The Royal Emblem Academy loomed before them, a sprawling complex of white marble towers and courtyards. Alexander walked several paces behind Claire and Lucas, his position carefully calculated—close enough to remain associated with their group, far enough to appear respectful rather than intrusive.
News of the bandit attack traveled faster than their carriage. By the time they reached the Academy's ornate gates, a welcoming committee awaited them, led by Headmaster Orion, his silver star emblem gleaming on his chest.
"Lady Aquamarine," the Headmaster intoned gravely. "We've heard of your ordeal. The Academy extends its deepest apologies for the danger you faced on our roads."
Claire bowed gracefully. "No apology needed, Headmaster. The danger was not of your making, and fortunately, I had capable protection." She gestured to Lucas, who stood tall beside her.
"Young Stoneheart's actions bring honor to his family," the Headmaster agreed.
Alexander remained silent, waiting. In the novel, he'd never been present for this scene. This was uncharted territory.
Lucas cleared his throat. "I wasn't alone, sir. Alexander Flamingo provided critical assistance."
The Headmaster's eyebrows rose slightly as he regarded Alexander. "Flamingo? Lord Augustus's youngest?"
"Yes, sir," Alexander replied, keeping his voice humble—nothing like the boastful tone his character would have used.
"He disrupted the bandits' mage," Claire added. "His timing was impeccable."
[Ooh, she's noticing your timing. How intimate!]
Alexander suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at the system's commentary.
The Headmaster studied him with newfound interest. "Unexpected, but commendable. House Flamingo's fire talents are well-regarded, despite recent... inconsistencies."
The veiled reference to Alexander's previously lackluster abilities wasn't lost on anyone present. The original Alexander would have bristled defensively. This Alexander merely nodded, accepting the backhanded compliment with grace that surprised the onlookers.
"The sorting ceremony begins in one hour," the Headmaster continued. "All first-years should prepare. Lady Aquamarine, perhaps you'd like to rest before—"
"I'm quite well, thank you," she interrupted politely but firmly. "I look forward to the ceremony."
Alexander watched the interaction carefully. Claire was exactly as portrayed in the novel—poised, determined, and slightly headstrong. Lucas, too, matched his description—honorable to a fault, somewhat reserved, with untapped potential in his earth magic.
Following the others inside, Alexander mentally reviewed the Academy's structure. Five houses, each aligned with an elemental affinity: Ignis for fire, Aqua for water, Terra for earth, Ventus for air, and Umbra for shadow. Students were sorted based on their emblem's elemental alignment, though other factors occasionally influenced placement.
In the novel, Alexander had been sorted into Ignis, where he'd been a middling student before his expulsion. Claire went to Aqua, naturally, while Lucas joined Terra. Their separation into different houses limited their initial interactions—a plot device to delay their inevitable romance.
[Planning to manipulate the sorting, handsome? Going to follow your flame-haired princess into Aqua?]
"That would be suspicious," Alexander muttered under his breath. "And Claire isn't my target yet."
[Ooh, 'yet.' I like your confidence. So what's the play?]
"Patience. Sorting first, then we establish the foundation."
The first-years gathered in the grand hall, nearly a hundred students from noble families across the kingdom. Alexander recognized many from the novel's descriptions: Eliza Windhaven with her perpetually windswept blonde hair; twins Darius and Damien Shadowveil, their matching shadow emblems almost eerily dark; and of course, Princess Serena, the royal family's youngest daughter, whose rare silver emblem made her an object of both admiration and envy.
In the original story, Princess Serena had been a minor character, a sometimes-ally to Claire who eventually perished heroically in volume three. Alexander made a mental note to reevaluate her potential importance in his new timeline.
[Your story knowledge is giving me chills. It's like reading ahead in a spicy novel! Speaking of spicy, look who's checking you out...]
Alexander glanced up to find Princess Serena studying him openly, her silver eyes curious. He offered a respectful nod, which she returned with a slight smile before returning her attention to the Headmaster, who had begun the sorting ritual.
One by one, students approached the central dais where five pedestals stood, each bearing a crystal corresponding to an elemental house. When a student placed their hand upon the crystal matching their affinity, it would glow, confirming their placement.
