Chapter 103

The days went by, though not nearly fast enough. To make up for all the work I had missed, I had to work hard to catch up with everything. After that, once I was finally done with all the make-up work, I had to study just as hard for the exams the following week.

One week turned into two, followed by three, until a whole month had gone by.

In Alice’s carriage, with Alice in it, we silently looked out the window as we headed to school, both of us completely exhausted. Even with a full night of sleep, we were still exhausted mentally speaking.

In a week from now, at least, we will have a nice month-long break, which we get for fall, winter, and spring semesters.

I can’t wait for a break to finally come, literally because I am literally at my wits' end, and I really need to blow off some steam.

Alice, turning to me as I expressionlessly look out the window while being internally very tired, asks.

“Rita, I’ve been wanting to ask you something since you aren’t busy at the moment.”

“Oh, okay. What is it?”

Looking away from the window to look at Alice, I wonder what she is going to ask. I waited for her response.

“I’ve been wondering about the bullying situation. Do you need my assistance? Just last week, they slapped you, and the week before that, they threw a bucket of water on you.”

Showing me a bit of concern, since it had been a month and nothing really happened to them, I can’t blame her for thinking that.

“No, thanks for your offer, but I will be handling it today if things go according to plan.”

“Oh, really? That is good to hear, since their bullying has gotten worse as of late.”

“You could say that; it’s more evidence, you could say.”

Hearing that, realizing what I mean, “Huh… mind telling me what your plan is here? I don’t believe you’ve even told Clare about it.”

Contracting my facial muscles into a smile to show some confidence, I said, “That’s a secret.”

Saying that, Alice gave me a weird look. I tilted my head slightly, seeing that, and asked her what was wrong, putting away my smile and going back to my default expressionless expression.

“Umm… sorry, I… wasn’t expecting you to just… smile like… that.”

Alice scratched her cheek, saying that a bit awkwardly.

“Heh?”

The air grew awkward as Alice said that until we reached the Royal Academy, where we said goodbye and headed to our respective classes.

Going to my classroom, I got the usual reactions from my classmates. However, since it had been over a month, their reactions were more muted, and they returned to what they were doing much faster than when I first entered the academy.

I sat down and waited for the homeroom teacher to arrive, followed by the rest of the teachers with each period, until the bell rang to signal it was lunchtime.

Like usual, I went to the dining hall to get my usual things, and like clockwork, the usual three were there to stop me.

“Well, well. Who do we have here?”

Seeing the three surround me, people around us began moving away, sensing what was about to unfold. They had, in fact, grown bolder in their attempts to get to me, though none of them had ever crossed a certain line, other than when they stole all my stuff in my backpack.

“You seem to always go somewhere without us. How saddening.”

“Then I guess you won’t be needing these,” pointing at my usual lunch, which I got from the dining hall, which was two sandwiches and a drink, “seeing as you’re always eating alone. Hand them over.”

Elara, Mirelle, and Verena spoke in that order, with Verena haughtily extending one hand, clearly expecting me to comply, but I just smiled and shook my head, saying no.

Enraged, she reached for my lunch, which I was holding in my right arm, trying to snatch it away.

Sidestepping her failed attempt to snatch my lunch, I continued to smile and said.

“My, I admire how consistent you all are, though. It has been a month, and you still haven’t made any progress, have you?”

Knowing what I was implying, whoever had been telling them to do this was getting really impatient, because I had been sensing hesitation that was covered up by a fake sense of confidence from them as they had been gradually escalating things. Though, by gradual, I mean it’s really gradual, basically at a snail's pace.

They were enraged by my words and the smile on my face, which made them think I was mocking them. I could tell they sensed it, too. I didn’t know who had ordered them to bully me, or for what reason, though I could guess a handful of people. However, by the end of today, it didn’t really matter much.

Since I needed to make them angry before the lunch period was over, I was about to run away from them like I usually do, until…someone interrupted our conversation.

A student with green eyes and ash-colored hair that I was acquainted with stepped in and stopped Verena from forcibly grabbing me by grabbing her arm first.

“I suggest that you stop doing something so unrefined as that, Ms. Verena Dusken, and as for all of you, too.”

Surprised by his sudden appearance, which I was also surprised by, since I didn’t really pick up on his presence or anything like the last time I saw him, which I chalk up to simply being tired, mentally speaking, causing my guard to slip slightly, I immediately went on guard against him, hiding any and all of my expression on my default expressionless face like when I try to hide things from Clare. There is no way that this is another chance encounter like last time.

Patrick Aftrfell, the eldest son of the Aftrfell family, holds the rank of marquis in the Neutral Faction. His family is renowned for its exceptionally pure bloodline and has maintained close ties with the Old Nobility Faction, as every member of the main line family has been born with magic for the past 150 years.

Haughtily responding, Mirelle said, “Whatever do you mean? We should say the same for you. You wouldn’t want people to know you unjustly lay hands on a girl.”

Although the Aftrfell family had close ties to the old nobility faction, some still looked down on them for not being part of the faction from the very beginning. In this case, however, I sensed something different. From the assurance, someone far more powerful seemed to be backing them, someone whose authority could even override that of a marquis’s eldest son.

