“We’re going to grab breakfast; we’ll be back soon,” Mary says to us. “Come on, Ronan.”

  “They’ve become good friends,” the prince murmurs once they’re out of earshot.

  “It’s because he gave her free XP in the dungeon,” Alistair says. “If a woman did that for me, I’d kneel and propose on the spot.”

  “Propose to whom?” Darius asks as he arrives with his tray.

  I hadn’t even seen him walk in.

  “To Ronan,” Vincent says.

  “To a woman who immobilized monsters so you could level up. Wouldn’t that be amazing?” Alistair replies almost at the same time.

  “Well, I’d rather convince Ronan to let me ride his bear,” Darius laughs.

  Alistair’s eyes widen.

  “Okay, that would be even more amazing. But dangerous. Wasn’t the scorpion’s tail enough for you?”

  Darius bursts into laughter, dragging the prince and Alistair along with him.

  Oh my gosh. Knowing Ronan, he’d probably let him ride the bear. Or the scorpion.

  “By the way,” I interject, “is Kai in custody now?”

  “Yes,” Vincent replies. “I’ve spoken on his behalf with Duskmere. I think that once he’s convinced it wasn’t an attempt to divert the investigation from the real culprits, he’ll release Kai with only a minor reprimand for him and his family. Maybe a small fine or something like that.”

  I nod.

  Mary and Ronan return with their breakfast and sit down.

  “Good thing Ronan told me he was treated well, locked in a decent room and given dinner,” Mary says while flashing the prince a broad smile. “Thank you so much for freeing him, Vincent. Ever since I arrived at the academy and you welcomed me into your group of friends, I’ve owed you so much. You’re a great leader and would make an excellent king because you genuinely care about others’ well-being.”

  Vincent is momentarily taken aback by the compliment, even blushing a little. I think he likes Mary.

  “You’re welcome,” he replies.

  I can’t help but let out a silly laugh. Theodore gives me a sharp look. For someone who’s usually so expressionless, he makes the effort to glare at me. I think he’s fully understood the reason for my laugh.

  Ah, romantic rivalry—it’s so amusing to watch from the sidelines. I wonder if popcorn exists in this world.

  And by the way, about Mary saying Vincent would make a better king than his brother… Ronan is now staring pensively at the prince. I nudge him under the table, and when he looks at me, I shake my head.

  Whatever he’s thinking, he better not. We don’t kill princes.

  We’re all so engrossed in chatting that I finish my breakfast without even realizing it. I barely notice when Sol gets up to leave. Automatically, I start to stand. A hand grabs my arm. Vincent again.

  “Bianca…” he murmurs in a warning tone.

  Damn. I’ll have to do this when he’s not around.

  “Fine,” I say as I sit back down.

  Well, in that case, I’ll use the time before class starts to talk to Ronan. I turn to him as he’s still eating.

  However, I don’t get a chance to say anything because I see my companions across the table staring straight ahead. Darius, in particular, has a frown on his face. The dining hall falls into sudden silence, and I hear the click of heels.

  Yes, we wear uniforms here, but the uniform only specifies black shoes. Those high heels…

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  I feel a chill that bodes no good and turn around.

  Sol, accompanied by her two personality-less followers, is approaching me. I stand up. Whatever that harpy wants to say to me, she won’t do it from a position of superiority.

  I sense Vincent move beside me. I imagine he had the urge to grab me again, but realizing how counterproductive it would be for me to stay seated, he restrains himself.

  So, I face her, standing tall, forcing myself to relax—or at least try to. She saw Vincent stop me less than a minute ago, and like a jackal smelling blood, she’s here to gloat and inflict damage.

  The villain stops half a meter from me.

  She stares at me. Says nothing. Neither do I. Her lackeys hang a little behind her. The rest of the dining hall watches in silence, full of curiosity and morbid interest.

  Of course, by “the rest,” I don’t mean my table. They range from horrified (like Mary) to wary (like Vincent), to a completely disinterested Ronan, who simply continues eating breakfast.

  “Do you want something, Sol?” I finally ask. “Or are you just hanging around me to see if you can absorb some common sense?”

  My words are clear: Get lost. Because the gods—who are no longer here—know how badly I want to punch her.

  “Oh, so you’re as egotistical as the rumors say. You stood up and confronted me when I wasn’t even walking toward you.”

  “Then what are you waiting for? Continue your pleasant stroll.”

