“Huh?! I only just got this letter. How do you know about it already?”
“I’ve got a lovely friend who tells me just about everything.”
“You ever think about giving Lady Lauzei a break sometimes? This is just the kinda petty thing you don’t need to bother her with.”
Amy stepped forward to greet Sue. She curtsied quietly; Arcus’s friend must have outranked her even among the dukedom heiresses, because Sue was more casual in her response. He really couldn’t make sense of the power balance between these girls.
Meanwhile, there he was, talking to Sue like they were equals. It wouldn’t look good to those around them, and other students were already making perplexed remarks about how casual he was being.
“Um, should I be watching how I speak?” he asked.
“You’re fine. It’s a little late now anyway,” she replied.
“Sure, but etiquette is kinda important.”
“Well, you speak formally when it’s required in every other case. No one’s gonna think you don’t know what you’re doing when I’m the only exception.”
“Uh...”
“Now, everyone, this is just how we communicate. Or are you looking to get on my bad side?”
Sue dropped her tone drastically for that last part, like she was daring all comers to commit social suicide. The classroom fell into a cold silence.
Is there anything more terrifying than a girl who can cause a blizzard without spending a drop of aether?
No one wanted to make an enemy of a dukedom, especially not the one that stood at the top of the four. It was just as bad as drawing the ire of the royal family, and that was no joke. It was no wonder everyone put their heads down and shut up.
“Nobles sure are scary,” Arcus remarked.
“What are you talking about? You’re one of us.”
“Lady Susia.” He changed his tone. “You’re a powerful young lady. Can’t you do something about this?”
“I probably could...”
“I thought so! But?”
“I don’t think I should.”
“Why not?”
“’Cause it’d be more fun to let it play out!”
“Are you kidding?! Help me out here!”
“You don’t need my help. I’d be happy to hold a little meeting with you if you wanted to brainstorm how you’re gonna tackle this, though. Come on.”
“I can’t now. I’ve got a lecture.”
“You can skip it! You’ll have more fun coming with me!”
“You’re the only one having fun, and it’s because I’m suffering.”
Sue grabbed his arm and began to lug him away. With that, his fate was sealed; for some mysterious reason, she was stronger than him.
“Come with us, Lecia!” the future duchess called.
“Oh! Certainly!”
It was a terrible example to set to the new students, and Sue was being far from covert. Regardless, Arcus ended up missing his next lecture.
Sue took him to a room that was smaller than most; it seemed to be a former reference room. In its center were wooden chairs and a table laden with a neat assortment of snacks. Having said that, the snacks were no fancier than salted crackers. There was a vase containing freshly arranged flowers by the window, and a shelf holding a familiar pot and a complete tea set. The whole place looked like a break room more than anything else.
“I hereby call to order the first strategy meeting regarding the duel between Arcus and Claudia!” Sue made the announcement once everyone had taken their seats.
As well as the Raytheft siblings, Charlotte and Rusiel had also come along.
“Are we really allowed to use this room?” Arcus asked.
“Sure. Professor String was more than happy to lemme use it for self-study.”
“I hope that’s what you’re using it for then,” he said dryly.
“Normally it is. But you’re our priority today, Arcus.”
“Again, this doesn’t sound like self-study.”
“Again, I’m telling you there are more important things today. Or are you content to bury your head in the sand, go about your lectures, and pretend this duel thing isn’t happening?”
He paused. “Well, I’ll grant you I don’t have the faintest idea what I’m gonna do about it...”
Claudia had managed to get him absolutely baffled.
Rusiel was even more confused. “What am I doing here?”
“Don’t question it. Just please stay,” Arcus said.
“I don’t wanna get involved in any trouble. Especially when it involves a dukedom and a martial county...” Rusiel’s shoulders would twitch now and then as he trembled. He would never interact with girls as highly ranked as Sue and Charlotte under normal circumstances, so it was no wonder he was spooked. He probably felt like a total commoner. Arcus could sympathize.