“Oh, really? Then let me ask you this: who are they going to believe? You, whom everyone already knows, have done it before?”

I sensed anger and irritation from them at Patrick's remark, and Elara shouted.

“No, we didn’t do that; we didn’t slap her. Why does everyone keep assuming that?!”

She stomped her foot as she spoke, and internally, I was troubled by Patrick interfering with my plans.

Patrick was defending me, which made it a problem since, sensing the three, they started to have thoughts of backing off, thinking that continuing any further would be bad, the opposite of what I wanted.

I got to do something here.

“Because you did, Elara, and you two watched.”

Hearing me say it, confirming that it happened, Clara yelled back.

“What nonsense is that!”

“We would never; you’re lying.”

Yelling out just as loudly as Clara, Verena shouted that out, which fortunately drew the attention of people who had just made themselves scarce, trying not to get involved in their bullying.

This, in turn, made all of us the center of attention. Thoughts of retreat crossed their minds, yet the anger of being accused burned fiercely within them.

The three of them glance at each other, and Mirelle says, “Don’t think we’ll forget this, you hear me.”

Watching them walk away, putting on a smile, I turn to Patrick, a bit peeved that he almost ruined my plans.

“Thank you for stepping in there.”

Seeing my smile, he’d flinch for some reason, which made me wonder what was wrong with my smile since I couldn’t get a read on him. Alice and this guy both had a kind of negative reaction to it.

Recovering a bit, he then responded. “It's not a problem, Rita… but why haven’t you told a teacher about it?”

Faking a sigh, I responded, carefully controlling the muscles in my face to form a thin, false smile, one that I was very much quietly proud of since I had just learned that I could do it a week and a half back because I couldn’t just have one type of smile in my repertoire for those three to see.

“I don’t think it would have made a difference.”

“Oh, I see…”

Trying to change the subject, he awkwardly shifted the conversation to something completely unrelated.

“So… uh, you seem to be not as tired compared to last time. I… umm, am glad you're getting some proper rest.”

Heh? Why are we talking about my sleeping patterns of all things?

Still having a smile on, I responded. “Yeah, I was really busy that day and didn’t get much sleep last night. But it’s fine; I have a servant who makes sure I stick to a proper sleep schedule.”

“Oh, I see; that is good to hear.”

Hearing what he said, I thought to myself, Man, this is really getting awkward.

“If you don’t mind, I have to get going now. Do excuse me.”

Before he could respond, I got away in a brisk jog, not looking back one bit.

Going to the rooftop, where everyone was eating together, we talked about how our day was going, and when the bell rang, we packed up and were about to leave when I asked Edwen about something.

“Yes, Blake, I don’t mind. What do you need?”

I told him I wanted to talk about something, something we couldn’t share with Aria and the others. He looked at me curiously, wondering what it was.

“Out of curiosity, I was wondering if you know any secret passageways, specifically ones with underground water channels.”

“Why do you want me to tell you that? That is highly secretive, you know?”

“Yeah, but it’s related to the test or something your uncle is making me take to join whatever organization he is in.”

Eyes widening, like it was the first time he was hearing it, he let out a big “What?” hearing me say that.

“Shhh.” Quickly shushing him, telling him not to be so loud. “Hey, people would know that we're here.”

Stopping his really surprised reaction when I said that, it calmed him down, and he asked a question a couple of seconds later.

“Sorry, but… what is this test about?”

He looked at me inquisitively, as if he truly wanted to know what it was, like a child eager to learn something they weren’t supposed to.

“Can’t say, and you know why.”

Putting a damper on his excitement, he responded by saying, “Argh, really? Are you sure you can’t tell?”

“Nope.”

Though I already told Clare about it, I have a feeling that telling Edwen won’t really fly with Athrun.

“But what I can say is that I need you to help me by giving the location of a secret passageway that is connected to the Royal Palace, specifically the one that has an underground water channel.”

Hearing what I said, he repeated, saying, “underground water channel,” to himself curiously for a bit, and then looked back at me.

“Is there a reason you want to know?”

“Let’s just say I got lost in whatever test your uncle put me in for around twoish days, which led to my left arm being what it is after a battle. I just don’t want to go through that section if I can help it, since I stumbled upon a shortcut in that place that skips that section entirely.”

“Hmm, I see…” taking a bit to think over something, “I shouldn’t be telling you this, but… I don’t think there are any secret passageways from what you are describing that I am aware of.”

“Huh… That is unfortunate to hear.”

So, he doesn’t know, which was the opposite of what I was hoping for, because I guess I have to wait it out until Queen Amalee gives me permission to go.

Thinking that, surprisingly, Edwen then said, “If you want, I can look around.”

“Really, you will? So, what do you want in return, then?”

If he is really going to help me, I guessed as much that he wants something in return, since giving any sort of information about stuff like that, even if it’s not an actual secret passage, is still sensitive information for the kingdom.

“As expected, you are quite perceptive. No wonder Uncle has decided to let you join.”

Edwen smirked, saying that, in which I’d asked what he wanted.

“I want you to become my instructor.”

