Damien smiled at his friend who had asked this question and then gave him a positive nod.

Topher's excitement when he saw this gesture of his friend's made him jump up inside the carriage itself.

"So he allowed you to stay at the dormitories with us for the entire month?" He inquired just to make sure that he wasn't hallucinating.

His excitement and joy faded and turned to confusion when he saw Damien shaking his head.

Topher tilted his head to a side and glanced at him with puzzled eyes which made the brown-haired boy shake his head and sigh.

"I was given permission to stay at the dormitories only on one condition." Damien revealed and chuckled when he saw the confusion and curiosity only heighten on his friend's face.

Topher rolled his eyes when he noticed that he was being laughed at so openly.

"Do you mind sharing the condition with us peasants, My dear Lord Damien?" He snickered as he did an exaggerated bow to the boy sitting on the opposite side of the carriage.

Damien blinked his eyes slowly and scoffed at Topher who was making a mockery of their traditions and mannerisms.

"He allowed me to stay back but only on the condition that I come back home for the weekends." He elaborated on the condition that he was given in order to spend his days at the academy.

Topher for once did not sneer at his friend's overprotective family and gave a simple nod.

'Giving him permission to stay over is a big bargain in itself. Asking for more would come across as being ungrateful.' He commented in his heart and gave his friend a happy and exuberant smile.

"I'm glad you are staying back but I did not see you bringing your clothes along with you." He thought back to how Damien had arrived at his estate empty handed.

Since today was the first day at the Royal Academy, they would not have any classes.

The academic year would begin with the addressing of their Dean, Aramis Brodie followed by an allotment of their classes.

The real classes would begin from tomorrow hence Topher did not bother about it when Damien came to his house without any luggage.

But now after knowing that he was going to stay back for the entire week before instead of going back home every day, he was wondering how the other boy would manage without his basic necessities.

'Does he think I am an uncouth man who will be able to survive without my essentials?' Damien rolled his eyes when he realized what was circling inside Topher's brain.

"My luggage will be delivered soon enough. Do not use that measly brain in matters which do not contain swordsmanship." He mocked him for having a muscle brain.

Damien's words pricked Topher's ears and just as he was about to give him a fitting retort, the carriage came to a halt.

The boys looked outside the window and were met with the scenery of a large black metal gate which opened upon seeing the carriages.

As the carriage entered the academy's premises, they could see different sizes and styles of carriages already inside as they were here to send the other young boys of noble descent.

Soon it was their turn and the carriage came to a final halt before the entrance to the main building of the Royal Academy.

When Topher and Damien descended from the carriage, they noticed that Taylor and Howard were standing in wait for their arrival.

The look on their faces could reveal that they did not have a pleasant ride here and the older boys could guess the reason for the gloomy clouds over them.

Topher ignored his little brother and strode towards the heir of the St. Claire family.

Placing a hand on his shoulder, he smiled at the boy with deep blue hair which was soon responded with a weak smile.

"There is nothing you can change by worrying about it. So keep faith in that stubborn little girl and think of how you will improve your skills this year." He tried his best to cheer the young boy.

"I am sure that she will be alright." He repeated even though he was not sure of this matter himself.

Howard looked up at the older boy who was his idol and could not help but feel comfort in his words.

After hearing about Captain Desmo's scary training methods, he had been feeling guilty that he had brought this calamity upon his sister.

However, now hearing these words made him realize that it was Yvonne who wished to learn those things and she could stop at any time she wished.

'I hope she realizes that she is not cut out for this and gives up as soon as possible.' He thought and nodded his head at Topher.

"I will listen to your words, Big brother Topher." He resolutely answered.

Nevertheless, he had also made plans to write a letter back home once he got settled in his dormitory in order to find out what had taken place after his departure.

Seeing the calm environment, there was one person who felt like he was standing on a road filled with pins and needles.

��What do you mean that she will be alright? Spawn! Do you remember how he teaches his pupil? Spawn will be teaching her!!" Taylor Tanner screamed those words out in wonder at their nonchalance.

This sudden commotion made the surrounding people turn in their direction and stare at them weirdly.

Damien frowned when he saw the multiple pairs of eyes on their group.

He stepped forward and did not hesitate to smack Taylor on the back of his head for behaving in such an impolite manner.

Many passersby frowned when they saw this act of violence against the second son of the Duke but could not voice out their opinion regarding this.

The reason for their silence was that not only did the Duke's first son not help his brother, he even went as far as to give him another smack.

"Watch your mouth and your actions in public. People cannot know about this!" Topher commanded his younger brother who pouted at him.

Taylor came to his senses after the two consecutive smacks on his head and then nodded his head in agreement.

"I will keep Vonny's reputation safe! No one can say anything bad about my angel in my presence." He claimed and then pumped his fists in the air.

They could certainly not let the news of Yvonne training under the Captain's tutelage be leaked as that would cause an uproar in the society that they lived in.

A little girl trying to learn things that had been exclusively for men all along would attain a lot of backlash from the other nobles.

The four boys nodded their heads and decided to stay tight-lipped about this matter while they were inside the academy.

After receiving the positive and accepting response from each other, they then turned in the direction of the main building of their home for the next month.

"Hopefully, this year will be a lot more fun than the last." Damien muttered to himself as they strode into the dome-shaped grey colored massive building.

___

Inside the parlor of the St. Claire Mansion,

Two men sat on opposite sides of the couch as they stared at each other, waiting for the other to speak up.

The butler who had entered with a maid in tow to serve them some tea and refreshments felt that the atmosphere inside this room was freezing.

The maid's hands which held the tray containing the refreshments meant for their master and the guest could not stop trembling.

'The newcomers are so weak-hearted, tch!' Butler Limo leered at her before accepting the tray from her trembling hands.

Even a single drop of tea spilled on their Master or the guest would gain them lashings with a whip.

Since he did not want the young girl to receive punishment in the first week of her arrival, he decided to take up the responsibility of serving these noblemen.

The round and slightly chubby-faced maid looked at the head butler gratefully and stood at the side.

Butler Limo placed the tray on the table between the two men before pouring tea for them.

"Sugar, Sir?" He inquired about the number of cubes that the guest would like to take with his tea.

"Two." Captain Desmo Reel answered and then went back to continue the leering contest between the two men.

Butler Limo was swift with his preparations when he served them their teas.

He did not have to ask Rutherford that question since he had served the man since his youth and was well aware of his preferences.

Finishing his work here, he signaled the maid to follow him and quickly left the room to give their master some privacy.

Exiting the room, he sent the maid to help out in the kitchen while he stood outside the room to fulfill his duty of guarding the room while the men discussed matters inside.

The air inside the room was enough to turn the tea cold if they had not finished it the moment it had been poured.

Desmo sat in comfort and had no plans of saying a single word. Especially, when he was being subjected to the nasty glares by his friend.

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" Rutherford spoke up when he could no longer take the stifling silence in the room.

Desmo raised his brows after listening to this and in answer, he smirked and gave him a brief nod.