Eros paid none of that any mind. He simply stuffed the two vouchers into Bru's pocket, then patted him on the shoulder.
"We agreed on this beforehand, so don't be shy. I'm heading off!"
With that, Eros draped his arm around Wendy's shoulders with practiced ease and leaned his weight onto her.
Wendy helped Eros up the steps at a brisk pace. When she reached the top, the pretty girl approached and looked Eros over.
"You're Wendy's younger brother?"
Eros was also sizing up the girl before him, who had long, cool-brown hair, a pretty face, and a surprisingly shapely figure.
"Yes, I'm Eros Renka North!" He held out his hand as he spoke.
"Joanie Claude Horn!"
Joni held out her hand as well and shook Eros's, the corners of her lips lifting as her eyes curved into crescents.
At that moment, Saliba looked at the arm Eros had draped around Wendy's shoulders and said with some displeasure,
"Are you having trouble walking, little brother Eros?"
Eros frowned. Why was this guy randomly calling me his little brother? Still, since they would be classmates in the future, he let that slide and explained,
"I tried casting a spell above my level earlier and suffered a backlash. I haven't fully recovered yet."
Saliba nodded, then turned to the followers behind him.
"Two of you, come help my little brother Eros."
Wendy frowned. "No need! I can support him myself."
But Saliba objected, "That won't do!" As he spoke, he reached out, intending to forcibly pull Eros away.
Eros narrowed his eyes. What was this blue-haired guy's problem? He immediately leaned close to Wendy's ear and whispered,
"Let's go!"
Wendy nodded, dodging the hands the two followers extended to support Eros, and continued into the academy without paying them any heed.
When Saliba saw Eros whispering into Wendy's ear, his brow furrowed even more deeply.
The young nobles nearby saw the three of them leave and followed at a distance.
After all, enrollment required an aptitude test, and they all wanted to see what sort of warlock aptitude this "genius" possessed.
After they had walked for a while, Eros recovered a little and withdrew the arm he had draped around Wendy's shoulders. Somewhat puzzled, he asked,
"Who was that blue-haired guy just now?"
Hearing Eros's question, Joanie burst out laughing beside him.
"That's a symbol of the noble Augustine Family! What do you mean, 'blue-haired guy'?"
"Oh," Eros said. "So that blue-haired guy is royalty! Why did he seem interested in my Wendy?"
At the words "my Wendy," Wendy's pretty face flushed slightly, but what he said next left her irritated.
"Just ignore that guy. He's annoying as hell."
Joni, however, said with a smile, "I reckon the whole academy knows Prince Saliba is courting Wendy."
Eros nodded. "But I think I heard that the royal family doesn't allow its members to marry outsiders."
Joni gave a slight nod as well. "That's right. Supposedly, it's to keep the Augustine Family's bloodline stable."
"Tch! So he wants my bratty little sister to be his mistress? He can fucking dream!"
Eros sounded disdainful and made no effort to mince his words.
Joni didn't respond to that. Instead, she leaned close to Wendy's ear and asked in puzzlement, "Aren't you the older sister?"
"Yes! Why?"
"Then why does he call you his bratty little sister?"
"Ignore him. He's liked calling me random things like that since we were little. I'm used to it by now."
Before you continue