Euphemia watched Jorah, unamused, though surprisingly she didn't seem to have much to say about it, choosing instead to focus on his words. She did, however, hear Michail's delighted chuckle, but fortunately he wisely chose not to comment, either.
"Your wish will be granted, if only by coincidence. Aside from the more obvious title ensuring that your fellow students should follow your orders in combat, House Leaders also have a few more responsibilities in addition to their schoolwork. Fortunately, it can be narrowed down to three additional tasks, and one does include more time with yours truly. The first is a weekly report with your house professor, which in your case would be me--most nobles usually have some idea on reports and the like from watching their parents, but aren't aware of the paperwork behind it. Every Monday you will tell me the skills your classmates wish to work on, and in turn I will be helping them during their respective classes. This will also help me judge how you watch over your troops, so to speak; if there are any faults, I will correct them, so you shouldn't be afraid to make any mistakes.
The second is a monthly conference with the other house leaders. Facilitating relationships between the Empire, Kingdom, and Alliance is a cornerstone in diplomacy, so it'll be good practice for the future. This will also be the time where your problem solving skills will come in handy, as any inter-house grievances or issues are to be solved there. Professor Lysander will oversee these conferences and guide you in building relations, and every month he will present you with a hypothetical question. Of course, no man is an island, so you'll be permitted to bring in one classmate to assist you. It doesn't have to be the same student every month if you so choose.
The third is deciding which students will be assigned to group tasks. The Officers Academy is indebted to Garreg Mach for their donations, and so we return the favor with community service. The students help by tending to the horses in the stables, picking weeds from the fields, and assisting guards with watching the skies on pegasi and wyverns. Keep in mind that students cannot opt out once they're chosen and will lose their free time on Saturdays to complete these tasks."
"I remember always getting stuck with stable duty after stealing Olivander Charon's girlfriend. Joke's on him, though, that's how I met Betsy," Michail sighed happily. "Thanks to the generosity of a few nobles, the horses, pegasi, and wyverns we take care of are top-notch. Betsy was such a shy filly...now she's one of the finest mares you'll ever meet. They're all real sweet, Chionne takes very good care of them."
Euphemia almost rolled her eyes, but turned her attention back to Jorah instead, flashing him a smile. "As the heir to the Riegan house, I have high expectations of you, Jorah--and that includes proper conduct," She said, giving him a look as she crossed her arms. "So you'll be happy to hear that I'll be keeping a very close eye on you. We'll be getting to know each other very well over the next year."
Oh wow, he already knew the group members' names, Derec wasn't expecting that. He should probably take a page out of his book. At least the guy seemed amicable enough right now, although he had to bite back a chuckle at his first comment--great minds think alike! Okay, so far so good, he wasn't immediately rejected, so he could relax a little. At least Auberon was a little self aware his actions weren't immediately welcomed with open arms; he couldn't imagine spending too much time with anyone who was more concerned with their own ego. Well, the guy did seem to have an ego, but nothing Derec couldn't manage.
"Unfortunately, I don't really know anyone here," Derec admitted that much, choosing not to comment on the national pride even if he felt it was in poor taste. "She could have already left, but if you'd like to track her down, I'm sure she hasn't gotten far."
As far as he could see, most of the students either lingered or went to the courtyard, so it shouldn't be too hard to look for someone. Not that he had any idea what she looked like. He could always ask around, it wouldn't hurt to learn a few more names. They'd eventually have to learn who the other Deer and Eagles were as well, so he could technically kill two birds with one stone.
Isolde visibly flinched at the sudden hand, taking a moment to realize that there was a witness to her bumbling. Oh, wonderful. Still, it would be rude to decline help, and once she was on her feet, she dusted the grass and dirt off her skirt. As he spoke, she listened, though she found him strange. Now that she was looking at him, she realized he was one of the boisterous boys. How odd, she didn't think he was the charitable type. His face didn't look familiar at all, either, despite his claim of Gloucester. At least the other boy's face did ring a bell.
"We were dismissed, I do not believe anyone would take offense to any withdrawal," She admitted quietly, plucking a blade of grass caught in her wavy hair. What a first impression, she could have easily been swallowed up by the ground or struck by lightning from the heavens above and it would have been a mercy. But there was no escaping interaction now, was there?
The thought was cemented as another girl came up to them, apologizing for the other boisterous boy. It looked like the three knew each other well. After patting around and making sure her hairclips were still in place, she bowed to both the strange classmate and the red haired girl. "I am Isolde Ordelia. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," Her voice dropped in volume as she wondered if she should even bother with her last name. Well, no use hiding it, right?
Veronica paid more attention to her manicure than all the commotion in the Black Eagles classroom. There were few things in this world that ever really demanded her attention, and even those were always second to her well being. Right now, she was sure that manicurist had done a poor job filing her nails perfectly; she could see the lopsided curve from a mile away. It would need to be fixed sooner than later, and a letter would ensure that her employment would end long before Veronica returned to the Gerth Estate. She'd pen it tonight, no use in using the sorry excuse for parchment the academy could barely afford.
That said, her blue eyes flickered up at the sound of a nearby conversation, her interest piqued. Of course the prince was arrogant enough to assume people already knew who he was, but then again, such was the burden of royalty. Apparently he was seated near the ever infamous Aegir siblings as well, and she couldn't help but laugh at the coincidence. What a trio they made: one bastard, one half-baked heir, and one pompous prince. Nevertheless, the fates smiled upon her as she would be joining the group. They could do the heavy lifting while she watched from afar.
Uncrossing her legs, Veronica finally stood from her seat, boldly approaching the three. Placing one hand on her hip, it was obvious she held herself to a high esteem, easily looking down on them. "Greetings. As we are all in the same unit, I feel the need to introduce myself," She pushed her jet black hair over her shoulder as she spoke, her formal words betraying her disinterest. "I am Veronica Berenike von Gerth, future princess consort of Adrestia."