A fluffy pink chapter

The term had been rough on Everlyne. It was not hard to tell that she had lost most of her usual vigor. She secluded herself and focused on studying alone, she barely made any time to clean herself up or talk to me.

Her already messy appearance had deteriorated further, a reflection of her neglect. She was always kind of a lazy person when it came to stuff like her appearance, but now, she was even worse. Everlyne’s dark black hair, usually a tangled mess, spilled from beneath her pointed hat, her cloak and uniform were rumpled, a testament to my lack of intervention.

I let out a defeated sigh.

And to make matters worse her sister’s bullying only worsened with the discovery that Everlyne was the sole student to fail the practical magic assessment.

“Ho-ho-ho! You’re a disgrace to your kingdom and to witches as a whole! A no-good nobody like you should just drop out! Filth like you has no place here!!”

“Maybe you’re right…” A dejected Everlyne replied.

I inadvertently raised my hand to smack Charlotte Winterfrost. But I had to stop myself, a noble such as myself cannot act so brazenly as to hit another noble, and one of significant standing such as Charlotte Winterfrost based on emotions alone.

I am Fleta Walmsleye the duchess of Trylyl I cannot allow myself to act so uncouth as to strike another noble. I have repeated that phrase over and over as if to remind myself I cannot defend my friend even if I wanted to.

My emotions had to be put on the back burner. After all, Everlyne herself told me not to interfere.

The relationship between the two of them is a rather complex one, filled with unspoken feelings, hidden agendas, and past hurts.

After Everlyne had confided in me that she was indeed the first princess of princess of the kingdom of Ukeviel, I had intended to avoid pressing the issue, but my curiosity got the better of me and I had my people look into her past.

What I found made me nauseous to my very core.

The king of Ukeviel had taken Everlyne’s mother as a concubine, the woman was a nameless peasant, a city rat according to the records, she did not even receive a proper burial after her passing. Aside from providing the king a single daughter not much else is known about her. Why the king took her as a concubine? Where she came from? All information patterning her is beyond anyone’s grasp. Two years after her passing the king—Everlyne’s father remarried Lady Maribel Winterfrost, the witch of ice and fire, a powerful witch of noble background, and produced an heir, Charlotte Winterfrost.

The case of which of the two princesses will inherit the kingdom after the king’s passing is talk of the kingdom, but the odds are completely stacked against Everlyne. Majority of the people will not even acknowledge her as royalty, or spread her name around. To an extent outsiders such as myself were not even aware that Everlyne existed!

A noble with no fame, or title.

Her people have ignored her legitimacy to the thrown and the half-sister that threatens to steal her birth right does nothing but bully her at the academy!

“You’re a joke, a pig in sheep’s clothing masquerading as a witch! Your magic is inadequate your very being is inadequate—”

—How could I let this happen. I believed myself to be a reasonable and calm person. Undeterred by logic my body moved to strike Miss Winterfrost square in the face.

Her position and status far exceeded my own but, my nobility be damned I could not let her speak ill of my friend any longer.

I would worry about the consequences later.

However, before my palm could strike the face of Everlyne’s demon of a younger sister, Everlyne herself took hold of my hand and stopped me.

Her eyes silver eyes lit up like stars, a beaming smile radiating across her face.

HUH IS SHE BACK TO BEING EXCITED!? But she was depressed just a moment ago…

In one clean motion she pulled me in to a hug.

Her mood swings are so bizarre.

“Thank you Fluffy pink hair I appreciate it! You too charlotte, thanks to you I figured out what I have to do!”

There she goes again calling me by that bizarre nickname, for one they are tons of students in our school with pink hair I am not that rare a case! However, I have grown somewhat fond of her silly nickname.

Honestly, it is as if I am the only person her gaze is focused on, well, me and her sister I suppose.

She managed to circle behind Miss Winterfrost and pull her to a hug as well.

What on earth could she be thanking her for? All she did was hurl insult after insult at her.

“You said all those mean things because you were worried about me, weren’t you Charlotte?”

“Don’t be ridiculous who would be worried about a half breed pig like you!”

“You want me to drop out because you’re scared, I’ll get hurt. You’re scared your big sister will get hurt. But…There’s no way I can drop out, not when you and Fluffy pink air are doing your best!”

“Wahaa—!” Charlotte screamed. She quickly moved away from miss Everlyne and stormed off. “Ngh—!”

Today was end of term break, so she like many others would be returning home to their respective nations until the start of the next term. I myself would also be leaving today.

Those who wished could stay on campus instead of going home, Everlyne would be staying for the holiday, she told me.

“She’s so cute when she acts mad.” Everlyne beamed.

“What you see in that girl is beyond me.”

“She’s my sister.”

"How can you forgive all the mean things she says and does?”

“She’s my sister.”

“That is not a good enough reason.”

“Yes it is.”

“But she clearly despises you?”

“So what?”

I nearly bit my lip, what does she mean so what? Is blood relation really so important that you can love someone who hates you?

“Ms Everlyne you are by far too naïve!”

“Charotte really is adorable isn’t she!”

Everything always ends up being about Charlotte with her, it amazes me.

“You would look far more adorable in my opinion, if you took better care of your appearance that is.”

“Fluffy pink hair is cute too!”

“Gaah—m-me? I mean thank you.”

How can she say such things with a straight face!

“You turned pink?”

“I did not!”

“Ah by the way Fluffy pink hair. Thank you for worrying about me. You’re the greatest best friend ever!”

Best friends? I’ve had plenty of friends in my life but never a best friend.

Ignoring the confusion on my face, she gave me one last hug.

I always find it truly impressive how even in a situation like this Everlyne can act this way.

She must certainly have been born dumb.

As I thought that, the carriage picking me up arrived ahead of time. Though it pained me to see her off, I had duties to return to...

“I must be going now please take care of yourself, okay?”

“See you next term!”

As much as I wanted to stay on campus and take care of her, I had my job as the duchess of Tryl to see to. Oh, I do hope she will be okay without me.