As Marcus returned to his seat, he said, “It’s not difficult for me, honestly. Emily has just been acting... a bit strange lately. She used to be respectful to everyone, even commoners. I’m not sure why she’s changed, but I hope you won’t take her words to heart and end up hating her.”

Mabel gave a small smile, admiring how Marcus stood by his cousin despite everything. She glanced at Arnos, expecting him to brush it off with a forgiving comment.

But Arnos’s response was immediate and unapologetic. “Oh, I really don’t like her at all. I’m not letting her off the hook that easily; she was way too rude. You can’t expect me to just forgive her.”

Mabel lightly thumped him on the head. “Don’t you think you should try to be the bigger person, you dummy?”

Arnos shrugged and softened his tone. “It’s not like I’m planning anything against her. I’d just rather not be around her.”

Mabel stood up, sighing as she looked around. “Well, anyway, let’s drop this. It seems like everyone’s moving again.” She pointed at the crowd shifting toward the exit of the arena. “Looks like classes are about to start.”

Arnos and Marcus rose from their seats and joined Mabel as they followed the flow of students.

---

They eventually approached the gathering crowd.

“I think they’re going to divide us into classes now,” Arnos said, observing the commotion.

Marcus and Mabel nodded in agreement.

“Seems that way,” Mabel replied.

The crowd finally settled in front of the auditorium where the inauguration ceremony had been held earlier, and everyone started taking their seats. A few of the Academy instructors were already positioned on stage, including Miss Margrave from earlier. The headmaster, however, was nowhere to be seen.

“Should we sit over there?” Marcus suggested, pointing to the middle row of seats.

Arnos sighed. “I think I’ll go for the back row this time.”

Mabel looked at him, surprised. “Why’s that?”

Arnos put on a mock girl’s voice, imitating the Academy’s aristocratic crowd. “Oh, look, that blue-haired girl over there—she’s the commoner who got a B-rank. Yeah, that’s her, sitting with the Duke’s son. She must think she’s better than us now. So full of herself…”

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Returning to his normal voice, he added, “Those are the kinds of comments you’re going to hear. Trust me, I’ll be getting the same treatment. Back seats are just more peaceful.”

Mabel sighed but gave a smile. “You know what? I actually like sitting in the back too.” She feigned disappointment with an exaggerated slump.

Marcus noticed her reaction and raised a brow, looking slightly concerned. “Do you think she’s going to be okay?” he asked Arnos.

Arnos smiled reassuringly. “I think she’ll be fine. Well, see you later, Marcus.” He and Mabel began heading toward the back seats.

Marcus grabbed Arnos’s shoulder. “Hey, what’s with the ‘see you later’? I’ll sit with you two as well.”

Arnos and Mabel exchanged a look for a few moments, then turned back to Marcus.

“Don’t you think it might cause some issues?” Mabel asked, a bit hesitant.

Arnos nodded in agreement.

Marcus frowned, looking slightly annoyed. “What issues?”

Arnos chuckled. “Just imagine…”

He began narrating in a low, gruff voice, “The instructors notice that the Duke’s son is sitting in the back row, far from the front…”

Mabel joined in with an elderly voice impression. “Huuuh? What’s that?” She slapped an imaginary desk. “Is the Duke’s son planning some rebellious act at our Academy? Unacceptable! Inform the Duke immediately!”

Arnos continued, now in a stern adult voice. “I didn’t expect this from you, my son. You’ve brought shame upon our family’s name in the Academy…”

Turning to Marcus with a smirk, Arnos asked, “Do you have any siblings?”

Marcus nodded. “An older brother.”

Arnos cleared his throat. “Well, then. Now that I know you’re not serious about upholding the family’s honor in public, I’ve decided your brother will inherit everything…”

Mabel raised her voice, sounding dramatic. “Father, no! You can’t do this to me!”

Arnos extended a hand, as if giving a royal decree. “It’s too late. Guards, take him away!”

In unison, Arnos and Mabel declared, “That’s exactly what would happen!”

Marcus looked at them both with a mix of disbelief and amusement. Pretending to sob, he said, “Did their bullying finally break them? Have they both lost their common sense?” He sniffled dramatically.

Mabel, looking annoyed, snapped back, “Hey, what do you mean ‘lost our common sense,’ huh?”

Arnos chuckled. “Alright, let’s get going. It’s probably for the best, anyway.”

Mabel shot him a playful glare. “What do you mean ‘for the best’? This guy could use a little common sense. Maybe I’ll teach him myself.”

Arnos gently took hold of Mabel’s head, turning it in the direction of Miss Margrave, who was watching them intently with a no-nonsense expression.

Without another word, Mabel straightened up and began walking, with Arnos and Marcus falling into step beside her. They reached the back row and took their seats, settling in as the rest of the students got situated.

Marcus sighed and glanced at the two of them. “You weren’t serious about all that, were you? If you didn’t want me sitting with you, you could’ve just said so.”

Arnos and Mabel responded together, “What are you talking about?”

Marcus narrowed his eyes, catching on to their playful expressions. “About that whole little act you put on at the entrance.”

Arnos looked at him with a deadpan expression. “I was serious, actually.”

Mabel nodded, mirroring his serious look. “Same here.”

Marcus couldn’t help but laugh at this, turning his head to hide his chuckles as he tried to compose himself.

Mabel shot him a suspicious look. “What’s so funny, huh?”

Before she could continue, a voice rang out from the stage—it was Miss Margrave, signaling the start of the announcements.