“What happened to you?” Flesty asks me.

“I am surprised you are worried.” I say with a smirk.

“I am not. I am just surprised to see that you have bandaged that eye of yours.” Flesty says.

“Yeah, I lost it.” I say.

“Stop with the jokes.” Flesty says with a sigh. “What are you doing here?” Flesty asks me.

“Just came to drop off Izumi.” I say.

“I see, that Princess from the East.” Flesty begins to walk past me.

“A lot has changed since you were away for that whole month. You won’t see your class as your own class and trust me when I say that.” Flesty says.

“Leave when you have a chance or else, Tarand will humiliate you.” Flesty laughs off as she leaves.

I sigh.

I don’t know if I can defeat him with my current strength either. My body still hasn’t recovered but I will just have to try to defeat him.

“Papa Dan! Let’s leave!” Shirogane comes running towards me.

“Yeah, let’s go home.” I say as I pick Shirogane on my back.

Fracia walks to me, “I will send her clothes and toys to your house by tomorrow by morning.” Fracia says.

I nod, “Sorry for being harsh...” I say.

“It’s not a problem. You didn’t say anything wrong after all.” Fracia says with a smile. I raise my fist towards Fracia.

“I understand you are a good person Fracia but...”

*Tap*

I bump my fist into Fracia’s chest, “Please consider about what I said to you.” I say and leave.

“I will...” Fracia whispers.

XXXXXX

I walk out of the castle as I notice that Shirogane is asleep. She might act like she knows everything but she is still a kid. She really makes me feel like a father even though I am just 21. I chuckle just thinking about it.

I look in front of me after I am done chuckling and I look at the little Princess with her long crimson hair flowing with the cold wind.

“Hey, Little Princess...”

“Sir Dan...” The Little Princess looks away.

Things seem to be quite awkward between us.

“What happened to your eyes?” The Little Princess asks me but she isn’t looking into my eyes.

“I got a small injury.” I say with a nervous smile.

“So, the dangerous Sir Dan can smile too.” The Little Princess says as she looks away.

“Hmm?”

“I only ever saw you smile once and now, you are just casually smiling...You know you have changed.” The Little Princess says to me.

“I guess you can say that.” I say with a smile. “I mean I used to hate royalty back when I joined the academy and now, I actually have students who are royalty and I want to protect them.” I say with a smile on my face.

“You are going to lose, you know that right?” The Little Princess asks me as she stands close to me.

I look up in the star, “I don’t know about that until I have tried my hardest.” I answer.

“Why are you trying so hard?” The Little Princess asks.

“That’s because, I have my people...whom I have promised to never let them down.” I say as I leave.

“I see...”

XXXXXX

Flesty was right, things have definitely changed.

“AHH!!! DAN! WHO THE HELL IS THAT CUTE LITTLE GIRL?!” I reached home and that’s how my big brother reacts. I am also injured you know.

I have stopped hating royalty.

“Papa Dan...” Shirogane wakes up rubbing her eyes.

I have stopped hating myself.

“HUH?! WHEN DID YOU BECOME A DAD DAN?!!!!” My brother is totally surprised. I can’t blame him.

I confessed to the person I like, I have a bunch of students who I care about and admire me. That alone is enough to make me smile.

“I will explain, big brother.” I say with a smile.

Plus, I have a girlfriend and I have the people of Carliva always backing me up ever since I was little.

*Tap*

Big brother...He hit me on the back.

“I don’t know what happened in the past month but I can see that you have grown as a person. As a big brother, I am proud to see that you have thrown yourself out of your isolation. I am glad to have a little brother like you.” Big brother says to me.

I don’t know why...Why I am tearing up...But I can smile even if I am tearing up.

“What’s the matter?!” Big brother seems to be worried.

“Papa Dan is crying...” Shirogane seems to be surprised.

I smile, “These are the tears of joy, that’s all.” I say with a smile while tears were gushing down my cheek.

Big brother smiles, “You should go get changed up.” Big brother says.

I nod.

Yeah, I have changed...That’s true but changes are a good thing. There isn’t per se a bad change or good change, it all depends on the people around you. 12 years ago, I hated royalty. 4 years ago I hated myself for not supporting the person I love. Now, I don’t hate royalty and I am with the person I love.

Just like brother said a month ago, not all royalties are bad. Luke, Elena and Izumi all of them are royalty and yet, they all have their own problems. Everyone sucks at something and wants to get better. Everyone wants to be treated well by someone. Everyone wants to come on top of people’s expectations but not everyone can do that and that’s why I am here. I am a teacher at the Academy of Wise and Learning and I will be the teacher till the end of the tournament but when the tournament ends...The results will be the one which will decide whether I get fired or not...

That scares me...

For once, I don’t want to leave my students and for that, I will do anything I can within my grasp. I just hope that our team can win...