The Prince's Secret

Episode IX

I don’t know what to think about what happened earlier. Was I an amusement Cloud? Frankly, I don’t know what’s happening to me after Cloud attempted to mess with my mind. I feel like I’ve been treating Cloud quite differently than I used to. I feel he’s much bearable now than he used to? Uhh, I don’t know if it’s him who have changed or me. My head is so messed up. I don’t know if this is how I am or this is what I’ve become after what he did? But Cloud…he’s not like that. Ah, even if he did, I’m sure Henri would know and he wouldn’t tolerate it. Then uh Henri, speaking of Henri, he also tried to allure me. The only thing that makes me hold on to my trust is that we’ve known each other for more than a decade. Ugghh, my head is spinning I don’t want to think about this trust issue anymore. I hope it can just go away.

After a few minutes of rolling on her bed, she sat down on the chair and put the white box she received from Cloud on the table. She opened the box and saw a black saya, the scabbard of her tanto. She get the saya out of the box and examined it. She saw a silver engrave of her name in kanji on the side.

What’s the meaning of this? A tanto with his crest and the saya with my name? Giving me something with his crest on it signifies that I am under his protection, but the saya? In a box? Is it a gift? Ha, a gift?

She sheathed the tanto and put her hands on her head. She began to think that something dangerous might happen soon. She was given a powerful protective charm by a pureblood vampire and a spell imbued tanto of an ancient vampire. It was given to her for protection. How rude of her to doubt the two vampires she’s been closed to. They are protecting her all this time.

I just wish they can tell me what’s going on.

***

At Henri’s personal chamber

“You’re back.” Henri said as he raised his head. He tilted his head to the right and asked, “What’s got into you? Why the hell are you smiling foolishly Cloud?”

“Hahahaha… am sorry, is it that obvious?” Cloud said as he approached Henri who is sitting on his chair.

Henri just looked at him.

“Sorry, I was just happy that girls are fighting over me.”

“You’re disgusting.” Henri scoffed. “Did you talk to Sayaka?”

“Yes, she agreed.” Cloud gestured his hand towards a glass and Henri nodded. “I also gave her tanto back.” He said as pour wine to his glass.

Henri looked surprised. “Did she accepted it?”

“Yes, you don’t mind do you?” Cloud said as he shake his glass of wine.

 “Uhh hmmm...” Henri mumbled. “Can I go up there now?”

“You still can’t. Probably after a week.”

“I want to go up there.”

“Don’t be silly. It is a Magistrate we are talking, and the Magician at that.”

“Hmmpf..isn’t he just a clown? Magician, really.”

“I seldom remember names, and I do remember his.” Cloud said as he drink the wine. “His name is Zeke, he’s a noble, and I acknowledge his skills. He’s not the combatant type but he is a pain when it comes to investigation and covert operations.”

“Hmmmm… he must be really something for you to praise him like that.” Henri said as he intertwined his fingers. “I didn’t know that this can be this hard.”

“Hmmmm..hhmmmm…” Cloud chuckled. “I kind of miss this struggling face of yours.”

Henri glared at Cloud.

“Oh, you just let out some aura again with that.” Cloud laughed. “You need to completely erase your aura in the whole school property. I know it is not easy, you’ve soaked the entire property with your aura for years. But this must be done.”

“I know.”

“Stop that grumpy face, I’ve recognized you to be an adult already, don’t act like a kid.”

Henri glared at Cloud again.

“I know bringing her here would appease you. However, I don’t think it is a good idea. You need to concentrate so that you can finish faster. We don’t know when they’ll show up. We can trick the Viceroy’s convoy easily but not Zeke.” Cloud moved closer to Henri and lean towards him. “You don’t have to be so stubborn, you know I just need to do something to alter your territory’s scent. Just allow me.”

“No. They’ll know one of your special ability.”

“But Master, you don’t need to suffer like this.” Cloud said with his red eyes.

