HER DAYS WAS FILLED WITH unusual people. 

That day she did not get to find the book she wanted to find because Effan kept on pestering her with his sideways glances (though that man said that he would go continue his nap). 

Then when it was time to go to class, she was pestered by a pair of twins. They kept on following her whenever she went to. They even insisted to follow her to the lavatory.

At first, she did not think much. She thought maybe it was because of the gossip that made them stick to her like gum but when days passed and people kept on throwing looks at her, did she had the thought to run. 

It was useless. 

They kept on finding her every time she managed to slip past those twins who made her look like a valley between two standing mountain. Jacq was ruthless. He likes to chat with her. Tried to. She usually listened to whatever he was saying. It felt like she was walking with Gitto. While Jill was more distant and cold most of the time. She barely reacted to any topic that her twin brother spoke of.

Of course, the list of pursuers consisted of Gitto's name too. He skipped class as many times as he can. He said he wanted to try to be a delinquent student. Maybe it was his way of rebelling for the unfair treatment he received. Also, his nagging doubled from last year. He did not like that she was hanging with the 'rich brats from Kimberly'. Said that they were a bad influence and will bring a lot more enemies though she did not understand which part of enemies he means.

Not only that, but he also caught sight of the institute's newspaper for yesterday print this morning and he was mad furious that he instantaneously ran to the press office without delay. She remembered last year where a club published their book which containing Chamberly's notable figures profiles and biography, Gitto nearly burned the whole club room because they publish her profile though they did receive her permission. She should follow him so that he would not do anything stupid and reckless, again.

"Miss Ghotham?"

She lifted her face. Professor Kingston was standing facing her with his back on the chalkboard. He was smiling. "Yes," she answered.

"Do you mind share with your classmates what were you thinking of?" he said.

She blinked. "I was thinking about why we need to learn about the four last princes from each royal family's short-comings."

Professor Kingston chuckled. "And what conclusion have you arrived?"

Stella took her time to answer his way of punishing her getting caught for letting her mind drifted off. "It was unfortunate that their birth signifies the end of the ruling royal family, on the contrary, it gives hope for lower aptitude magic wielder since each of the princes was born with lower magical aptitude. It was seen as a curse and a blessing because some arose to be the ingenious creator of clockwork and some to die in vain caught in a political war. All this information had been learned when we were in grade 10 and to be revised again in this prep class for our Grand Assessment, I found that while it may seem repetitive, the true meaning behind this class was for us to discover the meaning of our existence. This wasn't simply An Introduction to Royale Chronicle but rather an introduction to one own standing in society."

If Gitto was with her at this moment, hearing her words, he might shut her mouth and make any excuse for her remarks. She means well and it was what she had honestly thought of. To others, she may sound bitter and salty at the same time but as much as she wants to, she was only stating the facts.

Professor Kingston moved to his desk and leaned his lower body to it, both his hand was clasp to his chest and his face showed that he was thinking. "Hm..."

The class was silent. It was almost felt like there was no one in there because the scarce number of students in here and still she could feel two pairs of eyes from her back, relayed their attention between her back and their instructor's face. It was Donne and Citra, the two others who was luckily drawn to be in this class.

"Let me ask you Miss Ghotham, are you regretting taking this course?" Professor Kingston spoke finally.

"I did not have feelings, sir," she answered and she heard Donne and Citra snickering behind her.

He chuckled too. "Well let me correct it, do you think that this course was a disadvantage of your situation?"

Stella faced her instructor. He has an approachable demeanor to complement his soft facial expression and he was a loving husband that always spoke of his wife's charms and attitude in class breaks but today he was all serious. "Yes," she answered honestly.

"Why? Was it because of you a non-magic wielder?"

"Yes."

"Yet you still here."

"... yes."

"Why?"

She had the same question too. Why? Was it only because of her family's smiles that she made this decision? Or was it because she received the offer letter to this course and not the other? Was it because she thought that she will be together with Gitto if she went? Yet her family still worried about her, and Gitto was not even in this course. "I don't know."

Professor Kingston sighed. Slowly his legs started to stride among the in-between desk, rounding his path just to see his students face. "Well, what you had said was true. That every heir of the royal family was born a female and to be first-born as a male was a curse in itself. A mystery with many theories yet Prince Velt I, Chamberly Ealm Fitzgerald Donald who was born nearly without any magical aptitude managed to rise and created clockwork so that people like him can live. He saw what others at that time – the time of when low magical aptitude was ignored and abandoned – cannot see. To be the last prince for only executing his own family ruling to the country, don't you think he was at a disadvantage too?"

"Do you know why he built this institute for all?" He stopped in front of her and he looked at her with a fatherly gaze. It had been four years she had learned with him and he was anything but nice and patient with her.

"Because he knew that everyone deserves an opportunity that they can grab. He understands that better... one's life isn't tied to just being high or low or non-magic wielder. And just like you said Miss Ghotham, it is about one own standing in society and it is also for you to learn that life can offer endless possibilities. This is a philosophical understanding of life and how you can understand more of your own magic even when you don't know that you do have it," he explained.

