Matthius De Lumine. The crown prince of Luminaria who is extremely popular among all circles. His appearance is handsome. He has the same bright blonde hair color as Niel and bright purple eyes like gemstones inherited from his mother. He is talented! However, his personality is extremely cold and firm, different when he is with his mother and younger sibling. One day he will become a blessed figure.
Look at his figure right now. He walks casually to answer the summons of his father and Niel, and along the way many pairs of eyes watch him. The way he walks is so elegant and charismatic at his age of just ten years old—a third-year student at Aetheria Academy. His appearance and even his talent are able to make his seniors look at him with envy at all times.
"Actually why are they paying so much attention to me? Am I too ugly?" Matthius muttered.
"How could that be, Your Highness! Your face is so handsome and charming." Replied a student who walked matching his steps with Matthius.
Matthius shot a sharp glance at the student beside him, "Get lost." He quickened his pace, leaving the student who stood frozen hearing his sharp hiss.
"It's so hard to approach His Highness, huh?" asked another student who approached the first student, watching the departure of the crown prince who was as cold as the deepest ice of the North Pole.
The first student sighed softly. "I always see His Highness alone, that's why I approached him. Honestly, I have no other intentions other than truly wanting to befriend His Highness. Is it because I'm just a low noble?"
The second student patted the first student's left shoulder. "That's impossible. Have you forgotten that Her Majesty the Queen was a rural noble before marrying His Majesty the King?"
"Hey! Don't compare me to Her Majesty the Queen! I'm not as smart and talented as Her Majesty, you know!" He retorted.
The second student laughed. "Right. You're dumber than a shrimp in a swamp." He patted the shoulder of the student beside him roughly.
"You...!" The first student retaliated.
Matthius, who could still hear them, exhaled softly, so softly that his breath felt like a ghostly thing. "Can't the academy be a little quiet?"
Matthius continued stepping toward the head of the academy's room on the top floor with steady steps and a flat face. He was feeling annoyed because he was summoned while Violet was playing with him. He wasn't even willing to glance for a moment at the door in front of him.
"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"
Matthius stepped into the large room full of bookshelves like a library. There, at a desk facing away from the large window, stood the figure of an Elf and his father. Matthius's steps did not faze the two men until he stood perfectly without uttering a single word.
Their voices sounded like whispers of the wind. It did not make Matthius curious at all. He was truly like a walking chunk of ice that wouldn't melt even if the sun shone directly above him. Even his father could not melt his own son.
"Until when are you going to talk and ignore me?" Matthius finally opened his voice. "Disturbing my time." He hissed.
Niel turned around along with Arneld, facing Matthius who showed an annoyed yet still flat face. "Ah, it seems you've arrived."
"No. Just consider that I never came." Matthius was about to leave the room, before his father's magic created a magnetic bond between the floor and both his feet.
"Turn around, Crown Prince." The King of Luminaria commanded firmly to the Crown Prince, not his son. "Throw away that arrogant attitude of yours."
Matthius could only turn around after his father released the magic that bound him. "And who exactly did I inherit it from, father?"
"Enough, enough." Niel mediated the cold debate between father and son. "Sorry for making you wait."
"It's fine. Mother is probably already accompanying Vivi to play. I have time." Matthius replied.
Niel placed the report paper in his hand onto the desk. "Crown Prince." He called with a very serious face. "Do you still want to study at Aetheria Academy?" he asked.
"Is there any matter that makes you ask that, Ancestral Lord?" Matthius looked at Niel suspiciously. "If you want to expel me, then just be straightforward."
"I'm not trying to expel you, Matthius. I just want to hear your answer, considering your element hasn't been detected by the magic ball even though I've been conducting experiments for the past three years." Niel explained.
Matthius lowered his head, pondering what Niel said. He should have known his magic element three years ago—when he first entered the academy. However, the magic ball always showed no mana color representing a person's magic element. Some said he was untalented, others said there was no magic tool yet capable of measuring his power.
"I don't need magic if with a sword I can slash anything I want. And, at least I can learn to become a wise King like my great-grandfather, Kerthos De Lumine." Matthius said seriously.
Arneld smiled. The man who was no less cold than his son smiled. His appearance was so handsome that he was nicknamed the most handsome King throughout recorded history, with glittering blonde hair and eyes like the deep ocean. A cold man who loved his family who easily raised his sword if he was annoyed. The thing he disliked most was his father's attitude which resembled his grandfather's.
"Father likes that statement of yours, Matthius." Arneld had returned to calling his son's name, indicating his annoyance had disappeared.
Matthius bowed slightly in respect with his right hand in front of his chest. "I feel honored if father likes it." He did not smile.
"Alright. Back to the initial topic." Niel interjected. "I've been conducting research on a new magic tool that can show your magic element for almost the past three years."
"So, what are the results of your research?" Matthius asked. He did not once show a curious face about the new tool Niel created specifically for him. "I will gladly try it even if in the end it's the same."
"No. The magic tool used this year to measure magic and show elements is different. I've tried using it on Arneld for a full week."
"That's right. Whether it's you, this year's students, or students hiding their power, they won't be able to escape. Honestly, father approved this research not only for you, but also to find spies who infiltrated if there really are any." Arneld explained.
"Do I have to try it together with the first-year students later?" Matthius exhaled very softly. "I won't make an issue of it, so there's no need to think about it further. If the result is still the same, the shame is something I deserve to accept."
"No. That's not what I mean—" Arneld's words were cut off.
"—The crown prince of a pathetic country." Matthius snorted amusedly. "Truly pathetic."
"Stop that talk of yours, Matthius!" Arneld snapped unpleasantly.
"Am I wrong, Your Majesty?"
Arneld massaged the bridge of his nose, not knowing how many times he had to deny the same question from his son. "You shouldn't demean yourself, Matthius. As the crown prince and my son, you must stand proudly for this country."
Matthius shifted his attention elsewhere, avoiding his father's gaze of warmth that felt faint. "I will do my best."
Niel patted Arneld's left shoulder lightly, "Don't feel annoyed, because anyway his attitude is inherited from you."
Arneld slowly brushed Niel's hand away while saying, "I'm not annoyed. It's just that, he's too cold and withdraws from those around him. Which human wouldn't be reluctant to approach him? That's also why he doesn't have a single friend."
"At least the wall can still be his conversation partner." Niel chuckled softly.
"Humans are frightening." Matthius lowered his head, making the two men in front of him freeze. "Truly terrifying. Maybe demons are better."
"Ahahha.." Niel laughed awkwardly with his gaze shifted in all directions, avoiding Matthius's seriousness. "Arneld, don't we have a meeting schedule today?"
"Ah, that seems right."
Matthius stared flatly at the two of them. "You two are very bad at lying."
"No. Father really has a meeting this time."
Matthius looked at his father suspiciously. "Are you going to ask me to attend it again? If so, just give me the position of King right now."
Arneld walked slowly approaching Matthius. Just before actually passing his son, he patted his shoulder, "If you ascend the throne, then father won't be able to show off father's handsomeness in front of the people anymore."
Matthius slightly curved his lips into a crooked smile. "Mother will surely be happy to hear that. Father prefers to be the center of attention for other people compared to his wife. Well, go ahead. I will take mother completely."
"Hha... just do it if you can. In bed this father of yours is like a very tempting meal, you know." Arneld boasted.
"Hey, is it proper to discuss that in front of your son?" Niel exclaimed.
Arneld shrugged indifferently. "I'm leaving. Please take care of my son who's like a chunk of ice." He ignored Niel's exclamation—walking straight ahead past the guards in front of the large door there.