Edgewood Academy is a school that, at first glance, might remind one of Hogwarts.

The buildings were grand and imposing, with sprawling grounds and ornate architecture. It was a prestigious institution, filled with children of the nobility and royals alike, as well as kids from more average backgrounds.

Despite its grandeur, however, Edgewood Academy was not a magical school. It was firmly rooted in the real world, with a curriculum that focused on science, mathematics, and the arts. The students who attended were some of the brightest and most talented individuals in the country, all hoping to secure their place in the upper echelons of society.

If one were to talk of the earlier days, the children of such average backgrounds were far too overwhelming for them. Surrounded by so much wealth and privilege, it was normal for one to feel out of place as if they didn't belong.

So at the beginning, when 6-year-old Watanabe Botan started out as he settled into his new life in this very prestigious school, it was difficult.

He was used to living in the shadows and being invisible when he smuggled drugs to keep up medical payments for his doting relatives who were likely to be on the road to heaven had he stopped back in Japan. But in Edgewood which is based in the U.K., he was surrounded by wealthy and privileged children who seemed to have everything they could ever want.

It was a difficult adjustment for him, and he struggled to fit in with his peers. He guessed the person who nominated his name, Kudo Ranran, a former student here wasn't completely in the wrong when she said things were going to be difficult for him.

Before attending Edgewood Academy, Ranran did remind him that he shouldn't expect a fresh start here, since it's increasingly difficult to hide any past within the school grounds, especially from noble children. After all, his past was not something that he could easily shake off, and jealousy is a common problem within this academy.

Noble children would sneer at him when they thought he wasn't looking, while others would openly mock him in front of his face. The motivation was mostly jealousy.

That's fine, he will talk back and expose their damn flaws through intense digging and research, which stop them from doing anything funny. It was a habit he was used to doing during his earlier days when he dealt with bullies in his previous school the moment they learned he had an uncle in prison. Well...he is still in prison, but that's alright now. Since some of the children actually have parents and relatives serving prison time, it was a huge shocker when he first arrived here, except the charges they were given were way worse than his uncle's.

Charges of homicide, attempted murder kidnapping, emotional and physical abuse of children etc, even some he had never heard of it before, well, probably because he didn't think all of those 'high level' crimes were possible at that time, exists here.

When Botan first got word of this, he froze still. For a freaking prestigious academy to have children of such backgrounds...Botan honestly has no idea what to make of this at all. Sure, at least he wasn't being mocked for his uncle committing crimes aside from the drug part, even so, it's very disturbing that even in the world of the wealthy, people of extreme cruelty still exist! It was no different than the time he became a drug mule.

However, the most disturbing part wasn't the bullying due to the difference between poverty and wealth. No, he did expect that. What really disturbed him the most in this school, was that the children who were from middle-income backgrounds, or even lower than the others, behaved far worse than the nobles.

In the past, when Botan arrived, he was expecting the average children to be more sympathetic towards each other since they were not born into wealth and privilege like the noble children. Instead, it was quite the opposite. Some of the average children seemed to take pleasure in making fun of the idiot children who he knew were kind but from wealthy families. Worst, they exploit their kindness and privilege by buttering up to them, that was how they ended up climbing the social ranks of this school.

What was so outrageous and appealing, was that when he arrived here, they called him names and made cruel jokes at his expense. Because he was the only student who had someone's support from Edgewood, they had to work their asses off to get here. Or rather, their parents did ensure a brighter future for the entire family.

Being the smart one, he realized the reason why they behave so because most of them couldn't cope with their parents' oppression, pressuring them to befriend children of aristocrats just so as to mingle in high society.

Botan used to think the children who were born into wealthy families at least didn't have any debt problems the way he had to deal with them. Now, two months after coming here, his mindset had changed a lot. He couldn't help but draw parallels between his former life as a drug mule and his current environment in Edgewood Academy. Both were filled with pressure, danger and the need to constantly navigate complex power dynamics.

He thought about Kudo Ranran, the child detective who had sponsored him to attend Edgewood. At first, Botan had thought that Ranran was a bit strange, with her intense focus on solving mysteries and her seemingly endless supply of knowledge. But now, he realized that she was just a product of this environment, where intelligence and quick thinking were highly valued.

So the only way to survive here was to become a member of the student council.

