Chapter 11: Back to School

There was a week left before the school year started so Olaf took his entire entourage when he went to enroll Vanessa and Alice. Aster and Ruth had already attended the year before and just needed to get their dorm room assignments and class schedules. They flew to the apartment near the school where the rest of the troopers stayed behind as Alec escorted Olaf and his four girls to the school building. Both Alec and Alice were dressed in civilian clothes with Alec staying outside the school to not draw attention to them.

“Ah, Mister Ostra,” the counselor greeted them when he and his four girls walked in. “Miss Aster, Miss Ruth Preston, ready for the new year?” he asked with a big smile as he gave the two new faces a look.

“Sir, this is Miss Vanessa Rasmus and Miss Alice Thorn,” Olaf introduced the two girls. “I was wondering if it would be possible if I could sponsor them to attend the school as well?”

“If they were male students, we might have had problems,” the counselor said. “We are already full as far as male students go but still vastly under our limit as far as female students go. Let us see if we can access your school records.”

“Miss Thorn will be a problem,” Olaf said. “She is a new transfer from out-system.”

“Where did you go to school before, Miss Thorn?” the counselor asked.

“A private study group in an asteroid factory in the Secundus system, sir,” she said. “I have no idea if they even kept our records.”

“Not a problem,” he said. “We will just have to give you a few tests to determine your current level of education. What are your further educational objectives?”

“Definitely college, sir,” Alice said excitedly.

“Mm, Miss Rasmus, your school records seem up to date.” He said. Then he did a double take but other than his eyes growing wide and snapping his mouth closed, he didn’t say anything. He shot Olaf a quick look and scanned the records again. “University as well, Miss Rasmus?”

“Definitely,” Vanessa said with a smile. “This year is going to be so much fun,” she gushed as she clung to Olaf’s arm.

“While my assistant shows the ladies their rooms, may I have a word, Mister Ostra?” the counselor asked in a low voice as the assistant led the girls out. Alice instantly turned around and came back, confusing the assistant. Olaf waved at Alice to go on and at first it looked as if she was going to refuse but then she reluctantly followed the others.

“There’s definitely more to you than meets the eye, Mister Ostra,” the counselor said. “Last year already, I had a suspicion when I noticed who was sponsoring you. Reports I received from staff and other students about events in the park when they announced the duke’s death kind of matched with my suspicions. To have you sponsor the daughter of a baron to attend a public school definitely gave away more than I would have expected.”

“You could have refused to enroll them,” Olaf said softly.

“And antagonize the future Duke of Ceres?” the counselor muttered softly. “You obviously intend to stay incognito until you are older, or are forced to reveal yourself, My Lord. My next guess is that the young lady from Secundus is a security guard. She seems to fit in, but her date of birth suggests that she has already finished high school. I enrolled her because she obviously needs to stay close to you.”

“She is wasting her future doing what she is doing now,” Olaf said with a shrug. “I kind of talked her into redoing high school and then join us in attending university. She seems interested in studying law.”

“And body protectors are easily replaceable,” the counselor muttered. “You managed to act honorably and stick to the school rules last year so I will trust you and your entourage to continue keeping a low profile. We don’t have any issues enrolling nobility but never one so high. As long as you do not demand special treatment and have your security detail disrupt the school, we will continue as before.”

“I appreciate it, sir,” Olaf said. “I have to add, I only found out about my real identity after that weird event in the park.”

When Olaf walked out of the office, he found Alice waiting for him. She gave him a glaring look but didn’t say anything as he guided her to the girls’ dormitory so they could catch up with the others.

All four girls were bouncing around and giggling when they met up with Alec outside the school building after everybody got their rooms and class schedules. Alice was the least bouncy but still very excited. She snagged hold of Olaf’s printed schedule and compared hers with his. Then she gave a satisfied nod as she handed his back to him.

“Lord Olaf, would you have any objections if I try and get a few of the men to be appointed as gardeners or custodians at the school while you are attending classes?” Alec asked when they arrived back at the condominium. Neither Gwen nor Molly was there since Gwen was still at his office in the city.

“The counselor knows who I am,” Olaf said. “If you tell them why you want to do it, they might cooperate more easily.”