In the cathedral of the Caulem Dukedom manor, Leonhardt Caulem's funeral was underway. His casket, surrounded by flowers, rested at the center. A large portrait stood nearby, a reminder of the young noble's life.
Nobles dressed in black filled the hall, seated quietly as the priest prayed and spoke about Leonhardt. In the front row, Duke Alric Caulem sat, his face unreadable. Beside him was his second son, Lucian Caulem, returned from academy for funeral.
On another bench sat Vivien, the Duke's six-year-old daughter, and Duchess Maria, Leonhardt's stepmother, struggling to hold back tears.
From the back, murmurs broke the silence. "She's such a kind stepmother," someone whispered. "She's grieving for him as if he were her own."
The priest's prayers continued until the cathedral doors burst open. A manor worker stumbled in, panting heavily. Heads turned, irritation clear on many faces.
"What is the meaning of this? You're disturbing the funeral!"
One guard grabbed the worker's arm, intending to pull him away, but the man raised his voice, desperation pushing his words out in a rush. "My lord! My lord duke! We've received a message from Ironholt's guild—they say they saw Young Master Leonhardt alive yesterday!"
Gasps rippled through the hall, disbelief freezing everyone in place.
"Alive? What is this nonsense?" someone muttered, while others turned to each other, their faces pale with shock.
The guards tightened their grip on the worker, clearly agitated. "Watch your tongue!" one snapped. "What nonsense are you spouting during a funeral?"
"Enough," Duke Alric's calm but commanding voice cut through the commotion. He rose from his seat, his sharp eyes focused on the trembling worker. The guards released him instantly as the Duke approached. "Speak clearly. What did you say?"
"My lord," he said, his voice shaking, "the guild master of Ironholt sent an emergency message by bird. He claims to have seen the Young Master alive."
Silence fell, broken only by shocked whispers. Duchess Maria gasped softly, while Vivien clung to her brother's sleeve, her eyes wide with hope.
Before anyone could react further, the head butler approached Duke Alric urgently. "My lord, we've received a message from the Academy in the communication room. It says Young Master Leonhardt has returned to the academy."
The hall erupted into chaos. Nobles whispered rapidly, exchanging looks of shock and disbelief. The priest stood frozen, his prayer book slipping from his hands.
Meanwhile, Duke Alric stood still, "What the hell is happening?"
---
"That's what happened."
Reo said, his tone calm and steady as he lounged on the couch in Principle Veymar's office. Liana stood silently behind him, her gaze steady and unreadable, her hands clasped neatly in front of her.
Across from him, Principal Tavik Veymar sat with a grim expression, his fingers steepled as he studied the young noble who had become the center of the academy's greatest mystery.
Around the room, the academy's most senior professors stood in tense silence, their eyes flicking between Reo and the principal. The weight of unspoken questions hung heavily in the air.
Principal Veymar sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Let's go over this again," he said.
"Leonhardt Caulem—when the bandits attacked your carriage, you claim you managed to escape with your maid and survive in Eldergrove Forest for nearly a week?"
Reo leaned back further, his arms resting on the couch as he responded without hesitation. "That's right," he said casually, as if recounting an ordinary trip.
The professors exchanged uneasy glances, their murmurs rising just loud enough to break the silence. Professor Vaelim, adjusted his glasses with a measured motion. "Surviving in Eldergrove for that long is impressive," he said, his voice cool but skeptical.
"But the reports from the site indicated something else. How do you explain the limbs found at the scene of the attack?"
Reo's crimson eyes met his without a flicker of hesitation. "Did they find my head?"
The room fell silent. The question pressed down on everyone present, silencing even the murmurs.
Professor Isolode, her striking blue hair framing her now-stern face, opened her mouth as if to respond but stopped herself. The others shifted uneasily, glancing at each other.
Principal Veymar frowned, his gaze narrowing. "You're asking us to believe a lot," he said slowly. "This isn't just about your survival. The Leonhardt we knew wouldn't act like this. He wouldn't bother greeting us, much less show up in this office calmly discussing life in the forest." He gestured toward Liana. "And he certainly wouldn't allow his maid to be present for something like this."
"Life in the wild changes you," Reo said evenly.
"I learned a few things. Like how to stay alive. And how to stop worrying about what people expect."
Then Professor Avoor stepped forward, his long orange hair catching the light. His green eyes scanned Reo with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. "Or," he said slowly, "we're not speaking with the real Leonhardt Caulem."
Reo raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And who do you think I am, then?"
