*Knock* *Knock*
"Enter."
Orion ordered and a servant walked into his room.
"L-Lord Orion."
He stuttered, he still wasn't used to being in the presence of the man who once shook the entire Academy. Especially when their first greeting was Orion shaking up the entire House.
"What is it?" Orion questioned.
"I-It is Y-Young Master Vaan."
"Hmm? Is he here?" Orion questioned.
"T-That's not it." The servant shook his head. Seeing that, a frown appeared on Orion's face, and,
"What are you trying to say? Speak clearly." He ordered.
"Y-Young Master Vaan refused to come here."
"What…?" Orion narrowed his eyes.
"W-We found the other two students who were together with Young Master Vaan and Lady Elara, according to them, the two have bought another mansion inside the academy. We went there to bring them back however, Young Master Vaan refused our offer."
The servant reported with a nervous look on his face, he didn't think the situation would escalate this further, his body trembled just by thinking about how angry Lord Orion would be.
What if he decides to take out his anger on him?
What if he is harshly punished?
What if… he is killed?
All these thoughts messed up the servant's head.
But contrary to his expectations,
"Are the other two students here?" Orion questioned with a calm look on his face.
"Y-Yes, the two of them were also about to buy go in another residential area, however, before they could finalize the deal, we brought them in."
"You did well."
Orion praised.
"T-Thank you." A bright smile appeared on the servant's face.
"Can you take me to the two of them?"
"Yes! Yes of course!"
The servant nodded continuously.
Orion stood up, the servant got his cue and quickly turned around, "Please follow me, Lord Orion."
Orion was then taken to the two students who just entered the Vesta House and noticed that the two were already surrounded by other Vesta Mages.
"What? He refused to come? How arrogant!"
"Yeah! A Vesta Mage should stay in the Vesta House! Why would he live somewhere else? Is he trying to say that he is not part of the Vesta Family anymore? And to think that he is a Prospective Heir." Elric spat out.
For Vaan, his heart was only filled with intense hatred.
And hearing how Vaan and his Elara had decided to stay in a mansion together without anyone but servants around them… this made his heart boil in rage.
'That bitch hasn't talked to me ever since the Elemental Clash and is now living together with that bastard! If only I could get a chance to spar against him! I'll show him the consequences of messing with me!'
"Lord Orion."
A student spoke as he glanced at Orion who walked into the room.
Seeing Orion walking in, Vaelen quickly stepped forward and, "Lord Orion, it is Vaan who rejected our offer, it has nothing to do with me. I hope you understand.
I was planning to give him a discount on the rent because of the mistake I made, but I cannot do anything if he doesn't want it.
I also heard that the Mansion he is living in is quite lavish, our situation is not very optimal these days, so if he piles up massive depth because of his careless spending, we wouldn't be able to help him."
Hearing those words, a satisfied smile appeared on Elric's face. He wanted nothing more than to see Vaan's downfall with his own eyes, piling up a massive debt because of his stupidity was a good start.
His wishes, however, were drowned in cold water as one of the new mages spoke up,
"Young Master Vaan doesn't have to pay any rent for that mansion, it was given to him for free."
"What?"
"Didn't you say they were living in Celestial Garden!? There is no way they would give that place for free to anyone! It is one of the most premium mansions that those no-name clubs could get their hands on.
It is pretty much the face of their club! Why would they rent it out for free!?"
Elric couldn't understand.
"W-Well, from what we could tell, they must have wanted a Star Student on their side."
"A Star Student!? Vaan is a Star Student!? How is that possible!? He is only a 2nd Circle Mage!" Elric was shocked.
"Did he reveal his Advanced Circles?" Lirael questioned.
She didn't want to admit it, however, Vaan's Advance Circle was a discovery that could even give him multiple stars, let alone one, after all, those circles improved a Mage's strength by an unreasonable degree and the advantage they provide only gets stronger with the Mage.
The other mages including Elric started thinking as well.
If it was Advanced Circles, then he could definitely become a Star Student.
"It wasn't Young Master Vaan, it was Lady Elara who became the Star Student."
The Mage revealed. "Once the other students realized that she was a Star Student, others lost their cool and surrounded us, we were then approached by another man who offered Lady Elara the Celestial Garden for free and Young Master Vaan took the offer."
