Chapter 43

After entering the academy, Helio realized how overly nervous he had been.

Magical talent doesn’t depend on status. Attribute mages’ temperament isn’t inherited. So the academy was full of students from various backgrounds, and many didn’t care that Helio had been a slave.

In principle, slavery wasn’t legalized in Brinita, and most cases like Helio’s were free citizens sold off by bad luck.

He shared a room with Randy, a big boy with a rough accent and a bold, fearless nature, completely different from sensitive Helio. Another roommate, Dennis, was quiet like Helio but much more mischievous and sharp-tongued. The last, Francis, fell asleep as soon as he returned to the room after the day’s activities.

“Magical talent doesn’t discriminate, so why is this country still so aristocratic? I’ve always wondered.”

Dennis had just snuck a look at the list of the fifteen top-grade students. Those who made it into the highest class by entrance exam were all from families able to prepare for the exam for years.

“Most are elemental mages, so unless you’re a rare special type, it’s basically all about family lines.”

“Special types aren’t all that different.”

Helio, changed into pajamas, finished his homework and closed his fountain pen. Dennis tickled Helio’s side, giggling.

“Except for rare cases like you!”

Dennis seemed to relish the idea that Helio would eventually beat and trample the snobbish kids, rising to the top. Helio smiled awkwardly. Another thing he learned at the academy was that people thought of D’Vialis and some other nobles as a different breed. Even those who disliked the upper class often made exceptions for D’Vialis.

A week before entrance, the brochure for attribute mages listed Helio’s attribute as blank. Everyone knew what that meant. Eight years ago, Sabina had been listed the same way.

Randy, Dennis, and Francis were ordinary elemental mages and never imagined they’d get a sibling bond offer. Without special backing, elemental mages rarely got a ‘big sibling’ as freshmen. Only after standing out at school events did offers start coming in.

But Helio was different.

“How many do you think will be desperate for you?”

“I don’t know. Maybe just one.”

“Who? Lady D’Vialis?”

Helio’s face reddened slightly.

“Yes.”

“You think she’ll be the only one? Your attribute is so rare.”

“But… whoever comes, everyone knows I’ll end up choosing her as my guardian. So there’s not much point in anyone else trying.”

“Well, if it were me… I’d at least try to talk to you.”

Helio denied it, but two days later, Dennis’s words were proven true.

Many mages were desperate to talk to Helio, who was always either hidden away at the mansion or glued to his overprotective guardian Sabina. Chancellor Madden, who somehow reminded him of Mitchel, called Helio in and handed him a list of thirty names.

Helio asked in confusion,

“What’s this?”

“A list of adults who want to form a sibling bond with you.”

“This many?”

“It’s first come, first served—so only thirty.”

Chancellor Madden narrowed his eyes and added,

“If I hadn’t cut it at thirty, you’d have had to review thousands of applications.”

“…I…”

Helio quickly flipped through the applications, searching for Sabina’s name. When he found her thin, neat handwriting, he felt relieved.

“This one is enough for me.”

“But unfortunately, Helio, you have to meet all the candidates.”

“What?”

Helio’s face showed he had no idea why. The Chancellor, as if expecting this reaction, began a long speech about the benefits of meeting all potential guardians.

“But if I meet them all and then reject them, won’t they hold a grudge against me?”

The boy asked, timidly defiant. The Chancellor snorted.

“Everyone already knows who you’ll choose. They come just to talk, knowing that, so you don’t need to worry at all.”

So yet another task was added for Helio, who was already busy taking an extra class. The meeting schedule the Chancellor made made Helio dizzy.

“This way I won’t have time for homework.”

The answer was ruthless.

“I’ll extend your lights-out time.”

Sabina would never have packed Helio’s day so tightly at the expense of his sleep.

Helio sensed the Chancellor would not relent and looked at the schedule. In truth, he was really searching for when he could meet Sabina.

But his gaze stopped not on Sabina’s name, but elsewhere.

Reyes Brinita.

Helio’s heart started pounding.

* * *

Reyes Brinita sat in the reception room, adorned as usual with fur and gold, waiting for Helio.

