Chapter 12 - The Speech

“Good afternoon everyone. As you may already know, my name is Jin Wolfgang Staeles, the crown Prince”

You have to start with a greeting right?!

I’m incredibly grateful for the power of indifference right now.

If this was the previous me I would have shit my pants and stumbled over every word.

What’s next?

Should I talk about what the academy is and so on?

No, I’m pretty sure Kaito probably covered that.

I wouldn’t want to repeat anything.

What do only I have the authority to speak about?

Nobility I suppose.

“Today we gather not as a Prince and his varying levels of subjects, but as fellow students”

Oooh, nice!

“Regardless of noble rank or class, you’re all the same rank as long as you reside in this academy. At our age, nobility is meaningless after all”

Murmurs, the crowd is stirring.

Is my speech boring?

I should explain a little more.

“After all, the achievements of our parents and our ancestors are not our own. Only through your own ability can you rise up in this academy”

The murmurs became more widespread.

Uwah, I need to explain further I guess.

“For the commoners and lower nobles, this academy may be the one chance in your entire lives to rise up through the ranks as it will be the one time where your footing is on the same level as my own”

Louder murmurs.

I speak louder to match.

“For the middle and upper nobles, this academy can serve to prove to your houses and to the world that you’re more than just your surname. That regardless of your inherited title, you deserve to be where you are. By all means, prove to me, to your fellow students and to your respective houses, that your abilities exceed throwing someone else’s achievements around. Prove you can match and exceed anyone regardless of inherited status”

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The murmurs stopped but everyone’s staring at me with strange expressions.

Maybe I was too hard on them?

I should show I’m not simply talking the talk here.

“Of course this applies to myself as well. As the future King, I plan to prove to everyone in this academy that I don’t take such a position lightly. I won’t simply inherit the throne based on my birthright but will earn it by proving that there is no one more suited to the position”

Everyone’s still being weird.

I look around and spot Kaito in the crowd with his mouth drooping and his eyes popping out of his sockets.

It is a bad speech?

I can only keep going though…

“Now go! You only have a short window! In the frame of your lives these next few years in the academy are nothing. However, they may determine your future standing for the rest of your life. So go! Study! Train! Learn!”

The climax is here!

“If anyone is able to exceed me in any of my subjects, I’d be willing to grant them an official position! Such is my resolve! How’s yours? What will you achieve? What will you become? Show me!!!”

I yelled the last part with my hands spread in an exaggerated manner.

I was a bit out of breath at this point and was breathing quite rapidly.

Huh?

No one’s reacting?

I am the Prince, even if it was terrible, they should give me some courtesy claps right?

As I’m thinking this, I feel a hand on my shoulder.

I turn around to see the Principal.

His eyes are shining.

He grabs the microphone.

“I did plan a speech…but after that, I think it would just spoil to mood”

Was my speech that bad?!

“In all my years I’ve never heard a speech like that from anyone, let alone a monarch”

Am I being admonished in front of everyone like this?!

Isn’t that a bit harsh?!

“You are dismissed”

Everyone doesn’t move for a few seconds and stares a bit longer.

Then suddenly as if planned previously, everyone stands up and starts to vacate the assembly hall in silence.

Am I going to be okay?

I thought the speech was fine though…

Everyone seems really upset by it…

I turn around and also leave through the back.

Kaito’s standing back there waiting for me.

“Y…Your highness. That speech…You said you didn’t have anything prepared?”

I sigh. Kaito’s going to admonish me too?

I’m not really in the mood.

“Yes, that’s correct. I simply came up with something as I went along. I didn’t think I’d get such a poor reaction though. I’ll have to refuse next time I’m asked without prior preparation time as to not embarrass the monarchy further than this”

Kaito’s eyebrow jumps up and he makes a perplexed expression.

“Regardless, I’m a bit tired now, I’m going to retire”

“Ah!”

I hear something from him but I just leave quickly. I don’t want to add further embarrassment onto myself.

I don’t have the courage to return to the classroom, so I head directly to my room.

No one’s there.

Akiho would be in class and I’m not sure where Mari is, though she must also assume I’m in class.

So I have some time to myself to reflect.

Was it not appropriate?

I had tried to make it a bit exhilarating and inspiring but maybe I was speaking out of line?

I sigh.

Regardless, I suppose I’m going to have to face someone soon. Akiho and Mari should discover me before long.

I hear a knock.

I thought I’d have a bit more time, but…

I open the door reluctantly and in front of it with her fists clenched is Haruna.

…Why is she here?

“I knew I’d find you here!”

“Why are you here?”

“Well you didn’t come back to class! So I volunteered to come and find you!”

“Ah, well I’d rather not go back to class today…”

“Hmmm, I see, yes. After such a speech, you would need time to reflect!”

…What, did she read my mind?

And even she’s lecturing me!

My heart can’t take it…

I sigh.

“Yes, I’ve embarrassed the monarchy and I must reflect”

“You did what?”

What kind of a response is that?

And what’s with that face?!

A sudden look of realization hit her face.

“Ah! Hehe, you’re actually pretty cute huh Jin?”

Wha…This bitch! She’s hitting on me when I’m feeling so vulnerable!

“I didn’t think you’d be so sensitive contrary to your looks, huh?”

My eyes frown.

“Well of course I’m feeling upset after that kind of reaction to my speech!”

“Ah, yea I can see why you’d think that way”

Her responses are really annoying.

“Hehehe, alright I’ll just tell you since I’m feeling quite nice”

“Tell me what?”

“The speech was really amazing!”

Huh?

“No, I’m telling you the truth you know? No one clapped or did anything like that because they’d never heard a speech like that before!”

That can’t be…

“It’s true! Everyone in class is really pumped up! No one thought that the crown prince himself would say such things about nobility!”

What was it I said again?

“You caused quite the controversy at first, but by the end everyone was hanging on your every word! Both the commoners and nobility are feeling really inspired now!

Really?

“It was a really really REALLY great speech Jin!”

She grinned at me.

“Ah, thank-you…”

“No problem! You’ll probably here it from a lot of other people in the future anyway! I have to go back to class now, I’ll just say I couldn’t find you! Though you have to come to class tomorrow okay?!”

“Ah, okay…”

“Great! See you tomorrow Jin!”

I closed the door.

It was a great speech huh?

I was smiling to myself.

Hah, I feel a lot better now.

That was nice of Haruna.