Try Anything to Forgive Everything

The three of them walked down the hidden alley. There were a lot of stray cats wandering around.

The coffee shop seemed like a tucked-away place.

“Are you ready?”

“I think so.”

As they entered, the scent of fresh coffee hit their noses.

Three small chandeliers lit the whole place in an amber hue. Only a bit of natural light entered through tiny, barred windows.

The ceiling, the floor, even the furniture were made entirely of wood. The only exception was a few white concrete walls.

The place was practically empty, just a couple of waiters and a few customers enjoying a cup of coffee.

After scanning the room, they noticed Alysia sitting at a table at the far end of the cafe.

“Good morning, Miss Alysia.” The prince greeted her warmly.

“Good morning, Prince Arthur.” Alysia stood up. “I figured she’d bring someone.”

“Please, don’t get the wrong idea. We’re hoping to get something good out of this meeting.”

“We’ll see about that.”

The prince stepped aside for her companions to introduce themselves.

Alysia and Zoe exchanged cold glances.

“There’s no need for introductions. We already know each other.”

“Do we? I don’t remember you.”

“What?” That annoyed Zoe. “My name is Zoe Hufgens, daughter—”

“Oh right, now I remember.” She intentionally interrupted her. “Seems like you can’t mind your own business.”

Her lips twisted into a grimace. She could barely control her anger.

“I see. If that's the case, it’s a pleasure, Miss Lens,” she replied reluctantly.

“The pleasure is mine.”

“Why don’t we take a seat?” The prince intervened.

They sat down at a table for four. Alysia and Arthur were the only ones who ordered something.

“I hope we didn’t keep you waiting too long, Miss Alysia.”

“Not at all.”

“I’m glad to hear that, because we wanted to—”

“We? I don’t mean to sound rude, but I’m only here to talk with Miss Curse right here.”

Zoe slammed both hands on the table and quickly stood up.

“What did you just call her!?”

“You’d better calm down, Miss Hufgens.” Her voice was cynically calm. “Someone of your stature should behave, unless your family’s name is turning worthless.”

With her head down, Zoe sat back down. She was clenching her jaw tightly, and her lips trembled.

“You’re right. I’m sorry.” A fake, forced smile appeared on her face.

Charlotte felt a tightness in her chest. Her brows furrowed, and a sharp pain came from her left arm. For the first time, she felt anger against Alysia.

“She’s right. First I need to talk with her.”

“Miss Charlotte?”

“Don’t worry, Zoe, everything is fine.”

“Alright. But I warn you, Lens, don’t even think of doing something against her.”

“Charlotte, she usually is not like that. Please help her.” Bastion begged from behind.

After a while, they were finally alone.

Just the two of them.

Face to face.

Charlotte hid her hands under the table. They were shaking.

Her mouth opened, but no word came out.

“Did the cat eat your tongue, or what happened to you, Curse?”

Her breathing became faster. Her mouth was still halfway open.

“N-No.” She finally got over her nerves. “I promised you I would tell you everything.”

“That’s why I’m here.”

She stayed silent for a few seconds.

“Everything is about Maxwell Bastion, right?”

Alysia froze. The cynical smile faded from her face. Her cold gaze fixed on Charlotte.

“What did you do to him?”

“Looks like I hit the nail on the head.”

“Stop messing around if you don’t want to drown right now.”

“Alright, I’m sorry.” A chill ran down her spine. “Can I ask you something?”

She just nodded.

“Do you truly believe that I killed Bastion?”

“And you didn’t? Then why is your arm cursed like the Buried Tree? And most importantly, how can you still be alive?”

“There are things that even I don’t know, but I can assure you I’m also a victim.”

“I don’t care about you. Besides, rumors are saying you’re an emissary.”

“Yes, I’ve heard them. But let’s be real, why would an emissary attack a total failure of the F rank?”

Alysia drew her magic staff.

“Pure Aqua Magica. Snake!”

A watery snake jumped towards Charlotte.

It tangled around her shoulders and lifted her.

“Who do you think you are!?”

Crash!

The snake slammed her against a table.

“Light Magica. Disappear!

