After the grand celebration ended and the guests departed, Lloyd sat with his father, the Duke, in the quiet reception hall, illuminated by the warm, soft glow of ornate chandeliers.
Lloyd sat upright, still dressed in his magnificent formal suit, while his father gazed at him with eyes filled with a mixture of pride and stern resolve. The Duke spoke in a deep, resonant voice, "Lloyd, you have grown before my very eyes, becoming more than I ever expected... It is time for you to embark on the next phase of your life."
Lloyd raised an eyebrow in mild surprise, sensing the seriousness in his father's tone. "The next phase? You mean... more grueling training?" he said, massaging his neck with exaggerated exhaustion.
The Duke chuckled shortly before replying, "No, I mean sending you to the Royal Academy in the capital. You will begin your secondary education there, starting as a first-year student."
Lloyd suddenly coughed, almost choking from the shock. "Wait! I'm almost a year older than my classmates! Won't I look like an old man among children?!"
Yazn, who was standing behind him, burst out laughing, saying, "At least you'll be a handsome old man!" Then, with a mischievous wink, he added, "Just imagine how many girls will faint at the mere sight of you!"
Lloyd's face flushed slightly as he pretended to act indifferent, while the Duke smiled and said, "You'll have a royal suite within the academy grounds, accompanied officially by Lisa and Yazn as your attendants."
Yazn immediately raised his hand with childlike excitement, "Will the suite have a hot spring?! My poor back needs some pampering after everything this kid put me through."
Lisa shot him a deadly glare that made him fall silent instantly, muttering under his breath, "Just kidding... just kidding... no need for violence."
Everyone laughed lightly, and then the Duke continued, his voice turning serious once again, "There, you will learn, build connections, and prove yourself worthy of bearing our family's name."
Lloyd nodded slowly, feeling his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and apprehension. It was a step towards a future he had long dreamed of.
Two days of intense preparations later, it was finally time to depart.
At dawn, a lavish royal carriage awaited at the palace gates, adorned with gold accents and surrounded by elite guards. Lloyd climbed aboard first, followed by Yazn, who struggled to carry five gigantic suitcases, and then Lisa, who calmly walked in while reading a small book, completely unfazed.
During the journey, the chatter never ceased. Yazn slumped in his seat, resting his head against the window, grumbling, "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? I feel like I'm dying of hunger!"
Lisa chuckled mockingly, "It's barely been half an hour, you idiot."
Yazn dramatically clutched his chest, pretending to faint. "If I die, carve on my grave: 'Died of hunger in the pursuit of knowledge.'"
Lloyd laughed heartily the entire way—it was a journey he would never forget.
They passed through dense forests, towering mountains, and small towns, until the majestic silhouette of the capital emerged. High walls, towering spires that pierced the sky, and elegantly dressed people filled the bustling streets—a life completely different from what Lloyd had known.
Upon their arrival at the Royal Academy,
they were greeted by one of the senior professors and escorted to their royal suite, which turned out to be a masterpiece of luxury and artistry.
After a brief rest, a tall, handsome young man with dark brown hair and hazel eyes, dressed in the academy's elegant uniform, approached them. He stood before them with perfect posture, smiling warmly. "I am Edward, a third-year student in the preparatory division. I've been assigned to guide you until you settle in."
Lloyd ran up to him and playfully slapped his shoulder. "Brother Edward! You haven't changed a bit! Still as handsome and beloved as ever!"
Edward laughed, ruffling Lloyd's hair affectionately. "And you, Lloyd—you grew up so fast! You're no longer the little boy I used to beat up all the time!"
Everyone burst into laughter, even Lisa let out a soft chuckle, prompting Yazn to whisper to Lloyd, "It's a miracle... the true miracle is seeing Lisa laugh."
As they made their way through the academy's halls, girls paused and gawked at the two handsome newcomers. One girl whispered to another, "No way... is he a new student? He's insanely handsome!"
Another gasped, "And who's with him? He's like a prince straight out of a fairy tale!"
Lloyd's cheeks reddened slightly as he leaned toward Yazn and whispered, "This academy might be more dangerous than the wilderness."
When Lloyd entered the first-year high school classroom,
he pushed the door open with confidence, only to find a surprising sight: the royal twins were already seated there. Lloyd grinned broadly and waved enthusiastically. "Hey, my friends!"
A moment of stunned silence filled the room before whispers of astonishment rippled through the students. How could a newcomer speak so casually to the children of the king?!
The prince stood up with a wide smile and ran to shake Lloyd's hand warmly. "Lloyd! I missed you, you old man!"
The princess followed, her face tinged with shy delight. "Welcome! We're so happy you're joining us."
The classroom exploded with murmurs and excitement. In the blink of an eye, Lloyd had become the new star of the first-year class
---
The Next Chapter of the Novel (Merged Translation):
Morning had just breathed its first sigh over Flower City, a place often said to be "where dreams blossom and souls flourish."
Inside his royal suite, Lloyd stirred awake at the sound of a soft knock on his door.
— "Lloyd, you lazy bum! It's your first day of school!"
Yazan's voice carried both excitement and teasing in equal measure.
