Chapter 11 - The Assembly

After lunch, the four of us proceeded to the assembly.

My heart wouldn’t stop racing, I still can’t figure out what I should say.

Let’s just listen to the other speeches and try to follow a similar pattern.

I sat next to Kaede in the grand assembly area, near the front.

Akiho was on the other side of me and Haruna was next to Akiho.

The assembly area was terribly grand as expected, but since everything is like this I’m beginning to get used to it.

“Your highness?”

An administrative type person approached me and asked.

“Yes?”

“Would you come with me? We need you to wait backstage before your speech”

“Ah, very well”

I’m still terribly nervous, but on the other hand, Jin’s demeanour seems completely indifferent.

So cool! I love this calm attitude. It makes me feel like I might actually know what I’m doing.

“Good luck Jin”

Kaede offers a small smile and words of encouragement. She looks worried about me. So cute.

“Thanks”

The bad part about Jin’s attitude is that I can’t easily show Kaede affection.

Come on Jin!

A small smile will do!

There you go!

Ah! She blushed!

Mission SUCCESS!

I went backstage where a kind looking old man and a stern looking blonde kid were waiting.

“Your highness! It’s an honour to have you at my school! Why, I remember when your mother and father attended all those years ago! My how time flies! I had all my hair back then! WAHAHA!!”

The kind looking old man started speaking to me.

“You must be the Principal?”

“That’s right my boy! Has your father not told you about me!? Surely he’s mentioned the time where I caught him and your mother…No maybe not that…”

What about my mother? What was father caught doing with mother!!?

“Wahaha, but surely he’s at least mentioned the time where his father got so angry at him that he came all the way here to directly separate your parents!! What a turbulent time that was, he was practically purple!! Your father wouldn’t hear a word of it though and ended up threatening to run away with your mother! Ah, to be young and in love! Youth is really the best!”

WHAT? I’ve never heard of this before!!

The Principal seemed to pick this up.

“Oh? Has your father really not told you of this? That boy! He’s really carefree! He just does whatever he wants!”

He does? I guess I don’t really know what he’s like…

“I don’t see him very often, so…”

“That boy!! He just does whatever he wants doesn’t he!? I’ll have to send him a letter. Neglecting his son like this isn’t good!!”

It feels nice that he’s getting upset for me.

“There’s no need, I have seen him recently after all”

“What do you mean? Is seeing him that rare of an occasion?”

“I can only recall ever having three conversations with father”

The principal’s mouth droops and he appears rather surprised.

“WHAT’S THAT??!! THAT BOY! I’ll be sending a letter to him immediately!!!”

He hurried off calling for staff to find a courier and writing equipment.

What a nice man. Maybe I can hear more stories about mother and father sometime!

That just left me and the blonde boy in the room.

Ah, I recognize him. He should be the student council president, Kaito Kurokawa.

Also a capture target from the game and a rival for Jin Wolfgang Staeles.

Kaito didn’t like Jin’s attitude and in the ending where Haruna ended up with Jin, he was especially upset that Jin abandoned Kaede.

I don’t know what happened after that as it wasn’t featured in the game but the scene where Jin breaks off the engagement and Kaede crumples to the floor weighs heavily on my heart.

In that scene, it’s Kaito who helps her up and leaves with her, sending Jin a menacing glare.

I didn’t go down Kaito’s route, so I don’t know anything else about him really.

Could he be in love with Kaede though??!

Surely during that scene in the game, they run off and elope together right??!

How dare him!! My Kaede!!

I must keep him away from Kaede at all costs.

He glances over at me, in time to catch the menacing glare I sent at him.

His brow ruffles. But he regains his composure and introduces himself.

“I don’t believe we’ve met your highness. My name is Kaito Kurokawa, I’m the student council president”

This polite bastard!

I won’t let you have Kaede!

I simply nod.

He frowns again but continues.

“Have I done something to offend his highness? If so I would like to apologize. I am simply the bastard son of a lower noble after all. I only wish to have amicable relations”

There was such a setting?

The only way he’d be able to elope with Kaede then would be if her family were to be destroyed since he has no status.

Excellent! Since the only people able to do such a thing to a high ranking noble family like that are my father and I, we should be fine.

I should apologize like a proper Prince then.

“I apologize Kaito, I wasn’t displeased with you I was simply pondering my upcoming speech. I wasn’t informed of it prior, so I have nothing prepared”

His expression turns much softer.

“I see! What a relief! You can read over my speech then if it would help you?”

Kaito!! My savior!!

“That would help a l….”

I was cut off by the administrative staff.

“Kaito! The Principal has run off to write a letter or something and we need to start the assembly in a few seconds. Could you deliver your speech first?”

“Ah, of course. I apologize your highness, it seems I have to go now. I’m sure you’ll think of something”

He smiled wryly and left.

Does god hate me?

That must be it right?

Ah, oh well, I’ll listen to it from here and come up with something.

…

…

…

Except…

I CAN’T HEAR ANYTHING!

What is this?!

There’s only a door between here and the stage and if I opened it, I would clearly be seen.

However the door apparently has the incredible power of blocking all sound from entering.

…

Shit.

Okay, it’s all up to you Jin.

Think of something…

…

Anything will do…

…

Nothing.

HOW MUCH LONGER DO I HAVE?!

The door opens and I hear applause.

“It’s your turn, your highness”

Fuck.

Shit.

Fuck.

Shit.

I blanked out for a bit and I’m now standing at a podium.

There’s a device resembling a microphone here.

How the hell do they have a…

Nevermind, not important right now.

I look out at the ocean of people.

…

All staring at me.

The pressure feels suffocating.

Will I even be able to speak?

I open my mouth.

…

I hope words come out…