“You’re Arcus’s friend, right? Nice to meet you,” Sue said.
“Oh, um... Yes...”
“Mr. Rusiel Arcane, isn’t it?” Charlotte asked. “A pleasure.”
“Th-The pleasure’s all mine...” Rusiel drew back and dipped his head at the same time, looking for all the world like he’d rather be anywhere else. He whispered to Arcus, “I swear my organs are about to explode.”
“C’mon, stick with it. I’ll buy you lunch or something later.”
“I’m telling you I’m not gonna have anything to digest it with.”
“Hey, I’ve had an audience with His Royal Highness, and I’m eating just fine.”
“You’re kidding... How’d that happen?”
“Beats me. I promise I just wanna live a normal life.” He looked out of the window wistfully. He could feel the others glaring at him in disbelief.
Lecia was smiling uncomfortably. Rusiel turned to her.
“You don’t look so scared.”
“I have been friends with Charlotte for a long time, and Lady Susia is particularly easy to get along with.”
A graceful smile took to Charlotte’s lips. “Indeed, Lady Susia has a heart of gold.”
“You too, Charlotte,” Sue said. “You’re very easygoing.”
The girls giggled.
“Stop being weird,” Arcus muttered.
“Oh, I just remembered something suuuper important,” Rusiel said, getting to his feet.
Arcus grabbed his sleeve. “No you didn’t! Stay here!”
He needed his friend to stay to keep the balance of power from tipping against him. He couldn’t hold his own against Sue and Charlotte with just Lecia for backup. To his relief, Rusiel sat back down.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” said Sue.
It was Setsura. “Pardon me. Oh, Arcus. There you are.”
“Go away please. Or at least let me find someone else for my team.”
“Huh?” Setsura peered at him like she could see into his frazzled mind. The next thing he knew, she was puffing up her cheeks indignantly. “What’s all this, Arcus? You leaving me out of something?”
“Who are you?” Sue asked. “Oh, right. You were with him earlier.”
“My name’s Setsura. Aren’t you Lady Susia Algucia in the year above?”
“That’s me.”
“And everyone’s here to help Arcus solve his little problem?”
“Yup. We’re having a strategy meeting. You want in?”
“I would, but I’m a nonmagical student. Though technically I can use a few spells.” Setsura smiled awkwardly.
So much for feeling left out...
“That doesn’t matter. Charlotte here’s a nonmagical student too. The more the merrier, especially if you’ve got some magic knowledge.”
“Sue—”
“Arcus, at least try and pretend you want me here!”
“Only when you stop being annoying.”
“Ooh, you’re always on about how ‘annoying’ I am, when we all know you like it!”
“Lecia, Rusiel, gimme a hand in getting her outta here.”
“All right, fine! I’ll be good! The only time I’ll open my trap is when I wanna eat some of these snacks!” Setsura said quickly, sliding into an empty seat. Without another word, she began stuffing her smiling face with the snacks in the basket.
She could be quite cute when she wasn’t talking. But then Arcus remembered he shouldn’t let his guard down around her. Her face was just as deceptive as her sly behavior.
“Seeing as my brother is our top priority, perhaps it is about time we set about our discussions,” Lecia suggested.
“Oh, yeah. We can’t let him get expelled, even if the chances are low,” said Sue.
Setsura cocked her head between crunches. “Low?”
“Low. And I mean way low.”
“Arcus is unlikely to lose,” Charlotte agreed, “but with Lady Claudia as his opponent, we cannot take any chances.”
“I believe in my brother’s abilities, but I have heard that Lady Claudia possesses a lot of aether,” Lecia said.
“Everyone believes in you, huh?” Setsura pointed at the Order on Arcus’s chest. “Is that why?”
“It’s probably part of it, but I’ve been through a lot of fights too.”
No doubt his experiences against Gaston and Nadar played a part in the girls’ faith.