17.

I spent the next week silently observing Veronna. She had an impeccable reputation. She was known to be a lady with a heart of gold, a perfect match for Prince Gregory who was a strong candidate for the crown. She was well loved in general.

From what I gathered, it seemed like she was not a habitual bully. So far I had not seen her bullying others aside from me, maybe it's simply because I was her target now.

After my leave from college for more than a week, Veronna and her gang's bullying tempered down a bit. Maybe they're afraid they would be discovered by Dante. They resorted to silly things like tearing my textbooks or throwing my things into the fountain.

That's... lame, I thought in silence as I took in the books and stationery sinking in the fountain. I picked up my stuff from the fountain, all the while wearing a sad, pitiful expression on my face, tears hanging on my lashes, eyes down. They seemed to enjoy themselves when I had this expression on my face.

All the better. Their lame bullying would not affect the random visits from the portraitist to complete his drafts, it would be an annoyance trying to cover the bruises and slaps with powder every time he came.

But today, the portraitist would not be coming. Dante said Prince Gregory had invited him to a meeting at a club. I narrowed my eyes.

Dante's reluctance of me getting close to Prince Gregory was suspicious. He's either doing something he did not want me to know or Prince Gregory was the dangerous one.

He said I should think for myself. As his sister, of course I had to get to know what my brother was up to. That's what a normal sister should do, I nodded to myself in acknowledgment. Then I caught myself and changed my face to the pitiful, tearful face again. Veronna and her gang liked observing from afar. I had to complete my act.

After fishing out all my stuff from the fountain, I brushed the tears from my eyes and walked towards my own carriage. I told the coachman to drive me to the bookstore.

Once I got off the carriage, I sneaked away and headed to the club. I knew it was only a few miles from the bookstore.

I had heard of the name of the club before, my mother having been a staunch supporter of it before her untimely death.

Author's note

Things are getting exciting!  

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