began to ripple through the surrounding crowd.
Javier straightened, his voice ringing out again. "And second!" He held up two fingers for emphasis. "Your kingdom has never—not once—given us anything in return. No soldiers. No resources. No support. Nothing. We manage our own people, our own soldiers, and our own damn resources!"
He sneered, pointing at her. "So if you think you can walk up here, flash your title, and act like you own the place? Well, bitch, you can take your entitled ass and fuck off!"
The courtyard fell into stunned silence. Even the princess’ guards were too shocked to move, their hands frozen on their sword hilts.
Buddy let out a triumphant squawk, while Pikko ruffled her feathers, looking just as smug as Javier.
Liana, standing calmly behind him, let out a soft sigh. "Young master, please refrain from causing too much of a scene. You’re drawing unnecessary attention."
Javier finished his angry speech without apologizing. "So, fuck off! I don’t care about titles or any nonsense you’re saying. Just leave me alone with my peace and my beautiful elf maid here, so I can finish school. It’s only six months, for crying out loud!"
He glared around the courtyard, daring anyone to challenge him. Buddy and Pikko stood by his side like guards, making Javier look even more bold.
The princess was too shocked to say anything, and her entourage stood awkwardly in silence. Even the guards who had drawn their swords a moment ago looked unsure, and they slowly lowered their weapons.
Javier turned away, still full of confidence. "Let’s go, Liana. We need to check my ’class’ assignment."
Liana gave a polite bow to the princess, her calm demeanor very different from the chaos Javier had just created. "As you wish, young master," she said with a gentle smile, walking behind him.
Buddy and Pikko followed closely, their large bodies adding a funny touch to their group. The two giant Pekko birds moved in sync, walking proudly as they trailed their master.
Javier put his hands in his pockets and whistled casually as they walked away. His eyes shone with amusement, and a smirk played on his lips.
Liana looked at him. "You didn’t have to make things so dramatic, young master."
"Eh, she needed a reality check," Javier said carelessly. "Besides, if I didn’t stand my ground, she’d probably try to take you away for real. Can’t have that, can we?"
Liana’s cheeks turned a little pink, but she quickly hid it with her usual calmness. "Your priorities are... interesting, young master."
Javier laughed, giving her a sly grin. "That’s why you love me, isn’t it?"
Liana didn’t answer, but a small smile appeared on her lips as she followed him toward the class assignment board, the chaos behind them starting to settle.
( End of Chapter )