........................................................................................................

The Edgewood Academy student council office was a sight to behold, filled with luxury and elegance at every corner. A reflection of the school's prestigious reputation, it has every detail crafted to exude sophistication and luxury.

The room was spacious with high ceilings, adorned with intricate chandeliers that sparkled with a golden glow. The walls were decorated with expensive paintings and portraits of the school's founding members. The flooring was made of polished marble, shining like a mirror under the bright lights. The room was furnished with plush chairs and sofas, made of the finest leather, and a grand oak desk stood in the centre of the room, with a gilded nameplate reading "Student Council President."

Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, with large computer screens displaying important school data, and a high-end sound system for conference calls. The windows were draped with thick velvet curtains, shielding the room from the harsh sunlight, and adding to the opulence of the interior. The shelves were lined with books, leather-bound and embossed with gold letters, showcasing the intellectual prowess of the school's students.

Edgewood Academy's council system is a crucial component of the school's culture and tradition and is seen as an integral part of the education and upbringing of the next generation of leaders and influencers.

Botan strategically became a member of the student council at Edgewood Academy just to gain access to information and connections that could potentially help him in his future endeavours.

Of course, one can't simply become a member. He was literally born with nothing.

But aside from being street smart, he is also a book-smart child, to become a member of the student council at Edgewood Academy, one of the exceptions is if he had the written letter of support of a powerful sponsor. It is rare for someone of the average class to be considered for such a position. He was able to get here thanks to Kudo Ranran, a former student and member of the Tantei Association, who saw potential in him and sponsored him for the position.

He made a bargain with her that he could survive for a month and prove his place there.

As expected, Botan was able to impress the current members of the student council with his intelligence, hard work, and dedication. He proved himself to be an invaluable member and quickly rose through the ranks.

While his main goal was to gain access to information and connections, Botan soon found himself becoming more invested in the school and the student council's activities. He saw the potential to make a positive impact and contribute to the betterment of the school and its students.

Botan sat in the student council office, surrounded by the other British students who were also members of the council. They were currently discussing plans for the upcoming school event, a grand ball to celebrate the anniversary of the school's founding. Botan listened attentively, taking mental notes of everything that was being said.

"I am sorry, how many pounds is being spent on this ball?" Botan found himself asking in English in disbelief.

Before coming here, he had basic English. Now, he has become more fluent.

The student council president, a young 10-year-old British nobleboy by the name of Reginald Fitzroy chuckled and replied, "Oh, just a mere 500,000 pounds. It's nothing compared to the annual school budget."

Reginald Fitzroy belongs to a family of nobles with the rank of a count. According to what Botan was briefed, before, he merely used to be a class monitor who had a crush on his foster sister. Back then, he was adopted by her family before the foster sister's family passed away, resulting by default in him and her ending up at the orphanage.

Their days could've remained spending their time there, that was until his biological father discovered him.

Though the rest of the details were hazy, the two children ended up getting sent to Edgewood. In an unexpected plot twist, the foster sister was discovered to have made an attempt to maliciously frame Reginald to get him expelled, and this angered the entire school because everyone knew how devoted he was to her at some point, that the girls their age would swoon and often comment how they wish to marry a husband as good as him.

That is right, they love Reginald so much so, that they bought imported eggs from India, and pelted the foster sister after that scandal surfaced, eventually expelling the sister out of the school for good.

Botan couldn't help but be intrigued by the unexpected turn of events in Reginald's life. Let alone, the way of life of the students of Edgewood. Who in their right mind wastes tons of money to buy imported eggs to throw at the person that they despised!?

Back to the main point, Botan couldn't believe his ears. When he was in Japan, he had never even seen 500 pounds at once, let alone half a million. Botan quickly pulled out his phone and used a currency converter app to check the exchange rate. He was shocked to find that 500,000 pounds were equivalent to over 70 million yen in Japanese currency.

As he thought about what he could do with that amount of money in Japan, Botan couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed. The possibilities seemed endless - he could travel the country, buy a house, or even start his own business.

But then he remembered why he had come to Edgewood Academy in the first place. He wasn't here to waste money or live a life of luxury. Well, not until he earned it.