  “Oh… Ashe,” she turns to one of her lackeys. “I understand how embarrassed you must feel seeing what your childhood friend has become. Look at her; she’s like a coarse, ill-mannered commoner.”

  The mentioned girl giggles and starts to respond. I step forward, and she falls silent.

  “Coarse and ill-mannered? Because the only one insulting anyone here isn’t me.”

  “You’re mistaken. I came to speak with the prince, and you rudely got in my way. Then you called me foolish.” She smiles maliciously. “Isn’t that insulting and ill-mannered?” She makes a slightly dramatic gesture and raises her voice so the entire hall can hear. “And then you accuse me. By the way, I don’t understand how you have the audacity to sit at the same table as the man who was seen entering your room at night.”

  What?

  More rumors? But this one might have some truth…

  “That’s enough, Sol,” the prince stands. “Say what you want and leave. You’re not welcome at this table.”

  Darius and Alistair laugh. Ronan, who was ignoring her, suddenly seems interested.

  “Your Highness, how can you say that to me…” Sol switches to a softer, purring voice. “My house has always supported the crown. I came to tell you that, for now, I’m rejecting everyone asking me to the ball.”

  “And does Kai know?” Darius cuts in before the prince can respond.

  For a moment, Sol loses all composure. Her face pales, and she starts to clench her fists before quickly releasing them.

  Her two friends gasp, horrified.

  And Alistair bursts into laughter.

  “Leave her alone, Vincent,” I say, seizing the opportunity. “I thought she was here to pay for the ribbon she tore from Mary, but for all her boasting about family and money, it seems her memory fails her.”

  “You tore a ribbon from Mary?” Vincent asks, angry.

  The prince’s anger isn’t obvious, but I can tell by his colder tone and the way he stiffens.

  Oh yes, Mary is his weak spot, and he’s just found out the villain bullied her.

  Since none of my friends can see my face, I wink at Sol while smiling. Then I turn away.

  “I see not,” I add as I sit back down, turning my back to her. She should be grateful I didn’t return the mocking kiss she blew me last night.

  “Your Highness, I assure you this is the first I’ve heard about the ribbon,” I hear Sol insist.

  “Well, I was a witness,” Theodore interjects, having been the one to buy Mary a new ribbon.

  “As I was saying, Sol, you’re not welcome at this table. Now even less so. Leave my friends alone.”

  “Your Highness, I’m sorry you don’t believe me and are getting the wrong impression,” Sol says, feigning sadness with Oscar-worthy acting, as she bows and leaves the dining hall with Caroline and Ashe trailing behind her.

  The door closes behind them, and the entire dining hall erupts in laughter and chatter, commenting on what just happened.

  Alistair claps Vincent on the back.

  “That was amazing, Vincent. You really put her in her place,” he says.

  “I hope for your sake that your father doesn’t plan to marry you to her,” Theodore remarks, clearly weighing the consequences.

  “She’d make your life hell,” Darius agrees.

  They keep mocking the villain and laughing with the prince. Mary looks at him with renewed admiration. I glance at Theodore; he doesn’t seem to notice. Another look at Ronan; he sees it and doesn’t care.

  And I feel a bit better. I’m still thinking about confronting her alone, but I’m glad the prince saved me from a social power struggle where she undoubtedly held the upper hand.

  Taking advantage of their conversation, I turn to Ronan, hoping the others won’t pay attention.

  “Hey, Ronan, can we go to class together later? I want to ask you something, and I’d prefer to talk in private.”

  Darius, who seems to miss nothing, elbows Alistair, and they both stare at us.

  Damn.

  “No, it’s not that,” I quickly add. “I want to ask about those rumors Lily told us about. Honestly, since they involve both of us and it’s a delicate matter, I’d rather not have two guys who act like they don’t even need to shave yet listening in.”

  Oof… I almost said they haven’t outgrown their teenage phase. I doubt that concept even exists here.

  “Ah, point taken,” Darius says, feigning being wounded comically. “Apologies, Bianca.”

  I nod. Vincent and his two childhood friends leave to grab their books before class. The rest of us stay since, apart from me, they haven’t finished eating yet. When we finally get up together, I say goodbye to Mary and Darius at the dining hall exit.

  We don’t have much time, but it’ll be enough for what I want to ask Ronan.

  And no, I’m not apologizing again. I don’t want him repeating that nonsense about how suffering for me is an honor. Honestly, it’s no wonder this guy gave me the creeps before I got to know him.