"Well, news sure did travel fast in this school," Ethan muttered under his breath as he made his way back to his classroom. It had only been a few minutes since the engagement was dissolved, yet the entire academy already seemed to know about it.
Everywhere he walked, students whispered among themselves, openly discussing him without making the slightest effort to lower their voices.
Curious gazes followed him from every direction, but Ethan honestly couldn’t care less.
Too bad for them.
He merely cast them a cool, dismissive glance that silently told everyone they weren’t worth his attention before continuing toward the classroom as though none of them existed.
Much to Ethan’s surprise, the same instructor who had looked at him with nothing but cold indifference moments ago was now looking at him with a trace of pity. The change was so obvious that he almost stopped walking.
Oh God... no.
Please don’t look at me like that.
He really didn’t want anyone pitying him.
Look, he was fine. Really.
If anything, he had wanted the engagement to be cancelled too. Sure, the public humiliation hadn’t exactly been part of the plan, but the cancellation itself? He certainly wasn’t crying over that.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Ethan walked into the classroom nonetheless, only for the instructor’s voice to stop him in his tracks.
"You came back?"
Ethan frowned in confusion. What kind of question was that? It wasn’t as though skipping classes wasn’t exactly an option, the academy had plenty of creative ways to punish students who did.
"Yes, I did, sir. Why wouldn’t I? I was already in class before I got called out... Surely I had to come back, right?"
The instructor stared at him for a moment before slowly shaking his head.
"You really didn’t have to." He said his voice softening slightly "I wouldn’t want to see you break down in tears during my class, so you can take the rest of the day off to atleast clear your mind."
Oh no...
He didn’t just say that.
Did he seriously look like someone who was secretly heartbroken over a stupid breakup?
"I really don’t need any—"
Ethan abruptly stopped himself.
Wait.
Was he actually about to reject free rest?
He genuinely needed time to clear his mind... just not for the reason the instructor thought. He had literally transmigrated into another world and inherited someone else’s memories.
If anything, he desperately needed time to process everything. Rejecting a free day off would be idiotic besides the instructor meant well, even if the reason was hilariously wrong.
Ethan coughed awkwardly before correcting himself.
"...Actually. I really do need it. Thank you."
The instructor gave him a sympathetic nod, apparently convinced Ethan had finally accepted reality.
If only he knew.
Without another word, Ethan turned on his heels and headed straight for his dorm room. At least, after countless frustrating things that had happened since he arrived in this world, he had finally experienced something good.
Unfortunately...
That thought barely lasted.
He was only a few steps away from his dorm room when he suddenly froze.
His eyes widened.
His belongings... Clothes. books. luggage’s.
Everything was being carelessly thrown out of his room as though it were nothing but garbage.
His expression darkened instantly "The fuck?! Who had the audacity to do this?"
His shout echoed through the hallway, but the students moving his belongings merely glanced at him as though he were some kind of joke before continuing to toss everything outside without the slightest concern.
Ethan instantly felt his temper flare.
Seriously?
He had planned to spend the rest of the day peacefully resting, finally enjoying the one decent thing that had happened after countless disasters, yet these people had the audacity to ruin even that. Even worse, they ignored him completely as if he didn’t exist.
Well...
Not on his watch.
He strode over without another thought and immediately grabbed one of the boys firmly by the arm.
"You..." His voice turned dangerously cold. "How dare you throw my things away without my permission? And... why the fuck are you even throwing them away in the first place?!"
The two students visibly froze.
Not even in their wildest dreams had they expected Ethan to look this terrifying.
The Ethan they knew had always been a pushover. Someone who rarely fought back no matter how badly he was treated.
But the person standing before them now...
His sharp gaze alone was enough to make chills run down their backs.
"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" Karl cried, desperately trying to pull his arm free. "H-He ordered us to do it, okay?!"
Using his free hand, he hurriedly pointed toward Leon, who was now calmly approaching them.
Ethan immediately released Karl before turning his attention to the newcomer.
Wait...
He recognized that face.
Wasn’t this the same boy he had seen standing beside Drey earlier?
Well, it didn’t matter.
Stopping only a few steps away from him, Ethan spoke in an even voice.
"You ordered them to throw my things out? Why? And what exactly gave you the right?"
Leon let out a mocking scoff.
"Hah! You’ve suddenly got guts? Talking to me this way, huh?" His lips curled into a sneer as he folded his arms across his chest. "Besides, are you forgetting something? The only reason you were allowed to stay in this high-ranking dorm was because you were engaged to Drey. Now that the engagement is over..."
His smile widened.
"So is your privilege."
Ethan frowned.
Wasn’t Ethan Ashford still a member of one of the Empire’s oldest Guide families? From the memories he had inherited, his family background alone should have been enough to secure a place in this dorm with or without Drey.
"And so?" Ethan replied calmly. "I’m from the Ashford family. Rightfully, I’m ranked high enough to stay in this dorm."
Leon chuckled lightly, his expression filled with amusement.
"You seem to have forgotten something." His smile widened. "Your family abandoned you and made that very clear to everyone. The only reason you were staying here was because of Drey..."
He paused just long enough for the words to sink in before delivering the final blow.
"And now he wants you out."
His statement made Ethan freeze ever so slightly.
"...Wait."
His eyes narrowed immediately as disbelief flashed across his face.
"You’re telling me Drey ordered this!?"