"We don't have a choice, the anniversary party is a tradition that goes back generations. Spending below the budget would give others the impression that we may be pocketing the money to ourselves, which we don't want to leave it as that unlike the previous moron who use to run the council here." One of the students, Georgette Rowe replied with a sigh.

10-year-old Georgette Rowe is in charge of the maths aspect of the student council, which includes budgeting and financial planning for events. Her life story was interesting too, in a way, she used to have a younger sister years ago who had the total opposite of her personality.

While Georgette is what any kid would dismiss as a nerd, due to the fact that she wore thick-framed glasses and always happened to have a book in her hand, her sister was bubbly, bright, approachable and likeable. According to what Botan had heard from the other kids, Georgette used to be engaged to this noble family of higher ranking, but then her sister proceeded to make an attempt to steal the said fiance.

Again, as Botan was expecting the story to take a different turn where Georgette ends up losing everything to the outgoing sister, the direction took an unexpected twist when it was revealed to him that as soon as the engagement was switched to the other sister, the fairy tale was short-lived as it later turns out, she ended up in a mental hospital somewhere overseas due to some 'questionable financial choices made', and the sister was around 7 when it happened.

Seriously, the more Botan listened to this, the more he felt certain that their stories put his past as a drug smuggler to shame! Suddenly, his life story is nothing compared to theirs.

After the sister was gone, Georgette was engaged to another fiance, and this one treated her well a lot. "And let's not forget to add the auction bidding charity auction. Last year we raised over a million pounds for various charities. But keep in mind over the budget."

"Hey guys, I am sorry to bother you, but have you guys ever once considered doing a tone-down version of the event? At least that doesn't involve millions of pounds involving interior decorating and fancy dresses?! Cause I don't think it is necessary."

Botan couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed by the extravagance of it all, but he kept his thoughts to himself and tried to focus on gathering as much information as he could.

The students looked at each other, and then a little girl named Samantha spoke up. "Not as if it didn't cross our minds."

"Then why spend millions to wear those fancy stuff?"

"The kids here in Edgewood were born in a diamond spoon. They only fork out the money if they see something up to their liking." Reginald pinched his nose bridge. "The kids here only go for something that is not only accustomed to but also something they trust."

"And if you had noticed, trust nowadays is....a very valuable commodity that not even three of our combined family's wealth value can buy. Especially after what happened 2 years ago, it ain't surprising, really." Samantha muses.

10-year-old Samantha is a soon-to-be crown princess, and she holds one of the highest ranks in terms of nobility among the students. Her poised demeanour and eloquent speech reflected her royal upbringing. Given that her second arranged fiance is the crown prince, it ain't surprising that everyone held her in such high regard.

This is why it surprised Botan to learn that before becoming a member of the council, she was the most unpopular girl on the entire campus of Edgewood Academy 2 years ago.

Back then, everyone pointed the finger falsely, and rumours about Samantha were bad, but Botan wasn't clear with the details of what went wrong with the engagement, before the queen later broke the engagement, but ended up pairing Samantha with the King's brother, Nicolas, who is around the same age with Samantha. In Botan's opinion, Nicolas is the coolest prince in this academy, but he won't admit this openly.

"Considering you said trust is an issue, should we do something about that boy named Regan?" Botan suggested. "Cause I overheard him ranting that the student council are throwing all of these parties to flash their status and wealth."

"Regan? Oh, that idiot?" The vice president, Tiffany Ashbridge, rolled her eyes before revealing, "He and the previous members used to do that before we took over. They were only exposed because the child they supported lost her title as Crown Princess."

Botan's eyes widened in surprise at the revelation. "Lost her title? What happened?"

"Well, she bullied Samantha. That is what. Emotional manipulation. For several years, no one knew about it." Tiffany's words made his jaw drop.

"I will deal with Regan, Reginald, you are coming?" Samantha gave an exasperated sigh.

Reluctantly, Reginald and Samantha left the office, leaving Botan with Tiffany, who then asked a particular question, "Why did she go after Samantha? That former crown princess had a beef with her or something?"

"Well, it can't be helped. The previous fiance Samantha was engaged to back then....was engaged to Samantha's elder stepsister. And they had a very close relationship to a point they do truly love each, both the elder stepsister and fiance."

Botan couldn't believe what he just heard. "How did that previous fiance end up getting engaged to Samantha, if he was arranged to be married off to Samantha's step-sister in the first place?" he exclaimed before wondering.

