Chapter 196: It's not worth it
Jaegar, displaying a nonchalant demeanour, replied, "It's not worth wracking our brains about it." His dismissal of the matter hinted at a seasoned understanding of the transient nature of public attention.
"Still, this thing blows out of proportion, don't you think?" Jennifer spoke.
Everybody in the hall was staring at Jaegar. But he was just like his usual self, eating his breakfast.
Pierre then said, "Yeah, there didn't let any news of your death come out, there was nothing, poof. Like you disappeared into thin air."
His voice held a bit of anger in it as he spoke, "Jaegar, I don't know how they treat you, but that's not how you handle the death of a family member."
Jaegar looked at his two friends; they seemed more agitated than he was, and then he said, looking at both of them, "Family, I don't think they consider me one, nor do I."
"And the thing with my dying, let's say, is that I got to know what it would be like if I were dead right now."
Jennifer and Pierre exchanged glances, then looked at him quizzically. Sometimes they can't understand their friend, did he care about this type of formality, and he just simply doesn't?
Jaegar didn't really care about it much, but he had taken a mental note of where things were, and it told him about the state of things in the palace and his position in the palace.
He was actually surprised to find that his father didn't even react to the news of his death.
That alone had confirmed to him that his father wasn't what he looked like, and he may be the reason for his mother's death or his disappearance, as he knew she was alive right now.
The burning desire to confront his father consumed Jaegar's thoughts. He yearned to seek him out, driven by an intense need to extract the truth through force, to beat the shit out of him and get his answers.
In the headmaster's office, Ashfield was talking to Heath.
There was the newspaper with the photo of Jaegar, and to his side, Ashfield was present in it.
Ashfield was informed now that a reporter had come to meet him, and he may have taken the photo of Jaegar.
He felt a headache thinking about what would happen now.
"Do you know who he was?"
"I don't know; until yesterday, no one knew that paper existed. And today, their name is the only thing we are hearing right now," Heath said, looking at the paper.
"I have already received a lot of letters from the major press asking me to explain what happened here. As the incident happened in the academy, they were all trying to pin it on me. Those imperials, do they think they can push anybody if they want?" Ashfield said his tone was measured and held no emotion in it.
"We need to divert their attention towards other things, so they will stop hitting on information about Jaegar."
Then Heath said, "The inter-academic summit."
"We can roll them in by releasing the note about the summit and the people attending it."
"It's going on every two years; why would it attract them? It's just a competition of schools," Ashfield said.
Heath then explained, "Not the competition, but the people attending it. We can release a press release about which schools will attend and their race."
The Inter-Academic Summit was a biennial event that brought together young minds from various races, fostering cultural exchange and understanding. Hosted by a chosen school, the summit aimed to promote cooperation and unity among different races, transcending the boundaries of species.
The Ministry, serving as the orchestrator of this harmonious convergence, boasted a composition that transcended racial boundaries. It stood as a testament to the commitment of different races to working together for the betterment of their shared world, emphasizing unity and cooperation in a realm teeming with magical diversity.
The Inter-Academic Summit became a symbol of hope, illustrating that through knowledge and understanding, races could coexist in harmony.
Each summit was an opportunity for students to learn about the customs, traditions, and perspectives of other races, breaking down stereotypes and building bridges between communities.
The selected school would not only showcase its educational excellence but also serve as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and celebration of diversity.
The event, held every two years, involved the Ministry's selection of a school to host the summit.
Ashfield pondered over the suggestion, realizing that diverting attention towards the upcoming inter-academic summit could be a strategic move. It would not only shift the focus away from Jaegar but also showcase the diverse races attending, emphasizing unity and cooperation.
"You might be onto something, Heath. Let's prepare a detailed press release about the summit, emphasizing the significance of cultural exchange and cooperation. We'll make sure it gets widespread coverage, overshadowing the current speculation about Jaegar," Ashfield suggested, mapping out a plan to control the narrative.
