The academy doors were carved with the royal insignia of Valarez Empire. They opened into an extended hallway, dimly lit and cold with gold framed pictures and flags lining the walls. The right side was graced by the Nobel and Royal, Rose Laurels; the left side held pictures of the Commoner accomplishments, Fern Laurels.
Azelie smiled as she spotted her grandfather and her father on the wall, their characteristic red hair and piercing ruby eyes peered down on her unfamiliar raven head.
"Have you heard? The Vermilion heiress passed a month ago. Quite morbid considering the family was a great tactical ally to the Empire," Clyde said as he noticed Azelie staring at the Vermilions' pictures for a second too long.
"Didn't they have a son? Shouldn't he take over? It's not really the end," Azelie feigned nonchalance and she stepped away from the Fern wall fame of fame.
"I've known him for a year now. He's a shell, no— not even a shell, even his exterior doesn't match the Vermilion name," Clyde snorted, "You'll see. He's particularly fun to aggravate and when done right, it benefits you."
Azelie raised an eyebrow with curiosity. The hallway led to a landing leading staircases into different directions. Clyde led her to the one heading down and soon, they walked upto the Gradenia Hall. It was grand and, by all means, opulent with iridescent chandeliers hanging off a high dome ceiling and crystal windows letting rainbows of light onto the round tables and glass chairs.
As soon as they entered the Hall, gazes, glances and whispers followed her footsteps.
"Ferns are tight this year, they only managed to weed one out."
"I wonder how long she'll last."
"How long do you bet before she's in his bed?"
"A week?"
"Three days. Do you see that make-up? She's begging for it, pfft."
As they reached the front of the Hall, Clyde gestured her to take a seat on one of the many many round table-chair sets. "Sit with me until we're done," he ordered, rather firmly, as he eased himself into a chair and spread his legs. "The Initiation will begin when all survivors of the Wager have arrived."
Azelie took the seat beside him, second row, near center, and leaned in, as unsuspiciously as she could, to whisper, "The Rose undergo a Wager as well?"
Clyde merely nodded, as if her question was inherently dumb and an extreme waste of his time for audible reply pursuits.
They sat there, in silence, as Azelie drummed her fingers over her thighs. Suddenly, there was a tap on her shoulder. Azelie looked up to see a girl standing behind her. She was a vision of beauty with lush brown hair tied into a loose bun and soft green eyes looking down on Azelie.
"Get up," she ordered, coldly.
Azelie raised a brow as the girl's soft lips stretched into a threatening smile.
"I won't," Azelie replied firmly.
"You are not allowed to sit beside him. He's my fiancé," she seethed.
"Then make him get up," Azelie scoffed and turned her head to look the other away.
The girl did not take the dismissal well. Her fluffy brown brows furrowed with exasperation.
Quite violently, Azelie's head was pulled back as the girl grabbed a handful of her hair and arched Azelie's neck over the backrest of the glass chair.
"Listen here you little piece of shit, I could kill you right this instant but I do not want your filthy blood to ruin my fiancé's uniform. Do you get that? Now fucking scram," she pulled Azelie out of the chair and flung her to the ground. "Know you place," she spat before taking the seat for herself.
Horrified, Azelie looked up, only to receive snarls and glares in her favour.
"What a greedy skank," someone snorted.
"It's giving desperate," a boy huffed.
"Yesh, get the whore where she belongs."
"Ugh, these Ferns disgust me so much."
"Poverty reeks."
Nostrils flared and jaw clenched, Azelie witnessed how Clyde merely glanced her way before looking forward. She gulped, wondering why she felt hurt over being humiliated. Of course it made sense that Clyde was siding with his fiancée. But...Azelie was supposed to be her fresh start...if she let Azelie be treated the same way as Vivian was, it wouldn't take time for Azelie to meet a similar end.
So, Azelie stood up and brushed her head. She smiled at the girl sitting beside Clyde and walked all the way back to take a seat. There, she took out her phone and proceeded to fetch information about the girl. If she was Clyde Delarson's fiancée, she should be underworld royalty as well.
Azelie was busy tapping away on her phone when someone cleared their throat beside her. Surprised, Azelie almost dropped her phone as the person chuckled in her ear. She turned to looked up and almost swore at the very familiar face of Amaris Veronia breathing on her face. Flustered, Azelie jerked away with her chair in tow.
Amaris giggled again as he said, "You're so adorable," then, in a serious tone, he added, "Awfully familiar, but so adorable," he pulled a charismatic smile on his handsome face as he crossed his knees and slung an arm around the back of the chair.
"Ah-em," Azelie cleared her throat to sound as unlike herself as possible, "Do you have any fiancées I should be wary of?" She asked.
It earned her a hearty laugh.
After calming up momentarily, Amaris continued, "I do not put labels on my relationships, I'm as free spirited as they come," he winked at her, as if it were to convey a great underlying meaning that his words fell short for.
