The Crown Prince In Hiding

First Day of School

Orientation

“Welcome, future leaders of the realm!”

The voice rang out from the headmaster of Artheris Academy—a white-bearded elder in a simple uniform adorned with only a few gemstones. Despite his modest attire, his voice carried the authority of deep wisdom as he greeted the new students in the grand auditorium.

Behind him stood the academy’s top professors in a formal lineup—stern young men, flamboyant women, weathered veterans, wizened elders—an impressive range of faculty.

And in the seats? Over a hundred students, each fresh-faced and eager.

Dan and Zeedee were seated on opposite ends of the hall, thankfully. That gave Dan the chance to actually focus.

Beyond all the lavish grandeur, the only thing he was searching for in this place was any trace of his wife.

“Welcome officially to Artheris Academy. I know you’ve all worked hard to get here, but from this moment on, everyone starts from zero. I want you to give your best, and most importantly—enjoy the next three years of your life.”

Applause followed the chancellor’s opening remarks.

It was a longer speech than that, but Dan didn’t listen to most of it. That job belonged to Zeedee. He’d get the summary later back at their hideout.

This morning was dedicated to the academy’s history, its courses, the professors in each department, and so on and so forth.

Dan tuned it all out. He instead scanned the students around him—some stood out, some looked promising. There were tomboys, nerds, muscleheads, and nobles surrounding him.

But among them… on the far-right front row, second from the wall…

He saw her—the blonde girl he met on the bridge.

Same outfit.

Same black turtleneck underneath her uniform.

Dan stared at her for a moment, then turned his attention elsewhere.

Next came the campus tour, led by the upperclassmen.

Once the orientation ended, the room was divided.

“We’ll be breaking into groups of ten, and your lovely senpai will guide you on a magical tour of our fabulous academy~~!”

The girl holding the mic twirled dramatically. Her overly theatrical pose was met with dead silence. She laughed nervously.

“A-Alright, let’s just get started!”

As fate would have it… Dan was placed in Group 1 with nine strangers.

And among them—

That pale-skinned blonde girl again. She was also in Group 1.

Dan nodded to himself. What a coincidence. Maybe their first impression hadn’t been great, but he hoped she wouldn’t remember him too clearly. Judging by the way others treated her… she was clearly someone important.

“Okay! Everyone’s here~! Follow me~!”

The same enthusiastic upperclassman girl waved them forward with another energetic flourish.

“Hi there, freshmeat! I’m Claire Palmer—remember the name!”

Claire Palmer had short, slicked-back orange hair and bright emerald eyes. Her energy was exhausting, but she was committed to welcoming the new students.

“No matter who you were before—here, everyone’s equal! So get to know each other! Follow me!”

Dan watched the group shuffle forward.

He glanced across the way and spotted Zeedee. They exchanged a quick nod. Her group headed off in another direction.

Each grade had 100 students, meaning the total student body was just 300. It wouldn’t take long to get familiar with everyone’s faces—or so Dan thought.

If he kept a low profile, stayed neutral, and didn’t stand out, he could easily coast as a background character and avoid unnecessary entanglements.

But of course, the only reason he had taken on a 150-million-credit debt was Casca Saint Maximin.

Dan turned to his side. Someone was walking next to him.

He looked from her feet upward—

A blonde girl, pale skin, calm eyes. The same one from the bridge.

Their walking pace wasn’t in sync—she wasn’t clinging to him or anything. Just happened to be another rear-row walker. She stayed slightly ahead of him.

Dan scanned her closely from behind… She was probably around 175 cm tall without her black heels.

“…Is there something you need?”

She’d noticed his gaze. Still, Dan didn’t flinch—his body might’ve been nervous, but his expression remained composed.

“Um… I just wanted to say hello.”

“Oh.”

She turned back and resumed walking. Dan took that as an opening and matched her stride.

Their first encounter hadn’t gone well, but compared to Zeedee, he figured he was the more likable one in her eyes.

“I still feel bad about what my friend said on the bridge yesterday.”

“Just don’t let it happen again. If it weren’t for Miss Maximin, none of us would be here.”

“What’s your name?”

“You don’t know me?”

She tilted her head at him in surprise. Dan shook his head, his innocent look surprising her even more.

“I’m really sorry… We’re from the outskirts of Zentinel. This is our first time—”

“Zentinel, huh.”

She nodded.

“I’m Nora,” she said.

“From Snowhaven.”

“Snowhaven—the kingdom where it’s always snowing, right?”

“What about you?”

“Dan Burn.”

She nodded again.

“What class?”

“King Class.”

“Then we’re in the same class.”

“You’re in Class 1 too?”

“Yes.”

“You must’ve aced the entrance exams then.”