Heath nodded, "I'll get started on the press release immediately. We need to ensure that the newspapers get this information as soon as possible."
As they worked on managing the aftermath of Jaegar's unexpected appearance in the press, the academy buzzed with discussions and speculations. Meanwhile, Jaegar continued his breakfast, seemingly unfazed by the attention.
*
In the opulent confines of Ethan's mansion in the imperial capital, madness reigned in one of its rooms.
The air resonated with yells and shouts, accompanied by the violent thrashing of objects.
A young man was throwing whatever he saw within his reach, his face contorted with rage. The room was in shambles, with broken furniture and shattered glass littering the floor. It was clear that this outburst was a result of pent-up frustration and anger.
Lorcan, a tempest of anger, unleashed his fury upon the inanimate objects that dared to cross his path.
The room echoed with yells, shouts, and the resounding crashes of shattered items. It was as if a storm of frustration had descended upon the mansion, tearing through its tranquillity.
Wallace stood aside, along with the maids of the mansion.
Clad in provocative attire that left little to the imagination, the women stood in stark contrast to the opulence of the mansion. Their clothing, somewhat transparent, shamelessly accentuated their most intimate curves. Fear etched across their faces, they formed a hesitant tableau behind Wallace, their reluctant shield in the unpredictable storm that was Lorcan.
During their sojourn in the mansion, it became abundantly clear that the singular individual whom Lorcan would heed was none other than Wallace. This unwritten rule, forged in the crucible of their time within the opulent walls, established Wallace as the arbiter of Lorcan's unpredictable whims, casting him as the reluctant saviour in times of need.
Ethan, holding a paper bearing an image of Jaegar, stood amidst the chaos, his gaze fixed upon the enigmatic figure in the photograph. The news of Jaegar's supposed demise had prompted revelry in their lives, a celebration that now seemed premature and misplaced. The revelation of Jaegar's unexpected survival had transformed their euphoria into a tempest of confusion.
"What the hell is happening at the academy?" Ethan exclaimed, his voice a mixture of incredulity and frustration. "First, they declare him dead, and now, after a mere few days, he emerges alive."
Lorcan, the embodiment of seething rage, continued his rampage, venting his inner turmoil through the destructive symphony of thrown objects and shattered glass. The mansion, once a haven of opulence, now bore the scars of Lorcan's emotional upheaval.
During the past two weeks, Lorcan and Ethan have immersed themselves in a relentless spree of revelry, fueled by the news of Jaegar's demise. Yet the sudden twist of fate had turned their jubilation into a maelstrom of conflicting emotions.
Jeanine fired from the academy and now a reluctant guest in the tumultuous mansion, grappled with the realization that Jaegar's affections had been nothing more than fleeting. The scandalous liaisons that once defined her existence had led to her suspension, a consequence of the headmaster uncovering her indiscretions with the students.
Her opinion of Jaegar changed after his indifference towards her, and she thought Lorcan would be the perfect tool to use against Jaegar. But after she learned that he had died, she didn't care anymore and tried to indulge herself in the confines of the mansions.
She revelled in the luxurious lifestyle, surrounded by opulence and decadence, seeking solace in material possessions to fill the void left by her shattered illusions.
Wallace was watching from the side as he saw Lorcan cool down. he brought out a cloth and gave it to a maid, telling her to wipe his sweat.
"Your Highness, you don't have to strain yourself about his return to this extent."
Lorcan looked at Wallace and said, "No, Wallace, he should have stayed dead. Now I have to fear that he will come back to disrupt my carefully constructed world of luxury and indulgence."
"Didn't you see what he told me that day? It made me go to the person I hate the most."
Wallace then said, "Your Highness, you need not worry about the consequences from now on."
Lorcan was confused, looking at him in the eye, and said, "We at least know now the attitude of the emperor and the reactions of the second prince."
Lorcan's eyes widened, realizing Wallace's words.