“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

  ???

  “There! Look!”

  “Is that him?”

  “That’s right! That’s the Crown Prince!”

  Remington von Aubere was immediately surrounded by whispers and pointing fingers the moment he stepped down from the royal carriage in front of the Imperial Officers Academy, dressed in the standard dark navy and white uniform of the Academy, with polished black boots, and with the silver pin at his collar with the ‘I’ signifying his first year.

  And not for the first time, Rem regretted taking Gaius’s advice to arrive in a royal carriage for his first day at the Imperial Officers Academy, even though lots of other heirs and heiresses from the noble houses had all done the same in their family carriages.

  One boy, likely in his final year, had arrived with his family butler dutifully hauling five suitcases toward the dormitories.

  It’s almost like some unspoken competition among the noble families to see whose carriage has the most diamonds, Rem thought wryly to himself as he scanned the courtyard, with a map of the school held in one hand—part of what the Academy administration had mailed, along with his uniforms and student handbook a month prior.

  The Imperial Officers Academy was nearly as old as the kingdom itself, founded by the first king of Alathia as an institution to educate the realm’s elite. Though considering the era back then, it was originally exclusive to royalty and the highest-ranked noble houses. But the rules changed around two centuries ago to admit commoners. Since then, it has become the most prestigious academic institution in the kingdom, offering training in combat and strategy, alongside diplomacy, calligraphy, and other refined subjects traditionally reserved for nobility.

  As a symbol of this shift, the von Aubere royal house had been sponsoring scholarships for ten outstanding commoners each year. In recent years, however, more and more noble houses—normally the Ten Great Houses, have followed suit by sponsoring common folk into the Academy as well. House Kael, for instance, often sponsored the children of their garrison soldiers.

  As such, the Imperial Officers Academy boasted as long a history as the Imperial Palace has, and it showed in the infrastructure.

  The school grounds were vast, with the central wing for the Academy lessons being at least five storeys high, with the cafeteria, training rooms, and administrative rooms occupying the first two levels, whilst levels three to five are where the classrooms are. The east wing held the study halls and research facilities, and even the Academy’s library that spanned two entire levels. The west and north wings housed the student dormitories, with the west wing being for the commoner students, whereas the north wing was for the nobles.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Being a military academy, there is also a strict curfew for the students, with the students expected to be back within their dormitory rooms by eleven each night. And while they are free to roam and explore the Imperial City when they’re free from classes, they have to maintain strict conduct, especially for the scholarship students. Being an elite Academy, students have to maintain certain grades and a certain level of behaviour, or lose their placement in the Academy entirely.

  Graduates from the Imperial Officers Academy often went on to make names for themselves in the kingdom, with majority of them joining the military after graduation. Hence, the Imperial Officers Academy is a favourite hunting ground for the commanders and generals seeking new talent.

  ‘I’ve heard the stories, but it really is beautiful,’ Rem mused, looking upwards as a stray pink petal from the towering tree near the Academy’s gates drifted down, landing on his outstretched palm.

  His Crownsguard—an annoyance that Gaius had insisted on, stepped forward to whisper into Rem’s ear. “Your Highness, incoming.”

  Rem blinked, turning just in time to see an excited-looking Nathan Hunt bounding toward him, dragging an annoyed-looking student with him by the wrist.

  “Your Highness! You’re here!” Nathan Hunt beamed at Rem excitedly.

  Like his father and brother, Nathan had the Hunt family’s dark brown hair and steel-grey eyes flecked with blue. With Lord Alaric Hunt serving as commander of Protectorate, and Nathan’s older brother, Cassian, also part of the elite unit, Rem had met Nathan multiple times over the years whenever he had visited the Imperial Palace. In truth, Nathan was probably the only person Rem could confidently call a friend.

  …Aside from Yulia.

  And here, Rem felt a pang hit him at the thought of his oldest and childhood friend.

  ‘Does she still think of me as a friend?’ Rem wondered. He then looked at Nathan. “Who’s this?” he asked, looking at the annoyed looking boy next to Nathan.

  “Leighton Curnow,” The boy introduced himself stiffly, offering a polite bow. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Highness.”

  Rem’s brows rose, recognising the name. “Leighton Curnow? You’re one of the scholarship students,” he realised.

  “Hence why I dragged him out here to meet you when we happened to be at the administrative offices at the same time,” Nathan added brightly. “He’s the second top scorer in the scholarship placements. I think the top scorer was someone named Rowan Mercier?” He frowned, trying to recall the name before shaking his head.

  Rem offered Leighton a faint smile. “Sorry for Nathan. He’s really harmless. But it’s nice to meet you. I guess we’ll be classmates for the next three years.”

  Leighton smiled with amusement. “I guess so.”

  Though only fifteen like Rem and Nathan, Leighton stood a head taller, with a lean but athletic build. His tousled dark brown hair and matching eyes gave him a grounded look. He wore the Academy’s navy blue coat unbuttoned over a collared white shirt, giving him a casual air, but it suited him.

  Around them, students mingled in groups, with the upperclassmen catching up after the break. The resounding sound of a loud gong from the central wing rang out suddenly, silencing the courtyard.

  “Oh, it must be time,” Nathan realised. “We have the placement tests first of all. We’d better hurry.”

  Rem nodded and turned to his Crownsguard. “Stay out on the grounds,” he instructed. “Nothing is going to happen to me here.”

  “I have orders from Lord Merren and even Commander Hunt, Your Highness,” The Crownsguard replied stiffly. “I’ll remain by the doors if you insist, but you’re not leaving my sight.”

  Knowing that this was the best he would get, Rem only nodded. Nathan promptly tugged him by the wrist toward the central wing of the Academy, where the rest of the first years were gathering. Even some of the older students were following, most likely curious to see what the new students were capable of.

  As Rem let himself be led by Nathan towards the Academy, he couldn’t help but let his gaze wander around the crowds, wondering if Yulia was amongst them. After all, she had enrolled this year, too, from what he knew.

  And then, just maybe, if the Goddess and fate allow it, he could finally mend the drift between them.