Claude was struggling to stay afloat at the Academy. Since he had doubled his training time with the sword, his already poor grades slowly began to slip. His teachers warned him that he was in danger of failing. Claude was slowly losing his ability to focus the stress was so great. That was when he met the new student. A tall quiet exceedingly handsome boy who seemed almost too young to be at the Academy. The ladies in his class fell in love with his quiet mysterious presence. No one knew which house he was from, although there were rumors that he was the brother of Olivier de Girard, another handsome mysterious student. No one could remember the Girard household attending any official functions. When asked the tall shy boy would just blush and say, "We are far from the capital."
Claude saw him warming up with his sword and asked, "Greetings, Lord Girard, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind a spar to warm up before today's lesson?"
The tall boy smiled and said, "Thank you, Lord Rouvroy, I would."
The stood apart and then began, the tall boy's sword was more advanced than Claude's and his speed and strength were beyond Claude. He gasped as he had to go near all out just to stay ahead of the boy's blade. Claude called out, "Let's stop, I am afraid I can't touch you."
He smiled at Claude and said, "My apologies, I am used to training with people who are abnormally strong, I should have held back more."
Claude fell to his knees, "I can't believe it, am I really so bad with the sword?"
The boy squatted down with him and smiled, "No, you aren't bad. I think you are a master with the sword. Your problem isn't a technique or talent. It's here." He touched Claude between his eyebrows. He smiled and then explained, "I can process my observations faster and make my decisions faster than you. On top of that my physical body is stronger and faster. When you put all of those things together, it allows me to have my sword in places you can't reach, you see?"
Claude stared at him open mouthed and asked, "How would someone like me hold my own or even win against you?"
He thought for a moment and then said, "Cheat."
Claude laughed hysterically and then as his laughter faded he asked, "Your grades are decent aren't they?" The boy nodded. So Claude asked, "I am short on friends here and in desperate need of a tutor. I can't pay you anything, nor can I offer you anything in trade, but I can throw my pride in the trash and beg you, will you please tutor me?"
The boy smiled and offered his hand, "Algernon de Girard."
Claude shook it gladly, "Claude de Rouvroy, I will be in your care."
*****
Two weeks later the first exam results posted. At the top of the list, the order read, Guy de Montfort, Madeline Celeste d'Aumont, Alicia de Foix, Algernon de Girard, Olivier de Girard, and Doreen Leon. After two weeks of tutoring from Algernon, Claude de Rouvroy had risen from the last place in the class to the middle.
This time around rather than being upset at taking second place, Madeline was thrilled, she was afraid that Alicia might take second place and so when she saw that it was still hers she giggled happily. Guy walked up and asked, "Something good happen?"
She nodded, "Look, our names are side by side."
He put his arm around her and laughed, "As I recall, the first time this happened you were just about in tears, what's changed?"
She leaned into him and smiled softly, "I have acknowledged your greatness, obviously." She snorted derisively. He rolled his eyes.
Olivier came running up and said, "I need to talk to you both, something bad has happened. No, not just bad, something we had no way to anticipate has happened."
Guy looked at Madeline who nodded at him so they followed Olivier who looked sick as he searched for the right way to say what was on his mind. Olivier looked overly anxious, he finally just blurted out, "My brother convinced my father to rescind the cancellation of my brother's marriage."
Guy looked confused, "What do you mean, Olivier?"
Madeline covered her mouth and said through her hand, "Oh no, oh I didn't think he was serious..."
Olivier nodded at Madeline, "Guy, my brother Andre's engagement to Madeline is back on. The Duke and the King have already agreed to it."
Guy angrily said, "Like hell, he's not marrying my wife, Olivier. I'll kill that bastard before I let him take Madeline."
Olivier ran his hand through his hair and said, "Damn it, Guy, I know that. You know I don't like this at all, but they were already engaged. Father wasn't happy with Andre breaking it off and making an enemy out of the Duke in the first place. He's treating it like Andre's head has finally cleared."
Guy practically yelled, "Damn it, Olivier, you can't possibly expect me to allow this, she's my wife!"
Olivier held his hands out trying to calm Guy down, he asked, "How do you want to play this? Are we going to kill Andre? Do you want to make the King fear you? Do we have to kill my entire family one at a time like last time? I thought we were trying to do things differently this time?"
Guy raged his face turned bright red and then he shouted a curse. Madeline tried to calm him and then said, "What would you suggest Olivier?"
Olivier sighed and then said, "I'll talk to Andre, if I can't persuade him somehow, then I'll take care of this myself."
Guy looked at Olivier, "I won't make you kill your own brother, Olivier."
Olivier gave his normal goofy smile and then said, "Don't worry, it won't come to that. I know what Andre wants, and it's my gift to give to you both."
Guy looked at Olivier like he was crazy, "You're going to become a eunuch?"
Olivier's smile faded, "What? No, wait, why would you even? How did you? I don't even..." He shook his head, "I'll just remove myself from consideration for the crown."
Guy looked disappointed, "Oh, just that? You don't even want to be King, I thought it was something a little more..."
Madeline nodded her head, "Yeah when you said it was your gift to give, I was thinking it was something important too. Eunuch, now that would have been a grand gesture."
"Exactly, Madeline, like, hey my good friends, I have sacrificed my children for you. Not, hey my friends, you know that job I despise, I won't take it for you guys." Guy explained.
Olivier started getting angry, "Hey screw you guys, you wouldn't cut his balls off for me!"
Madeline shrugged, "But I mean, you offered, right?"
"Maybe I want to be King now, huh? What do you think about that!" Olivier angrily spat out.
Guy shook his head, "Olivier, who ever heard of a eunuch being King, that's just weird."
Madeline nodded her head in agreement, "Yes, the nobility would tear itself apart trying to decide the next heir."
Olivier wagged his finger like he wanted to yell at them more but instead stomped away yelling, "At least thank me, you bastards!"