Zoe quickly threw a card against the snake.

In a second, it was gone.

“Don’t get in my way!”

A burst of water spheres impacted Zoe.

The prince drew his golden sword.

“Please, Miss Alysia. You need to calm down.”

“Get out of my way.”

She pointed her staff at him.

“This won’t help anybody.”

“I know, but… S-she… K-killed my friend. She is here, but he is not.”

Tears welled up in her eyes.

“It’s not fair!”

“I know that better than anyone.”

Charlotte got up, even though she was still trembling.

“Charlotte?”

“Prince Arthur, please, trust me.”

He put away his sword and went over to Zoe.

“I understand. Are you full of pain? Hatred? Maybe both.”

“Shut up! You know nothing!”

“It’s fine. Let it all out.”

Alysia began bursting heavy spheres of water towards her.

Charlotte didn’t move.

She fell to her knees several times.

Even so, she got up every time.

“I-I didn’t kill Bastion.”

“I won’t ever trust you!”

“I k-know, but it’s the truth.”

“H-He didn’t deserve to die. Why him…? If I had been there…I wish it had been me instead!”

Her attacks slowly decreased.

“You don’t understand…he was so happy, but now…he’s gone.”

“I’m really sorry…I really am. H-He died for a n-nobody…like me…”

“I’ll never see him again… I know what to do…”

“N-Nobody knows…”

Charlotte could barely stand up.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

“It’s too late, I attacked two students…they’re gonna punish me.”

“Y-you said you w-were gonna k-kill me.”

“What?”

“Your attacks never had that intention. Maybe you’re not bad after all.”

“You’re so dumb.”

“I almost forgot. We also wanted you to join our party.”

Charlotte, stumbling, walked towards her.

“After everything I have done to you?”

“T-there…a…c-chance…to…b-bring…him…b-back.”

Charlotte finally fainted.

Alysia unwittingly caught her in her arms.

Those last words filled her mind.

She wanted to ask her, but that was not the moment.

Charlotte was no longer conscious.



Everything was completely black.

A voice whispered from the right.

Another one spoke from the left.

What were they mumbling?

Once again, another sharp pain in her left arm.

Gradually, those whispers rushed through her head.

“We could have killed her. We don’t need anybody. We are the heroines. We’re meant to bring hope. We're meant to be superlative. We’re… hmpp… grr… hmmp. We will… krr… hmp… aswas… k—ll…”

“Ahhh!” She woke up screaming.

“Are you alright?” Zoe hurried to her.

“What happened? Where are we? Whose voice was that?”

“You just had a bad dream. Please take a deep breath.” Zoe was concerned.

“Please calm down,” said a familiar voice. “We brought you to the principal’s office.”

It was Alexander.

The room was extremely large and clean. There were many awards and certificates pinned to the wall.

“Are you feeling better, Miss Charlotte?” It was the principal.

He was behind a long desk.

“Yes, thank you. What happened?”

“Nothing, really—it was just that you started a fight in a public place,” Alexander said sarcastically, smiling.

Charlotte realized that the others were sitting and facing the principal.

“Not only that, but you also got a noble and the second prince involved.”

“It wasn’t all her fault. I’m also responsible.” Zoe tried to defend her.

“If I'm to blame, too, then I should pay for it.” The prince supported them.

Charlotte’s face lit up after hearing her friends protecting her.

“No, it was all my fault.” Alysia had her head down. “They just wanted to talk… I was the one who started… So please, I’m the one who should be punished.”

The room went silent. Charlotte was speechless. 

The principal started laughing.

“Youth is such an amazing thing. Miss Charlotte, I'm glad you've found a great group of people.”

The principal had a warm smile on his face.

“Since everyone is fine, I believe you can all leave.”

“Really? So can we get away with it?”

“Of course not. You four will become a party and clean the bathrooms for the rest of the semester.” Alexander intervened.

“What? Not fair.”

“Don’t push it, Charlotte. Now everyone out.”

The four of them left the room.

“Are you sure about this, Mr Principal?”

“Yes, we can’t afford to lose valuable students. Besides, no witnesses remained, right?”

“Correct. I took care of everything.”