"Simple, similar to my plight that she is considered too physically ill to carry a child for the royal family, her parents and his ended up having set Samantha up with him instead."Tiffany scoffed.

He was stunned by the conversation, trying to wrap his head around the fact, "Don't tell me that they have no idea IVF exists, right?"

"They do, but there were further reasons besides that. Basically, she isn't a qualified queen material is all I could say." Tiffany lamented.

Trying to digest this, Botan wonders, "Is she dumb?"

"As a future queen? Yes," Tiffany shrugs, "But scheming to paint Samantha as if she was a very evil villainess? That is another thing."

Botan felt a mixture of shock and disgust at the situation. He couldn't fathom how someone, especially a child, could treat another human being so poorly, especially over something as superficial as social status. He wondered if this kind of behaviour was common among the aristocracy and royalty, or if it was just an isolated incident.

"I can't believe someone would stoop so low," Botan murmured, his voice tinged with disbelief before a thought occurred to him, "Did that step-sister's fiance not do a thing to stop it?"

"Opposite, he agreed with the step-sister's actions."

The boy's disbelief deepened. The cruelty and callousness of those involved left him speechless. "He is aware that his parents were the ones who made the decision and not Samantha, right? Why is he blaming Samantha back then?"

"He blindly believed her lies, that Samantha nominated herself as a fiancé, so that she can be on her noble path towards becoming queen, since she knew the step sister is sick."

The boy's astonishment grew with every revelation. "How old was Samantha when she was engaged to that scumbag?"

"6. Said scumbag was around 8 or 9 years old by the way."

"Even at that age and with such privileged education, he shouldn't have been that blind to not notice her lies, right!?" Botan was in disarray.

"Nope, including the kids who used to speak ill of Samantha. And you would've thought that with all of that privilege and upbringing they were blessed with, the would noticed. Unfortunately, all of that doesn't always equate to wisdom or discernment, which was for those morons."

"I don't believe it. These kids are handed everything on a silver platter, and they can't even see through a blatant lie?!"

"Yup." Tiffany nodded her expression a mix of resignation and mild annoyance. "Samantha got lucky in breaking their engagement, because that pretentious stepsister of hers got caught in the garden of Her Majesty hanging out with the Crown Prince, who was seen kissing her on the cheek. The queen felt really bad for her, that it was better she broke this engagement."

"Please tell me they got punished, right? Those two scums."Botan's interest was piqued by the story unfolding before him.

"Of course," Tiffany tried to organize her thoughts, "Otherwise, this school would've shut down 2 years ago."

"Wait, shut down!?" Botan was shaking, before asking, "Why would that be enough of a warrant to shut down this school?"

"Well, you see, in addition to this....issue, there was also an attempted conspiracy from one of the Edgewood student in particular to shut it down. This particular Edgewood student is also a princess, and her plan was to make herself a lovable." Tiffany explained, a touch of exasperation in her voice.

"And how old was this....princess?"

"7 or 8 at that time." Tiffany muses.

With his mind spinning faster than a rollercoaster, he had to know, "How does that work?"

"In case you aren't aware, the majority of kids in this academy are either from noble or royal families," Tiffany let out a sigh before answering, "To perfect herself as the 'people's princess', the plan was to shut it down by staging multiple incidents of noble or royal kids bullying kids of lower status secretly. The more incidents like this happen are discovered, it will not only make ourselves look bad, but it will give the wrong impression to others that this school is established to bully underprivileged children."

"So, to put a long story short," he stammered, "She created multiple fake bullying situations just to make herself the heroine who sided with them, just to become more popular?"

"Becoming the saviour of the 'underprivileged' would be a more appropriate choice of wording." Tiffany corrected."

Botan couldn't believe what he was hearing. "But how did she even think she could pull something like that off?"

Tiffany shrugged a mix of exasperation and bemusement on her face. "In case you hadn't notice, the kids here have wild imaginations. Plus, she had some older students helping her with the plan."

"And what happened when the truth came out?" Botan couldn't imagine the fallout.

"Oh, there was a whole scandal," Tiffany replied, "The school took immediate action, expelled the instigators, and implemented stricter policies to prevent any such incidents in the future. It was a mess, to say the least. I mean there were even casualties involved."

