Chapter 247: The Prince and the Principal

Wednesday morning, school was only in session for one class before a temporary notice from the principal's office called all teachers and students to assemble in the auditorium for a meeting. There was important news to announce.

"A meeting? What kind of meeting…"

Walking up the steps to the auditorium, Lily was highly displeased, muttering to her two companions, "Is he going to impose new school rules to restrict and persecute us again?"

One companion, echoing Lily's sentiments exactly, complained, "Exactly, he's the worst principal I've ever seen!"

Another added, "Lily, your mom has a lot of influence in Los Angeles. Why not have her deal with him?"

"This…"

Mention of her mother instantly deflated Lily's indignation, and she quickly changed the subject, "We better hurry; it's getting late."

She sped up, leading the way into the auditorium, with her companions following closely like shadows.

The auditorium was not fully packed, with several seats still empty. Lily chose a spot towards the back where fewer people were seated and waited patiently, her companions sitting to her right.

Lily did not want to attract attention, especially from the principal, remembering how infuriated he currently was with her.

As the cheerleading captain, her words carried weight within the team, and she held sway over school fashion and attire trends. Her clothing and styling choices set the standard for the entire school.

A few months ago, she was caught wearing a miniskirt by the principal, violating the school's dress code, which led to a series of troubles. She was accused of bullying peers, harassing new cheerleaders, mocking classmates, and in the principal's eyes, she was a villain.

"Am I really that bad?" Lily muttered.

Surrounding students, hardly any found the principal favorable.

A boy approached Lily, eyeing the empty seat to her left, "Lily, may I sit here?"

Lily glanced at the boy dismissively, "No."

The boy, mouth agape as if to protest, met Lily's increasingly sharp gaze and stammered, "I…I…I'll just leave then."

He hurried away.

Lily turned to a companion on her right, "Larry, sit on my left."

"Okay!" The girl quickly moved to Lily's left.

As more students entered the auditorium, the seats filled up. Lily gazed towards the stage, lost in thought.

The dreadful principal would soon appear on stage to ramble on, making everyone despise him even more. What to do?

"Ah, if only Matthew Horner could receive the letter I sent out." Lily rested her chin in her hand, daydreaming, "If Will Turner could be here now, he'd handle that dreadful principal just like he does pirates."

Every girl harbors a Disney princess dream, imagining a prince with a sword on a white horse coming to her rescue.

Behind the auditorium stage, Matthew stood in front of a mirror checking his costume, transforming once more into Will Turner after many months.

"Is it okay?" the stylist asked.

Matthew nodded, "Aside from the hair, it's the same as during filming."

He had cut his long hair short a while ago and didn't use a wig since this wasn't a film.

Helen Herman approached Matthew quietly, "I just spoke with the principal. He's prepared a one-minute speech. After he starts, you go up."

Matthew drew his aluminum alloy sword, glanced at it, and sheathed it back, "No problem."

As the meeting time drew near, footsteps echoed from the entrance. Lily snapped back to reality and turned to see reporters and cameramen entering the auditorium.

"Is today's meeting that important?" a companion to her left curiously asked.

Merely curious, yet unsurprised.

Including Lily, the presence of reporters in the auditorium was not shocking.

Harvard Westlake School, even within California, was famously renowned, often attracting media attention.

But today's event seemed more significant than usual, with Lily noticing the ABC television logo on a camera.

The auditorium quickly quieted down, no need for Lily to look to know the principal had taken the stage. She glanced anyway, confirming the principal was indeed behind the lectern.

Without a second thought, she pulled out earphones, plugged them into her music player, turned up the volume, and spared herself from the principal's detestable voice.

Engrossed in music, Lily watched the principal's mouth move without hearing his words, amusing herself. Not just her, many students chose similarly, evidencing the principal's unpopularity among them.

The principal spoke for less than a minute before something unexpected happened on stage.

Initially, Lily was amused watching the principal's silent antics, but suddenly someone appeared on stage.

"What?" Lily yanked out her earphones.

Her companions, equally stunned, stared at the striking man on stage, unsure of what was happening.

Lily's eyes widened in disbelief.

The man, tall and muscular with rough lines, dressed in medieval attire and holding an old-fashioned sword.

"Will Turner!" Lily, obsessed with the character from the movies, could not mistake him, whispering, "Matthew Horner!"

Then, covering her mouth, tears of excitement welled in her eyes.

All cameras in the auditorium aimed at the two figures on stage.

Some teachers and students with camera-equipped phones also began taking photos, targeting both the principal and the unexpectedly heroic man.

"Are you the warden here?" an English accent resonated from the stage, "Are you?"

Laughter erupted among the students, with Lily openly smiling. Wasn't it just so? The principal like a crazed warden, and they his prisoners!

"Who are you?" the principal glared.

"A good friend wrote to me…"

To Lily's ears, his voice was heavenly, "saying you've been tyrannical here, committing atrocities!"

Hearing this, Lily trembled with excitement, grabbing a companion's hand, "Larry, did you hear that? He's here for me! He got my letter! He's come to rescue me!"

Her hero, her prince!

"Today!" That captivating voice continued, "I stand for my friend, for all the good people you've oppressed here, for justice, for the sun, for the moon… to punish you!"

Laughter filled the auditorium again, with Lily, despite tears, joining in.

She watched intently as her prince drew his sword, approaching the principal who visibly cowered, retreating step by step.

Like every villain in movies, the principal retreated, saying, "What do you want?"

"I'm here to free all those you've oppressed!"

Lily's gaze remained unblinking, witnessing her prince advancing and striking the principal with his sword, eliciting a scream from him.

"Good!" she leapt up, shouting towards the stage, "Well done, Matthew! Will! Hit him hard for me!"

Someone took the lead, and the auditorium echoed with more jeers, "Hit him hard!"

"Beat him!"

"On our behalf, give him a good thrashing!"

Matthew glanced down at the audience, realizing the act needed to end quickly to prevent any students from rushing the stage, complicating matters.

He signaled the principal, who nodded in understanding.

Then, Matthew's left fist aimed at the principal's face, following a brief rehearsed fight, the principal, showing some acting talent, played along and fell to the ground with a thud.

"Good!"

"Well done!"

"Great job!"

"Will Turner, I love you!"

"Matthew, you're the best!"

The auditorium filled with cheers and applause. Matthew pointed at the fallen principal, proclaiming loudly, "I'm taking him away now to have a serious talk. You all..."

He performed a dramatic flourish with his sword, pointing towards the students, "are now free!"

The crowd erupted in excitement and approval.

Although the school had prepared for the possibility of students getting overly excited, Matthew remained cautious, mindful of the atmosphere. Glancing towards the media section, he noticed Elena Boyar, a towering presence, signaling it was time to leave.

He walked over to the principal, waved towards one side of the stage, and immediately two men dressed as pirates came up, escorting the principal off the stage with them.

Behind the thick curtains, the principal quickly returned to his normal demeanor.

Matthew gave him a thumbs up, "Mr. Pearson, you've got a real knack for acting. It's a shame not to pursue a career in Hollywood."

Principal Pearson straightened up, stating solemnly, "I think I'm better suited to being a principal."

"Will! Will! Will!"

Suddenly, the auditorium echoed with chants, first for Will Turner, then shifting to Matthew.

"Matthew! Matthew! Matthew!"

As an insider, Matthew knew that not a few undercover teachers were among the audience, helping to guide the students' emotions appropriately.

Principal Pearson then suggested to Matthew, "Go out and meet them, talk to them a bit."

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