“Aced, huh…”

Nora’s gaze drifted ahead, where their senpai was still babbling about library history. Her eyes were blank.

“Even if I failed, I’d still be in this class.”

Dan froze.

“…Who exactly are you?”

“A Snowhaven native.”

She gave the same flat response.

“I heard royals didn’t have to test… Are you… royalty?”

“…Unfortunate, isn’t it.”

Nora Ophilis, First Princess of Snowhaven.

She had expected him to gape or gasp.

But instead, Dan just nodded like it was normal.

“…You’re… really calm about it.”

“They say we’re equals in this academy, right?”

“Until we leave the campus.”

“Well, I won’t be leaving with you, Princess.”

“I’m not going to do anything to you.”

“Until you toss me into the Snowhaven embassy, right?”

Princess Nora stopped walking, crossed her arms, and raised a brow.

“Not bad. You’re familiar with diplomatic law.”

“Shouldn’t I be?”

“Not for someone from the outskirts of Zentinel.”

Dan paused…

That response came from his experience as a general of the demon army.

But a commoner from Zentinel… shouldn’t know this much.

“…I read a lot of books.”

“Now I’m not surprised you got into Class 1.”

“With a royal quota, I might’ve done even better.”

Nora raised a brow again.

“Hey! You two!”

Claire Palmer clapped and pointed at them.

“I’m talking right now!”

“Sorry…”

Nora said nothing.

“This statue here represents the five heroes of the Five Kingdoms. You’ll learn more about them in Kingdom History class.”

Claire Palmer had led the group to the grand statues at the academy gates. Five towering white stone figures stood side by side.

“The world’s top mage from Velmounth—Grand Duke Harry Kane.

The famed archer from Snowhaven—The Raven.

The President of Mathima—Miss Fofana.

Zentinel’s top medical instructor—Professor Son Huengmin.”

Claire listed their accolades with all the drama of telling a legendary epic. The students watched with wide-eyed admiration.

Dan Burn crossed his arms, watching in silence…

The day the war ended in a summit—

He’d sat across the table from all of them.

That day, Prince Fury learned something important:

These people—each one of them—were intelligent.

They had goals, perspectives, and reasons for everything they did.

None of them were saints or devils. No heroes or villains.

They were people who fought for their countries—just like he did.

That’s what Fury understood from eight hours of negotiation.

But it wasn’t something he could ever explain to the people who worshiped these “heroes.”

“And finally… the hope of humankind… the Paladin of Luminous—Casca Saint Maximin!”

All eyes turned reverently toward Casca’s statue. Even students not from Luminous showed deep respect.

Even Princess Nora lifted her eyes in solemn honor.

Dan felt a quiet pride, seeing how beloved his wife was among humans. But then, a thought crept into his mind.

He decided to test it.

“You know… if they added a sixth statue, it’d be kinda hilarious, huh? Haha…”

“Sixth? Who?”

Claire Palmer caught that comment. The other students turned.

“Uh… well, these five are strong, right? But the world has six kingdoms, doesn’t it?”

“You’re talking about the demon kingdom?”

“…Yeah…”

“Really, Dan? I thought you were better than that.”

She frowned, shaking her head.

“If not for these five, especially Miss Maximin, we’d all be slaves to demons.”

“Slaves to demons…?”

“Dan, right? Why would you even bring them up? Who would you even put on that pedestal?”

“…I mean… the Demon King, maybe? He helped end the war.”

“Oh sure. Only because they were too busy wiping out the Shadow Kingdom. We would’ve been next. Have you even read what happened at the Salawan Fields?”

“Salawan Fields… That’s where Prince Fury first appeared, right?”

“Exactly. Because the Demon King created monsters like him.”

“…Sorry…”

Dan slumped a little. Claire forgave him and continued the tour.

Our reputation is absolute garbage…

“You’ve caused trouble again, haven’t you?”

“…Princess?”

Silence fell between them.

“You sound like a backwoods yokel. You don’t talk about demons in places like this. Maybe in Snowhaven, sure.”

“What do people in Snowhaven think of him?”

“What do you think of him?”

“I… don’t really know much.”

“I’ve never seen him in person. But they say the demon prince is the last wall of defense for Diablo. If we kill him, we conquer it.”

“W-Wait, why would you kill him?”

“Figure of speech.”

“Oh…”

“Only one person’s ever stood up to him—Miss Maximin. She’s the reason demons don’t dare cross the sea.”

“You talk like she and Fury hate each other.”

“Go read what happened at the Salawan Fields.”

“Couldn’t they be… friends?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Oof…

“But maybe. Why don’t you ask him yourself?”

‘…..’

The princess walked away—

Leaving Dan staring after her.

Casca… I understand now why you wanted me to come here so badly…