"Wait, casualties!?" Botan's jaw dropped.

"Yeah, a boy around our age died."

His eyes widened in shock at Tiffany's revelation. The story had taken a dark and tragic turn that he had not anticipated. "How did that happen?"

Tiffany let out a heavy sigh. "The one who died is our former classmate, what happened was....he got arrange to be engaged to that devil, the princess who orchestrated all of that. When he found out about it years ago, he secretly schemed and saved many noble and royal children. But it wasn't without a price." Botan gulped as he slowly as he tried to piece together the complex web of relationships and events that had led to this situation. "One day, he brazenly exposed her. And she lost her title as princess. In retaliation...." Tiffany bit her lip, very reluctant to share.

"In retaliation....what happened?!" Botan asked, his voice barely above a whisper as he demanded her to continue.

"She....somehow manages to convince his abusive mother to kidnap a friend he held dear to lure him over." Seeing his perplexed face, Tiffany revealed, "His parents divorced years ago, and the custody fell under his mother. For years he was abused, but no one knew about it. Plus he was homeschooled, so when he told everyone about the abuse not long after exposing this corrupted fiance of his....knowing his mother wanted the royal connections more than anything since the engagement was broken....that happened."

The weight of the story hung heavy in the air, and he found himself struggling to comprehend the depth of pain and betrayal that had unfolded. "What about that friend of that poor boy who died, did he or she live?"

"Oh she did, but she had violently become the child she no longer was back then."

"As in traumautized?"

"Well, that too I admit is there, but....it was short-lived, since it made her keep on resorting to using violence to ruin people's lives that are....I would say unimaginable." Her expression darkened as she spoke.

".....like what?"

Tiffany hesitated for a moment, her gaze distant as she recalled the events. "Like orchestrating incidents that led to the expulsion of students. Manipulating friendships and turning them into bitter rivalries. Even to the point that one would wish you were better dead than alive."

"Damn.... it was that bad?" Botan asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Not really," Tiffany thought hard about it, "To be fair, the children and adults she goes after are bad in reputation, but that is about it."

"That's... horrifying," Botan murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "And there's no one who can stop her?"

"I mean, she did make a good career out of it. Though she is a child now."

"Really? What is she working as?"

"A detective."

Botan's eyes widened in surprise before nodding solemnly,  "Given her situation, it ain't surprising since her friend died that way....wait a minute, why does this story sound like someone I know of?" Suddenly, the face of his benefactor flashed in his head. Botan's heart skipped a beat before blurting out, "No way....it ain't Kudo Ranran, right?!"

"Yes, she's the one."

"I can't believe it," Botan muttered, still trying to process the revelation. "I mean when we first met, when she and that apprentice of hers confronted me for smuggling drugs at the car park in some shopping mall, she didn't appear to be the type to be violent based on my first impression of her."

"It ain't surprising," Tiffany raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "She is trained to refrain from doing anything funny unless she was provoked into it."

Botan nodded, taking in the information. He realized that life at Edgewood Academy was more complicated than he had originally thought, and he needed to be careful about the people he associated with.

There was a pause as the two of them sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Botan spoke up. "What about that psychopath former princess who killed that poor boy, did she end up in prison?"

"About that....."Tiffany hesitated, her gaze fixed on some distant point as she chose her words carefully. "She was deemed mentally unfit to stand trial. Instead, she was committed to a psychiatric facility for treatment and evaluation."

"No way!" Botan's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "They didn't hold her accountable for what she did? She literally committed conspiracy to commit murder! By manipulating someone's mother to kidnap a child, but it ended with murder!"

"Her mental state was a significant factor in the decision. The court determined that she was not in control of her actions at the time. It's a tragic outcome for everyone involved."

"Still, it's hard to believe," Botan murmured, his voice filled with disbelief. "She caused so much pain and suffering, and all she gets off with is nothing but a stint in a psychiatric facility? That is more of a reward!"

"Oh yes, everyone in Edgewood Academy was furious with the verdict." Tiffany mouthed, "If that wasn't bad enough, not long after she was exposed for playing a role in the murder, she set our school on fire, with plans to have all of us die."

The revelations seemed to grow more twisted and unbelievable with each passing moment.

"She... she tried to burn the school down?" Botan's voice was barely a whisper, his mind struggling to process the magnitude of what Tiffany was sharing.

