74 [19.6] A Father Who Cares

Priscilla stomped her foot, "Wait! Don't walk away! Oi! Are you ignoring me?!"

I didn't even acknowledge her as I passed by.

One of her goons shouted, "Don't ignore Princess Priscilla!"

I felt one of the girls pull on my dress so roughly, that a ripping sound cut through the air. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a hand coming towards my face as if to hit me.

Out of instinct, I flinched as I prepared for the punch that never came.

The girl burst out into laughter, "Bahahaha! Did you see her flinch?!"

Priscilla hesitated then smirked, "Heh. To think she just tried to scare me a moment ago… I guess it was all just a show."

My hands shook as I felt anger consuming me.

Cyrus noticed my dark expression and tugged on my dress sleeve, "Reika? Are you okay?"

I could hear mocking laughter all around me, "She thought I was going to hit her! Hah! What a wuss!"

The other one taunted, "Watch out, peasant! Don't make us hit you!"

Priscilla's smile seemed to falter slightly as she looked at her two goons who were raising their fist at me in a mocking manner.

Cyrus snapped at them, "Stop it! Aren't you all ashamed of yourselves?! This isn't how Aristocrats are supposed to behave!"

The girl who had gone to hit me earlier sneered at me, "It's her own fault for-"

*SNAP*

In a moment, I felt as if I was in a daze.

My body was moving as if controlled by another force. I pounced on the girl who had raised her hand to me. I could only watch as I attacked her with a ferocious look in my eyes.

I couldn't get myself to stop.

I screamed in a voice that was not my own, "YOU'RE WRONG! YOU'RE WRONG! YOU'RE WRONG!"

Zephyr ran over to me in a panic and tried pulling me off, "Stop you idiot!! You're going to seriously hurt her!!"

Hazel stood in the opening and watched the attack with wide eyes. The corners of her lips twitched upwards as she watched the fight in front of her.

Caldwell pushed Hazel to the side and shrieked, "Violence!?"

Cyrus pulled on me and cried out, "REIKA! Stop! Please!!"

I snapped back to my senses upon hearing Cyrus's shout.

What did I… Do?

I let go of the girl and let them drag me off of her.

Felix, who had heard the commotion, rushed to where we were and shouted, "Just what is happening here?!"

Priscilla rushed to her friend's side. The girl was sobbing as she held her swollen face. Priscilla turned to me and screamed, "I'm going to get them to lock you up, you crazy girl!!!"

Felix pulled her away with a growl, "No you won't. You won't do a thing."

"B-But brother! She attacked Susie!!"

Felix spoke to her sternly, "Reika doesn't attack people unprovoked. And don't you three pretend that you did nothing wrong. Do you really think I wouldn't know that you three have been using your Aristocratic and Royal titles to go around bullying others?! Aren't you ashamed!?"

Priscilla whimpered, "B-But… It's not like we attacked her! She was the one who went crazy!"

Felix ignored her and bent down to Susie's side who was still crying. He pulled out a wand and muttered a spell. A gentle green light seeped out from his wand and covered her body.

In an instant, she was healed completely.

Her sobs slowed down and she looked up at Felix with eyes of admiration, "T-Thank you Felix…"

Felix's eyes held no trace of warmth as he spoke, "I think it's best you don't tell anyone what happened here today."

Susie flinched in shock, "W-What do you mean?"

An eerie smile crossed his lips, "I wonder what the Aristocrats would say if they knew you were fighting with a commoner? I imagine your reputation would shatter completely. I wonder what your parents would do if that were to happen?"

Susie's face went pale in an instant.

Even as a child, she knew that all an Aristocrat had was their reputation. Once it was sullied, they would become complete outcasts.

She stood up quickly with a dark expression, "P-Please excuse me…"

She ran back into the house without another word. Her friend shouted, "Susie wait!"

She too ran after her, only leaving Priscilla behind. Priscilla sobbed pitifully and tugged on Felix's sleeves, "D-Don't be angry brother… I-I was only worried that having these two around you could bring misfortune… I was doing it to help you."

His eyes were detached as he faced her, "These are my friends, Priscilla. You need to accept that. If you can't, then I don't think I can entertain you any longer."

"Brother!!!" She stomped her foot and cried, "I HATE YOU!"

She ran off crying and Felix let her go with a sigh. He turned to me with a gentle smile, "Are you alright?"

I couldn't force myself to look him in the eyes.

Whether it was from guilt… Or something else…

I wasn't sure.

