"That will be all. For those of you interested in the Alchemy lecture, it will be starting in thirty minutes. You can either wait here with your peers, or go to stretch your legs - or, if you are not attending the Alchemy lecture, you may leave to attend to your own business."

With that, he packs up and begins to leave. Some students quickly elect to follow him, gathering around him and bombarding him with questions. A larger number of students filter out of the building entirely, forming groups as they go.

"Your Highness, you should stretch your legs."

"It's fine - I don't want to lose our seats."

"But it is not healthy to sit for long periods of time."

I want to contest her, but I know that she's right. I consider getting up, but the thought of possibly encountering Maria fills me with dread.

I quickly look back and scan the few dozen students that remain in the lecture hall. I see a wave of eyes flashing a variety of colors - green, yellow, red, and even a few pink, which is a totally new color for me.

I eventually stop when I see a flash of red, and see that Maria Thevenin is openly glaring at me. 

I feel a burden of responsibility weighing me down. I know that if I don't address this now, it'll eat away at me, and it may become a problem in the future. It's going to take all of my mental energy to put aside my anxiety and just do it, but…this is important.

"I'll be right back - I won't go far, I promise."

Alex nods. "I will be with you immediately, should you need me."

I nod, then start to make my way through the aisles. I can feel a multitude of eyes on me as I make my way up the stairs.

As I approach, Maria tightens her grip on her desk, her knuckles turning white.

Once I reach her, my palms start to sweat and my knees feel like they may give out at any moment. Her knight escort, a plain looking man by all accounts, glares at me. I try my best to ignore him, so I'm not intimidated out of saying what I need to say.

I force myself to say something - anything.

"Uhh…hi."

Fuck me, I should have said anything else!

"Hello, Your Highness. Can I help you?"

Her polite tone is clearly forced. I scratch at the back of my neck, trying to force myself to speak.

When I don't say anything, she pouts at me. "I'm terribly sorry for my ignorance regarding the sealing of our magic…it would seem that I've been misled in that regard."

"What? Why would you apologize for that? That's not your fault."

She seems surprised by that. "Er…yes, of course, I just…I thought that perhaps you might have a comment of some kind."

"Why would I? It's not my business."

She purses her lips. "Then…if I may be so bold…why have you approached, Your Highness?"

"Look…about last night…" I hesitate, a blush coming to my cheeks. My pulse quickens as I recall what happened. I'm immediately worried that I may be having another panic attack.

"Hm. I followed your…advice. No action was taken." She begins to collect her things, and stands to briefly curtsy.

"If that will be all, Your Highness, I'm afraid I must be going." She lowers her voice a little, and it's laced with venom. "After all, as you said - I must go make other people as miserable as myself."

My heart skips a beat. I can't leave things like this. I just need to force myself to say it.

"I…I wanted to say that I'm sorry."

The room comes to a standstill. Even the few students trying to leave stop dead to observe what's happening, as a Prince apologizes to the daughter of a Duke.

Nosy bastards.

Maria cocks an eyebrow at me. When she doesn’t say anything, I nervously continue my apology.

"Look, I…” I take a beat as I try to find the right words. “What I said, and how I behaved, it was completely out of line.” I scratch the back of my neck, trying to think of what else I could say besides just “sorry”.

"And why, exactly, should I accept your apology, Your Highness?”

"Honestly, you have no reason to. I just want to make sure that you don't take what I said to heart. You're more than what other people say about you - no matter who they are."

For just a split second, I’m proud of myself for giving her such advice. I’m quickly put in my place as Maria leans in, her voice lowered to a whisper.

“You don’t need to tell me that, Your Highness. I’ve been called far worse by men far greater than yourself. If either of us have placed too much stock in the power of your words, it’s not me - it’s you. Now, do yourself a favor, and stop embarrassing the both of us.”

Before I can say anything in return, Maria spins around, the hem of her skirt billowing out dramatically as she leaves. Her knight brushes past me without a word as he follows her.

With a pit of shame buried deep in my stomach, I awkwardly return to Dame Alex, and stiffly take my seat, silently hoping for the day to end.

Before either of us can say anything, a gruff voice echoes throughout the hall.

"Awright, ye wee bastards - sit th' hell down."