Claire was called early. The water crystal flared brilliant blue at her touch, confirming her exceptional affinity. Lucas followed shortly after, the earth crystal pulsing a steady green.
More students were sorted, exactly as Alexander remembered from the novel. Nothing had changed yet in this part of the timeline.
"Alexander Flamingo," the Headmaster finally called.
Alexander approached the dais calmly, ignoring the whispers that followed him. The original Alexander had swaggered forward, boasting of how brightly the fire crystal would glow for a true Flamingo heir.
Instead, he stood quietly before the pedestals, examining each crystal thoughtfully before extending his hand toward the fire crystal. It glowed as expected, a warm amber light—but what happened next wasn't in the novel.
The light pulsed, growing brighter, then suddenly flickered between amber and silver, as if uncertain. Murmurs rippled through the hall. The Headmaster leaned forward, his expression shifting from boredom to keen interest.
"Continue," he instructed quietly.
Alexander maintained his composure, though internally he was alarmed. This deviation wasn't his doing. The crystal should have simply glowed amber and confirmed his Ignis placement.
[Well, this is interesting! Seems your meddling is having ripple effects already.]
The light stabilized, returning to amber, but distinctly brighter than it had been for other fire-affinity students. The Headmaster nodded, marking something in his ledger.
"Ignis House," he announced, but his tone carried a note of curiosity that hadn't been present before.
Alexander moved to join the other Ignis students, feeling eyes follow him. This unexpected moment might complicate his carefully laid plans, but could also provide new opportunities.
After the ceremony concluded, students dispersed to their house dormitories. Alexander navigated the familiar-yet-unfamiliar paths, recalling descriptions from the novel while experiencing them firsthand for the first time.
"Flamingo!"
He turned to find Lucas Stoneheart approaching, his expression open and friendly. This, too, was a deviation—in the novel, they'd barely spoken before Alexander's expulsion.
"The Headmaster requested that I show you something," Lucas explained. "If you have a moment?"
[Ooh, alone time with the hero! This wasn't in your book, was it?]
Indeed it wasn't. Alexander nodded, maintaining his cordial facade. "Of course."
Lucas led him through winding corridors to a small courtyard where, to Alexander's surprise, Claire and Princess Serena waited. The princess sat on a stone bench, her silver emblem catching the late afternoon light, while Claire paced slowly around a central fountain.
"There you are," Claire said, turning. "We were discussing the sorting. Your crystal's reaction was... unusual."
Alexander hadn't expected to interact with all three so soon. In the novel, these characters had developed their alliance gradually, over many chapters.
"Was it?" he asked innocently. "I admit, I know little about the sorting process."
"The crystals reflect one's affinity," Princess Serena explained, her voice softer than Alexander had imagined. "But they can also reveal... potential. The fluctuation between colors suggests you might have capacity beyond simple fire manipulation."
Alexander feigned surprise while rapidly reassessing. This conversation never happened in the novel. Was the system right about ripple effects from his interference?
"The Headmaster thought we should... get acquainted," Lucas said, somewhat awkwardly. "Since we're all... interesting cases."
Alexander understood immediately. In the original story, these three were special—Claire with her extraordinarily powerful water magic, Lucas with his rare earth-shaping abilities, and Princess Serena with her royal silver emblem. Now, somehow, he'd been marked as special too.
"I'm honored," Alexander said carefully, "though I suspect the crystal was simply responding to the adrenaline from this morning's excitement."
"Perhaps," Claire responded, though her tone suggested she didn't believe it. "Either way, we share combat experience now. That creates a bond."
Alexander nodded, concealing his triumph. In a single day, he'd transformed from the perverted antagonist destined for expulsion into an intriguing ally with mysterious potential.
[Quest update: You've established connection with THREE potential harem members at once! That's overachieving! Bonus reward unlocked: Elemental Insight Level 1]
Alexander felt something shift within him, a new awareness of the emblems around him. He could sense Claire's water affinity pulsing like gentle waves, Lucas's earth power steady as bedrock, and Serena's silver emblem, enigmatic and alluring.
The original story was already unraveling, threads of plot rearranging themselves around his actions. Alexander smiled inwardly, even as he maintained his humble exterior.
This was just the beginning.