The Smiling Death

Amon remained silent for a while.

The cool breeze flowed through the open hallway.

Then he sighed.

"I don't feel guilty... but... I just thought... I mean, you know... if it were me who had died... I don't think anyone would have cried for me like that. There are people who would get sad. But not to the point of how a family feels after losing someone."

Amon thought of Leon, Martia, and Mr. Ellias. They were close to him—or rather, the closest to him.

They might be sad, but not as much as parents would be.

Selena ran her hand through her hair.

"Hah... Guess you're strong... I mean mentally. That's good."

"Are you not gonna meet them?" Amon asked.

Selena responded immediately, "I already met them this morning."

"Ohh..." Amon remained silent.

Four men came out of the mortuary, holding a brown wooden coffin.

The dead body of Senior Vixra was being given to her family. They were going to transport it to their village.

Both parents started to cry seeing it. Slowly, they began walking toward the teleportation gate hall.

Thud! Thud!

At that time, Amon and Selena heard heavy footsteps coming from behind.

They turned around simultaneously.

A middle-aged man was walking in their direction. He was tall, with a bulky, muscular build. His hair was black, and his eyes were clear crystal blue—sharp. He was wearing a navy blue suit befitting a high-ranking noble.

Behind him was an old man wearing a butler's uniform—his attendant.

Amon could guess who he was. His face look similar to someone.

'That's... that's Senior Jareth's father.'

The man stopped in front of Amon and Selena.

He gave a respectful bow to Selena.

"It's good to see that you are fine, Your Highness," he greeted politely.

The butler behind him followed his lead and bowed to Selena with respect.

The man straightened his back.

"Thank you for your concern, Sir Vaillant," Selena simply replied. This time, her voice felt more authoritative.

Then his blue eyes fell on Amon.

He studied Amon for a while.

'What the heck? Why is he looking at me like that?' Amon thought. He wanted to smile, but for some reason, it felt rude right now.

"You must be Amon... I heard my son lost his life while protecting you." Sir Vaillant's voice was heavy, but there was no malice in it.

Still, Amon panicked.

'Wait, he knows? Damn! Does he hold a grudge against me or something?' Amon became awkward.

He didn't know where to look.

Amon bowed lightly and awkwardly. "It's an honor to meet you, Sir Vaillant..." Amon paused, then continued,

"...I am sorry for your loss."

Seeing Amon uncomfortable, Sir Vaillant decided to speak—to ease him.

"Don't worry, boy. I have nothing against you. My son chose to protect you and died while doing it. As a knight and a father, I am proud of him," he said simply. There was pride in his tone.

"Your Highness, if you don't mind, please excuse me. I shall go take my son—back to his home." This time, there was a hint of sadness and pain in his voice.

Selena didn't say anything and just nodded.

Both Amon and Selena moved aside to make a path for Sir Vaillant to pass.

The man walked toward the mortuary. His steps were heavy, yet he strode proudly as his attendant followed quietly.

Now there was silence again.

'What's going on... hah... how come I find myself in this situation? I was just going fo—' His thoughts were cut off mid-way.

"Do you know who he actually is? I mean his position, rank," Selena asked, her hands folded under her chest.

Amon blinked.

"I know. After hearing that surname... his name, if I guess right, it's Galahad Vaillant. Marquis Vaillant. Their family is known for chivalry, knighthood, discipline—a family of knights," Amon answered as his gaze landed on the man waiting outside the mortuary to take back his son's body.

He was a Sovereign Mystic rank—one of the strongest people in this kingdom, if you put Mythborns aside.

His name was widespread throughout the continent.

When Jareth introduced himself to Amon, he hadn't used his surname.

So Amon didn't know he was the son of Marquis Vaillant.

"Hah..." Amon exhaled tiredly, his shoulders slumping down.

He was going for something else but got stuck here for no reason.

'Damn! I need a strong coffee now.' He thought.

He looked at his cold beauty—he meant, his senior.

His eyes lit up.

"Senior~ Do you want to have a coffee with me?" His voice was a little sweet now.

Selena flinched at the change in tone. She raised her right hand and rubbed her temples.

Her lips curved lightly.

She moved her right hand and placed it on her hip.

With a smile, she replied, "Okay, let's go. A coffee sounds good."

Amon's grin widened.

'Yeah! I can get free coffee from her. Also, some dessert doesn't sound bad either.' Amon loved free things and food.

A hand wrapped around his shoulder, breaking him from his thoughts.

His eyes fell on the person who had put their hand on him.

He looked at Selena with surprise.

She had wrapped her right arm around his shoulder like a friend. A smirk was on her face.

"Alright, let's go." Before he could say anything, she dragged him toward the café on campus.

"It's an honor for you to have coffee with a princess. I'll let you treat me," she said softly, though there was playfulness in her voice.

Amon's face crumbled hearing that.

He wanted to get treated—not the other way around.

"You're a princess! How can you ask a poor commoner to treat you? That's wrong!" Amon retorted.

This was injustice—again.

"What? You're a man. You should be the one to pay for a lady. If that's not enough, I'm a princess. Have some pride as a man," Selena responded. She was clearly enjoying Amon's expression.

"Aarrghh! I have no pride. Please have mercy on this boy. You're damn rich. You shouldn't ask a poor boy like this!" Amon was not going to step back.

They continued to argue over who would pay while walking—unaware that most students were looking at them. They were shocked looking at them.

A princess, also the student council president, wrapping her arm around a young first-year man' shoulder —a nobody young man.

Meanwhile, during the argument with Selena—a thought came,

'I was going somewhere else... where was I going though... meh, whatever.' He pushed that thought aside.

He totally forgot that he was going for training.