Morning Mayhem: The Night Ruler Rises
On the morning path from the dining hall to the classroom, I was experiencing in real-time the miracle Moses must have felt right in the heart of the academy.
"Th-there he comes!"
"Clear the way! We can't afford to upset him!"
Every time I took a step, the students parted like the Red Sea, splitting to either side. Their gazes glittered with awe, fear, and a strange curiosity.
Exhausted from last night's ordeal, I wanted nothing more than to clutch my waist and groan, but I straightened my posture and schooled my expression into icy composure. Clutching my collar tightly, Reina trailed a half-step behind me, behaving herself as I led the way.
That's when the garish-colored posters plastered all over the corridor walls caught my eye.
In-Depth Analysis of the Baron's 'Intimate Service' That Kept the Noble Duchess Tossing All Night!
……Elarra, you gossip-mad bitch.
I pressed my forehead, inwardly shedding bloody tears. Somehow, in this short time, the extra edition had spread across the entire academy.
They didn't dare outright insult Reina, so they'd wrapped it in flowery honorifics and rhetoric like some romance novel. But anyone reading it would see it for what it was: a blasphemous, titillating tale of Reina completely succumbing to a lowly baron's bedroom prowess(?).
Just then, in the corridor before the classroom, my eyes met Elarra von Sterling's as she enthusiastically distributed the extras to a group of female students. She startled at our gaze, hastily hiding the stack of papers behind her back.
It was libel that could destroy her family, so of course she felt guilty. I stopped and approached her.
Elarra's shoulders visibly hunched, and the surrounding students gulped, holding their breath to see what wrath the Night Ruler would unleash.
I opened my mouth with utmost elegance and courtesy, a relaxed smile on my lips.
"Lady Sterling. How diligent you are this morning. Pouring the passion that should go into your studies into such creative endeavors—I'm deeply impressed by your blazing imagination."
"Uh, umm…… Th-that is, Baron Evans. This is just my little hobby……."
"The academy's freedom of press and publication deserves respect, of course. However," I withdrew my smile, continuing in a voice that had cooled to a chill, "no matter how adorned with florid rhetoric, recklessly uttering the duchess's noble name in baseless delusions seems rather imprudent for a countess's daughter, don't you think?"
At my polite but bone-chilling factual assault, Elarra's face drained of color. I nodded toward the papers hidden behind her.
"I suggest you keep that fine creation tucked away in your personal diary."
I flashed another soft smile, brushed past the frozen Elarra, and grasped the classroom door handle.
Phew, that should be warning enough without being too harsh—she'll get it.
As I inwardly patted myself on the back for my mature handling and sighed in relief—
A frenzy of whispers erupted from the girls behind me.
"Did you see?! He didn't even get mad—just smiled so leisurely! That means the article's all true!"
"And that confident pressure while invoking the duchess's honor! The lowly baron completely overpowered the countess's daughter with sheer presence!"
"The Night Ruler indeed……!"
No, I'm not a ruler! I was kindly warning her not to write novels before her family gets ruined, you idiots!
As I clutched my neck in injustice, on the verge of collapse—
Sudden thudding, chaotic footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor, and uninvited guests appeared.
"Baron Evans! Where is Cadel Evans!!"
A group of male students approached from the corridor's end with booming steps. The burly leader blocked my path, snarling.
"So you're the one!"
He glanced at Reina's "swollen eyes" standing demurely beside me, lost his reason, rolled back his eyes, and bellowed.
"You lowly baron scum…… How dare you bring shameful tears to Her Highness the Duchess's beautiful eyes!"
"……."
"I challenge you to a duel right now!"
The first-years crowding the corridor recoiled in fear. The unnamed senior's heavy mana pressed down oppressively.
Ah, what's with this guy? What a pain first thing in the morning.
I swallowed a deep internal sigh. A normal lowly baron would have flattened to the floor under that menacing aura, but a 10-year veteran's mentality, hardened by malicious parent complaints, wouldn't buckle to these kids' mana.
I adjusted my collar, faced him without a flicker of unease, and bowed gracefully, one hand over my heart.
