"Is the notion of a 'New Celesta Empire' a result of some weed smoking from Donald?" I asked, strolling through the castle corridors alongside John.
"That arrogant fellow? Unlikely. He divorced his own wife to marry the Celesta Kingdom," John replied with a scoff. A sentiment I couldn't help but concur with.
"Nevertheless, I'm a little worried. Picture a Kingdom governed by Jayden and Milleia," I muttered with a grimace.
"I wouldn't be surprised if Jayden amassed a harem of all the kingdom's women, while Milleia gathered the strongest males into hers," John said.
While Jayden's inclinations were predictable, Milleia's motives remained strange. There appeared to be more beneath the surface. I can't discern her motivations honestly.
I chuckled at his remark. "That would sure be a scary empire."
"Yet, with Aurora and Donald involved, it seems more than a mere fabrication. You heard him? It sounded more like a proclamation," John said coldly.
Proclamation yeah and he chose to do that proclamation to us out of everyone. He seems to take us as true threats then. It seems he understood how unpredictable me and John were by learning what happened in Sancta Vedelia. Both of us didn't care about Sancta Vedelia's High Nobility so imagine about Celesta. We don't give a damn about it as well.
"Aurora, huh..." I closed my eyes, recalling our recent interactions.
Aurora held a deep affection for her kingdom. The prospect of an empire would likely resonate positively with her. Fortunately, her intellect made her less susceptible to Donald's manipulation. However, their goals seemed dangerously aligned.
"Do you think it might be better to advise Layla and Miranda to leave Celesta?" I blurted out suddenly.
"What?" John frowned.
I glanced at him briefly. "Never mind. I might be worry for nothing."
Upon reaching the dinner hall, John was on the brink of an outburst, and I struggled to stifle a laugh.
"Oh my, is this fate?" I spoke, alternating my gaze between an incensed John and an awkward Amelia seated beside Celeste.
"What is she doing here?" John asked, clearly irritated.
"Do you have a problem?" A vein popped out on Amelia's forehead.
"Yeah, I'm leaving," John declared, turning around and leaving a bewildered Amelia behind.
I promptly caught his arm. "No way you're leaving me alone with these two," I said with a glare.
Handling Celeste was already challenging, and adding Amelia to the mix was a prospect I wanted to avoid. We had nothing in common.
Just then, an unexpected guest made an entrance. With white hair and blue eyes reminiscent of his father, it was Evan Indi Zestella, Celeste's brother and the Student Council President. Another sibling with a sister complex, a recurring theme in this freaking world!
"Welcome, John Tarmias and..." Evan narrowed his gaze. "And you."
"Actually, I have a date with Elizabeth. I'm leaving. John will kindly eat my share—" I began, ready to escape Evan's sister complex and the ensuing misunderstandings.
But before I could depart, John grabbed my arm, casting me a hidden smirk. "No way you're leaving me alone here."
"I already reached out to Elizabeth, and she mentioned she won't be able to make it to the date. She wishes you a great dinner," John lied with confidence.
"Great, then. Please, join us. Close the doors," Evan interrupted me and directed the guards.
In the end, here we sat. I occupied a seat next to John, both of us facing Celeste and Amelia, with Evan positioned on my left and the headmistress, Melfina, taking a seat on John's right.
The aroma of the roasted pork and an array of delectable dishes filled the air, creating a stark contrast to the awkwardness, primarily fueled by the strained ambiance between Amelia and John.
I could engage in somewhat conversation with Celeste, but the atmosphere was marred by the residual tension from John and Amelia's lover's spat. The unease amplified when Evan intermittently shot glances in my direction, wearing a disapproving frown.
All of this turmoil originated from that granny headmistress!
Why did she see fit to divulge the details of that incident to Evan and her son?
"I didn't congratulate you on your engagement with Elizabeth, Amael. Congrats," Melfina spoke up.
"Thanks..." My response carried no genuine joy.
"It hasn't even been four months since your first engagement, and you've already found another fiancee? That's impressive," Evan chuckled, clearly aiming to provoke me.
He had done his homework in my life.
"Eh? First engagement?" Celeste asked, visibly shocked, her gaze fixed on me.
"Oh? You didn't know, Celes?" Evan seemed pleased to reveal the information. "Amael is engaged to Layla Adriana Tarmias, a Duke's daughter in the Kingdom of Celesta. Incidentally, John here is her elder twin brother."
Both Celeste and Amelia looked at us, surprised.
It's not like I was trying to conceal my engagement to Layla.
"Amael seems pretty popular in Celesta," Celeste said with a giggle.
Evan furrowed his brows, likely anticipating a disdainful response from Celeste.
I couldn't help but smirk at him.
Noticing my smirk, Evan's gaze turned angrier. "Maybe, or he just collects girls around."
I snorted immediately. "At least I have two fiancees."
A tense silence hung in the air until Celeste quickly interjected, "I-I think if you like each other, there is no problem, ahaha."
"Right?" I smiled at Celeste. Celeste grinned as she pointed her fork at me. "Elizabeth accepted so it means she loves you a lot, Amael."
"E-Exactly, we are head over heels for each other," I buried my shame and said.
Celeste caught off guard by my answer, blushed before resuming eating.
"What about John and Amelia then?"
"Pfff!" John coughed out the water he was drinking at Evan's genuine question.
"T-There is nothing between us!" Amelia added with a bright red face.
"Oh? But rumors are circulating in the entire Academy about that?" Evan was surprised.
Much like John and Amelia themselves.
"Who said that?" John asked annoyed.
"Well, I don't exactly. I hear about it since I'm the Student Council President, you see," Evan said but spare me that arrogant smirk.
"You are acting cringe again, brother," Celeste shared my thoughts and said with a grimace.
"W-What?" Evan had his mouth opened in shock at his sister's remark. He seemed really hurt by his sister's words. It was a siscon symptom. No doubts about it anymore.
"Hmpf." Celeste looked away. "She is right, you are acting cringe, Evan," I added with a scoff.
"Y-You have no rights to say it!" Evan snapped at me.
"I only agreed with your sister," I shrugged my shoulders. "Are you trying to seduce my sister with that method? I know your intentions, Amael! You won't even touch my cute sister in my watch. She is still too young! Don't be fooled by her kindness. My adorable sister is like that with everyone! Bury your thoughts right away!" Evan hit the table with his knife.
A long silence followed with me trying to hold back my raging emotions.
Celeste's twitching cheeks turned tomato red as her whole body shivered in embarrassment. Eventually, she threw her plate at Evan's face. "I-Idiot brother!"