I continued to look at the ground without saying a word. Cyrus stepped toward me and reached out to touch me, "Reika…"

I flinched from his outstretched hand and avoided it on instinct. Cyrus looked shocked and I was too.

Why am I so tense?

It's embarrassing.

Caldwell noticed someone walk over and bowed quickly, "Ah! Your Majesty…"

We turned to the doorway to see the Duke, the King, and the Headmaster standing there. Duke Newman raised an eyebrow, "We heard shouting."

Felix skipped over to him and smiled sweetly, "It's okay, Father. I got it under control."

The Duke grinned and rubbed Felix's head, "Atta boy! You are always so great at solving conflict."

The King's eyes moved across our group and paused when they fell upon me. I forced my eyes from the ground to meet his. He abruptly moved his gaze away and smiled at the Duke, "I suppose we should be getting back to the party."

The Duke nodded, "Shall we?"

Despite not being present earlier, The Headmaster understood immediately what had happened. His sharp eyes fell upon my ripped dress. He pulled on me, "We are leaving."

Cyrus stood on the veranda in silence as he watched me getting dragged away while Zephyr scurried after us.

Hazel blinked in confusion once she realized she was left behind, "Ah… They were my ride…"

The Headmaster made sure to avoid prying eyes as he dragged me outside. Once we were in the carriage, the atmosphere was so stifling that I couldn't breathe.

I expected him to shout at me for hurting that girl, but he was quiet instead.

I fidgeted under his frosty glare.

Ugh! I'd rather he just yell! This silence is killing me!!

The Headmaster didn't meet my eyes as he spoke, "Why did you attack her?"

I lowered my head, "I-I don't know… I thought she was going to hit me and then I blacked out..."

He didn't say another word which only filled me with more anxiety.

I don't like this stuffiness…

Before I knew it, I was speaking. "I… I don't know my birthday…."

He was startled but didn't really show it. The Headmaster looked at me thoughtfully, "Then… Why don't you just pick a day?"

Ugh. He sounds just like Goldilocks.

I leaned back with a sigh, "I don't want to."

Why do I feel so uncomfortable?

Did I want him to pick a day for me?

But since he didn't… I guess that means he doesn't intend to celebrate that day for me.

We rode in silence the rest of the way.

Finally, we arrived back at the Academy. The Headmaster quietly left the carriage with a dark and frosty expression. I timidly stepped out and followed him inside. The Headmaster walked into our tower and sat down at the nearest table. He propped his elbows up and held his head with a tired look.

I bit my lip as I stayed in the doorway and watched him with anxiety.

Wow. He looks really mad at me…

I really messed up this time…

He will probably kick me out.

Or give me to another orphanage.

I guess I haven't made things easy for him, so why would he ever let me stay?

I can't believe I attacked a little girl. Even if she was annoying, I'm an adult!

How could I let a child make me so angry?!

Ugh… I'm such an embarrassment.

I deserve to be kicked out.

"What do I keep doing wrong? I've been following the book so why…" The Headmaster let out a somber sigh, "Gonza was right. I really am a failure at being a guardian…."

I felt a twinge of pain and hesitated at the doorway.

Wait… What was that?

He's not… Mad?

Why isn't he mad?

He should be mad.

I behaved badly and even made things difficult for him. He should be kicking me out…

He should be angry at me, not himself!

I hesitated as I stared at him with uncertainty. I wanted to approach him, but I was almost too afraid.

Suddenly, I felt a gentle shove on my back.

I looked behind to see Zephyr staring at me. He nodded reassuringly and motioned me forward with his hands.

I took a deep breath and tightened my fists. I forced my feet forward and walked up to the Headmaster.

His eyes slowly looked up at me and I could almost feel the frozen loneliness within them.

I walked to his side and shyly grabbed his sleeve, "I'm not the obedient, perfect little girl that everyone wishes their kid could be. I wish I could be, but I'm not. Sometimes I can't control myself. Sometimes I find myself with a darkness inside of me that I can't ignore. I try to behave, but I only end up causing more trouble…"

The Headmaster was shocked and looked at me in surprise, "Reika-"

I looked at the parenting book and tapped the cover shyly. My cheeks flushed, "There's no such thing as the perfect parent… And that's okay. You don't need to be perfect. You only need to be here for me… And you are. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that… You are the best guardian I could ever ask for."

My eyes slowly turned to his, "I'm relieved that it was you who became my father here."

His eyes lit up, "...Father?"

I froze.

Sh*t.

I just said something unnecessary.