I'm Trapped Inside a Prince as the Most Powerful Entity-Chapter 107: The Road to the Academy

Alina took a deep steadying breath. She tried to calm her racing heart.

Eric sensing her readiness her attempt to be brave nodded his head.

"Let’s go then," he said. His own voice betrayed a hint of the nervousness that churned deep within his stomach. This was a big day for both of them.

As they stepped out of their dormitory room they were greeted by the Royal Guards. These were the soldiers their father King Noor had left behind to look after them.

The guards immediately knelt on one knee when they saw Eric and Alina.

"Third Prince Eric Miss Alina," one of the guards the captain of this small group said respectfully "are you ready to leave? Shall we depart for the Academy now?"

Both Eric and Alina nodded their heads. They were as ready as they would ever be.

They were then escorted to a waiting carriage a fine vehicle provided by the Empire.

As they settled inside onto the comfortable seats the remaining Royal Guards took up positions in front of the carriage and behind it.

They were a small but well-armed escort.

The small procession began to move. It carried Prince Eric and Alina towards the famous United Academy the place where their futures would be tested.

The moment Eric’s carriage exited the main Imperial Palace gates a contingent of Empire soldiers joined their escort. These soldiers were dressed in the distinctive blue uniforms of the Empire.

They seamlessly integrated into their formation becoming part of their protective group.

This was an extra layer of security a precaution.

Before King Noor had departed for his kingdom using Alina’s teleportation ability he had spoken with Emperor Sir David.

He had informed the Emperor that he was leaving his son Eric in the Empire.

He was entrusting Eric’s safety and well-being to the Emperor’s care.

The Emperor had accepted this responsibility with a smile and had promised to look after the boy. These Empire soldiers were part of that promise. freēwēbnovel.com

As Eric’s carriage moved through the main thoroughfares the wide busy streets of the Imperial Capital they were met with an unexpected and surprising sight. The roads on both sides were packed with people.

A vast cheering crowd had gathered. The atmosphere in the city was electric. It was like some grand celebration or a major festival was underway.

Alina looking out the carriage window was astonished by the sheer number of people.

She had never seen so many people in one place before.

She turned to Eric her eyes wide with a mixture of awe and nervousness. "Are all these people here just to watch the Academy’s entrance exam?" she whispered to him.

She couldn’t believe it.

Hearing Alina’s question Eric realized that this was indeed the most likely explanation for the huge crowd. Still the sheer enthusiasm the massive turnout of people just to witness an entrance examination for a school was astounding.

He had never imagined that an academic event could draw such a fervent and excited crowd. It was very different from his own quiet kingdom.

The people in the streets were chanting.

Their voices were rising in a rhythmic wave a repeated slogan that echoed through the city. "Second Princess! Second Princess Monica! Second Princess Monica!" They were shouting her name over and over again.

Eric was taken aback when he heard their slogan when he heard the name they were chanting.

The name... Monica. Could this be the same Monica?

Alina still looking out the window her attention completely captivated by the spectacle of the cheering crowd mused aloud.

"Who is this Monica that everyone is so excited about? She must be very important or very popular." She hadn’t made the connection.

She didn’t realize that the Monica the crowd was cheering for was the same girl who had insulted Eric in the garden.

Eric remained silent. He didn’t say anything to Alina. A new layer of understanding and a touch of apprehension a feeling of worry settled over him.

She was not just any princess. She was Second Princess Monica the Emperor’s daughter apparently and she was very popular.

As their carriage progressed further along the wide streets other carriages presumably from different kingdoms began to emerge from various side streets.

These carriages were also heading towards the Academy. They joined the main procession. From every street they passed the same chant could be heard.

The name "Monica" was echoing through the entire city. Eric and likely the other princes and princesses in the other carriages were all quite surprised by the fervent popularity of this

"Second Princess Monica." She was clearly a very big deal in the Empire.

Finally after what felt like a long journey through the cheering city Eric’s carriage arrived outside the United Academy. Eric and Alina alighted from their carriage.

Their Royal Guard escort from Estoria stood at attention beside them ready to protect them.

Before them stretched a vast expanse of dense forest. It was a formidable natural barrier a thick wall of trees that seemed to go on forever.

Directly in front of this forest stood a wall. It was incredibly high and imposing.

It looked even more so even stronger than the Empire’s main border fortifications that they had seen when they first arrived. Atop these massive walls at regular intervals were huge rotating red crystals.

These crystals were pulsing with a faint internal light. Their purpose was unclear but they looked very significant very important. They were probably some kind of magical defense.

At one end of this formidable wall was an enormous gate. It was the main entrance to the Academy. Before this gate a long line of carriages and individuals on foot had already formed.

One by one young nobles and royals children of important families were disembarking from their carriages.

They were approaching a powerfully built man who stood near the gate. He had an authoritative air about him. He seemed to be directing the flow of people and speaking briefly with each applicant as they arrived.

He was probably an Academy official.

The captain of their own Royal Guard the loyal soldier who had accompanied Eric and his father all the way from their kingdom of Estoria approached Eric. He knelt respectfully on one knee.

"Third Prince Eric," the captain said his voice serious "we have been instructed by the Academy officials that there are separate quarters designated for all attending soldiers who are here as escorts."

"You can come there to give us any request or if you need anything. Or you can summon us from within the Academy using this device. We are not permitted to enter the Academy grounds for extended periods unless there is an emergency."

"Our quarters are located further ahead from here in a large area where soldiers from other kingdoms will also be stationed. Our assigned quarter number is 41. Please remember it."

As he finished speaking the captain handed Eric a small metallic device. It looked like some kind of communicator a way to send messages.

Eric took it and nodded his understanding. The captain then bowed once more a final gesture of respect.

Then he and his soldiers took the carriages and departed.

They went to find their assigned quarters leaving Eric and Alina standing alone on foot at the edge of the long queue.

Before them in the queue were the children of kings and high nobles from other more powerful kingdoms.

They looked confident and well-dressed. Behind them straggling somewhat a little distance away were the children of nobles from Eric’s own kingdom of Estoria.

Eric noticed they kept their distance from him.

Their expressions were unreadable hard to understand. He was vaguely aware that they didn’t hold him in high regard. They didn’t respect him much. Especially now given the turmoil the rebellion that was happening back home in Estoria.

This was a fact that Eric shielded by his father from the full extent of the crisis did not yet fully comprehend. He didn’t know how bad things really were in his kingdom.

The weight of his kingdom’s troubles and his own uncertain future at this powerful Academy pressed down on him heavily. He felt very alone.