"Ranran had to scheme to get her to confess. It happened during a stage play, and when that brute pridefully and gleefully bragged about it in a sadistic manner, everyone from the Kings and Queens to the noble families all overheard that brute's confession of murdering that poor boy. When the newly exposed princess realized that was enough to get her kicked out of Edgewood, let alone, knows she is very likely to end up in prison, that is when the fire incident began."

"And even with that confession heard by so many people, all she is getting is ending up in a psychiatric facility?! The judge had to be bribed, right!?" Botan asked, his voice filled with a mixture of relief and lingering disbelief.

"Sadly, it's hard to tell," Tiffany's expression grew grim. "There were suspicions of bribery and influence, but nothing could be conclusively proven."

"Wow....." Botan is at a loss for words. "I am going to bet that this piss of many nobles and royals."

"Children too," Tiffany adds, "They bought more imported eggs and waited for her to be pelted outside the courtroom at the back door while trying to avoid the press. So did I. And if you are wondering whether that dickhead princess had supporters, yes, even after the things she did, she has them."

"The audacity..." Botan muttered, before realizing, "Wait a minute, that meant Ranran is aware, right?"

"Yes, and I guess this must have taken a toll on her. Cause I felt like...after that verdict came up, there were more violent incidents since....."

"Honestly, I can't blame her," Botan's mind was a whirlwind of emotions. "If someone I cared for was murdered so brutally, but the killer only ended up getting punish just by a mere slap of a wrist, I would go all Hulk mode like she did."

Suddenly, the Edgewood Academy's alarm system blared, jolting Botan out of his thoughts.

Tiffany then was in a state of panic, scrambling to lock the doors and windows. Botan couldn't understand why she was behaving so strangely until she pulled the curtains aside. That is when Botan noticed a young boy running for his life, with a group of menacing men dressed in black hot on his heels. It was a shocking sight, and Botan's heart raced as he realized the severity of the situation.

And Botan wasn't the only one, as the other students and teachers watched this boy running down the hallways from their classrooms, dodging and weaving to avoid the men who were pursuing him. He knew that something terrible was happening, but he didn't know what.

Botan truly didn't know what to think: On one hand, he assumed teachers had been trained to protect their students, but he had never encountered anything like this before where the teachers didn't care.

With his heart racing as he watched the chaos unfolding before him, he turned to Tiffany and said, "What's going on? Why is that boy being chased like that? And why is everyone locking the doors and windows as if they are preventing him from escaping from those men?"

"Oh, don't worry about it. This kind of thing happens sometimes. It's just how things are in Edgewood."

Botan was shocked. "What do you mean this happens sometimes? Why is no one doing anything to help him?"

"Ah right, you barely knew the boy who was fleeing," Tiffany realized this before explaining to him, "10-year-old Landon Lockwood is the name of the boy, he is the Crown Prince of Belgium. And uh...I would say his reputation ain't good in this school."

".....what did he do to end up with such reputation?"

"Well, all I can say is if there were the best liar competition held in Edgewood Academy, it would be no other than him." Tiffany decided.

"So, he's notorious for lying? Just like...that psychopath princess you mentioned?"

"Former," Tiffany corrected him, "Yes, he lies a lot. But a lot of crown prince I know of do to survive, he was no different." Wondering why she brings this up, Tiffany elaborates further, "To put it bluntly, that part of his personality is the reason why he is fleeing from those men in black at the moment."

Botan's confusion deepened. "So, he's being chased because he lies a lot?"

"Not entirely the case, but he must have done something so serious, that the men in black are after him." Tiffany ponders deeply, "You see, children of royalty have....what we call another level of influence. There will be situations where since their parents are often out at work performing royal duties, their kids will have their own way of influencing others to get what they want, and if they can't tell what is good and bad, it can easily corrupt a child. And discipline through teachers or principals can be a handful, because as you can guess....they have the influence to get away with things while the parents aren't around. "

Pausing, she continued on, "Disciplining through the parents is an option, but if the royal heir is unusually intelligent enough to flee from any discipline from teachers or parents alike, this is when the men in black come in to drag them back to their home to teach them a lesson. As long as they have strong evidence to prove their faults, that is their protocol. Under school grounds, should a royal found guilty have enemies, and attempt to flee for their life, one must stay out of the way and let the royal guards handle it. If anyone intervenes, don't expect the student's parents to have their thriving career to prosper for many generations."

