Test Anxiety

One more day was left for the exam. Evelyn woke up in the evening and checked outside the window. It was still daylight outside. She sat straight and strolled towards the balcony to get some fresh air. 

Earl suggested not to exhaust herself a day before the council exam as it might affect her performance. She kept on thinking about it which made her anxious therefore she decided to get some rest, hoping to get away from those, before exam thoughts. But alas, there wasn't much difference. She was still nervous.  

From her balcony, she saw her uncle go out again. Noticing how he wore his jacket while storming towards the carriage without wasting a single moment, she understood it was an emergency again. She sighed. 

"Something has happened in the council. Never seen uncle Admiral tensed like this," she murmured to herself. 

The past few days had been erratic. She saw how her father and uncle whispered to each other with serious faces. And whenever she entered, they changed the topic. She tried to find out from them but they always brushed it off. Knowing her boundaries, she left the topic as it was. Moreover, it was just a few more days and she would be in council herself. 

She felt restless, as she returned to the room, closing the balcony door. To calm her anxiety she decided to meet Earl and talk to him to distract herself. 

"Princess is suffering from test anxiety," she heard him say when she described her inner turmoils. 

"Yeah maybe," she replied. Furrows on her forehead clearly showed how restless she was.

Earl chuckled looking at her in this condition. Seeing him enjoying her state, Evelyn swatted on his arm and looked at him sullenly. 

"I am worried here and you are enjoying my state instead of helping me," she complained. 

"Okay okay. How about visiting the church? Maybe you will feel better," he suggested. Evelyn found it a pleasant idea and hence decided to go with him. 

Returning from the church, she found her anxiety was lessened. Her face held a serene expression. She wished night to Earl and began walking towards her room from the carriage stand, rubbing her palms to generate warmth.  

As she entered the palace, she turned around to close the door behind her only to see her father standing alone in the cold weather in the garden. 

"What are you doing here in the cold, father?" She asked, reaching near him. Taking out her shawl she put it around him. Her dress was made up of woollen which kept her warm. Although she still felt a little cold but wasn't enough to make her shiver. 

Renaud smiled at her caring gesture. Yet worried about her. Furrows formed on his forehead as he thought about tomorrow's council exam. Evelyn waited patiently for him to speak. She knew something was pestering him as she looked at his dull eyes with concern. 

"Eve," she heard him call her.

"Can I ask something from you?" He asked. The tone of his voice displayed how distressed he was. 

"Yes father," she replied, looking curiously at him. 

"Don't attend tomorrow's exam." 

"Huh?" She looked at him bewildered. It was clear that he was worried about something as his voice held a concern for her and not the authority of being her father. 

"Is something bothering you, father? You had agreed to it back then. What happened now?" She asked. 

"Back then a lord was speaking. Now it's a father of an only daughter," he said and let out a saddened sigh. 

She looked at him being baffled. 

"Council is a bad place Eve. Not for pure hearts like you," he began. 

Evelyn listened to him carefully, trying to comprehend what he was saying. She knew about the council already from her uncle who always complained about a few people who tarnished the council's name. But this time matter was something else and she anticipated it as his father would never ask her to back off. 

Renaud continued, clearing the confusion, "You wanted to know what was the matter in council right?" Evelyn nodded one time. 

"A council member was found dead in his house. Looking at the crime scene Admiral thought it was an animal attack as his body was shredded in pieces. But the reality is he was murdered. By whom, they yet to find," he said in disappointment. 

Evelyn now understood why he asked her not to attend the exam. It was his care and concern towards her that made him say that. 

"Don't worry father, I will take care of myself," she said reassuring him. 

"I know my daughter is brave. Good luck with your exam tomorrow Eve," he said. This time he held a genuine smile on his face which relieved her. He hugged her sideways and they both stood there in silence enjoying the moonlight, noting that tomorrow was the full moon day. 

*****

Far in the forest, two men arrived from opposite directions, meeting to scheme something evil. 

"Tomorrow is the day," one of the men said, looking at the moon. His voice was deep and his eyes golden. Broad chest and strong arms displayed his strength. His neck veins were highly evident. He held authority in his voice. 

"Yeah, foolish Baronet would have ruined everything by informing to Admiral," the other man replied. 

"Good that you eliminate his existence forever, Shane." 

Shane chuckled at the appreciation and said, "Had to or else our plan would have been destroyed by his stupidity." 

The golden-eyed man sighed in exhaustion. He stared at Shane fixedly and said sharply, "Don't laugh. Council is aware that it was a cold murder. We have to be more careful now." He saw him nodding obediently and continued, "Did you approach the witch?" 

"Yes, everything is going according to the plan. He will enter the council and all other candidates will be shredded by the cursed one," Shane informed, bowing at the Alpha Wolf of his pack. 

The golden-eyed man nodded and soon they two disappeared in the darkness of the forest.