"A pleasure to meet you, Senior. First-year Cadel Evans."
My perfect etiquette and composure momentarily dazed the raging brute. Seizing the moment, I smiled softly and continued in a low, clear voice.
"However, Senior, if you truly care for Her Highness's honor, shouldn't you start by refraining from bellowing based on that third-rate tabloid trash?"
"What did you say?"
"It's regrettable to see such a noble senior, meant to be a role model for juniors, acting so emotional."
At my sharp sarcasm, the senior's face flushed beet red.
"You, you arrogant punk! All talk! I'll rip that smug mouth off you today!"
As he reached for his sword hilt in fury—
Reina, who had been hiding behind me clutching my collar, slowly stepped forward to block me.
"Shut up."
Those three curt words from Reina froze the corridor air solid. The duchess who had eyed me meekly at breakfast was gone. Her purple eyes chilled with cold disgust toward the pests baring teeth at her possession.
"D-Duchess! I only wish to rescue you from that vile baron's clutches……!"
The man stammered excuses, but Reina scowled irritably. Overwhelming mana seeped from her, crushing the corridor like a vise.
"Cadel couldn't sleep last night because of me. He's tired."
"……!!"
What word choice is that!!! Hey... you did that on purpose... I glared at the back of Reina's head.
Reina commanded in a drowsy voice.
"Don't bother us. Get lost."
The burly senior and his gang paled instantly. Trembling like aspen leaves, they backed away, then screamed and fled down the corridor.
"Gaaah! It's real! Her Highness is totally head over heels for that baron!"
As their wails faded, the first-years around the classroom burst into frenzied whispers.
"Oh my god! That guy who ran—wasn't that third-year powerhouse, Heir to Count Carlyle?"
"Yeah! Carlyle Senior fleeing in terror like that!"
"So casual against a third-year! The Night Ruler……!"
……Ah, that was Carlyle? And it wasn't me overpowering him—Reina chased them off!
I pressed my throbbing temple and trudged to my seat, collapsing into it.
Haa…… My energy's drained first thing. I just want to faceplant and pass out.
Reina, clutching my sleeve as she followed, plopped into the seat beside me and pouted, clearly displeased.
"Cadel, what's wrong? Does it hurt a lot?"
"Yeah, it hurts a ton because of you!!"
"Where? Your back?"
"Hey! Don't say things that can be misunderstood!! Just stay quiet for once, please. Don't butt in."
"Okay. Got it."
Reina nuzzled her cheek against my shoulder obediently. The classroom students whispered again about how she was "worrying over the baron's waist," watching us intently.
The ridiculous morning commotion flew by, and morning classes passed quickly.
---
BAM-!!
The classroom's back door nearly shattered open, and an immense aura stormed in like a gale, crushing the room.
"……!!"
The professor had just left, and the murmuring class froze as if doused in ice water. The intruder, impeccably dressed in uniform with the Astrea Ducal House crest—a lion clutching a sword—embroidered in gold on his chest, was a massive man. His fierce glinting eyes and rigid stance proclaimed him a knight of the empire's strongest military force, the Astrea Ducal House.
Even top student Julian by the window gasped under the overwhelming presence, dropping his pen. Chloe went white and clamped her mouth.
What was bound to come has arrived.
The students' despairing gazes turned to me en masse.
[EXCLUSIVE] Just an hour after the article spread, an elite knight from the ducal house had stormed into the classroom. To them, it screamed the duke's immediate, brutal intent: execute the lowly baron who dared touch the duchess.
The knight in crisp uniform strode toward my desk with heavy, metallic steps. As his twisted lips parted to call my name—
Reina beside me slowly turned, fixing him with her gaze. Quiet, icy, beastly.
The moment their eyes met—
The giant knight froze like he'd been struck by lightning.
"……Gasp!"
He inhaled sharply. The ferocious aura blanketing the room vanished in one second, sucked away like into a vacuum.
Before my desk, he snapped his heels together awkwardly for his size, bowed 90 degrees, and bellowed.
"B-Baron Evans! Is your health well!!"
