“We’ve come to see you again, Lady Merellis.” Right after class, the older girls were waiting for her.
“Goodness. I admire your perseverance, ladies,” Merellis said coolly as she followed them.
Sharia happened to be walking by and saw the group. She had a bad feeling about this, so she decided to follow. The three older girls walked silently with smiles plastered to their faces. Sharia watched them closely, trailing behind far enough so that no one noticed her. Once they arrived at a deserted spot behind the library, the girls stopped. She hid in the shadows so no one would see her.
She noticed someone else was hiding there too. “Your Highness?!” she exclaimed, but thankfully she was quiet enough that the other girls didn’t hear.
“Shh.” Edgar put a finger on his lips and gestured her to come closer.
“We finally get to talk to you, Lady Merellis.”
The girls hadn’t noticed Edgar and Sharia’s presences.
“Yes. Thank you for waiting until my classes were done,” Merellis said with a smile. Her completely confident attitude had the three girls a bit flustered for a moment. “Now, what was it that you wanted? I’m sorry to say I haven’t the faintest idea what you could want to speak to me about.”
“It’s about Lord Louis,” the girl in the middle said, glaring at her.
“Oh? What about Lord Louis?” Merellis wasn’t intimidated by the girl’s anger at all. In fact, she blinked innocently at her, egging her on.
“If you really call yourself Lord Louis’s fiancée, you need to know your place!” the girl responded in a low, threatening voice.
“And what does that mean exactly? I’m sorry, but I’m not quite understanding what you’re trying to say here.”
“You don’t understand? Well! I certainly don’t think you’re worthy of marrying into the Armelia family!” The girl laughed scornfully, and the other two joined in.
“Thank you for the warning, but could you be kind to a younger student and explain exactly what you mean by that?” Merellis answered calmly, the smile still on her face.
“Listen. Lord Louis is busy. Just because you’re his fiancée doesn’t give you the right to hog all of his time!”
“That’s right! And it’s positively unsightly the way you act so intimate with him all the time! Just what are you trying to do, damage his reputation?!”
“A weak, sickly girl like you couldn’t possibly be fit for the role of wife to the heir of House Armelia!”
The three girls’ words were like spears shooting one after the other. It kept escalating to the point where it was getting unbearable to hear. Edgar frowned and started to stand to go put a stop to it.
“Please wait, Your Highness…” Sharia said.
“Why?” He gave her a questioning look.
“Just wait… Just a bit longer, please.”
While they were talking in the shadows, the situation had taken an unexpected turn. They now heard Merellis laughing softly. “Again, thank you for the warning. It was very educational to hear your opinions.”
For a moment, the girls stared blankly at Merellis as if they had no idea what she had just said, their eyes wide.
“Wha—”
“Well? Is that all you have to say to me?”
“How dare you speak to your upperclassmen with such an attitude!”
Merellis laughed with amusement in response to the girls’ annoyance. “Upperclassmen? Hm, that’s strange. Would my seniors truly call a younger student out, lead them to a deserted area, and then insult and threaten her? Certainly not!” Her voice was no longer soft. Her tone was so icy it sent shivers down the spines of all who heard, and her gaze was deadly serious and sharp as a blade as she glared at the girls.
Everyone watching was speechless.
“And on what basis have you decided I am not worthy to marry into House Armelia? My engagement was arranged by my father, the war hero General Gazell Daz Anderson and this kingdom’s prime minister, Duke Romello Gib Armelia. Do any of you three have the authority to override their judgment?”
“Wh-what’s your problem? All you can do is brag about your family’s power…”
“If that’s how you want to interpret it, that’s your own problem. I’m sure it’s impossible to say anything that will change your minds, since all you’ve done is scrape the bottom of the barrel for negative things so you can try to discredit me. I’m incredibly thankful that you’ve approached me and given me the chance to hear you out. Now I know for certain that there are people like you here at the academy.” She smiled, her expression softening a bit. “At any rate, I don’t need your permission or your acceptance. No matter what anyone has to say about it, I am Louis de Armelia’s fiancée. We’re in love, and nothing you do or say will ever change that.” Her words were even sharper than before, and all the other girls could do was close their mouths.
“…I knew it,” Sharia whispered.
“Knew it? What did you know?” Edgar whispered back.
“Huh? Oh…” Sharia’s eyes darted back and forth. She had been so captivated by the scene which had unfolded before them that she utterly forgot he was even there. She let out a sigh. “I mean, I know the reason why Lady Merellis just went along with those girls.”
“What do you mean?”
“To Lady Merellis, those girls’ gossip is completely petty and trial. They’re like annoying flies buzzing in her ear. Why be afraid of them when all you have to do is shoo them away with one flick of your hand? I’d expect nothing less from General Gazell’s daughter.”
“You look awfully happy.”
“Yes, I am. I can’t help it. She’s my idol,” Sharia whispered as if she were singing. Her cheeks were rosy, and her eyes were glistening with excitement. She was beaming and beautiful, looking almost like a girl in love.
Edgar found himself captivated as well and felt his heart begin to race. “Do you want to become a strong woman like her?” he asked awkwardly, trying to conceal how flustered he was feeling.
“Strong…? Yes, perhaps. I greatly admire her spirit. She doesn’t bend to anyone.”
“I see… So that’s your idea of inner strength.”
“Exactly. She’s proud and independent. She watches over and protects others with her strength. She’s like a wolf…the king of the forest. What woman witnessing that scene wouldn’t admire her?”
“I see…”
“It looks like Lady Merellis is returning to the ladies’ dormitory, so I should be doing the same. If you’ll excuse me, Your Highness.”
“O-of course.” Edgar stared after her, stunned, as Sharia happily rushed after Merellis.