Lloyd lazily opened his eyes, then suddenly leapt out of bed with a feline agility, determined to make this day the dawn of his new era.
After a chaotic morning — including the hilarious moment when Yazan fell off the closet while trying to pick a fancy shirt — they all set off toward the grand structure of the academy, passing gardens adorned with rare flowers that bloomed only in Flower City.
The Flower Royal Academy was a legendary institution, a place of learning so prestigious that only the noblest bloodlines or the most brilliant minds could walk its halls.
The building itself was a marvel of white marble, intertwined with golden pillars, and surrounded by heavenly gardens at every corner.
On his way to his first-year high school class, accompanied by Lisa and Yazan, Lloyd noticed the hallways bustling with a sea of students, each carrying an aura of dreams and ambitions.
And it was here that two new characters appeared.
The first was a girl with messy chestnut hair tied carelessly, her honey-brown eyes gleaming with mischief.
She wore the academy's uniform in an outrageously disorganized way, stumbling through the crowd while laughing idiotically.
Lloyd leaned toward Yazan and whispered:
— "Did a monkey accidentally sneak into the academy?"
Yazan chuckled:
— "Oh no, that's Maria Finrestone, heiress of the prestigious Finrestone family — ranked first in the academy's annual intelligence exam… despite looking like she couldn't tell her right from her left."
Lloyd raised an incredulous eyebrow:
— "Seriously?!"
Lisa smiled subtly and added:
— "Appearances can be deceiving. Maria is a true monster when it comes to combat."
While Lloyd was still processing this walking paradox, another girl entered the scene — a vision so radiant that conversations in the hallway paused for a heartbeat.
Golden hair like liquid sunlight, crystal blue eyes, and a posture so graceful it seemed the world parted to let her through.
A student nearby whispered in awe:
— "That's Elenora Valentine... the Jewel of the Academy."
Yazan sighed dramatically:
— "Ah, Elenora... every beat of my heart chants her name."
Lisa promptly smacked him on the head:
— "Focus on studying, you hopeless romantic."
Their antics drew the attention of nearby students, who couldn't help but chuckle at this lively, bizarre trio.
---
The First Class:
A massive, bald man stormed into the classroom, carrying a thick black gradebook under his arm.
His voice boomed like thunder:
— "Welcome, failures! I am Mr. Brian Strongfield, instructor of Royal Martial Arts! In my class, we'll separate the men from the boys!"
Lloyd smirked and whispered:
— "Looks like we've got ourselves a real bear."
Maria burst out laughing idiotically, causing heads to turn, then suddenly raised her hand and asked with utmost seriousness:
— "Sir! Will we get extra credit if we bring you delicious food?"
The class erupted into uncontrollable laughter.
Even Mr. Brian roared with laughter before bellowing:
— "You're insane — but I like that spirit!"
---
Subtle Worldbuilding:
Through casual conversations and passing remarks during lessons, Lloyd pieced together fragments of the world's structure:
The empire was formed of nine Grand Cities:
Corona Imperial Capital: The seat of the Emperor's power.
Magic City: The cradle of magic, birthplace of the royal twins.
Flower City: The city of nobility, beauty, and knowledge.
Swordia: The city of swords and supreme dueling.
Orion: City of skies and scholars.
Darkfall: City of shadows and political intrigue.
Sandgate: City of deserts and trade.
Blazeton: City of fire and precious metals.
Seablum: City of oceans and pearl hunters.
Beyond the Grand Cities, there were six minor cities and twenty-one scattered villages across the empire's vast landscape.
---
A Legendary Duel During Combat Class:
During a live combat training session, Mr. Brian demanded students pair up and spar.
Lloyd found himself facing a towering young man, boasting of his noble lineage — Rex Cervon of House Cervon, infamous for his arrogance.
Rex sneered:
— "What can a pampered duke's son like you possibly do? I'll shatter your bones, brat."
Lloyd merely smiled, exuding a quiet, deadly confidence.
The moment the match began, he vanished — employing the advanced technique of Instant Shadow Step.
Before Rex could even gasp, arcs of lightning danced around him like a cage of death.
Rex collapsed to the ground, paralyzed and smoking slightly.
The class gasped in disbelief.
Elenora whispered, stunned:
— "Dear heavens... he combined shadow and lightning techniques! Who is this guy?"
Maria clapped gleefully like a child:
— "Amazing! He's like a superhero from the old tales!"
Even the stoic royal twins, seated nearby, exchanged a glance of admiration.
---
The End of the First Day:
After classes ended, Lloyd sat beneath a massive ancient tree in the academy's courtyard.
Nearby, Lisa was chatting with Maria, while Yazan was — hopelessly — trying to charm Elenora, only to be effortlessly ignored.
Edward, Lloyd's older brother, approached and sat beside him, gazing up at the sky.
— "You know, little brother," he said with a thoughtful smile, "the Academy isn't a place of mercy. Here you'll find friends, enemies... perhaps even a love you never expected. But remember this: true nobility isn't measured by power alone — but by the soul."
Lloyd smiled, his eyes gleaming with the fire of ambition.
— "I can't wait to see what fate has in store. And I swear... I will