When the boy entered, Reyes immediately stood and hugged him. Helio hesitated, then greeted softly, “Hello.”

“My friend. It’s been a while.”

It truly had—since the carnival Ashton hosted at the end of June.

Reyes’s voice was still sweet, and his attitude just as friendly. He handed Helio a small package, which, when opened, contained a beautiful, lightweight fountain pen, non-smudging ink, and notebooks made of paper that wouldn’t discolor.

“Thank you.”

Only then did Helio smile a little.

But the two-month gap that had made Reyes feel unfamiliar, and the cold attitude Sabina showed when his name was mentioned, created a subtle sense of distance.

It wasn’t that Helio didn’t know about Reyes. If he’d been with Sabina all along, her feelings would certainly have influenced him. Reyes pretended not to notice, sitting gracefully across from the boy, simply smiling beautifully.

Helio didn’t touch the gift, then closed the box lid. He shook his head and handed the present back to Reyes.

“I’m really grateful, but I’ve already decided who I’ll choose.”

“Who doesn’t know that?”

Reyes pushed the box back toward Helio.

“I just came to chat today.”

Even so, Helio’s attitude was awkward and reserved. Reyes decided he’d have to press directly.

“Am I making you uncomfortable?”

Helio wanted to deny it, but couldn’t. Reyes was kind to him, but had a bad relationship with Sabina. Not just bad—Sabina hated Reyes. Helio worried that getting close to Reyes might distance him from Sabina.

“Ah, I know how much you love Sabina. That’s why I haven’t tried to see you. But things are different now.”

Reyes smiled gently, coaxing the boy.

“No one knows who’s applied to be your guardian, nor who you’ve met. Your guardian isn’t notified, either. Our meetings during the semester can be completely secret. You don’t have to worry.”

“But then…”

It would be lying to Sabina.

“Do you really think you have no secrets from Sabina?”

He had nothing to say. Helio fell silent.

“Ah, sorry. That was thoughtless. I apologize.”

“It’s okay.”

“Anyway, that’s the point. If you have worries or requests you can’t tell Sabina, you can bring them to me. Remember, I said I could be a good friend?”

The boy, a bit downcast, fiddled with his thumbnail. Silence fell.

“Do you still not know why Lady Sabina dislikes you, Your Highness?”

Reyes narrowed his eyes. The reason was simple: he’d caused her death twice. But that wasn’t something to say to this innocent child he hoped to win over…

The serpent’s tongue moved.

“There’s a misunderstanding. A very deep one. She mistakenly thinks I’m a danger to her.”

“Why…?”

“Because someone set the stage.”

Reyes’s words were almost irresponsible, but Helio’s back stiffened. A certain man’s name floated in his mind. He’d briefly forgotten that the man, who played the part of Sabina’s romantic, caring lover, had a purpose.

The prince watched the boy’s color drain, then narrowed his eyes.

“…I want to clear up that misunderstanding by saving her.”

“I see. She… is in danger.”

Helio, breathing quickly, echoed Reyes’s words like a parrot.

“Then, according to you, Your Highness, the real danger is the one who ‘set the stage?’”

“That’s one way to see it.”

“Do you know who it is?”

The boy leaned toward Reyes. Reyes closed his eyes, then lifted the corners of his mouth. He dangled bait.

“Do you have anyone in mind?”

Helio tried to say the name. But the binding spell kept him from speaking it aloud.

But Reyes could deduce, from Helio’s gestures, that he did have someone in mind. Who could that be? It wasn’t hard to guess. Since being sold to Sabina, Helio’s social circle was extremely limited, and only one person could raise such suspicion.

“Ashton Bryant?”

Reyes spoke the name and felt a shiver run down his spine.

Helio nodded, eyes trembling.

Ashton hadn’t ‘bound’ even the act of nodding.

“Did you know?”

Helio pressed, a little excited.

“What kind of scheme did he set up?”

Reyes, with a seemingly relaxed, gentle smile, said nothing. The idea that ‘someone set the stage’ was a vague lie, and ‘Ashton Bryant’ was a name he’d guessed from Helio’s reaction.

Helio, inexperienced at mind games, didn’t realize he’d taken the bait.