Saying that, now, with a serious expression, his smirk gone, he continued and said. “You see, given my position, it is all but guaranteed that I would be a part of the organization. However, you are different because he acknowledges your talent and skills, which is why he is testing you.”

Really? Is that all he wants? I wouldn’t mind, but why is he so desperate to join whatever organization Athrun is in? Wait, does he even know the name of the organization he wants to join?

Asking that, inconspicuously, I said, “Wait? Are you sure you want to go with your uncle? Do you even know what kind of organization it is, or even its name?”

“No, I don’t, but I do know that Uncle is doing something very noble, and I don’t want to be a burden to him if I ever join him in his missions.”

A bit weirded out by Edwen's surprisingly reverent tone of voice; if he is this motivated, I guess why not. Plus, I also guess since he is joining whatever Athrun is in, which I am forced to join either way when I accepted his job request, it’s good to have more people as meat… I mean, allies, yes, that is the word I’m looking for, to bring along with all the life-threatening jobs I’m going to do, which I’m not even sure are going to be fun at all, based on that dungeon Athrun sent me to.

“Then it is a deal, but could you keep it a secret from Queen Amalee? I don’t want her finding out.”

Hearing the last part, Edwen grimaced, but with some resolve, he said, ”I’ll try, but I won’t make any guarantees.”

“I know, your mother is already scary enough… I… I don’t want to wear any more dresses than I need to.”

At my words, Edwen’s face immediately turned red. He must have remembered what he saw in the garden and the times afterward, while I was recovering, when Queen Amalee dressed me up like a doll in the dozens of different dresses she had lying around, all inexplicably in my size.

Edwen turned his head away, not looking me in the eyes, and responded, “I know.”

“It's fine to tell her if she asks; just blame it all on me if you want, I don’t mind.”

“Really, you won’t?”

Looking back at me, with his cheeks only slightly reddening, he was astonished that I would make such a suggestion.

“Yeah, I think I could take it.”

No, I won’t, and I won’t be taking it alone because Queen Amalee would definitely punish both of us, Edwen more than me, because I just told him to blame it all on me when, not if, Queen Amalee finds out, in which case most of her anger would be directed at him instead of me. Do I feel guilty? Maybe, maybe not, but at least I know I won’t be getting the brunt of it.

Once our conversation was over, we walked through the empty hall together, since the bell had rung a while ago and our classes were in the same direction.

However, to make sure it wasn’t too suspicious when someone did see us together, we didn’t really talk to each other since I’m acting as Rita now and was walking a few meters behind Edwen.

Reaching a stairway that led me directly to my classroom when I went up, Edwen looked back slightly and waved a bit to say goodbye, to which I waved back in kind with my right arm that was carrying my bag.

Doing that, I went up the stairs, toward my classroom, with much anticipation because I was hoping to see a certain group of three individuals.

Just as expected, since I had been taking the same route for a few days now, from the rooftop to my classroom.

Seeing them, I smiled, which they interpreted as a provocation.

“Where the hell do you think you're going?”

Blocking the stairways in the middle, Elara said that, to which I responded, “Just going back to class. If you all do not mind, I must go since I’m late.”

“Fufufu.”

Giggling to themselves as they heard what I said, like they found something amusing and an excuse or justification to do something, Verena spoke after they were done with their group giggle session.

“You really are troubling everyone. Oh, the poor teachers who have to deal with your ungratefulness.”

“Yes, I suppose we’ll have to perform some disciplinary actions by ourselves so you won’t waste more time and resources from the academy, you ungrateful, filthy commoner.”

Saying the last part like it was the gravest insult there was, given their vocabulary, I mean, in accordance with how to act as a young lady, which I suppose it is, since their families are in the old nobility faction, Mirelle, who was on the leftmost side of the stairway, stepped down to reach for my bag.

Seeing her try to grab it, I took a step down, sidestepped away once again, and let out a sigh right in front of them.

“You all really are going to continue doing all these half-baked attempts at bullying; it is getting just sad at this point.”

“So what? filth like you don’t deserve to be here.”

They nodded to Mirelle to respond and proceeded to hurl more insults at me, calling me even more names.

Sighing at all that, which was the only reaction they got out of me during the barrage of insults and name-calling, it stopped them, waiting for my response.

“You know… this is a warning. If you don’t stop right now, I will—”

“Will what? Go to your worthless brother?”

“Go to the teachers who would definitely step in?”

“Or maybe to that dirty wench, Alice? What is she going to do? Stop us? We have the backing of someone much more influential than her. What can she do to us?”

Saying all that, they all giggle, thinking that it was the best joke they had ever heard.

Seeing them all like that, I sighed once again, as my attempt to reason with them had failed, though I didn’t really give that much effort in doing so because I was about to do this.

Turning around and walking down the flight of stairs, at the flat section that connects the flights of stairs, which leads to the floor, Edwen’s classroom was on.

I stopped at the edge, then turned back to face the three bullies, who wouldn’t be bullying me much longer.

Saying my piece with them since it was likely the last time I would have to deal with them, I said.

“You know, being expelled is the last of your worries.”

With that, I leaned back, letting gravity take me, with nothing to stop my fall down the stairs.