After the regular meeting, Matthew Callan stayed in the classroom for a long time. By the time nearly everyone had left and the teaching building was almost empty, he finally gathered his books and slowly made his way out.
For a strictly self-disciplined Under the Moon Aristocrat, such a lax attitude was rare.
But he needed time and somewhere a little more private to think things through, to decide what he should do next.
Earlier that day, his cousin Sir Friedman had sent word asking him to stop by the 3A Club lounge in Alpha Castle after the meeting for a chat. The timing was sensitive, so Matthew needed to review his recent words and actions and make sure he had done nothing anyone might misunderstand.
Fortunately, after some self-reflection, he found that he had been careful enough.
As Matthew left the teaching building, he saw the class monitor, Jiang Yu. He wondered why she was still nearby so late, but gave it little thought.
Everyone had their own freedom, and everyone had their own troubles. Right now, he needed to focus on his own.
The shortcut between Jiuyou Academy and Alpha Castle was as desolate as ever.
The area was remote, and the dead branches and vines hanging along the corridor looked as though they had not been cleared away in ages. A breeze stirred them with a faint rustle, as if squirrels were spying from the bushes.
The portraits hanging on either side of the corridors in Alpha Castle were much cleaner than on his last visit. The copper fittings on their frames gleamed in the firelight. But while their surroundings had changed, the old people in the portraits were as irritable and stubborn as ever.
"Damn red robes! One more look and my eyes will be filthy!"