On his way to the dormitories, Prince Fritzen came across an interesting conversation between two boys who were sitting on the bench in the garden below the dorm rooms.

"Senior Brother Kiron is so blessed, his younger sister was chosen to be the Royal Princess' playmate." One of the boys, a brassy red-haired boy chirped to the boy sitting next to him.

Fritzen halted in his steps when he heard his little sister's name being mentioned in their conversation.

However, it would be suspicious if he was found standing here, in the middle of the corridor to eavesdrop on them.

With this thought in his mind, he decided to make sure that he shouldn't be spotted.

The protective brother hidden inside him was awakened as he slowed his steps to a snail's pace which allowed him to hear what their conversation was about.

The Senior Brother Kiron they had mentioned made him think of who it might be and only one name popped up in his mind.

'The third son of Marquess Kiron who is in his final year at the Academy.' He recalled the information he had about this young man who had turned fifteen and would be graduating after this year.

The boys were unaware of the Royal Family member sneaking around them to hear their interaction as they continued speaking casually to each other.

"I wonder why she was chosen instead of the other girl." The other boy, a Baron's son with lavender-colored hair expressed his suspicions.

His friend took a moment to decipher who he was speaking about and nodded his head in acceptance.

"The girl from Earl St. Claire's family! There was great news about her being the smartest little girl before." He added as he was keen on keeping up with the gossip in the Capital city.

Fritzen frowned when he heard them talking about someone from the St. Claire family as it brought up bad memories for him.

'That wretched child who saved me was also in that St. Claire's summer estate.' He gritted his teeth while thinking of that beautiful child with black hair who had a foul tongue.

That incident was a dark stain in his life as not only was he rescued by a little girl who was stronger than him but he was also called a 'pig' by that same girl.

"I wonder why she was not chosen?" The Baron's son's doubt brought Prince Fritzen back from his furious thoughts.

'I know exactly why she was not chosen.' He gloated and shook his head for wasting his time here.

Fritzen decided to move ahead as he was not getting any information about his sister but about the children from families that he was least bothered about.

He was close to the dormitories and would not have to keep walking for long.

As he reached the entrance of the staircase that led him to his dorm room, he recalled a certain conversation he had with his father in this regard not too long ago.

___

"Why not choose the best for Felicia?" Prince Fritzen questioned his father while having tea in the Rosenhyde Palace.

The King had asked the child from Marquess Kiron to accompany his daughter instead of the most appropriate choice which was Earl St. Claire's daughter.

Everyone in the Capital city had heard about Marquess Samed bragging about her intellect but the King had instead chosen someone else.

Being an older brother, he wanted his little sister to have the best things even if he did not express his love openly to her at all times.

King Ophire chuckled upon hearing his question and decided to let him know about the information he had received from the Royal Tutor.

"Not only is that child a year younger than Felly, but she was also injured during her recent trip to her fief." He revealed the information that would soon spread in the city.

Fritzen frowned as at that time, he was still under the impression that the Earl's daughter was the one who had saved and humiliated him.

"If she hasn't recovered then she would only hinder Felly and Miss Brodie's progress so I decided to let Miss Kiron accompany her instead. She is the next best alternative." King's explanations seemed justifiable to the little boy.

He had dropped this matter after hearing his father's words and was right to do so.

This was due to the information he received from his sister and the daughter of Duke Brodie a few days later.

'The Earl's daughter does not have black hair so she cannot be the girl who saved me.' He reassured himself as he reached the door to his room.

Prince Fritzen entered his room and began packing his stuff as he would not be back here for the next three days.

The room was neat and there wasn't much stored in here so Fritzen only took a few minutes to finish packing everything.

As he stepped out of his room, he met a young bespectacled boy who was about to enter the room next to his.

"Have a nice time, Prince." The timid boy greeted and smiled.

"You too, Kelvin!" Fritzen waved at him and began moving towards the stairs once again.

'I'm glad he spoke so many words at once.' He chuckled at his introverted neighbor who rarely spoke to anyone.

Though he was the top student in his grade and also the Dean's grandnephew from the side branch, he never mingled with others and stayed to himself.

Fritzen had spent months trying to get him to open up and they even became friends over time.

'The carriage must be waiting for me.' He remembered and hurried to reach the gates of the Academy where his carriage could be found every day after classes.

However, just as he had exited the wide gates that leads to the dormitories, he met someone he was familiar with.

'Isn't that…' He slowed his pace and watched the two boys approaching him.

One tall and red-headed while the other was a few inches shorter and had brown hair.

"Greetings, Prince. I see that you are all prepared to leave." Topher Tanner, the heir of Duke Tanner, smiled as he wished the Prince.

Fritzen alternated his gaze between the Duke's son and the young boy next to him and nodded.

"I had to get a few things from my room." He raised the bag in his hand which held all of his stuff.

Topher and his friend, Damien nodded as they glanced at the bag which was filled to the brim.

At that moment, Fritzen's eyes turned in a certain direction that demanded his attention.

There he found Duke Tanner's younger son walking with another boy and it seemed as though the red-haired child was annoying his friend.

Damien and Topher turned in the same direction and found that it was Taylor and Howard who were walking in the garden as they made their way towards the dormitories from the side entrance.

'That idiot does not know how to behave!' Topher scowled as he glared at his brother who was making a fool out of himself as he poked and pestered his friend.

While Topher was leering at his brother in hopes of getting him to stop misbehaving while the Prince was watching, the other young boy was staring at the Prince.

'Interesting…' Damien's forest-green eyes twinkled and a smirk appeared on his face when he noticed the strange expression on Prince Fritzen's face.