There was no one around Elaine as she carefully blinked her eyes open. A large translucent white fabric separated her from the rest of the room she was in, allowing her to have some peace and comfort.
When the men heard shuffling noises from her resting area, they immediately drew the curtain open, startling Elaine.
"You're awake." Gerard sighed in relief and helped his sister up.
"Forgive my weak body, Brother." Elaine chuckled.
"This is no laughing matter," Gerard said sternly, and Elaine stopped joking immediately. "How am I supposed to leave you alone when you might go collapsing somewhere?"
"...Brother." Elaine held onto Gerard's shaking hands. "I apologise for making light of my situation right now, but if I don't, then everyone will be anxious about my condition when I am alright."
"Believe me when I say that I am okay." Elaine peered into Gerard's face. "Hm?"
Gerard was always weak to Elaine's reasonings, so he nodded, though reluctantly, no matter if what she said was rational or not.
"Look, I have three strong friends standing behind you." Elaine smiled at Sergio, Xavier and Victor, who were waiting worriedly on her. Then she whispered to keep the three from hearing her words. "You said you trusted them, remember? Then, have faith that they would not allow me to go through that situation again."
"...Okay." Gerard sighed. "I will not report this to Mother and Father, but I cannot say otherwise about Prince Lucas reporting to King Kelvion."
Elaine froze and asked while wincing. "Price Lucas knew?"
"You were absent for three hours, and he interrogated us," Sergio explained.
"I see." Elaine nodded. "I will take care of that matter separately."
"...Are we all on break?" Elaine prepared to get out of bed. "And do not stop me, Brother. I am going to class because I feel fine."
Gerard shut his lips and stopped his movements. He could only sigh again at Elaine's determination. "Do not leave your friends while on Academy grounds."
"Understood." Lady Elaine smiled while straightening her uniform. She finally stood up and thanked the physician for allowing her to rest in the clinic. The physician returned her thanks respectfully and handed her a few medicines just in case she felt sick again.
Gerard whispered a few words to Elaine's friends before leaving his sister alone to get to know them better.
When the four friends were left alone, the air around them grew awkward. They had a few seconds of silence while walking down the hallway before Sergio jabbed Xavier. The man stepped forward immediately with his head facing down.
"Forgive my rudeness earlier." The fierce man apologised politely to Elaine. "As Sergio said, I was still sensitive about Lady Elaine's illness."
The lady smiled at him. "There is no need to apologise for your behaviour, Lord Xavier. It was completely understandable. I wanted to thank you for your honesty instead."
"...Everyone kept telling me it was alright, you see." Elaine looked down at her feet. "They were careful at expressing their feelings around me so that I would not know how they truly felt."
"So, it was fresh to see someone say their frustrations out loud." Elaine smiled at Xavier, who felt embarrassed due to his 'mistake'. "I am sure Lord Xavier received an earful from Brother Gerard. I want to apologise for that."
"I deserved the scolding, Lady Elaine," Xavier told her.
"..." Elaine glanced at her friends shyly. "If it is all right with the three of you, may we speak more comfortably to each other?"
"Of course." They answered in unison.
It felt completely different being around her friends. When she was with family, she only wished to show the best versions of herself. But, when her friendship lasted for years, Elaine was confident they knew of her other sides as well. Even if she had amnesia, she felt at ease with her companions by her side.
"Do you not mind that your closest friends are men?" Victor questioned. "If I were in your position, I would have been confused by that fact."
Sergio frowned at his question and proceeded to say an apology to Elaine once more. "I am also sorry for Victor's bluntness."
Elaine wanted to laugh, but she calmed herself. "You do not have to apologise for Victor's nor Xavier's personalities, Sergio."
"To answer Victor's question," Elaine took a side glance at him, "I was puzzled at first, but then, I looked at the bright side."
"Having female friends is tiring." The four of them said in unison. Elaine blinked at them, surprised that they knew what she was going to say.
"Pft." Xavier burst out laughing. "You really haven't changed."
Victor smiled fondly at Elaine while Sergio adjusted his spectacles with a proud grin.
"I'm sorry? Was that some sort of test?" Elaine questioned, her eyes showing a hint of confusion.
"No," Sergio smiled.
"In the past, you used to mention that hosting tea parties or gathering with other ladies was boring," Xavier told Elaine. "They only entertained themselves with other people's businesses and moved on to insulting them. Then, the twisted rumour would spread like wildfire."
"It did not line up with your values," Sergio shrugged. "It is not that men are not the same, but they are more political and traded business information instead."
"It was another form of exhausting." Victor pinpointed. "Both female and male gatherings are equally calculative and manipulative."
"As you know, Gio is the sole heir of the Edman county, while Vic is first in line to the Yulian duchy," Xavier added. "They were exposed to the adult world at an early age."
"I, on the other hand, am third in line to the Carlson marquessate. I am not that proficient in academics or business. Still, I am infamous among young adults for my talent in swordsmanship and magic."
"When you are not the sole heir of the family, you can just focus on other aspects of being a man in the family," Xavier added with a grin. "So, the differences between their work and mine is quite vast."
"He is a simple-minded guy who moves strongly based on instinct and feeling." Sergio summarised for Elaine.
"I could tell." Elaine chuckled. "I can see why I chose to be friends with you three."
"And we are the same." Victor nodded. Elaine appreciated his kind words.
"So, are we walking to class?" Elaine questioned. "I noticed that we are heading towards the Fort."
