I LOOK AT HER in disbelief at how easily she made it seem like I pushed her. I grimaced at the sight, my shock slowly fading into a cold, flat expression. Raiven immediately rushed to her side, asking if she was okay. I simply stared at them, emotionless, once the initial surprise disappeared.
Craige pulled me back at once, equally startled.
"Tsk." He clicked his tongue, as if he had grown used to scenes like this, as if this was not the first time he had witnessed something this absurd.
"Is this how you keep them wrapped around your palm, Princess?" I could not stop myself. I wanted to know how shameless she could be. How much of a pick me girl she needed to become just because I did not back down and did not swallow her criticism the way the old Seraphina would have accepted everything.
She glared at me, her eyes sharp and full of malice. Raiven helped her stand.
"That is enough, Seraphina," Raiven said, as though I was the one responsible for everything, like I was the one who caused this scene. I saw the faint smirks they tried to hide whenever someone else might be watching…but when I am looking at them…especially her, she will show it to me like it is only for me.
"I thought you were smart Rai… I mean Lord Raiven." My voice trembled with disbelief. "I did not know you were this petty and this stupid, believing I actually pushed her. Perhaps..." I looked at the Princess.
"You are using illusion magic to make them see whatever you want them to see."
"Lady Seraphina!" Sierra's voice cut through the moment, sharp and commanding. I stopped speaking and looked around at the people watching us.
"That is enough," she added, stepping closer. Her gaze fixed on Craige.
"Take her away before she completely buries herself."
Craige did not hesitate. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me away from the scene.
I did not know if they did that to save me from humiliation or to protect the Princess. I could not tell if it was for my sake or for hers.
Everyone watched as Craige held my hand and led me away. I felt like a gust of wind being carried wherever he decided to take me.
He finally turned to me. I saw the surprise in his eyes when he faced my blank expression, because I did not know what emotion I was supposed to feel after everything that happened.
"I will get us something to eat before our next class. Wait for me here. Do not go anywhere." He spoke softly and almost pleadingly, hoping I would listen this time. And with how overwhelmed I was, I did not have the strength to argue. I sat down on the nearby bench.
A few minutes later, he returned with sandwiches and bottles of water, sweat on his forehead as if he had run the whole way. He placed the food beside me.
"It is better if you eat, even just a little," he whispered.
I nodded. He was right. No one is invincible enough to ignore hunger.
"Does this always happen?" I asked, unable to hold back. I looked at him, searching for answers in his expression. He did not respond immediately.
"The Princess is obsessed with Raiven. They were said to be engaged. Or there is a rumor that Raiven rejected her confession…" There was more to the story. His hesitation made that clear. But he chose not to continue. It felt like he was saying it was not his story to tell.
I turned my gaze away from him.
"If what you said is true, then I guess that diary is not lying either."
October 9
She loves him. She told me she loves him and that she wants me to deliver the love letter she wrote. Am I a bad friend for not wanting to give him that letter?
I do not want him to know the Princess's feelings. I do not want them getting closer.
Just thinking about it hurts so much but…she's my friend, so I have to be a good friend even if it hurts so much for my heart to take. I am willing to be the side character for their happy ending.
October 11
I gave the letter to Raiven.
October 13
I saw them under the oak tree, talking happily. I saw the way he smiled at her like he was the luckiest man alive. Like he was listening to the woman he loved most in this world. I wanted them to know I was watching.
But I did not have the courage to interrupt them.
So, I left, just so I would not disturb them.
I do not know why, but tears fell the moment I walked away.
October 15
"I have a request." I should have rejected it, but I did not have the courage to say no when she asked me to end any relationship I had with Raiven now that they were together. I could avoid him. I could stay away.
But why did it feel like I lost two people that day?
She stopped inviting me.
She stopped talking to me.
I don't want to go to our next class, but I have no choice but to attend it. It was all about the potion. I was thankful that day…it was purely an experiment, so my mind was occupied with something rather than minding everyone's gaze and whispers of what happened earlier.
"Here comes the girl, the daughter of a baron…not even a daughter of a count dare to say that to a Princess…" I look at the people who walk up to me.
I came here to the library hoping that no one would bother me, but it looks like I was mistaken about that idea.
"Maybe she's still delusional about her relationship with the Princess…just because the Princess treated her like her friends…" They laugh as if it's the funniest joke they have heard. This is how Seraphina's has been living for the past few years since the Princess severed their relationship.
I didn't respond to any of their statements. With my silence, they grew even more irritated at my reaction. They grabbed my arm and forced me to face them, their grip tight as they yanked me so hard that I stumbled backward.
I even dropped the book I was holding.
I could see the irritation on their faces. I bent down to pick up the book I dropped, but I didn't expect what they did next. They pushed me, making me fall to the floor before I could even grab it.
I landed on my butt, the impact shooting pain up my spine. I closed my eyes at the way they were treating me. I just wanted to lie low, avoid all of them, but they were the ones coming at me just to harass me.
I stood up again, picked up the book, and without a second thought, slammed it into the face of their so-called leader. They gasped at what they saw.
"H-how dare you…" Before she could even finish whatever she wanted to say, I hit her again with the thick book. Her companions backed away when I raised an eyebrow at them, stepping farther and farther until they were completely out of reach.
"Do you think I'm afraid of punishment? Of being suspended? No. Remember this— I won't care if I die here or not… dying is better than living in this hell." I threw the book at her feet and walked away.
The only thing I'm afraid of is the possibility of not returning to my world if I die by my own hands.
"This is all bullshit," I muttered to myself as I kicked a stone in front of me. I didn't know where I was; I just entered the wooded area of the school. I think they call it the mini forest.
I saw two paths, both seemingly well-used, so I followed the one on the left. After only a few steps, I found myself in a garden. There were plants everywhere and even a bench, so I sat down.
But the peace didn't last long when I heard strange noises. It made me nervous because it sounded like someone struggling or maybe it was just my imagination.
"Aaahhh…"
I followed the sound, but I froze at what I saw.
I immediately hid behind some bushes.
"Oh, for fuck's sake, I thought people here wait for marriage. What a bullshit." I quickly walked away from there.
I clutched my chest, my heart pounding painfully.
"So, you're the person whose presence I felt…" I jumped and screamed when someone suddenly whispered in my ear. I backed away from him and pointed at him.
"Y-you…" I couldn't even find the words I wanted to say. He only grinned, sat on the bench, and took a bite of the apple he was holding.
He smirked at the way I stuttered.
"What are you doing here? It's getting dark. It's not right for a student to be here at this hour." I didn't know him, but something about the way he spoke and moved felt… off.
"As if you're not a student yourself… talking like that." He laughed at what I said.
"Well, I'll take that as a compliment," he said as he took another bite, then another and the apple was almost gone.
What a fast eater.
"You're Lady Seraphina, right? Given your silver hair and purple eyes… I'll assume you're Lady Seraphina." For his last bite, only the core remained before he tossed it away.
"Yees—"
Why did I say yes? What if he's a killer?
"I mean, n-no… no." He laughed even harder, then stepped closer to me. He towered over me with his height, making me step back once as I lost my composure at his sudden movement.
"You should go back before someone sees you here." He patted my head as he walked away. "And keep that a secret," he added before disappearing from my sight.
I left that forest still unable to recover from everything that happened, what I saw, and the whole scene itself. When I finally made it out, I saw a girl, a student stepping out of the forest as well, looking around nervously as if he didn't want anyone to catch him.
Worried someone might find out what she just did. When our eyes met, she quickly looked away and hurried off.
I just shook my head.
In all my years as a student, it's only now that I've witnessed something like that…and of all places, it had to be here.