Sooo… that just happened.

Girl started a religion before breakfast. I wonder how her followers are reacting, seeing this.

Go outside and find out.

Nah man, I ain’t messing with no cultists when they’re going through a crisis of fate. Especially one built on blaming all your problems on a scapegoat.

For the record, just how many of Eleanor’s followers are there?

Globally? One point seven million. The number of believers grew exponentially after Saint Eleanor ‘died’ and became a martyr.

Hot damn! Bet she must be swimming in hatred at one point.

Duh. The worst villain in history—remember? It’s why we gathered for this trial in the first place.

Oh, right…

“Adrian, what are you all chipper about? You’ve been grinning like an idiot since breakfast.”

“It’s a beautiful day, your highness. Birds are singing. The sun is shining. Every new dawn is a gift. Oh, and I’m not Adrian.”

“What a weirdo… Well, I have outdoor lessons today. Can you go to class alright on your own? By the way, where have your pets gone? They’d normally be swarming us like locusts.”

“Who knows, princess? Perhaps they got bored… Perhaps they got something better to do. Ohohoho!”

“...Yeah. Sure. Whatever. Promise me you won’t murder someone on school grounds, okay, Adrian?—except for that bitch Donna Day! Wait. No. You still shouldn’t kill her in school or Father will come to take me back. So if you’re going to do it, make sure there’s no trace left! You can do that right, Adrian? For me? Pretty please? Wipe that bitch off the face of the earth, for your cute cousin?”

Remind me never to offend the princess… or flirt with Knight Carter.

Were they an item? Are they still?

Who knows. Ask them.

Pass.

“Still not Adrian, your highness. I’m not a murderer either.”

“Boo! Meanie!”

Princess Grace stomps her feet and walks away. Eleanor is left alone at the front entrance. She blows air out of her nose and says, “Finally.” Then she makes her way to the nearest transport point. The place is swarming with students queuing up in line.

“Screw the rules. Next time I’ll teleport directly to class.”

By the time Eleanor arrives in class, the teacher has already arrived and her classmates are seated.

Hey, isn’t that—

The judge?!

The judge—our honorable judge—is standing in front of the blackboard in a tan suit and gold-rimmed glasses. The man looks at the girl who’s just entered the room.

“You are late, child.”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“The bell hasn’t rung yet.”

“But I have already arrived and am ready to teach. Therefore, you are late. The same goes for all who come in after you.”

“That’s not a reasonable rule, old man. Especially on the second day of school.”

The judge smiles.

“It may not be reasonable, but that is what I expect my students to follow. If you disagree with my decree then you are welcome to take it up with my superiors.”

Eleanor frowns at the old man’s words. She’s about to say something, but then she glimpses Lady Joanna repeatedly mouthing a word at her.

“You’re the headmaster?” Eleanor asks.

“Yes and no.” The judge chuckles. “I am Judge Paton Prescott, acting chairman of Umber Tower, and your law professor.”

Whoa, he looks as old then as he is now.

Thank you, I do try to keep myself moisturized.

“Am I supposed to be impressed?”

“No, child. You are expected to follow my guidance to the word if you wish to attend my lessons.” The judge pauses. “Do you wish to attend my lessons, Lady Eleanor Ambrose?”

Eleanor scoffs and turns around to leave the classroom. Judge Prescott looks at her go and says,

“Coward.”

“What did you say to me?!”

Eleanor turns around in rage. She can barely stop her fangs from growing out.

“I said you are a coward, Lady Eleanor Ambrose. I challenged you—imposed an unreasonable rule upon you despite this being our first meeting. But instead of fighting back—standing up for your rights—you choose to flee. Is that not an act of a coward?”

“Watch your tongue, old man!”

“Or what child? What will you do to me—here, in my domain? An institution which I hold complete authority over. A place where I can write or rewrite any rules as I see fit. What leverage do you have over a tyrant such as myself? Will you run home and tearfully beg your powerful parents to fight your cause, or will you keep fleeing just as you had fled from the capital?”

Eleanor glares at the judge. She clenches her hands, trying to prevent herself from pulling out her weapons. She and the judge stare down at each other as the rest of the class watches them with breathed breaths.

Suddenly, the door opens behind Eleanor and a strawberry-haired girl rushes in.

“I-I’m sorry I’m late, Professor!”

Donna Day quickly bows to the judge.

“Hohoho! It’s perfectly alright, child. The class hasn’t even started yet. I’m here early. Please, take your seat.”

“Thank you, Professor.”

Donna says happily and goes up to the podium. She glances at the girl in the wheelchair who is silently sitting in the middle of the stage with confusion as she walks up to her seat.

The judge’s smile follows Donna before returning to Eleanor.

“How does it feel, child, to see someone else receiving preferential treatment when you were greeted with scorn? Do you believe it to be unfair?”

“I don’t care about what’s fair or what’s not. All I know is I want to stomp your face into the ground!”

“Ha! Hahahahaha! Good! Very good! In the face of adversity, you choose to rely on brute force. But Lady Eleanor, don’t you think your threat is beyond the scope of your capabilities? An empty threat will only weaken your position.”

“I don’t make empty threats, old man. I will make you pay. Perhaps not today. Perhaps not tomorrow. But one day, soon, I will make good on my promise. That, you can count on.”

“I shall eagerly wait for that day, child.”

Judge Paton Prescott smiles just as the bell rings.

“Please, return to your seat. I would like to begin my lesson now.”

Eleanor scoffs and heads for the door again, but this time Lady Joanna rushes down to stop her and bring Eleanor up to her seat.

“Don’t be mad, Elle. The old professor is just a bit cuckoo in the head. That or he’s testing you or something like that. Here, I got you chocolate to thank you for the cookies yesterday. It’s a bit bitter so maybe you should eat it with a nice cup of coffee with plenty of sugar and…”

Eleanor remains silent in her seat and glares at the judge for the entire class.

“One day, old man. One day, I’ll get you for this.”