"Yes, it is magic class soon," Sergio answered. "We've been learning magic theoretically for the past couple of months, so many are excited about today's class."
"Did you know your affinity is with the water element?" Xavier notified Elaine. "Mine is the opposite: fire."
"I heard." Elaine nodded.
"Not many know, but you mastered your magic at a young age," Victor informed. "You had immense control over it that surpassed many tower magicians."
"But, I lost my memory." Elaine smiled sadly. "Perhaps, I have to relearn mastering it again."
"There is time." Sergio comforted his lady friend. "And with your talent, I believe you will have control over your magic again soon."
"Thank you for the encouragement." Elaine smiled kindly at Sergio.
The four of them chatted as they reached the Fort, but the atmosphere shifted negatively once all of them stepped into the vast building. All eyes turned towards the recently healed noblewoman when they saw her entering with Xavier, Sergio and Victor. Immediately, whispers of malice broke out.
"Look at her knights in shining armour." A lady snickered. Her eyes were filled with envy as Lady Elaine walked with elegance, however.
"Skipping the first few classes to come in fashionably late, huh?" Another glared hatefully at the innocent girl. "Such an attention seeker, as always."
"A pretty good strategy, I must say." An arrogant one clasped her fan in her hands. "She managed to attract Prince Lucas' attention again, despite their broken engagement."
Xavier rolled his eyes at the dramatic reactions they received by just being in the hyenas' presence. "Ignore them, Elaine. They're just jealous."
"Their words do not hurt me," Elaine whispered to Xavier while eyeing her 'predators'. "Do not worry."
"Tell me more about the Fort instead." Her eyes sparkled as she looked around the unfamiliar interior of the building. Lady Elaine's nonchalant behaviour sprouted hatred in many ladies' hearts. They clenched their fists as their attempt to spite her failed.
Sergio smiled at Elaine's innocence. "As you can see, the first floor is designed to be more like a greenhouse of sorts. There is an artificial waterfall made by mana stones at the far end, for water mages such as yourself to practise as well."
"Above the ground level, there are unique rooms that cater to each individual that enters it for training purposes," Sergio explained more in-depth. "It costed quite a fortune to build this, but it was worthwhile."
Elaine looked up with her mouth hanging, spectating the whole place in interest. Then, while her bright blue eyes were roaming, they accidentally met a set of golden ones.
Prince Lucas was looking back at her from his seat. She nodded in Prince Lucas' direction with a small smile, and he responded with the same gesture, acknowledging her greeting.
Suddenly, Lady Elaine's eyes landed on the girl sitting closely beside the prince. She wasn't facing her direction, but Elaine noticed her, only seeing her side profile. Without noticing, her eyes stuck to her like glue for a minute.
"Who are you staring so intensely at?" Sergio searched through the crowd when they were seated. "A handsome man you are infatuated with for a second?"
"Impossible, Sergio," Elaine answered with a slight chuckle. Then, she checked him out with judging eyes, smirking. "Not when I have three handsome men beside me."
"Wow." Xavier's eyes were wide, and he let out a shocked laugh at how quick Elaine adjusted to her surroundings. "And she managed to make a joke already."
Sergio laughed a little, then went back to normal. "No, but seriously. You made a little frown staring into space."
Elaine sighed. "It's Lady Sophia."
Sophia Tiara Rosdell. Elaine knew of all the noble children's identity, and this girl was no exception. She was a brunette who had beautiful green eyes and a pure smile. Elaine thought nothing of her until Violet and her brothers provided some intel about the lady. Of course, she did not want to make judgements before meeting the person. Still, since it was coming from her closest family, they seemed pretty trustworthy, and Elaine listened.
Elaine's only problem from their list of warnings of Lady Sophia was that this woman breaks all the rules regarding treating a man who had a fiancee.
Dangling her arms around Prince Lucas' was only one of her foolish acts that should have caused an uproar in High Society. Yet, Elaine got the title of a 'villainess' when she was the actual victim. Wasn't the prince also at fault for not reminding Lady Sophia of her inappropriateness?
'Perhaps it is because of her humble background,' Elaine thought. 'Maybe the nobles sympathised with her, and when the prince comforted her as a child...'
Elaine did not need that much information, but Gerard and Noah deemed that she needed to know Lady Sophia's past.
Sophia Tiara Rosdell was the daughter of Count Rosdell and his countess. They were not that well-off, but they were a happy and peaceful family. Count Rosdell was Prince Lucas' nanny despite her modest upbringing as she was close friends with the late queen. That was the beginning of Lady Sophia's and Prince Lucas' relationship.
When the prince and Lady Sophia was ten, Countess Rosdell fell into a severe illness that no physician or magician could treat. Since Prince Lucas lost his biological mother early, he treated the countess like his own parent. Therefore, he understood the grief Lady Sophia was experiencing, and they formed another novel connection at that moment.
To this day, the countess is lying in bed unconscious when she should have breathed her last breath five years ago. Every citizen believed that it was the special bond between Prince Lucas and Lady Sophia that brought about this miracle. Perhaps it was, but no one knows the truth.
"Don't overthink." Sergio patted Elaine's shoulder. "You have had that habit since forever." Victor and Xavier nodded in agreement at Sergio's statement.
Elaine laughed it off, but she took another secret glance at Lady Sophia. Their eyes met, and for a brief second, Elaine saw her expression.
It was as if fear struck her face when Elaine met her eyes, causing her complexion to turn pale. Lady Sophia turned her face away immediately.
Lady Elaine's eyebrows twitched.
That was not the face of someone innocent.
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