25 Curiosity & All Its Downsides

As the two separated, James wiped the tears off of Emma's cheeks with his thumb.

"It's best we go know. We have classes tomorrow, we haven't had dinner yet, and we don't want to be late again, right?" He asked gently as if if he spoke any louder, it would only make things worse.

Emma nodded.

"Y-you're right," she said as she tried to regain that calm and composure of hers.

As if on cue, Dean Fleur entered the clinic, her presence made known to the two students as she had noticed the two weren't at dinner with the other students at the cafeteria.

"What are you doing here?" She asked coldly.

Emma spoke up, not wanting to get in any more trouble, but also deciding to tell her the truth.

"We just brought her here, and we wanted to make sure she was okay," Emma said, not noticing James go scarlet when she said 'we'.

Dean Fleur approached Lily's bedside. On her usually expressionless and stern face, was a genuine look of pity and worry. She cleared her throat, trying to get rid of them.

"Well. It's a given she's excused for classes until she recovers, but this matter is not to be mentioned to anyone else. Until we find out the culprit, anyone could be guilty, you understand?" she asked as she shot the two students a glaring look.

Both James and Emma nodded. The last thing they wanted was for anyone else to find out.

Dean Fleur curtly nodded in reply.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going. I have other matters to attend to," she said as she left the clinic swiftly.

Professor Celine had left and was nowhere to be seen, and it was now only James, Emma and the unconscious Lily in the clinic now. The nurse was to check on Lily in the morning, and Professor Celine would return with the toxicology test results by tomorrow.

It was then James had an idea. He took out his phone and made a call, before extending his hand.

"If you're free, would you like to do me the honour of accompanying me for dinner?" He asked, hopelessly asking the girl on what he wanted to be a date as an attempt to cheer her up. The last thing he had ever expected was for her to accept the offer, but she did anyway.

She gave him a sad smile, which turned into a genuine smile.

"Yes, of course I would," she said as she clasped her hand in his.

She tilted her head as she had a sudden thought.

"Wait. Isn't the cafeteria closed now?" She asked.

James smirked.

"This is where the privileges of being a top student comes in," he said as he guided her out of the clinic, not saying anything else about where they were going.

He finally stopped at a building Emma had never seen before. As the two of them entered the building, Emma saw an opulent part of ZALE she had never seen before.

"Whoa. What is this place? Where are we, James?" Emma asked, looking around the unfamiliar surroundings.

"Somewhere only esteemed and top students have access to. Since the cafeteria can get crowded at times, we go here," he said as he pushed open a door to reveal a swanky decorated restaurant.

They were the only ones there, as the staff were only tasked to clean up after customers.

In the middle of the whole restaurant, was one table, with a small feast neatly laid out on it, arranged by James, who had called to prepare it in advance.

Emma's eyes widened in awe.

"What is all this?" She asked.

"A late dinner to distract us from other matters," he admitted, sheepishly smiling.

He looked at Emma, happy that this was cheering her up, even in the slightest.

The two made it to the centre of the empty restaurant. Being the gentleman he was, James pulled Emma's chair for her as an act of politeness.

Once the two were in their seats, Emma stared at the meal in front of her.

She had just realized. This was her first-ever time having a meal with a man.

Heck, this was the first time she had a meal with anyone other than Lily, or her mother.

As she learned in her etiquette class the very same day, she held a knife in her right hand, and fork in her left. As Madame Marian had shown, she balanced the food on the back of her fork before bringing it to her mouth. It seemed more of an acrobatic feat than simply eating, but this was the life of a royal. She had to get used to it sooner or later.

Through the delicious meal, the two clinked glasses, having fun talking about other matters, which was anything other than Lily and her...current state.

Unbeknownst to James, this was also one of the first times Emma ever had wine or alcohol ever in her life. That, and the time she had drank champagne with Lily. Being a royal aside, Emma was quite the boring child.

It was when James stumbled upon a rather...sensitive topic that the conversation got interesting.

"As you've already told me, your father is the late duke Kennedy of Zenovia, but what does your mother do? She is a duchess by default, right?" He asked, not knowing a single clue about how Emma was conceived.

She wasn't wanted, she was a mistake.

It was lucky her mother wanted her, even after her father left the two of them to fend for themselves. The reason for it was unknown, but Chloe was left heartbroken, and pregnant, no less.

Emma stayed silent.

Was her mother a duchess? She wasn't married to her father, so she technically wouldn't be a duchess, but would that make her a royal too?

So many questions, so little answers.

Emma looked down at her lap.

"I rather not talk about it," she mumbled.

James was muddled.

Was she not a daughter of a duchess?

Was she born out of wedlock?

For Emma's sake, he chose to stay quiet, even though his curiosity was eating at him from the inside.