Botan had always known that being heir to the throne was a great responsibility, but he never expected that boy's life to be this terrifying.

"So, if I understand correctly," Botan began, "Landon Lockwood, the Crown Prince of Belgium....screwed up big time enough to anger his parents, huh?"

"Parent actually, his mother died years ago." Once more, Tiffany corrected him.

At first, Botan was taken aback by this information. He had never heard of such a thing happening before. But as he thought about it, he realized that it made sense. He remembered all the stories he had heard about how power can easily corrupt anyone.

Which made him wonder, "Do noble families have to deal with this?"

"No," Tiffany clarified, "Unlike us, royalty operates on a different scale, with higher stakes and more potential for consequences if things go awry. While all we have to lose is go broke, they on the other hand had to deal with situations that could potentially impact an entire nation, let alone, involve deaths. It's a different level of responsibility."

In deep thought, Botan wondered, "What in the world did he do to get himself into such trouble?" Botan asked.

"Not sure, but I heard his dad did something wrong, and he played a part in it."

"Did he do it knowingly or unknowingly?"

"If it wasn't in the know, it wouldn't be where it is now," Tiffany shook her head. "And our job is to focus on our own responsibilities and not get involved in matters that don't concern us."

After the men and the prince had disappeared, it was at that moment that he decided not to dream of becoming a royal family member in the next life.

Meanwhile, the prince's heart was pounding in his chest as he ran, trying to find a way out of the school. He had always heard stories about the secret passages that ran beneath the school, but he had never found them himself. He tried every door and every window, but they were all locked.

Unfortunately, he didn't realize that the school had sealed them to prevent students from skipping class, drinking, or engaging in other adult activities.

As Landon's panic grew, he was quickly running out of options. The realization that he was trapped within the confines of Edgewood Academy set in, and he felt a sinking feeling in his chest. He couldn't believe he had gotten himself into such a dire situation.

Desperation gave him a surge of energy, and he continued to search for any possible escape route. Every turn seemed to lead to a dead end or another locked door. His breath was ragged, and his heart pounded in his ears.

Just as he was about to lose hope, he heard a faint creaking sound coming from behind a large bookshelf in the corner of the hallway. His eyes widened with hope, and he rushed towards it. With all his might, he pushed at the bookshelf, revealing a hidden passage behind it.

Without a second thought, Landon darted into the narrow corridor, leaving the chaos of the school behind him. He didn't know where this passage would lead, but it was his only chance at escape.

....................................................................

"Landon, do you really desperately need to fly to Japan?"

The mysterious voice on the phone call pressed through Landon's smartphone, as he was fleeing with his backpack he took out from his dorm earlier as he struggled to call a cab in the city of London.

"Yes, I have to get out of here. It's not safe for me anymore," Landon's voice was strained, filled with urgency.

"But Japan? Why not somewhere closer?" Alex's voice was tinged with concern.

"They won't look for me there. It's the last place they'd expect me to go," Landon replied, his breath coming in short, panicked gasps. He could hear the distant echo of footsteps, and he knew he had to hurry. "Also, that person who can help me lives there."

"Who?"

"The Fox."

The friend's voice could be heard gasping. "No way. That person!? But she vanished 2 years ago! Also, no one truly knows who that person is!"

"But I do, which is why I am catching the first  flight there." Landon didn't have time to explain further. The urgency of his situation was overwhelming, and he needed to focus on escaping his pursuers and getting to Japan as quickly as possible. "I'll explain everything later over how I knew who she is," Landon said, his voice determined. "Right now, I need your help to arrange a flight. I'll transfer the money to you as soon as I can."

Landon hurriedly hailed a taxi, anxiously glancing around to make sure he wasn't being followed. He could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him, and he knew he had to act fast.

As the taxi sped through the streets of London, he clutched his phone tightly, hoping for a safe escape. The voice on the other end crackled with concern. "Landon, do you even have the money to do an exchange rate?"

Landon didn't need to be reminded. The truth was, that he had only managed to grab a small amount of cash from his room before making his dash for freedom. His savings weren't nearly enough to sustain him for long.

"I'll figure something out."