DAMIAN(2)
โThese two again.โ
Damian inwardly clicked his tongue. These bastards never got tired of this childish attempt of theirs. He wanted to tell them to go and read a book with this tenacity of theirs.
Damianโs eyes were frosty. These were the same guys that would fall to the floor and lick his feet if they knew who he was. They were not worthy to be his opponent.
Damian never forgot the experience he had a few years ago at the garden party. He learnt that not all older adults were wise. He knew that the boys harassing him at the academy were still kids that were yet to mature, and he had also learnt that age didnโt matter when it came to the cowardice of human beings, which differed on the outside and inside.
He wanted to see what kind of attitude people would have towards him when he was a person with only skills and no background. Which is why he was purposefully attending the Academy quietly.
It was impossible to climb to the seat of โShytaโ that he wanted, with just skills by itself. It was a thoroughly political position. He wasnโt arrogant enough to claim that he would do it with his power alone. He would gladly use the name of the Duke of Taran when he needed it. He planned on revealing his identity as the Dukeโs successor during the next year.
No one knew Damian at the Academy. There were a few from the north among the enrolled students and they had made a rough guess, but when Damian told them to shut their mouth, they were careful with what they said. Thanks to that, the secret was well kept.
Krrar. Feeling threatened instinctively, Asha exposed her teeth and her fur hardened. However, despite Asha being grown up, she was small enough to be sent flying from a kick. As expected, the boys harassing Damian laughed jeeringly at the fox.
โAsha.โ
Damian called her name and restrained her. Asha looked up at Damian with her meek eyes then she turned back to Damian. Damian was worried that Asha might get caught up in this and get hurt. Asha was the first gift his mother gave to him and she was also Damianโs first friend. If something happened to Asha, he felt like he might not be able to keep to his fatherโs request.
[Donโt kill people at the Academy.][1]
The reason why Damian didnโt respond to their constant annoyance was because it was too troublesome. To get angry, you have to be made angry. Like usual, Damian chose the option of silently picking up his book from the floor. Tak. The book he tried to pick up was kicked and fell to the floor again. Damianโs line of sight followed the owner of the foot, looking up to find a brown-haired boy, smiling spitefully.
โYou canโt hear me? I said look where youโre going. If you make a mistake, you have to apologize, donโt you think?โ
They were going a little overboard today. Damianโs red eyes flatly stared at the boy with brown hair. Why were they consuming such unnecessary emotions? Upon receiving Damianโs tranquil gaze, the boy who had picked a fight, flew into a rage. The boy felt like Damian was mocking him as pathetic with his eyes and also discovered his brotherโs sneer.
โYouโโ (?)
โStop it.โ (Chris)
Chris interrupted, unable to watch any longer.
โWhy are you attacking someone whoโs just passing by?โ (Chris)
โWho are you to butt in?โ (?)
The brown-haired boy was unhappy, but he was also cautious since he knew who Chris was. Although Ixium was relatively free from nationality and status, oneโs background could never be ignored. Chris was the son of a well-known Marquis, in the same country where the brown-haired boy was from.
โIโm saying donโt make an issue out of nothing. The path is obviously wide enough, but you left that alone and intentionally bumped into him. Youโre obviously picking a fight.โ (Chris)
โWhat do you mean intentionally!โ
While the two of them were quarrelling, Damian diligently picked up his fallen book and stood up. He took out his handkerchief from his coat and wiped off the footprints on his book. He was slightly annoyed this time. This was a special book.
It was a present from his mother; she always sent him a book when she found a good one. When the guyโDamian didnโt even know any of their namesโstepped on his book, Damian had unknowingly clenched his fists. If Chris hadnโt intervened, he might have thrown a punch.
The other guy harassing Damian, the ash-haired one, stretched his hand towards Damian. Rather than an attack, it was a move to grab Damianโs shoulder and make Damian face him.
Damian was already a little alert, so he reflexively drew back and fiercely whipped out his hand. With that, the book he was holding was aimed at the boyโs neck. Every motion he made took place almost simultaneously. It was a swordplay move that he had done subconsciously. Damian slowly lowered his hand, but the ash-haired boy had already turned red with anger.
The fuming ash-haired boy caught something white at the corner of his eyes. He picked up the handkerchief that had fallen onto the floor. Honestly, the boy wasnโt that ill-natured. But the moment he was about to ask, โIs this yours?โ, he met Damianโs agitated eyes.
