SAW 40 - Prelude to the festival(4)
"Ouch ouch ouch..."
I caressed my shoulder and waist as I walk outside the gym together with Kim Jaesuk, Cecilia, and the princess.
"You said you'll hold back!"
"I was holding back."
"I don't think so..."
"You're just too weak even after I held back."
"Ugh..."
I shut my mouth up after that because her roasting hit me harder than her blow earlier.
I then turned around to see that people are looking at us as we're walking.
"This is quite a strange line up, don't you think?"
I asked the princess, which she replied.
"What do you mean?"
"A couple of first year students from commoner class is walking together with the princess of the empire and her caretaker. I wonder what those people looking at us are thinking right now..."
"Don't mind it, it's an honour for you to walk around with a princess such as me."
"Pfft..."
I laughed a little at her jokes.
"Do you guys want to grab something to eat before going back?"
"I'll pa-"
I was about to answer the princess' offer when I noticed that Cecilia is staring dagger at me.
I turned to look at Kim Jaesuk and he only nodded his head.
"Um, sure..."
"That's great! Let's go to the cafetaria."
She then led us to the nobles cafetaria which interior looks amazing.
It's decorated properly way better than the commoners', just as expected.
I then grab a plate and picked up all the food that I've never seen before.
After that, we took a seat at a sharing table which fit the four of us.
"I've never seen nor eaten this in my life."
I said after taking a seat.
"Really? I thought you will have had any kinds of food since you've been living in the mountain..."
At the princess' remarks, Kim Jaesuk looked surprised and I immediately pinched his tight.
He then realised right away that it's a background that I told them.
"Yeah well, our master was vegetarian so we had to adjust, you know?"
"Ohh that's true. Well, eat up now that you're here!"
We all then started eating.
When we're in the middle of having our meal, a certain someone being followed by a bunch of students stood next to our table.
"What a weird line up you guys have here..."
It's the prince, Oscar de Gracias.
"What do you need, o' brother of mine?"
"Nothing really, I just wanted to greet my beloved sister."
"Oh yeah? Now that you've greeted me, you can go."
"How mean of you, sister. Why the hostility?"
"Had you not brought your follower here, I would've welcomed you to sit with us."
"What do they have to do with that?"
"Nothing really, just looking at them irritate me."
After saying that, they just stared dagger at each other for a bit before someone suddenly shouted.
"CECILIA!!"
It's Frankwell who suddenly showed up from that bunch of student following behind the prince.
"How dare you share a table with another guys?!"
He then started questioning Cecilia.
"What does that have to do with you?"
She answered in a rather hostile tone.
"You're my fi-"
"No I'm not. I would rather stay alone for the rest of my life rather than to marry a guy like you."
"You!!"
The situation unfolding in front of me right now seems like a scene straight out of a arranged marriage kind of drama.
Even Kim Jaesuk is flabbergasted by the sudden turn of the situation.
"You come with me!"
Frankwell then tried to grab Cecilia's hand.
But I grabbed his before he's able to grab Cecilia's.
"Okay, that's enough. We're eating here, so finish your business later."
I then threw his hand away after saying that and looked at the prince instead of Frankwell.
"Sure, let's go. I'll see you later, sister."
The prince just left peacefully with a smile on his face after I said that.
"Wha- Prince, wait for me..."
Frankwell glared at me for a bit before running after the prince.
"Such a waste for an ikemen."
I said while sighing, the princess then asked.
"What's an ikemen?"
"Oh, it means a handsome guy."
"That guy? handsome?"
"You don't think so?"
"Not really?"
Cecilia then suddenly joined the conversation.
"Don't bother... the princess just don't like guys in general."
"Oh I see..."
"Anyway, are you sure you won't get into trouble for doing that?"
She then asked me.
"I already have a problem with him anyway, so might as well take it all the way..."
"... Thank you."
"Sure..."
After that, we just continue eating out meal with small talk.
We then separated after finishing our meal, with me and Kim Jaesuk walked towards our dorm.
As we were walking, Kim Jaesuk asked me a question.
"Are you fine with that?"
"With what?"
"You're gonna deal with a lot of trouble now..."
"That Frankwell guy? He's nothing, don't worry."
"Not him... but the prince. That guy, he is..."
He suddenly stopped talking at that point.
"What about him?"
"It's nothing."
"Hmm? you're being weird."
Our conversation ended just like that.
Arriving at the dorm, we opened the door and find that Adrian is sitting in the dinner table while reading a book with food on the table.
"You guys are late! dinner's getting cold..."
He then started to heat up the food straight away.
'Oh shit.. I forgot about this guy...'
I then turned to Kim Jaesuk who's having an apologetic face plastered on his face right now.
Feeling bad for Adrian, I forced myself to say,
"Sorry man, yeah let's eat."
Me and Kim Jaesuk forced ourselves to finish the food that night.
---
(In the nobles' dorm)
'It's so strange...'
I thought to myself as I laid down on my bed.
Two people, both with S-ranked aptitudes.
Alex as well, he might not have high aptitudes, but he's catch thing and learn so fast.
They just suddenly appeared out of nowhere and the headmistress is taking personal care of them.
And that Kim Jaesuk guy, if what Alex said is the truth, then he's a monster.
Few months of sword practice and he's already that good, it's scary how strong he would be after practicing for years.
That reaction as well, when the princess said they were from the mountain, that seems way too real to be faked.
Which means, Alex lied about them being from the mountain.
(knock knock)
I was drowning in thought when someone knocked on my door.
"Cecil, I just made dessert. Let's eat together..."
"I'm coming, princess."
"Call me Reyna when we're alone!"
"Okay, okay..."
'Sigh, at least there's someone out there that can talk with the princess normally now...'
I then got up from my bed and walked outside my room.
---
The day after, there's no class since its Saturday.
The three of us, me, Adrian, and Kim Jaesuk decided to train together today as we usually train separately.
The headmistress agreed to let us use the training room in the staff building, and we trained there together.
We also become closer with the princess and Cecilia somehow, which makes me realise something.
The princess doesn't have a lot of friend. Not to mention a lot, I've never seen her talking to someone aside from us and Cecilia.
I realised that's why Cecilia gave me that stare back then when the princess asked us to eat together.
I suppose it's because people are afraid of somehow reluctant to speak to her because of her status? But apparently the number of people that support her is not losing out to that of prince Oscar.
Day after day passed and we spent each day as usual and nothing really interesting happened.
There's just a bunch of decoration around the academy area since the festival is coming soon, and everyone is preparing for it.
There's no trouble coming, there's no incident happening, everyday passed peacefully until it's finally the 31st of December.
It's the first day of the festival.
---
(In the nobles' dorm)
"How is it, Frankwell?"
"I can feel my power rising inside me, sir."
I answered the question that instructor Joma asked.
"Of course, it's a medicine that boost your power for a period of time without any side effect whatsoever after all..."
"That stuff exist huh..."
"Yes, but keep it a secret okay? It'll be bad if people found out you're using it after all..."
"Of course hehehe... I'll finally be able to beat the shit out of Alex."
Instructor Joma then give me something else.
It's a medicine similar to the one I just consumed, but with different colour.
"This one is similar medicine, but more potent. It will increase your power by at least 10 times."
"10- 10 times?!"
"Of course, but it will only last for a while, so use it when you need it. You know when right?"
"Yes, sir... Thank you."
"No problem... don't disappoint me, Frankwell."
"I won't instructor."
I said, without noticing that the instructor is smiling evil next to me.