There are some whispers and strange gazes, while we walk through the hallways. It seems different to the usual chattering in the halls, focused and more attentive to each move I make. It unsettles me deep inside. I am no stranger to being bullied, nor to those who strive to dismantle my mind with their words. The cause of their reaction being unknown to me, makes an anxious sense of nervousness rise up my spine.
There is always the possibility that all this is just their reaction to what happened yesterday. By the gods, I wouldn't fault them, yet there seems to be more to that than it being about the case. It feels like a personal thing. Weary I look at my aunt, her stance has tensed slightly, and despite that she gives me an encouraging smile, as we continue on our way.
As soon as I enter the classroom, all eyes focus on me. Why? Their whispers grow louder, and my gaze sweeps over the students in the room, stopping only when Keeva’s and Nakoda’s waiting eyes meet mine. They seem anxious as if they want to drag me out of the room and confront me on whatever it is that has been going on, without my notice. I make a beeline for my seat between them. However, to my utter displeasure, before I can even try to understand why the entire school seems to be in unrest, the questions on the tip of my tongue, ready to be thrown at my seatmates the three gracious ones interrupt me.
Again, it is Lanira, the oldest of Earl Sun's daughters heading the group, proving my initial suspicion right, her being the oldest, yet not the heir is the cause for her inferiority complex. She tends to stick her nose where she doesn't belong, at least that is the feeling I get from her.
Should that be the case I feel sorry for Duke Red, because from what I gathered so far, any troubles she makes as a daughter of his vassal, will be reflected upon him. In my understanding Vassals are considered lower-ranked distant members of the ducal houses, in other words, servants. A servant's behaviour is directly reflected upon the master. Barbaric yet sadly the truth in this world.
***
"Oh, if that isn't Missy Black," her voice rings, filled with taunts and spite. Still confused by the entire situation unable to understand what she is getting at, I just calmly sit down, raising an eyebrow. That only seems to spur her on, she doesn't seem to notice that maybe it isn't the best idea to openly start a conflict like this in front of pretty much everyone. I do not wish for this situation to turn out like those in medieval dramas, where whenever a lower-ranked bully girl goes up against the higher-ranked one, and essentially ends her own social life. I just wish to understand what has been going on. I hope she isn't going to do anything stupid. Please, by the gods, let this end without drama.
"Did you enjoy sleeping around with the student council?" Her question startles me, like the heck what? This girl has seen me once. Once!!! I mean sure if I was any less Pan- and Asexual, maybe that would have been an option, but hell no, and with the entire students council? That must be like 15 people or so. Even just the thought of it makes me speechless, all hopes about it ending without drama are thrown out of the window in a matter of seconds.
She doesn't stop with just that one question though, no she continues on with her rant, "Must have been real good for them to give you the position as President of the Students Council"
Even a few seconds after hearing her words and slowly comprehending them, they have me flabbergasted. It seems not just me, the entire room, even her elated company seems to be just as stunned by her accusation. At least I know now what she is getting at, the mysterious whatever, that solved my side quest.
"Just to be sure I heard you correctly, have you just asked me, if I have been romantically and sexually involved with several people to gain the position of President of a student council?" I inquire calmly, trying to overshadow my confusion, as to where that came from. Some disgust rises inside my stomach at the very thought of what she just implied. With pure willpower, I suppress the shudder of disgust and the bile rising up to my throat.
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She nods vehemently. "Of course, you must have done something like that for heir White to notice you, a low-born Black, and place you in such a prestigious position," she claims sure of herself with every fibre of her being, her words laced with arrogance and disgust. Her words are twisted and make no sense, they don’t follow any logic beyond her delusions. Black low born? Not that I care much for those titles here anyway, but to me that sentence in itself makes no sense. I mean I only know a few things about this world, yet she must know how the society is structured.
Despite my slowly dwindling hope, she isn't yet finished throwing herself off the metaphorical social cliff. She adds with a huff, "Why else would you receive such a position when even I, a daughter of the great Sun Family, wasn't granted it?! I am a far better fit for it, and even more beautiful than someone like you." Delusional. That is the only word I can think of, yet the glimmer in her eyes betrays that this isn’t some nonsense she has come up with. No, those thoughts are her honest and direct thoughts.
I will try the direct approach, maybe it works. "To your information Miss Sun, I wasn't even aware that I received such a position until you informed me so kindly about it," I reply to her words calmly, with enough underlying confusion to make it believable.
It's not that I didn't know about it, the System told me so after all, but other than that I wasn't aware of what happened. Which is why I shall claim exactly that. Her face sputters at my words and her eyes widen in disbelief. In any other situation, I would be amused by her face and enjoy the sight of it. Right now, I have other worries and not the privilege of being an outsider, or even a reader of a comic in this situation.
"So to shorten this conversation, since our teacher should be arriving in a few minutes," I start my voice taking on a sharper tone. "I do not know, nor was I informed, about the change in position of the students council. Now, I would politely request, you and your friends, to return to your respective seats, before the teacher arrives, and starts asking questions about the situation. I am not sure you would like to explain the entire thing to them?!"
***
When she is about to protest, her two friends grab her by the arm, dragging her to her seat. Once there they force her to sit down and start berating her. Another rare sight I would usually enjoy. I sigh trying to gather my thoughts. I know now why everyone was reacting so strangely to my presence, if that is what has been making its rounds it is no surprise at all. What had Conrad been thinking about giving me such a position without any prior notice? Or was the system at play there?
I turn my attention to Keeva and Nakoda. Keeva makes the impression she wants to jump up and tear out Lanira’s throat or do something that will make her regret ever existing. I lay a calming hand on her shoulder. "Keeva, can you promise to let me handle this?" I ask her, trying to take her attention off them. She nods and agrees yet I am not so sure if I can trust her to keep her word. "Same for you Nakoda. She is a dumb bully spouting nonsense that is nothing to get too upset about," I try to downplay it.
Nakoda, ever the aspiring Knight will have none of that "No don't you downplay that. She just accused you of having slept with the entire student council, that are 15 people. By my sword, 15, Lukida. Which would be a scandal with that alone, that is ignoring who those people are and what titles and positions they hold."
I stop his protests there with a sigh. "Yes, yes. Still, just leave it as it is. These are just empty words. Nothing like that happened wouldn't even have been possible as I was at the FMI until late in the night doing autopsies."
This time Keeva speaks up. "But Lukida to even imply that you, an honourable Lady of such a great house, would do something like that. That-" I stop her rant right there, trying to prevent her from causing a great backlash upon that stupid girl.
"Just let her be stupid and leave it at that, there is no need to make it bigger than it is," I argue against her but Keeva stays stubborn and huffs.
"Fine, but should she say another word, I'll end her. You won't be stopping me then, not only because she is going after a Black, but because you are my friend now." Her insistent glare makes me surrender with a sigh. I know better than to argue in a lost fight.