Damianโs apathetic gaze which always seemed like he was looking at lifeless organisms, had changed at some point. However, upon seeing Damianโs restless for the first time, the ash-haired boyโs intent twisted. His nastiness flared.
โGive that back.โ (Damian)
That was the handkerchief his mother had personally embroidered and sent to him. When Damian stretched out his hand and took a step forward, the ash-haired boy took the same step backwards. As Damian reached for it, he waved his hand around so that Damian couldnโt get the handkerchief. After that repeated itself a few times, Damianโs eyes got redder.
The ash-haired boy felt a glow of pleasure. He dropped the handkerchief onto the floor in a flaunting manner. Then he fixed Damian a contented grin and slowly trampled the handkerchief under his feet. Damianโs eyes burst into a blaze.
The ash-haired was suddenly struck by a strong force and tumbled down. He was momentarily dazed as he collapsed to the floor. He touched the area of his lips that was tingling with pain and blood rubbed off on his hand.
โYou want to fight, huh?!โ
As soon as he realized he was hit, he clenched his fist and dashed at Damian. The brown-haired boy who wanted to go there to help him was blocked by Chris. Chris slightly avoided the fist coming at him angrily and also swung his fist. But the punch he threw really connected. The two of them began to go at it for real.
โArgh! This damn fox!โ
Even Asha joined in to assist against her masterโs enemy. She used her small body to nimbly dodge and bit their arms or feet. The fact that she didnโt attack Chris showed her intelligence in distinguishing between enemy and friend.
A rarely seen spectacle in Ixium was happening right now. The students gathered around in a circle to witness the scene of four boys and one animal exchanging blows.
Only after an order supervisor ran over and forcefully pulled them apart, did the dogfight stop.
* * *
Unless the issue was related to a studentโs grade or that of conduct i.e. insulting oneโs teacher, the primary disciplinary right was within the Conferenceโs scope of authority.[2]ย The conference exercised their disciplinary power over the four students that had broken order in the school.
They were suspended from classes for 3 days, had to write a reflection, and also reflect on their attitudes. But Damian alone was punished to be suspended for 7 days. The reason was that Damian threw the first punch and also didnโt manage his pet properly, causing it to attack people. Of course, the real reason was something else. With the exception of Damian, the other boys had remarkable identities. In particular, a friend of the two boys who had picked a fight was a member of conference.
โThis is ridiculous.โ
Chris was angry. The treatment was extremely unfair. Those guys were the ones who came looking for trouble first. It was low and childish.
โDonโt just stand there, make a complaint! Submit a formal objection to the Appeals committee!โ
If you have any complaints against your first disciplinary hearing, you could file for a trial with the Appeals committee. Damianโs face was deadpan as he watched Chris, who was rampaging around after coming all the way to his dorm room, then he briefly replied.
โItโs fine.โ
His fingers were gently combing through Ashaโs fur in a leisurely manner as she lay on his knees.
โFine?! Whatโs fine! Those kids started it first.โ
Chris learnt Damianโs age for the first time due to this incident. He thought Damian was at least as old as himself, but he was surprised to find out that Damian was only 12 years old. Those boys were fifteen and sixteen years old, respectively. They had attacked and harassed a boy who was much younger than them.
โDo you know how big a one week suspension is at Ixium? Itโs a huge red line on your school record!โ
Damian was calm. His father never told him that he shouldnโt cause any trouble. He wouldnโt say anything for passable incidents as long as it wasnโt expulsion. Which is why Damian didnโt care if his school record had a red line or not. That much red line wasnโt even going to be a block on his road to becoming Shita. (1)
โAnd you?โ (Damian)
โWhat?โ (Chris)
โYou were drawn into this because of me. Isnโt that a problem on your own school record?โ
โThis degree of suspension is okay. Itโs basically a warning for a first-timer.โ
Damian looked at Chris who had now become a โknowledgeable personโ in his books and wondered why the guy had even interfered in his business. They had not had any exchanges before this and were basically strangers.
โThank you.โ (Damian)
Chris, who was fuming, looked at Damian in surprise. It was obvious from his expression that he didnโt expect to hear that.
โWh…for what?โ
โFor trying to help me, back then. Although you didnโt need to.โ
Chrisโs mouth was in a wide grin at the first sentence, but the second sentence ticked him off. He glared at Damian for a bit but soon tossed his annoyance aside.