Stella could not blink her eyes. All information starting to absorb into her brain and her eyes wandered to her book. To every passage written of the story of the last prince. She somehow was in the same predicament as them. Barren of magic, estranged and cursed. Yet, The Prince Velt I showed that he overcame those challenges. He grabbed on the opportunity of his smart brain and changed people's lives. Can she be like him? Change her disadvantage and be something she never imagined.

"Since we had talked about this matter, I want an essay about the last prince's life from each royal family. I don't care how many pages or how many words you can procure, what is important is your outlook and opinion. Remember, this is a philosophy paper and I want detailed writing. Any questions?"

A hand rose. Her words flowed in short sentences accompanied by her deep handsome voice. "How about Prince Bisque I?"

She never heard such a voice to come from a female. If there was, it was an edgy husky voice. But this, her voice supposedly belonged to a handsome figure if she was to imagine. Even Gitto and Effan did not have that baritone voice. Looking at others, her classmates did not show any sign of reaction to her voice. Was it normal for a girl to sound like that?

Professor Kingston was also not affected by it. He seemed to be more engaged by her question rather than her voice. "Yes, yes, he was a mystery; incomplete birth record, vague life, and undisclosed death. There were many speculations and no certified record means no reliable sources. However, there are a few research papers that you can use to support your essay. For this one particular prince I can give a loose string, still, need I to remind you this assignment will carry as much as two percent to your total carry marks. 10 percent of overall 50 percent of your carry marks come from my class which the other 40 comes from the other four classes. The rest of the percentage depends on your presentation at Maximus Festival."

As soon the instructor finished his reminder, he picked up his teaching material and went to his office at the back of the class, leaving three of his students that were slumped against their table. Stella kept her eyes tailing on Jill's face and Jill was getting ready to pack up.

"Sheesh, any more of those percentage talking I might throw up," Jacq commented. He perched up his body from his slump and put on both his hands under his chin. He was sitting on his usual spot three days ago; the right side of Stella's.

"He said those because he knows how much a lazy ass you are," Jill retorted in a low voice. She was sitting on Stella's left.

Stella cannot avert her eyes when Jill realized that she had been looking at her face ever since she heard her voice for the first time.

"What?" she said.

"You... had a handsome voice," she said and Jill's movement stopped suddenly. Her face turned white. Jacq coughed. Even Donne and Citra straighten their back.

"What are you talking about Ghotham?" Donne said.

"Jill's voice is not handsome at all. She had a soft voice like a little girl," Citra chipped in.

Stella's shoulder was touched by Jacq and she had to turn her head to face him. His face was unreadable. It was not expressionless but more of a mix of emotions that Stella cannot understand. She was not familiar with what she saw on his face.

"Are you certain?" he asked. His grip on her shoulder was tight. A surge of electricity nerved through her body.

"Yes. I know what I heard and I don't do lie," she pledged.

"You lie," Jill squeaked.

Stella faced Jill once again. "No, I don't!" she answered without hesitation. It felt like she could throw the truth to Jill's face full force. Like her footing on the ground was firm and could never be swayed. Even when she was facing Jill's red face and squared jaw; she was angry. 

Stella never angered Gitto, certainly not her little sister too. Sometimes her honesty made them concerned for her survival in society. To face Jill's anger and to feel Jacq's grip electrifying grip on her shoulder, she felt like her honesty had been true. She was not wrong.

"Is it normal for a girl to have a voice like you? It's like a man." She cannot stop herself.

"Is that why you never talk? Because you don't want people to know your weird side?" The words forming in her mouth was like a train without any breaks. She was unstoppable.

Jill's eagle-like eyes ran to the hand on Stella's shoulder. Her face turned redder than before. "Stupid Jacq, let her go!"

Jacq released her shoulder from his firm grip. The sensation that came with it slowly dispersed and her head became clear. The event that went by replayed on her head. "Oh," was all she could let out from her mouth.

"What were you thinking Jacq?" Jill snapped.

"Clearly I'm doing my job and it seems we're reaping two benefits," he answered.

"Not me!" Jill's voice thundered. The class became so still that Stella had to step in for the mistake that she had made.

"I'm sorry if I said the wrong thing," she offered. Gitto's lessons kicking-in.

Jill glared at her face. "Don't say it if you don't mean it." She picked up her bag and speedily went out of the classroom.

"I'm sorry Stella but we talk later. Jill, you stupid twin... slow down!" he said as he hastily pursuing his twin and Stella could do only staring at the threshold where the twins had gone off. Donne and Citra had shaken their heads. Both of them also had readied to go out.

"Did I say something wrong?" she asked them.

Both of them stared at each other then sighed.

"I don't know what you heard but what you said is really hurtful," Donne said. He gets up. Before he went out, he adds, "if this is your way of making friends, then, it's no wonder they call you heartless."

Being left alone in the class, she did hope that Gitto was there with her. At the very least, he could fill in the silence that once again after a long time starting to press on her.