Everyone would believe that after Prince Cassian's little sister, Princess Matilda, expressed her disdain for his playboy character, he would change, right? Wrong. He never changed. After his summer break and the cold war between him and his sister, he went back to the academy with his playboy attitude still firmly intact.
Prince Cassian's carefree and flirtatious nature was a topic of endless discussion among the students. Some dismissed his behavior as mere flirting, a harmless display of charm. Others admired him for his seemingly carefree attitude, mistaking it for confidence. However, there was a special breed of people who found his nature nothing but a disgusting attribute.
Lydia, a third-year student, had recently made friends with Amelia during a joint history expedition. Every year, three students were required to walk with a first-year student to foster camaraderie and mentorship. Lydia had been paired with Amelia, a first-year.
"Your Highness, pleased to make your acquaintance," Lydia had curtsied during their first meeting.
"If I remember correctly, status is the same as far as we are wearing the uniform, so please address me as Amelia," she had stated, linking arms with Lydia as they set off on their expedition.
From that moment, Amelia never failed to seek out Lydia, and they became good friends. Their bond was strong, forged by mutual respect and shared experiences.
" Lydia- eonni, do you want to get some desserts", Amelia asked jumping out from nowhere. Lydia smiled as Amelia gave her cute expression. { 'Eonni' is a Korean term used my females to address an older sister or older friend. }
" And if I say I don't ", she teased.
" No you have to, please, please, please.... ", her plead blew out Lydia's ear causing her to give in to her cute request.
" You are too much". Amelia gave her a big smile as she dragged her to the cafeteria.
" Eonni, Do you like strawberry or mango flavored desserts? "
" Any will do actually ", Lydia gave a vague reply. That didn't stop Amelia though. She bought both flavours for them to enjoy. Their conversation was going good and they were laughing a lot. All of a sudden, Amelia took on a serious look
" What's wrong? "
" Eonni, can I call you Lia? "
Lydia gave a very confused look but nodded that she had permission to do so.
" Yay, Lia-eonni, Lia, Lia, Lia-eonni ", Amelia celebrated. Lydia was still confused tho.
" Was there any sensitive topic you were about to bring up? ". Saying this, Amelia just shook her head " No ".
" Then why the serious look before, you are just too much ".
Their friendship was now that of really close friends. Lydia found Amelia's curiosity and eagerness to learn endearing, and Amelia admired Lydia's poise and wisdom. They admired each other.
"Lia-eonni!" Amelia called out one day as she spotted Lydia coming out of her class. Amelia had been waiting for her to come outside for their break.
"Oh, Amelia," Lydia smiled, ruffling her hair affectionately. "How was your morning class?"
"It was interesting, but I couldn't wait for our break. I have so much to tell you!" Amelia replied enthusiastically.
"Well, let's grab some lunch and you can tell me all about it," Lydia suggested.
Amelia, ever so clingy, linked their arms together as they headed to the cafeteria. Their laughter and easy conversation were interrupted when Cassian, now in his sixth year, stopped them in the hallway.
"Wow! You girls, your beauty is quite blinding," he commented, a smirk playing on his lips.
Amelia rolled her eyes and whispered to Lydia, "Who is this?"
"The crown prince of Arcadia," Lydia replied softly, hoping to avoid a scene.
Amelia looked even more displeased. First, he interrupted their conversation by flirting, and secondly, because of his authority, they couldn't just walk away.
"Your Highness, it's good to see you," Lydia greeted, trying to keep the interaction polite, but Amelia just ignored him.
"Quite the attitude. I like it. What's your name, damsel?" Cassian asked, planting a kiss on the back of her hand.
Amelia quickly wiped it off with a handkerchief and threw it at him. "Your Highness, I am also a highness. So please show respect. You can pick that up as well; you just ruined it," Amelia replied coldly.
"So you must be Princess Amelia of Luretta. Pleased to meet you. I heard you had quite the attitude, but you are feisty," Cassian said, seemingly unfazed by her reaction.
"And you are disgusting, disrespectful, and have no self-respect," Amelia shot back.
A few students were still hanging around in the hallway, and the confrontation caught their attention. They whispered among themselves, eyes wide with shock at Amelia's boldness.
"How dare you?" Cassian raised his voice, his face turning red with anger.
Seeing this, Lydia could not help but retaliate. "Your Highness, I'm sorry to say, but that's rather disrespectful. As a lady seeing this, I must say you have no respect for our gender. Not only that, but I can see you have gained no morals. As your very citizen, this very attitude you have just portrayed tells me you are unfit to be king. I would also like to add that a king who has no respect for our gender is no king."
Lydia's words were sharp, and the anger in her voice reminded her of how her husband treated her till she died in her past life.
"What she said. So stop bothering us," Amelia added, as Lydia tried to take her away from the scene.
"It's your kind I despise the most. You have just spoiled my lunch appetite," Lydia added, as she hissed and left with Amelia.
Cassian stood there, seething with rage, as the students around him whispered and pointed. This was not the reaction he was used to. He had always been the charming prince who could get away with anything, but Lydia and Amelia had challenged him in a way no one else had dared.
As Lydia and Amelia walked away, the tension in the hallway slowly dissipated. The students returned to their activities, though the encounter left a lingering unease.
"Thank you for standing up for me, Lia-eonni," Amelia said quietly as they reached the cafeteria.
"You don't need to thank me, Amelia. You did well on your own. Besides, someone needed to put him in his place," Lydia replied, giving her a reassuring smile.