โAre you really not going to appeal?โ
โI wonโt.โ
โIf youโre suspended, the notice will go home, though.โ
โ…โ
He didn’t know that.
Translatorโs Corner:
[1] I remember laughing hard when Hugo said this in chapter 46 [part 1]
[2] I think โConferenceโ was also mentioned in 46 [part 1]. From the chapter henceforth: ‘Conference’ is changed to ‘Council’
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 100 - May 6, 2025
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 99 - May 2, 2025
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 98 - April 30, 2025
hehe I knew Damian was going to teach them a lesson the moment sth realted to Lucia came into play, that’s my boy ๐ and looks like he made a friend? good for him, he won’t have to spend all school alone^^ and those guys are gonna pee their pants when they learn Damian’s identity hehehe
thanks for the chapter ^^
Lucia has really woven herself into Damian’s life. With Asha, the books, letters and handkerchief.its adorable
โIf youโre suspended, the notice will go home, though.โ
โโฆโ
He didnโt know that.
LOLOL!! Damian is so cute!!
Yeah, Damien doesn’t want his mother to know about him fighting. He doesn’t want her to worry.
Oh no. Lucia is going to be worried! LOL
Many thanks
Damin not worry about Hugo, but Lucia:D
agora ferro .damian vai fica preocupado se sua mรฃe ler a carta de aviso e nรฃo seu pai.apesa que quando hugo saber ele tabem vai falar . -por que ele simples meste nรฃo acabou com eles.
mais ja sabemos que ele apelor porque agente nรฃo ficou sabendo nada ate agora.
thanks !!
LOOOL only cares when he thinks Lucia will find out ๐คฃ๐คฃ
Thank you for chapter ๐คฌ๐คฌ๐คฌ๐คฌ
HAHAHAHHAHAHA Damian is worried that Lucia will know he got into a fight and was suspended. Pretty sure Hugo will just brush it off, Lucia will be more worried making the duke worry about his wife worried about Damian.
Well, Duke Taran will be like โHeh, you lost to those kids?โ
Thanks.
Your right. It is unbelievable that Damien would lose to anyone. But, Hugo will realize quickly why it happened.
The looong wait is over. Now I have to wait again ๐ ๐ข
First friend at the academy, yes? ๐ I hope they’ll continue to get along (and get into fights? xDD).
Anyway, LoL at the last sentence! Hugo will probably get the notice with the report (or the report comes first), so he won’t be worried. Unless the notice ends up in Lucia’s hands… which will make her worry. I wonder if she’d demand to go see Damian at the academy. That would be a sight. The whole ducal family arriving at the academy to see Damian, LoL. (Not going to happen, but still, just thinking about the sight makes me giggle in anticipation of the others’ reaction.)
Or Hugo will be like “ah, okay, come home for the week, calm your Mom down, the gate is already paid for” xDD
Or maybe Hugh just shows up at the academy, hunts down those kids and go like “you dare desecrate my wife’s handywork? prepare to die!” totally valid.
I like this sentiment. It’s perfect
OH GOSH THIS CHAPTER IS TOO DAMN CUTE. I’M GOING TO DIE WITH ALL THIS SWEETNESS. Duh Damian remembering Hugo’s words about not killing anyone but back then, in Hugo POV, he’s a little disappointed because Damian didn’t get what he actually means is don’t kill anyone and get caught. I’M WAITING FOR THE DAY DAMIAN SAID HIS LAST NAME IS TARAN ANYWAY. THANK YOUU FOR THE CHAPTER.
Oh my guess is right!! Chris would be Damian’s friend! Hope their friendship will last long.
Thank you for the chapter!!
” He didn’t know that.” I laughed so hard at this ๐ oh gosh Damian is so cute!
I can’t wait for their reactions when they discover his identity!! It’s gonna be hilarious ๐
Thank you for the chapter Ruby! โค๏ธ
Goshh I remember Hugoโs talk, thinking about it made me laugh a lot.
I predicted he would finally lose his cool when it came to his mum, like father like son after all.
Exactly!!!!!!!
Oh my Damian is so cute ๐ค๐
Thanks for the chapter
I love chris aww ๐
I like Damian’s attitude of not wanting to reveal his identity (yet). Because after that he knows people who only care about status or not, in the future he will know who or not to trust.
Thanks for the chapter, Ruby ๐