Professor Gidon, his massive frame towering over the others, stepped forward with a heavy nod. "It could be a doppelgänger magic," he said gruffly. "It wouldn't be the first time one tried to infiltrate our academy."
The principal leaned back in his chair, exhaling heavily. "This isn't getting us anywhere," he muttered, shaking his head. After a moment, he straightened and fixed Reo with a hard stare. "There's only one way to settle this. We'll conduct a bloodline test to confirm your identity."
Reo's smirk didn't waver. He crossed one leg over the other, his crimson eyes glinting with calm defiance. "Fine by me," he said. "Let's get it over with."
Principal Veymar raised his hand and gestured to an aide by the door. "Bring it," he said firmly.
The aide gave a quick bow and left the room. A moment later, they returned, carrying a wooden box. Its polished surface gleamed under the light, and the professors exchanged uneasy glances as the aide carefully placed it on the principal's desk.
The box was ornate, with silver-reinforced corners and the emblem of the Elaris Kingdom engraved on it. A faint glow surrounded its edges, hinting at the enchantments protecting it.
Reo glanced at the box, his expression calm but curious. Behind him, Liana shifted slightly, her posture tense.
Principal Veymar opened the box slowly, his hands steady. Inside was a crystal orb glowing softly with a pale blue light.
"This," Veymar said, breaking the silence, "is the Bloodline Resonance Orb. It detects noble bloodlines. If you are truly Leonhardt Caulem, the orb will respond to your blood."
Reo leaned forward slightly, studying the glowing orb. "And if I'm not?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
The principal's gaze hardened. "If you're not, the orb will expose the truth."
Professor Vaelim stepped closer, adjusting his glasses. "This test cannot be faked. No magic or trickery can fool the orb."
Reo leaned back with a faint smirk. "Sounds fair."
Principal Veymar gestured toward the orb. "Place your hand over it," he instructed.
Reo placed his hand on the glowing orb without hesitation, his movements calm and composed. The room seemed to hold its breath as the orb began to hum softly, the blue light intensifying.
All eyes were fixed on it, anticipation thick in the air. Even Liana, usually composed and silent, couldn't hide the curiosity flickering in her eyes.
After a few tense moments, the orb pulsed brightly before fading back to its soft glow. The runes around it shimmered briefly before falling still. Principal Veymar leaned forward as the orb's verdict became clear.
"It's confirmed," he said, his voice measured. "You are Leonhardt Caulem."
A wave of relief washed over Liana's face, though the professors exchanged uneasy glances. The confirmation only deepened the mystery: then why was Leonhardt acting so unlike himself? That was the question none of them dared to voice yet.
Reo's lips curled into a smirk as he leaned back. "Well, there you have it," he said lightly. "I'm Leonhardt Caulem. Is there anything else you'd like to check?"
Despite the confirmation, unease lingered in the room. The professors shared silent looks, their doubt and wariness evident. Principal Veymar sighed, nodding reluctantly. "Yes, it's confirmed. You may go now."
Reo stood, adjusting his sleeves. "Let's go, Liana," he said, his tone clipped. But as he took a step toward the door, Principal Veymar's voice stopped him.
"Wait," the principal said firmly. "We need to speak to your maid separately."
Reo turned back, a flicker of annoyance and anger flashing in his crimson eyes. "Why?" he asked, his tone sharper now.
Principal Veymar didn't falter. "She's the only surviving staff from the attack. Her testimony is critical to understanding what happened."
Reo sighed heavily and turned away. "Fine," he said, his voice low. Without looking at Liana, he added, "I'll be waiting outside."
Liana nodded silently, her eyes meeting his briefly before he walked out and closed the door behind him.
As the heavy door clicked shut, Reo heard a voice from the hallway, smooth and familiar. "Hello, Leonhardt Caulem. It's been a while."
Reo turned to see Prince Cassian standing a few steps away, a faint, smug smile playing on his lips. Darius stood beside him, arms crossed and expression guarded.
Behind them, the hallway was filled with murmuring students, all craning their necks to catch a glimpse of Leonhardt's return.
"I almost didn't recognize you with your short hair," Cassian said, his tone light but laced with mockery.
Reo's crimson eyes locked onto the prince, cold and calculating. As the memories of the old Leonhardt surged forward, he remembered everything—the ridicule, the humiliation, and the misery.
This was the man who had been a key player in Leonhardt's wretched life. And now, here he stood, waiting to see if the new Leonhardt would crumble like the old one.