Two hours earlier...

"Do you think that the motive behind Lyhalya's vengeance, is enough to justify her acts?"

I already hate that lesson. Looking outside the window, I observe the beautiful gardens. I didn't read this book, I really don't want to. This story really hits me somewhere I don't want to think about unless it is necessary.

"Vidarr, could I have your opinion?" asks Sir Iskra.

"Yes, I think that it was completely justified," responds Vidarr. "Her honor, pride, and dignity were shattered by the defamation spread by Khan. She restored the truth while setting an example for the entire population."

"I disagree with Vidarr," interrupts Izara. "The actions that she performed were out of the line and useless. If she truly wanted to restore her honor then she would have used her strength to gather the proof of her innocence. Instead, she manipulated innocents and threatened with questionable manners Sir Khan."

"But the innocents that she manipulated did not suffer from any harm! She only took objects and information out of them. And as for Sir Khan, what she caused him was nothing compared to what she suffered!"

"If she wanted justice, she wouldn't have keeled the belongings and his territory, she would have been satisfied with his imprisonment," argues back Izara. "Besides she also punished his clan when they had nothing to do with him!"

"Those two analyses of the book are both very interesting, but as you all know there isn't a correct answer."

He takes a piece of white chalk and starts listing the arguments of the two sides.

"I would like to hear what the young Lady Mhyrr thinks."

I jump startled by his unexpected question. I stay silent unsure about how to respond.

"Hum—I—I think that Vidarr is right. She did well to avenge herself," I respond honestly.

Around me, the students exchange meaningful looks that escape my comprehension. But the smirk that wears Vidarr cannot mean any good.

"Thank you for your response young Lady," says Sir Izara looking at the clock. "The class finishes in two minutes you can pack up your things and leave."

Cries of joy travel around the class as everyone gets up to their seats. I wait for the class to empty itself before getting out. But outside Esper is waiting for me.

"We both are assigned to the kitchen chores, I will show you the way."

"Why?" I ask without moving.

"It is not because you won a fight against me that my pride is shattered," he shrugs. "And like you said, if you were not so enraged then I would have won."

"I still did win though," I reply dryly.

He chuckles and shows me the way to the kitchen, "We have to cook the dessert for today."

"Are we allowed to cook a dessert?" I ask septic.

He smiles, "Only once in a week, this time it's an Ahvi pie."

I can't imagine knight apprentices cooking deserts when they could train instead.

'Knights are definitely something else.'

He enters a spacious room with a large round metal table. Ovens, utensils, and various ingredients are disposed of on dozens of shelves. A pleasant smell of flour and sugar floats around the kitchen. The chimney isn't lit on but no traces of wood or cinder are seen.

"Alright!" exclaims Esper taking the ingredients off the shelves. "Let's start then."

Half an hour later, our aprons are covered with raw dough and flour. But a pleasant smell of fruit and honey perfume the air. The door opens and slams against the walls.

"Oh hi, Esper!" greets an enthusiastic voice. "Look what we brought!"

He puts down a bottle of wine on the counter, behind him a dozen of students including Vidarr and Arlette are entering the kitchen.

"Ah perfect! But how didn't you get caught!" he asks gently hitting the back of the student who brought the alcohol.

"Do you want to join us Raven?" proposes another student, with a scar crossing the corner of her lips, that I never saw before.

I am about to refuse but seeing how they enthusiastically talk to each other and laugh. I feel a pinch inside my heart. I can handle alcohol and won't this be a good occasion to show them who I really am?

"Please Enhya don't start..."

"You know what? Why not," I interrupt grabbing the glass of wine she offers me.

She smiles satisfied and grabs my hand, "Welcome to the Sienna Palace!"

I drink the entire cup at one time under the applause of the little gathering. The rest passes like a blur. I discuss with other students and listen to the stories of their excursions. I don't talk about my background and they don't ask me about it. It seems easier to be accepted by omitting details from your past.

I occasionally accept the glasses that hand me studs, until my stomach becomes knotted and my heart starts hurting.

I almost fall off my chair.

"Oh good it started to make its effect!"

"You drugged her!?" asks Enhya going towards me.

"No, I think Vidarr did," says Arlette.

Someone laughs, "It's going to be funny then."

Around me, snickers echo, someone tries to help me but I push him away violently.

"Stay...away from...me!"

Laughs and dirty remarks follow me as I run outside. I feel very hot. The ground doesn't seem stable. The air seems glued to my skin. My vision seems to see double.

Water, I need water.

I walk staggering and holding onto barriers and trees like my life depends on it. But a root traps my feet and I feel myself falling the water growing dangerously closer to me.

Someone catch me by the waist. The hard pressure makes me wince as the locks of my hair brush the surface of the pond.

"I wouldn't want to bathe there if I were you, especially not in that state," comments Arzen of Esmeray.

"...away..."

"I beg your pardon?" He asks raising me properly on the grass.

"Go...away..."I warn pushing him away.

A violent contraction pushes my insides and a second later I am vomiting the entirety of my stomach.

"Oh, let me help you," he proposes.

I am too tired and sick to protest when he grabs me and puts my arm over his shoulders.

"You look like a mess," informs the second Prince.

I blink stunned by the amount of familiarity he permits himself to have in front of a perfect stranger.

"You are sure...you want to...help...a mercenary?"

"You saved my brother, that's all that matters."

"I have to admit that I don't cherish the second Prince the same way as I cherish the Crown Prince and the third one. But his priority is always his family; besides, he didn't used to be so gloomy."

"Oh yes," I mumble. "I forgot... about that."

I should probably shut my mouth but the strange drug seems to control me.

"You have really...nice eyes, but your...mother has the...most beautiful...ones."

He smiles amused before we arrive in front of a small wooden cabin. He drags me inside and helps me lie on the bed.

He grabs two glasses of water and a towel, he pours water in it, and puts them beside me.

"Here, clean yourself up."

I grab it shaking pour a small stream on it and throw it on my face. I let out a small sight of delight and rub it against my mouth neck and eyes. The Prince stays still sitting on the side of the bed. His eyes were lost in a deep contemplation.

"Can...you stop...looking at...me," I ask dryly.

"Why?"

"It is very... uncomfortable."

"Kallias often talks about you," he responds without acknowledging my request.

"Oh," I say surprised.

I don't know what to do with that piece of information.

"Why did you save him? Apparently, they were six. Did you know that he was the third Prince? Did you have a death wish?"

I tilt my head to the side, 'Why did I save him?'

"I don't know why," I respond truthfully.

"What?" he asks frowning.

"Does someone need a reason to save another's life?" I respond back. "If there is, I am interested to know."

I reach out my arm to grab the second farthest glass of water but he grabs my wrist before I have the chance to.

"You shouldn't drink that, focus on trying to sleep."

He puts his hand over my eyes, the warmth invites sleep to slowly coat my mind.

"You are a very strange person," is the last thing I mumble.

🗡️🗡️🗡️

The next morning I woke up feeling drowsy. All my clothes are scrambled from sleeping in them. My curly hair is tangled and my eyes are puffy. The second Prince isn't here. I yawn and hurry outside.

I run towards the Sienna Palace which is fortunately close to the small cabin. A huge commotion possesses the residence.

Suddenly someone grabs me by my shoulder and an intense pain makes me wince and burns my cheek like a hot iron. I almost lose balance but I catch myself on the bark of a tree.

"HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?!"

In front of me stood an extremely angry Lord Eiran, Duke of Aldraril.