"Well," Azelie started as she marked an imaginary square around her, "This is restricted land, no free spirits allowed," Azelie replied coldly. The best she could do was be rude and put him off her case before he could recognise her.
Yet, her pushbacks only seemed to serve curiosity in his eyes. He gasped, hand over his mouth, eyes widened, "Don't tell me! Delarson has his claim on you?" He whispered, quite excitedly, akin to a teenage girl.
"What!?" Azelie snapped, scandalised, "No, oh— no, please do not create any more misunderstandings. Not at all!"
"Pffft, here I thought I'd finally get to witness drama," Amaris deflated into his chair, "It's fine, you can make it up to me by dating me, of course. You're the prettiest of the Ferns this year. I noticed you during the examination. You couldn't keep your eyes off me!"
Azelie cursed internally. She had been merely keeping tabs on Amaris but she hadn't expected him to be as narcissistic. So, she cleared her throat to clarify, "I think you have a misunderstanding, umm—"
"Amaris, Prince of Veronia, know your royalty. It will help you in Gradenia more than ever."
"—Yes, Prince Amaris, you misunderstand. There was this giant bug on your head that I couldn't peel my eyes away from...maybe that is why..." He let her words trail off as disgust laced his pretty face.
"No way— ugh, was it the sticky sort? Why did no one tell me!" Amaris shot up, "I must wash my hair right this instant!" He announced to himself and speed walked out of the Hall.
Azelie's gaze followed his exasperated footsteps until the Hall door closed behind him. She let out chuckle before getting back to her mission at hand. The other Ferns had taken seats in the back as well with Gabriella and Hans sitting right in front of her. Silas took a table beside her's and continued his sob-fest; meanwhile, Aria was seated near the very front of the Hall, at the feet of her Nobel tester .
All Azelie could see was the back of Aria's head but it did not seem like Aria was disappointed by the outcome of her Wager. Her head bobbed excitedly while her tester hovered a piece of candy over her mouth.
Azelie couldn't help the nod of acknowledgement that manifested from her. A person who could go to any lengths in order to accomplish a goal was to be respected.
No matter how big or trivial.
"A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do," Azlie mumbled to herself.
Soon, the Hall was filled to the birm and every seat was taken by a freshman, first year, second year, third year or fourth year student. The empty front of the Hall transformed into an elevated stage with a press of a button and to her utmost horror, the Crown Prince graced the platform with greetings for old and new alike.
"Welcome to all the new buds at Academia Gradenia and welcome back to all the blooming flowers, I hope you've had a good summer. It is with great regret that I announce the passing of Lady Vermilion, my former fiancée and childhood playmate. I hope heaven treats her better than a Vermilion step family, phew," the crowd murmured, some chuckled, "On a brighter note, five Ferns have managed to enroll themselves this year, so, I hope you all treat them as kindly as you can. As usual, Class Upgrade Challenges will start next week so any deaths before that wouldn't be appreciated. Classes begin tomorrow; the Florence Library and all Laboratories opened this very morning and will remain open until the end of the semester. Let's stay alive, thank you."
As soon as the Crown Prince stepped down, a brunette stood up from the crowd and shouted, "With all due respect, what the fuck, Your Royal Highness? Are you blaming us for killing a family member?! We're still in mourning!"
Azelie recognised the voice as soon as it swore. It was her brother. Harold Vermilion.
The crown prince merely smiled at the boy, "Sh, it's all in your head, Harold, please be seated, the Headmistress will arrive shortly."
Azelie knew the stretch of his lips into a diplomatic smile was the best veiled threat in the entire Empire. She had been a victim to it for the most part of her life. So, it didn't take much for Harold to take a seat.
Azelie shifted her eyes to the crown prince again. As if on cue, he caught her gaze and held it. Azelie stared blankly, he had grown so much since the last she had seen him. They were sixteen or probably seventeen, he had made her a cake in the Estate's kitchen. They had picked strawberries from the farm downhill. She had made him a flower crown. The bright green leaves suited his dark head and pale eyes.
He was older now. His jaw more defined and cheekbones more chiseled. His lips were a dusty rose, full and ever so inviting. She never had an opportunity to kiss them, even with all the time they had spent together, even with all the dreams she had of them.
Azelie was lost, slightly mesmerized by the nostalgia of a time she would never get back. She wanted to latch onto her memories and the people who created them but they were all far and unreachable now, probably scheming against her.
Nonetheless, the Crown Prince did not break away from her gaze as he walked towards her. Flickers of recognition flashed in his golden eyes as he sped forward. Nostalgic butterflies started dropping dead in horror and settled into the bottom of Azelie's stomach. Quite instinctively, she shifted until her chair was pressed into Silas' side, encroaching his table.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" Silas snapped, at the same time as the Crown Prince said, "Long time no see."