 “Suffering? This is child’s play.” Henri said as he closed his eyes. “I just need you to protect Sayaka. Do what’s necessary to protect the students too. I don’t want them to stain the school’s name. They might do something to the human students and blame it to the school. Go.”

“Understood.”

***

A few days after.

The clouds that seems to permanently cover the school building has disappeared. There have been a dozen of black limousine cars that have been visiting the school every day. The students have noticed this and was aware that it is because of Cloud Ehrensvard but they didn’t expect that him going out with the students for the field trip would require this elaborate scrutiny. The vampire students understood the situation but the human students seem to have forgotten or maybe because they weren’t able to witness how terrifying an ancient vampire is.

"There seems to be a lot more of cars today." Erin said as she turned to Chad.

"Yes, but they're different. Is it from the Vampire Court?" Chad said. "I heard they are terrifying vampires. They call their judge a Magistrate and they are high ranking noble vampires."

"Why is it that the world government only sent a convoy of the Viceroy?" Isabelle said as she pushed in between Erin and Chad to look out of the window.

"It is because of Sayaka-san. She's a representative from the founding family. She was called yesterday to the headmaster's office." Erin answered.

"So her words speaks for every human students here?" she scoffed.

"Well, yes." Erin answered.

Isabelle turned to Erin, "What? Seriously?!"

"Yes, that's why you should pay attention during class." Victor teased.

"Oh stop it." Isabelle shrugged. "Oh my God!"

"What is it?" Victor rushed to the window to take a look.

“Why do vampires look ethereal?” Isabelle exclaimed squealing.

“Haaa..” Victor sighed and walked away.

“It really is the Magistrate of the East!” Erin exclaimed.

“For real?!” Chad shouted. “I can’t believe it! We are seeing the real deal! We need to go closer. We won’t get this much chance to see him up close!”

"Let's go!" Erin said smiling as she grabbed Isabelle and Chad's hand.

The three rushed towards the main building's hall and noticed that there were a lot of students from all grades lining up. As soon as the Magistrate and his company entered the building, all the students lining up knelt down and greeted, "We welcome Lord Blois to the Academy." They were shocked that all those students are vampires. They have no idea that there are more than hundreds of vampires enrolled in the Academy. They looked at each other and decided to run back to their room. 

"Do we go back?" Chad asked panting.

"Uhhhh...I think I will pass. Maybe I'll just look from here in the 3rd floor." Isabelle said shaking.

"Haaa... it was overwhelming." Erin said. "I don't know if it was fear or intimidation of the presence of hundreds of vampires."

"Yeah. It was something. We feel secured in this school that we didn't even thought about how many vampires are here. Some of them are our classmates. We didn't even noticed that they are vampires. They were just like us in class."

"No, it wasn't because of them." Isabelle said as she crossed and caressed her arms. "We never got terrified of Teacher Cloud, but the Magistrate just looked at us and we started to run like chickens. Just one look and we already know he is terrifying."

"Hey! What happened to you guys?" Sayaka asked with a troubled face as she approached the three who are crouching and panting.

"Haaa.. we just went down the main hall to see the Magistrate Sayaka-san." Erin said as she stood up and faced Sayaka.

"Did you forgot what your Adviser told you about the Vampire Evaluators? You shouldn't go near them unless you have charms, their aura is too much to handle if you don't have one."

"We were just curious." the three chorused lethargically.

"Hmmm..hmmm" Sayaka smiled. "Come on, let's go to the clinic and get some help."

"No, we are just okay Sayaka-san." Chad said shaking his head but Isabelle and Erin suddenly fainted.

"Oh, do you need help?" a female walked towards Sayaka.

Sayaka turned around and saw a blonde female in a blue dress. "Are you a companion of the Magistrate? I believe you shouldn't be here." 

"Hahahaha... I'm surprised you can identify me as a vampire." she said smiling. "You are wearing a charm aren't you? Rich kid? Or part of the government? You don't have to worry darling, I just want to talk with your male friend there."

Sayaka turned around and saw Chad with a dazed face who started to walk towards the vampire.

"I am Tachibana Sayaka, you need to stop!"