Silence. Pin-drop silence swept the classroom.
Worn from the sleepless night, I'd forgotten all noble decorum and channeled my past-life curmudgeon mindset, furrowing my brow and snapping.
"Hey."
"Yes, sir! Baron!"
"You almost broke the door. If academy property gets damaged, will the ducal house cover it, or dock your pay? Quiet down when you move."
At my pragmatic, irritated scolding, the continent's finest Astrea elite knight hunched his shoulders and trembled.
"S-Sorry! My strength got the better of me……."
He groveled with a near-tearful face, barely breathing as he eyed Reina. But to the clueless first-year brats ignorant of the backstory and trauma, this scene was crystal clear without seeing.
Whispers exploded from all sides in disbelief.
"C-Crazy……!"
"Astrea's Black Knight, bowing and fawning to the baron!"
"Scolding him like a servant! How much has Baron Evans dominated the ducal house?!"
As shocked stares poured in, I snapped awake like I'd been whacked on the head.
Ah, shit…… I'm screwed.
My habitual casual speech had betrayed me. With rumors already flying about Night Ruler nonsense, showing even the ducal knight cowering like a mouse had launched misunderstandings into orbit.
I hastily composed my face, forced an awkward smile, and switched to formal mode.
"Ha, haha. Just kidding. Knight, what brings you to the academy so early?"
Flustered by my sudden honorifics, the knight gulped and fumbled in his pocket with shaking hands. Soon, a thick letter sealed with red wax bearing the Astrea lion crest rested on his massive palm.
"The D-Duke…… ordered me to deliver this personally to Baron Evans."
He presented it on both hands with extreme deference, placing it on my desk. I broke the seal uneasily and unrolled the parchment.
And my heart plummeted reading the first line.
[Cadel, you bastard! I trusted you with my precious Reina, and you made my daughter cry?! You trash beast!! I'll chop your head off and hang it in the square right now!!!]
The ink was pressed so hard, each furious word seemed to pierce my eyes with the doting duke's rage and killing intent.
……This old coot actually believed that gossip rag and sharpened his blade to kill me for real.
My face turned ashen, hand trembling on the paper. Seeing me pale, the knight fidgeted anxiously.
Dragged home now, and it'd be greatsword to the neck. I racked my brain.
Reina's enrollment was at the emperor's direct urging. Pulling her back over one tabloid rumor right after? That defied the emperor outright, handing ammunition to his faction nobles—suicide.
I hid my shaking hand, cleared my throat. Then, in a polite, calm voice loud enough for the emperor-faction and noble-faction students watching—
"I understand the duke's concerns well."
"……."
"But withdrawing so soon after enrollment would harm the academy's study atmosphere and strain the lady's friendships."
"……B-But His Grace insists on bringing you both……."
"I'll explain directly to the duke by letter. Please understand."
I drew a firm line, sending the knight off.
Direct explanation my ass. Would a pissed-off parent listen? Gotta fire an emergency letter to Dad (Baron Evans) begging him to rein in that raging father-in-law… er, duke.
As I pathetically schemed a "daddy lifeline"—
Reina, bored and tugging my collar, poked her head out whining.
"Cadel, I'm hungry!"
Perfect timing savior. I inwardly cheered, bowing lightly to the knight.
"Apologies. I must attend to the lady's meal first."
As I turned—
"W-Wait, Baron! This puts me in a bind……!"
Swish— Reina whipped her head to glare. The knight's jaw dropped, inhaling sharply. Cold sweat poured; his outstretched hand froze mid-air.
"Let's go, Reina."
I nodded politely to the rigid knight once more, escorting Reina away. Students' murmurs reached my ears.
"Whoa…… Defying Duke Astrea's orders outright?!"
"Baron Evans is such a man!"
"A forbidden love opposed by Duke Astrea……!"
"Kyaa!! Protecting their tragic romance against the duke's power—too romantic……!"
……Tragic romance my foot. Using the emperor faction as excuse to call my dad for backup, you delusional brats!
In this massive delusion show, I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing I could bite my tongue and faint.