The mage recalled the entire story and everyone turned silent.
To live in a place like Celestial Garden for free…
Even they would have taken that offer if it was given to them.
"She is a Star student huh…" Elric muttered, he was thinking about a completely different thing.
"Also, Young Master Vaan is not a 2nd Circle Mage, he registered as a 3rd Circle Mage."
Elric's ear stood up the moment he heard those words, "What? Are you saying that Vaan lied!?"
He acted shocked, however, inwardly, a big, wide smile had already appeared on his face. Lying about his level, if it is revealed, Vaan would be expelled in an instant!
Once that happens, Elara would be alone…
"He advanced to 3rd Circle after the Elemental Clash ended, no need to be overly dramatic."
Orion, however, poured cold water on Elric's dream.
Not wanting to stay around these children anymore, he walked towards the mage and, "Where is this Celestial Garden? Do you know the location? Can you take me there?"
"I-I can bring you there, L-Lord Orion!"
A servant spoke up in a nervous tone.
"Then let's leave."
Orion spoke, the servant nodded and the two of them left.
…
"Heh, it is a lot better than I expected, I guess Blonde wasn't lying. What do you think, Elara? Do you like this place? You need to get used to it since we will be staying here for a long time now."
Vaan, who was walking around in his new mansion with Elara beside him spoke with a smile on his face.
"S-Shouldn't we have gone with them? Since we are from the Vesta Family, I believe we should live in the Vesta House…" Elara replied. She was still thinking about the mages who visited them a few minutes ago.
"And give up on the chance to live alone with my fiancée? No way.
If they wanted us to live in the Vesta House so badly, they should have informed us about it beforehand or should have sent someone to receive us. There is no way I am going after my desires have already been awoken."
Vaan shook his head.
"D-Desires…?"
Elara's face turned red as she stuttered.
A big smile appeared on Vaan's face, as he then pushed Elara to a nearby wall and placed his hand on top of the wall above her shoulder, blocking her escape path.
"That's right, my desires."
"W-What are you talking about?" Elara questioned. She could feel her heartbeat increasing because of how close Vaan was.
Vaan moved his mouth near Elara's ears as he whispered, "I'll reveal them soon enough, my future wife~
We have a lot of time to do whatever we want~"
"To do what exactly?"
Suddenly, a cold voice was heard.
Vaan and Elara widened their eyes as they quickly stepped away from each other and turned toward the voice.
"F-Father!"
Vaan stuttered.
He couldn't believe that he was blue-balled again.
'What's the point of getting a private mansion then!? Didn't that bastard say that the security here is tight!? Then how is he here!?'
Of course, there was no way a security system could block someone like Orion. Even detecting his presence when he doesn't want to be known was nigh impossible.
"What were you trying to do, my dear son?
I hope you haven't forgotten your mother's warning, yes?"
Orion spoke with a gentle smile on his face.
"O-Of course, how can I possibly forget it."
Vaan nodded as a nervous smile appeared on his face.
Elara, on the other hand, closed her eyes in embarrassment, her face was completely red.
"Now I finally understand why you rejected the people I sent to get you.
You are busy creating fantasies of your own huh…"
"T-That's not it.
I-It is just that I have already finalized the deal, the club that gave this mansion to us had gone through quite a lot of trouble, you know, the place is expensive, but they gave it for free, there were quite a lot of formalities they had to go through.
Wouldn't it be rude if I simply went away after they had done so much for us? I wouldn't want to come out as an ungrateful, selfish man at all.
I am a hardworking, gentle, and kind man."
"Mhm, I totally get where you are coming from."
Orion nodded continuously.
Obviously, he wasn't buying any of the bullshit his son was spouting.
He simply stared at Vaan, waiting for him to catch up.
"…"
Vaan turned silent.
'Fuck…'
He cursed in his heart.
To think his dreams would be crushed just when he was about to fulfill them.
'My shitty luck…' sighing inwardly, Vaan accepted his fate, but then,
"Just remember what you mother you, do not break her trust."
"What?"
"Enjoy your life in the Agresia Academy, son."
Saying those words, Orion disappeared.
