The Reincarnator's Inauspicious Route to Finding Love-Chapter 57: Questions Asked (1)

Chapter 57: Questions Asked (1)
Adrien stifled a laugh as he watched as everyone parted like the red sea to open up a path for Mikyle as he walked toward Prince Nathaniel. When Mikyle reached his brother, the two of them made their way over to the wall.
Even though the two were both princes, their behaviors were different which could be seen in the way they stood. Nathaniel stood with his back straight and his chin pointed out looking as regal as his title painted him to be. Mikyle on the other hand had a more laid-back pose as he leaned against the locker though his muscles were anything but laxed as he looked as though he could strike out at any moment.
Mikyle would definitely be popular back in my old world. He gives off this bad boy with a cuddly inside vibe. Not to mention that his looks could put any model or actor to shame.
After a few seconds of watching the two brothers, he turned away and started walking to the classroom. His hand, which was still warm from where Mikyle had been holding it, started to ache with a sullen emptiness. That small ache soon spread to his heart, making him realize how lonely he felt in that moment.
His foot paused in mid-air.
That’s strange. Why do I feel lonely without Mikyle beside me? Did I grow too used to his presence over the weekend?
Adrien was feeling a bit bitter at himself. Here he was, longing for Mikyle when the man was literally twenty feet away from him, and he still wasn’t even sure if he really was Mikyle’s bond mate. It wasn’t that he doubted Mikyle, it was just simply because the soul inside Adrien Mallorne’s body was someone else’s. So, did that mean that the body was Mikyle’s mate, or was it the soul residing inside Adrien’s body?
He tried to ignore these troublesome doubts that had manifested upon hearing Mikyle’s explanation, but some of them were too persistent to be ignored. They nibbled away at him, trying to make themselves heard. It was a similar feeling to the one he had when he was younger, the one that had developed not long after his family had broken apart.
He clenched his fist at his side as he mentally pushed away everything eating away at him. He planned to sort through them and figure everything out once he had more information. But for now, he needed to put his focus into his school work and figuring out the mess with his family.
He entered the classroom and took his usual seat at the front. Half of his classmates were already there. Each of them were dressed to the nines as they showed off the latest trends. Adrien was surprised to find out that the men took fashion as seriously if not more so than the women in this world.
Brayden walked in shortly after him. His brother’s eyes were cold and steely as they swept across the room. As soon as his eyes landed on Adrien, he stormed over to him with a fierce step.
"You!" Brayden slammed his hands against the desk, startling Adrien even though he had seen it coming. "What have you done to father?! He hated you but now he’s willing to support you?! Just what kind of sugary treats did that prince of yours offer to get father to change his mind?!"
Adrien stared at Brayden, dumbstruck over the questions he was slinging out while spittle flew from his mouth.
Eyes zeroed in on them. Their peers watched with bated breath as Brayden leaned in closer to Adrien, the veins along his neck and forehead pulsing with each breath.
"What!? You’re not going to answer me?!"
Adrien’s eyes wandered about the classroom. There wasn’t a soul in the room who wasn’t giving them their full attention.
Is this guy really an idiot? Doesn’t he realize this isn’t the time or place for this? Not that I’m sure what
this
really is.
"Brother." Adrien’s tongue felt heavy as it shaped the unfamiliar word. Adrien wasn’t sure, but he felt like this was the first time he had ever called Brayden by that title since he had been in this world. He also had the feeling that the Original Adrien hadn’t called Brayden that for a while.
"Ha!" Brayden scoffed in mirth, his anger growing. "I thought I told you that a weakling like you can not call me by that title! There is no way I want to be on friendly terms with an idiot like you!"
How am I the idiot? Now I see why Cedric follows him around all the time, it’s a full-time job just to keep this guy out of trouble.
"Brayden," Adrien tried again.
"Shut up! I just want to know what you and that dastardly prince did to father!"
Adrien, who had been too busy staring at Brayden, hadn’t seen Mikyle come into the room. So he was surprised when a hand landed on Brayden’s shoulder.
"This dastardly prince hasn’t done anything yet." Mikyle’s voice was icy and cold and it somehow carried across the room even though it wasn’t that loud, though it probably helped that the room had grown deathly silent upon Mikyle’s entrance.
Brayden slowly removed his hands from Adrien’s desk and started to turn around to look at Mikyle. Adrien could see the hair raised along Brayden’s exposed wrists. "I-"
"This isn’t the time or place for your little outburst," Mikyle interrupted him, his tone of voice growing colder. "Let us stop this matter and take our seats so that Mr. Barren may start the lecture."
Adrien found himself shivering at the cold look in Mikyle’s eyes. It was the first time he had seen that kind of look on Mikyle’s face.
Brayden visibly gulped, feeling for the first time the kind of intense pressure that Mikyle was capable of exuding. He bowed his head ever so slightly, hiding his eyes, before darting up to the back to where he normally sat. Their classmates peeled their eyes away and began whispering amongst themselves.
"I feel like I should give him a good beating later," Mikyle mumbled with a sly smirk as he slid into the seat beside Adrien.
Adrien found himself relaxing with Mikyle’s presence, finding comfort in this familiar attitude that he had grown accustomed to. He certainly never wanted to see a pissed-off Mikyle again.
I have a feeling that Brayden won’t be surviving their Martial Arts class later in the evening.
Since Mikyle and Brayden were both in the Physical Department, they shared a lot of classes together and one such class was their one and only Martial Arts class that was held on Monday evenings. It was the only non-weapon class that the swordsmanship students had to take.
Mr. Barren, an overly-plumped man who had been standing by his desk like a shadow as everyone forgot about him during the little scuffle, cleared his throat. "Let us begin today’s topic of discussion. Last week, we went over the definition of Economics and where it could be found and how it is utilized by the kingdom, specifically the royal family. Today, we will be discussing it on a smaller scale as we describe its use and the effects it could have on local businesses, and how it determines the flow rate of both money and goods a business may see. I know that not all of you will ever have to worry about this, but I know that for most of you, it will become your best friend and your worst enemy."
It wasn’t uncommon for most nobles to support or to even own their own businesses. Creating businesses in their territory allowed for development and an increase of jobs, which increased the number of people who could pay taxes. It also helped to create relationships between and across territories. Basically, most noblemen were businessmen and merchants.
Mikyle leaned in close, his eyes lingering on the teacher as he drew a diagram up on the board. "How are you doing?" His hand had found Adrien’s and he covered it in his warmth.
"Fine. Though a little confused as to what Brayden was talking about." Maybe he should try to find Cedric to ask him what was going on and why Brayden was acting like he was. And as soon as he had the idea, he scrapped it. Not once had he actively searched out his brothers since arriving on campus and he didn’t really feel like doing it now. Besides, he had the feeling that Brayden would search him out again, hopefully this time it wouldn’t be in front of a crowd.
"I can try to find out what he was yapping about if you don’t wish to speak with him."
Adrien found himself smiling as an image of a blue Rottweiler barking like a chihuahua appeared in his mind upon hearing Mikyle’s words. "It’s fine. I’ll be better prepared this time. I just can’t believe he’s stupid enough to cause a scene in front of everyone."
Twice. I’m pretty sure he caused a scene last week as well.
Mikyle’s chin bobbed as he nodded along to Adrien’s words. "He did give up most of his brain cells to Cedric upon birth, at least, that’s the popular theory going around campus."
. . . .