“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” - Albert Einstein

  ???

  The fallout of the war simulation between the Advanced Classes could still be felt two days later.

  While no one said it to Rem’s face, it is obvious in the looks that they exchanged. It was there in the sideways glances, the tight-lipped silences, or even the way the students looked at the Crown Prince when he walked past them in the halls. And then there were the whispers being exchanged in the halls.

  And Nathan could hardly stand it.

  “They’re disrespecting Rem!” Nathan nearly barked at Leighton, his voice sharp with fury as Leighton barely managed to drag him out of the cafeteria.

  Breakfast had been a disaster. Two of their classmates had muttered something under their breath—something about delusions and how the Crown Prince was ‘unfit to rule’. Nathan had stood so quickly that his chair nearly toppled. If Leighton hadn’t intervened and dragged Nathan out of the cafeteria, someone would be sprouting some impressive black eyes by now.

  Leighton grunted as he slammed the door shut behind them, using his height to his advantage as he dragged the furious Nathan into an empty storage room.

  “Why did you stop me?! Someone should teach them a lesson, and what it means to disrespect the Crown!”

  Even Leighton’s everlasting patience almost snapped. “And pray tell, are you going to ‘teach’ the whole damn Academy that lesson?” he almost growled, causing Nathan to falter and hesitate. “It’s not just our classmates who are whispering about what happened in the simulation. It’s the whole damn Academy. Rumours tend to spread fast in this place, and you know that. And you can’t arrest someone for speaking the truth.”

  “That’s not the truth! They’re disrespecting Rem! Mocking him! Shouldn’t we be doing something?” Nathan snarled, clenching his hands into fists. “And her… She claims to be Rem’s guardian, and yet, she constantly disrespects Rem or even undermines his authority! That’s treason!”

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  Leighton looked very unimpressed. “By ‘her’, I’m going to assume you meant Yuliana Nightray,” he said flatly. By the glare that Nathan shot him in response, Leighton knew that he’d hit the nail on the head. “You know as well as I do that if there is anyone with the authority to question the Crown Prince, it is their appointed guardian. House Nightray have always served that role.”

  Nathan scowled at Leighton, who glared back, unimpressed.

  “And don’t look at me like that,” Leighton added coldly. “I don’t want to say this, Nathan, but you are letting your personal feelings regarding Yuliana Nightray cloud your judgment. Nightray, Carrington, and even Merrin… You know they are right when they said that diplomacy has no place on a battlefield. Even I know that, and I didn’t even pick up a sword until I came to this Academy.”

  Leighton ignored Nathan’s glare, meeting his gaze coolly. “I’ve thought this since we were in first year. I just never said anything because you both are my friends, and also partly because I felt that it wasn’t my place to question Rem. But Nightray and the others aren’t the only ones saying that Rem is too na?ve and too idealistic. Even our seniors have been saying it. And General Thorne thinks so, too.” He stepped closer. “Tell me honestly, Nathan. If Rem hadn’t been our friend, would you still be insisting that Rem is right? Would you still believe that he’s ready for the throne? Can you look me in the eye and say he’s truly prepared to lead this kingdom?”

  Nathan clenched his hands into fists. “Even you’re saying that, too?” he whispered, barely hiding the hurt in his voice. “Shouldn’t we be helping Rem when everyone else is whispering behind his back?”

  Leighton’s glare could have melted steel. “I am helping Rem. By telling him what he needs to hear, rather than what he wants to hear. There is a difference between blind faith and true loyalty, Nathan. Do you think loyalty means defending every mistake? That’s not loyalty. That’s cowardice, or even blind faith dressed up in pretty words. I believe that you are another one who needs to see the truth before it is too late. Rem is our friend. But he isn’t just anyone in Alathia. He is the Crown Prince—”

  “Exactly, and—”

  “And this meant that he had certain responsibilities that he can’t run from,” Leighton continued like Nathan hadn’t interrupted, his voice growing colder, “As well as certain decisions that he’ll have to make that no one will thank him for. Hard decisions. But at the end of the day, as long as those decisions keep people alive, what does it matter?”

  Nathan scowled. “You’re starting to sound like Nightray,” he grumbled.

  SLAM!

  Nathan almost jumped when Leighton slammed his hand down hard onto the table, the sound echoing around the room. Leighton’s normally warm brown eyes are now flashing with anger. “Maybe because she actually sees reality,” Leighton almost growled. Even Nathan is taken aback at seeing Leighton getting angry. “Unlike you and Rem.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” Nathan demanded, stunned.

  Leighton looked at Nathan, studying him, before he shook his head. “You’re not going to understand or even believe me at this point, so I don’t think I’ll waste my breath,” he muttered. He turned to go, but paused at the door. “Cool your head before our joint combat class with Advanced Class 1. But trust me when I say that it’s not going to achieve anything, but probably earn you a detention, school suspension, or worse, expulsion, if you attack anyone stating their opinion.”

  He looked over his shoulder at Nathan, his gaze like steel. “In fact, I’ll suggest you tread carefully as well. Do you think that people aren’t questioning you as well?” His voice is cool. “They’re saying you’re acting above your station, constantly undermining Nightray, and challenging her at every turn. Like it or not, she outranks you, not the other way around. Maybe it’s time you thought about that.”

  Before Nathan could demand answers, Leighton turned on his heel and slammed the door shut behind him, enveloping the room in silence and leaving Nathan with more questions than answers.