"Teacher Javis," Marie greeted. Since Arian and Maloc were on bad terms, Marie took over the job of acting as Arian's representative.
Maloc, on the other hand, had at some point during the martial arts lesson announced that the heat was getting to him and that he would retreat into his room, otherwise, he would risk getting a heat stroke.
Of course, that was a cheap excuse. By now, the temperature was cool enough that one even shivered slightly when they didn't move. Being bound to a wheelchair and thus restricted in his movement, Arian could tell a thing or two about it.
Luckily, he was a prince, and thus, he immediately got a blanket when he voiced the smallest bit of discomfort.
So really, Maloc's excuse was simply laughable. And yet, Arian hadn't said anything about it, because the only way he knew how to respond was to let Maloc get whipped. But since he had decided to treat his servants better, he didn't know how to respond.
However, by not answering, he let himself appear as weak or as someone who put up with everything. The situation was troubling Arian greatly.
Ahhh, now that I start to relax and start to enjoy my life at the academy, I have a problem with my staff.
Can't I have an easy, carefree life for once? Why do I always have to be miserable?, Arian worried while Teacher Javis started to speak. Arian only listened to it with one ear, as he was troubled by his current situation.
Luckily, Marie gave the older gentleman an enchanting smile and listened to his words carefully.
"What do you think about our material lessons? I know they aren't as technically demanding as the lessons a prince receives, but that's also not the purpose here. We just want the students to get along without telling them there is a subject for that matter. You know how students sometimes are, when they hear there is a class specifically to make friends, they would be upset about it, because they might feel forced to like each other. Especially for gang members who have been at each other's throats for years- telling them to make friends with a member of a different gang wouldn't be possible."
"That makes sense. And it is remarkable how you've managed to solve major differences between the students so quickly. Even the royal palace could learn something from you", Marie laughed and looked at Arian. When the prince didn't respond, she gave him a small nudge.
Arian flinched as Marie pulled him out of his thoughts. He gave her a questioning look.
"Try to pay attention, my prince. This is really interesting, actually," Marie signed him.
He doubted it, but with his next words, teacher Javvis proved Arian wrong.
"Thank you for the compliment. We're just glad the learning methods work as well as they do. We started doing things like this... about ten years ago. Back then, we introduced the concept by putting different gang members into the same group for martial arts training, and suddenly they had to work together. An essential point was, and still is... the punishment is far greater than anything else. It is getting up early and doing the dishes. Remember, my prince, there is no punishment that hits as hard as doing dishes. Especially now that we lack staff in our kitchen, we-"
At these words, Arian became alert. He immediately signed something to Marie.
His maid had to suppress a laugh, seemingly amused by Arian's idea, as she interrupted teacher Javis.
"You lack staff?", she asked. And when teacher Javis nodded and complained about how no one wanted to work in the kitchen of a failing academy, Marie put an assuring hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, we might have a solution for you."
She explained to the quite baffled Javis how he had just given them the solution of what to do with Maloc.
"Well, if it's okay with him, I don't have anything against it, so...."
"Perfect. He will start working tomorrow, " Marie rejoiced while Javis bowed deeply.
"Thank you very much, good lady. And thank you, my prince."
Arian noticed that for the first time, Javis actually addressed his deputy as well. A thing he had never done while talking with Maloc.
Well, it makes sense. Marie is such a sympathetic person. Stuck-up and stoic Maloc had nothing on her, Arian mused.
After their little talk, Javis walked away, overseeing the students again. As soon as he was a few meters away. Marie burst out into laughter.
"Really, my prince, letting Maloc do dishes? That's such a fabulous idea! I can't wait to tell him that!"
She wiped tears of joy from the rims of her eyes.
"Don't get too excited, Marie. He's your coworker, after all. Someone has to put up with Maloc's moods when he gets back from work."
"That's true, so I will use my time wisely and enjoy watching the students struggle. It's quite funny how they try to use these household appliances as weapons."
Arian nodded. It was indeed entertaining to see.
And sometimes quite impressive.
Right now, it was hard for Arian to take his eyes off of Shivani, who danced around her straw puppet like a princess. All her movements were flawless and fluid. There was not one mistake in her martial arts style.
A clear indication that she had received some form of martial arts training before entering the academy.
Nobody should look so good, wielding a pan. Even if it was not the hardest object to utilize as a weapon, the graze in which Shivani moved left Arian speechless.
Arian was surprised, but suspicious. By now, he was almost certain Shivani had a noble background.
Even though I thought it was unlikely, her family might be fallen nobles after all. Maybe she's a bastard. That would explain things a bit.
He watched as slowly all students figured out how to use their weapons individually and started to plan how to use them in their assigned groups of four.
All of them seemed so excited to work together. Arian didn't like it, but it made him reminiscent of the siblings he had trained with, the three who constantly stayed at the palace, just like him: Prince Einar, Prince Meeka, and Princess Ongelle.
Back then, when they were all young, there hadn't been much animosity between them, but now, they were rivals. Arian couldn't remember the last time when he was not wary of them. It felt like a lifetime ago.
It also made Arian wonder about what they were up to now. He started to look forward to when Marie's Barghest would return from her mission, finally providing him with answers.
Until then, he could only wonder. Of course, Arian had his suspicions. He was quite certain, Prince Einar was the one who opposed him the most, and thus Arian's best bet in order to get rid of his child, should his wife actually be pregnant.
Einar always seemed to be jealous of Arian, not just of being trueborn, while he was a bastard, but also of being the emperor's favorite child.
Arian always felt that this accusation was wrong. He wasn't his father's favorite child. If he were, his father would have never sent him to this desert at the end of the world.
His father was ruthless with all of his children, and Arian was no exception. Unlike what Einar believed, Arian didn't get the position of being the emperor's closest advisor with mere sympathy but with hard work and dedication.
Princess Ongelle could be a possible candidate for wanting Arian's child dead, as well. While she had been cute and friendly as a child, with each passing year, she became more arrogant and power hungry. Arian didn't doubt his sister would stop at nothing in order to get the throne. She was still acting sweet and innocent, by adorning her clothes with baby pink ruffles and talking in a sweet and high-pitched voice.
Everyone knew it was an act, however, and it made her one of the most hated royal family members.
Nonetheless, she had accumulated quite some power and was a real thorn in the eyes of Arian.
The one Arian liked the most was Prince Meeka.
This brother of his was the only sibling who wasn't interested in the throne. And while for some it was an act, Prince Meeka was genuine about it. He didn't like war, couldn't see blood, and wished for all his family members to get along well.
He was also the only one of Arian's siblings who stayed out of political affairs altogether, nor has he ever formed a political faction around him.
Hell, he hadn't even tamed a beast. And with his behaviour and soft side, Arian doubted he would ever do so.
And if he ever would, it would be a fluffy animal not bigger than the beasts at the Akai-Dezato Academy.
Even though he tried to act tuff at times and even got feisty sometimes, everyone knew he was a little cutie.
He had the nickname biscuit for a reason.