NTR School: S Rank Student

After Cecilia closed the door behind her, Raphael was left standing alone in the hallways of the Sword School.

The conversation he had just experienced felt surreal. Out of all the people he had met in the Five Schools, Cecilia was by far the most intriguing. Not only was she breathtakingly beautiful, but she also carried an aura of strength and coldness that made her all the more desirable.

Raphael had always been drawn to difficult women—the kind who built walls so high that most men wouldn't dare attempt to climb them. But he thrived on that challenge, and the thought of what Cecilia might be like once conquered filled him with excitement.

Still, her request lingered in his mind.

To kill a student. She was asking him to take a man's life.

The weight of it pressed against his thoughts. The Queen had claimed that Christopher Reynolds was an evil man. If that was truly the case, perhaps his death was justified. Perhaps he deserved to die.

But Raphael was not a fool. He wouldn't blindly accept a claim, even from someone as tempting as Cecilia Evergarden. He needed proof.

He made a decision. Once he reached the Three Divine Academies, he would investigate Christopher Reynolds himself. If the man was truly a villain, then Raphael would take his life. And when he returned, Cecilia would have no choice but to acknowledge him.

With that goal set in his mind, Raphael turned and made his way out of the Sword School and headed back to his dorm.

---

"Thank you for taking me with you, Master Raphael! I just know this is going to be so much fun!"

The next morning, Raphael stood at the school's exit. The morning sun casting long shadows over the courtyard as he prepared to set off on yet another long journey. His bag was slung over his shoulder, his body well-rested, and his mind set ahead.

To his right stood Lillian. Her vibrant green hair was still wet, clinging to her shoulders. She had clearly rushed to get here, not wanting to be left behind.

And unfortunately, to his left stood Joshua—the child of an emperor.

Patience, Raphael. Just think about his sisters waiting for you at the palace.

He forced a neutral expression onto his face before responding. "Don't mention it," he said, adjusting the weight of his bag. "Let's not waste any more time. I want to reach our destination as soon as possible."

Lillian and Joshua both nodded and with that, the small group set off on their journey to the Three Divine Academies.

For the first stretch of the trip, Raphael and Lillian endured an endless stream of chatter from Joshua. The boy rambled on about nonsense. Topics neither of them had the slightest interest in.

Raphael clenched his jaw, forcing himself to remember why he had allowed the boy to accompany them.

His sisters. Think about his sisters.

Using the map Harmony had provided, Raphael led the group in the correct direction. The Five Schools were located in the Central Region of Vailstone, while the Three Divine Academies lay to the east, near the border.

As they passed through villages along the way, they drew attention. Villagers stopped their work to watch them pass, whispering excitedly. It was rare for commoners to see students from the prestigious Five Schools.

But Raphael paid little mind to the admiration. He pressed the group forward without stopping, ignoring Joshua's repeated complaints about his aching legs and requests for horses.

"We're making good time," Lillian remarked, her breath steady despite the long trek. "I could do this all day."

Joshua groaned dramatically. "You enjoy this? My legs are screaming!"

Raphael sighed. "Then let them scream."

As the journey continued, subtle changes in the landscape signalled their arrival in the Eastern Region. The green grass slowly began to fade into a red colour. The further they walked, the more vibrant the blades of grass became.

Joshua perked up as he noticed the change.

"This is it! We've crossed into the Eastern Region!" He wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a relieved sigh. "I can't wait to reach the palace and rest."

Raphael didn't say it aloud, but he felt the same—though not for the reasons Joshua did.

Throughout the journey, he and Lillian had exchanged knowing glances. Ever since that night in her room, the tension between them had been intense. They both longed to explore each other once again, and the privacy of the palace would finally grant them the opportunity to do so.

But Raphael's ambitions extended far beyond Lillian.

The palace held many beautiful women. Servants, nobles, and even members of the Emperor's own family. If given the chance, he intended to take full advantage of the situation. Even the female students of the Three Divine Academies were within his sights.

New region. New possibilities.

And yet, amidst those thoughts of pleasure, another figure lingered in his mind.

Christopher Reynolds.

The man whose death might be his key to conquering Cecilia Evergarden.

The weight of that thought sat heavily in his chest, but his attention was drawn away as a grand structure emerged in the distance.

"There it is!" Joshua exclaimed, bouncing on his toes. "The palace!"

Raphael's eyes swept over the towering structure ahead. The Emperor's palace was grand. Its intricate architecture spiralled into the sky, standing as a monument of dominance over the Eastern Region. Surrounding it was a massive, fortified fence, with dozens of guards stationed along its perimeter.

The Emperor was clearly a cautious man.

As they approached the gates, the guards immediately straightened, recognizing Joshua at once.

"Young Joshua," one of them greeted with a respectful nod, before stepping aside to unlock the gate. "It's an honour to welcome you back to the palace. I'm sure the Emperor will be pleased to see you."

Joshua shot Raphael and Lillian a smug look, one that practically screamed, 'I told you I was his son'.

Then, with exaggerated grandeur, he strolled past the guards. "Thank you, kind sirs. I shall make sure you are rewarded for your diligence."

Raphael highly doubted that the guards took the boy's high-pitched voice seriously.

Once inside, Joshua led them through the palace grounds. The gardens were unlike anything Raphael had seen before, even making the estates of the Thornbatch family seem modest in comparison. The sheer scale of the palace land was staggering, nearly rivalling the Five Schools themselves.

They continued onward until they reached the entrance of the palace, where a well-dressed butler stood waiting for them, as if he had been anticipating their arrival.

"Young Joshua," the butler greeted in a polished tone, bowing slightly. "It is a great honour to have you back at the palace. Please, allow me to escort you and your guests to His Majesty."

The trio followed the butler through the palace's grand halls. The walls were adorned with stunning murals, intricate carvings, and lavish tapestries that depicted tales of the Empire's history. The floors gleamed under the golden chandeliers, and servants bustled about, attending to their duties with urgency.

Raphael's gaze flickered to a passing maid, watching the subtle sway of her buttocks as she hurried by.

Bringing Joshua along has already been worth it...

Finally, they arrived before a set of double doors—the entrance to the Emperor's chamber.

Raphael's heartbeat quickened as the butler stepped forward, placing his hands on the grand doors.

With a slow, deliberate push, the doors creaked open, revealing the chamber beyond.