SYSTEM ASCENSION

Words quickly spread throughout the school about Tiana’s connection to Tyler. What had started as a few whispered conversations between students in the training yard soon became the subject of nearly every corridor discussion, and before long, the news had escaped the academy entirely.

By the end of the day, even people outside the school were talking about it.

The missing princess of the Salvador Empire had been found, and she had been attending the academy all this time.

Many topics arose.

”A princess, you say?”

”There was a missing princess?”

”The royal family are so secretive.”

”I feel for her.”

”I’m glad that she’s back.”

The news eventually reached the palace.

The royal family arrived at the academy the following morning.

Their arrival immediately caused an uproar. Teachers hurried to receive them, students were pushed away from the entrance, and guards surrounded the royal carriage as the doors opened.

Emperor Daevon stepped out, face untouched by age or winkles. He radiated the same fiery energy he had always given off whenever he appeared before the people.

The empress, Lydia, stepped out next. Someone who’s not seen except high-end gatherings and rare outings. The air around her gave off a calm and elegant approach.

The third was the first princess Bora. Her gown touched the ground. She dressed mainly to kill other girls’ ego, and clearly it was working. She is simply a brat.

Tyler came out to meet them. After staying in the academy for a few days, he had changed into a uniform, blending in with the other students.

Tiana, however, wasn’t anywhere near the entrance like they had expected her to be.

She had been with Elias and Mona. More accurately, she had been practically hanging off Elias since a day ago.

Her arms were wrapped around one of his, her cheek pressed against his wrist, and her expression had been stuck in an unmistakable pout ever since she learned that the people waiting outside were supposedly her family.

Elias and Mona glanced down at her.

”You’ve been making that face since yesterday.”

”I don’t like them.”

”You haven’t met them.”

”I still don’t like them.”

He sighed.

She glanced up at him, and asked a question to change the subject. ”What about your family? Tell me about them.”

”My father is back home and I killed my mother.”

She flinched and stopped. ”That’s...” She released an awkward chuckle. ”That was funny. I almost believed it.”

”It’s not a lie.”

She went quiet.

”I believe you should spend time with your parents,” he reached up and pulled Mona who had been dragging out strands of his hair, handing the child to her. ”We don’t know how long the peace will hold. You should understand what I mean.”

”Hha! Eli... Eli...” Mona reached out.

”Wait! He talked!” She gasped. ”He talked right?”

”Why are you surprised?” He snorted, looking right and left. ”Have you seen a child less than a week old with a complete set of teeth?”

Tiana raised the baby chin, and gently pry his mouth open. She gasped.

”His teeth are really complete!”

They finally got outside the school hall. Several, almost all the students were present, staring at the scene.

The royal family had come all the way to the academy to meet the princess they had believed dead for years, and the princess in question was currently clinging to one of the academy’s most odd students in Ringoff academy, and carrying his rumoured child.

”She just got to meet her family and is already bonded to that freak.”

”She didn’t even get to enjoy her youthful life.”

”He’s a disgrace to this school.”

”C ranked nobody.”

”Giving birth at such a young age.”

”He’s insane.”

”Bastard.”

Just their closeness was enough to cook up stories and flip the tables on him. Somehow, everyone chose to believe that Tiana is the mother of the child.

The moment Tiana saw her family, she stiffened. Her fingers tightened around Elias’s arm.

The emperor stopped, and so did everyone behind him.

For a moment, nobody spoke. Only the conscious whimpers of the queen trying so hard not to break down.

Emperor Daevon stared at her just like he had always done.

He had seen her countless times in old paintings and photographs; he had imagined this moment more times than he could remember, but the girl sitting before him was no longer the little child he remembered.

She was standing right there, but her eyes said another.

The empress’s eyes immediately filled with tears.

”Nria...”

Tiana looked at her.

Something about the woman’s expression made her uncomfortable. There was too much emotion in it. Too much familiarity from someone Tiana had never known.

She shifted closer to Elias’ back.

The empress noticed and her expression faltered. She looked at the child in Tiana’s arm, and back at Elias.

She stumbled, her tears finally falling.

”My poor child. How much you have suffered.”

”I feel like she’s misunderstanding something.” Elias muttered to himself.

Emperor Daevon was the only one who recognised Elias. The child who might spark a war between both empires.

”You must be Elias.”

”Hmm?”

”Zeal told me about you.” The emperor smiled. ”Can you come with us for a bit? Nria seem comfortable around you.”

Tiana’s pout deepened.

”Don’t bother us.”

”I think they should bother you.” Elias objected.

”Why?!” She snapped at him.

”They came for you.”

”After losing me like someone lost a botton!”

”You know what?” He bent down to her height, hand going around her waist and yanking off the floor.

”Heyyyyy!”

Mona climbed up his hand and sat on his head.

”Come with us.” Elias told them, then turned around and walked back inside.

The couple followed behind, while the children stood.

For a while now, Tyler had been staring at Bora. Not because he had something to say to the sister he never got along with, but because she had been giving a look of contempt since she exited the carriage.

”Whatever you’re thinking, do you dare.” He warned.

She glared at him. ”We are just supposed to accept that she’s our sister?!”

”Mine, not yours.”

”Who knows what sort of disgraceful life she had lived. Even having a child like that. So shameless.”

”Huh?!” He raised his eyebrows. ”You’re kidding right?”

Princess Bora began to bite her finger. ”And that young man she had the child with,”

”What about Elias?”

”He’s too good for her!”

”Huh?”

”Look at those eyes, and legs. Tall and handsome; a demigod, and her... Aaarrrggghhh!”

Tyler stared at her as she stomped off.

”I feel like there’s going to be a problem.”