Meeting the prince again after she left him with his woman not long ago, Harmliet smirked as she opened the door of the council's office.
'It feels like everything is on my side now; luck, destiny and such,' she thought.
Behind her, walking with pale faces, the students that are involved with the incident can't look up to face Harmliet. They feel like she would kill them the moment their eyes met.
Harmliet stopped and stood next to her throne; the President's chair. Looking at the nervous students, she can't help but to let out a sarcastic laugh. She never thought that they are 'this' scared of her..
'Yet they still dare to do that? Under me? The level of their rudeness can be compared to useless rats.'
She cleared her throat, a creepy smile formed in her lips. "Now.. speak."
***
Hours has been passed but Harmliet can't still understand what the students meant to say. It was not long ago when she decided to release the students, the classes already started but until now she's still at their office.. remembering the words of the students..
*Flashback*
"There are rumors going around! We nobles can't just let peasants like them spread lies about our families right? I just wanted to fight for my rights as the son of Duke Carneo!"
"Nonsense! How could we spread rumors that fast?! Today is the first time we've met, how could you say such thing without an evidence?"
"Are you saying that I am lying?!"
"OF COURSE!--"
The two boys that are arguing stopped when they heard a loud crack.
"Now.. now. Let me join you boys. Can I?"
It turned out to be Harmliet's vase. She's holding it too tightly to the point that it cracked.
"W-We're sorry for our rudeness, Lady Harmliet.." their faces became even more paler.
"Now.." Harmliet raised her chin, "Rumors, huh. For opening ceremonies, this is rather strange. It's like it has been planned since the beginning.."
'Something came up.. as soon as I was announced as the new president or I'm wrong to think that way? This fast, it must be..'
*End of flashback*
Harmliet slapped her forehead. "Guess I have no choice but to find who's behind this.." She drummed her fingers on the table, "What a waste of energy."
After minutes of thinking, Harmliet decided to go back to their room but before she walked away from the office, she called for someone.
"Find the root of this. Now."
The shadow suddenly appeared, "As you wish, my lady."
"You have an hour to do that," Harmliet flipped her hair before closing the door.
'I bet it's already time for the class of strategies during war, past heroes and king, more like a history class. This is really frustrating, I skipped two classes for nothing.'
With her chin up high and annoyed eyes, she walked pass at the other rooms. When she reached their door, she cleared her throat before knocking.
"I, Harmliet Callighan, apologizing for being late in the class.."
A familiar lady opened the door, with its dark brown hair, emerald eyes and thick glasses..
"Lady Harmliet, nice to see you again, my lady.." the lady bowed her head.
Harmliet also bowed her head, "The feeling is mutual Ms. Herian, it is an honor to meet the famous historian in the country."
If Harmliet remembers well, the lady in front of her is Lady Vena Herian, daughter of Baron Herian that studied overseas and came back when she was 16, that time she met Lady Vena in a party but she didn't pay attention to her before because that day was a nightmare. At the age of 17, Lady Vena became known because of her intelligence.
"I'm happy that you're doing well after--"
"I am also happy to see you happy, Ms. Herian. May I enter the room?" she cut her words off.
With a shock look, Lady Vena took a step back to give her enough space to walk to.
The discussion continued where it stopped. The history of Avriel.
Lady Vena explained what happened in the past. "The topic is 'The first ever savior'. It is said that the royal family tamed a rare dragon that only appear once. For some people, they called it 'A beast that would never return'. In exchange for taming it, that dragon blessed the country with its sharp and long fangs that became the sword of the first hero of Avriel. The first king, 'Aruthor'. That time when Avriel was still a small country, monsters suddenly increased and started attacking Avriel, there are no warriors left to fight back because they're all injured so King Aruthor bravely fought the monsters alone that leaded to victory. Until now, his name remains inside the hearts of the warriors of Avriel, even though it's been decades, his story is still alive, he became the symbol of every knight as well.. and generations to generations, the throne was passed through King Aruthor's bloodline because that was written on his last will."
Someone from the back seat raised a hand.
"May I ask a question?"
Ms. Herian smiled. "Yes. Go on."
"I never heard of the first king's sword before.. where is it now?"
In Harmliet perspective. It make sense that the young man from the back doesn't know that the king has a special sword because from his looks, it's obvious that he's from a normal family that doesn't hold a title. Unlike him, nobles are taught every inch of the history once they reached 5, they're the only capable of knowing the deepest history of the country, although commoners knows a bit of the story as well but not as deep as the nobles. Commoners only know a few that's why in Avriel, education is important, they can only know the deepest information when they managed to enter an academy.
'They can enter one without a struggle though if they proved themselves enough. Even here in the top-pier academy, Discrimination shouldn't exist same goes for favoritism, since ranks doesn't exist here, respect with each other is must. But well, I'm the one who holds the highest rank here though. That's why it's really weird to heard that there are some rumors going around that's misleading the students.'
"That's a nice question but neither I nor high nobles know where it is hidden. As far as I know, only the royal family knows where it is since they're the direct descendants of King Aruthor," answered by Ms. Herian.
The third class ended with the history of Avriel. When Lady Vena left the room, Harmliet didn't stood up like what the other students did. She took a deep sigh and leaned on her chair.
'It's my first day yet there's already a trouble going on.'
"Harmliet."
The familiar voice woke Harmliet's mind. She looked up and surprisingly met the prince's eyes.
"Your highness!" She was shocked but maintained her posture.
Because of her troubled mind, she didn't bother to look for the prince when she entered the room. It's still a surprise that the prince looked for her personally.
Harmliet smirked secretly.
"I told you to just call me by name."
"Ah yes, Warver, I apologize for forgetting."
It may be awkward but for Harmliet, this is better than be ignored by him. Although, the prince should always be called 'Prince Warver' or 'Your highness' at all times because he's a part of the royal family, being able to call him by his name alone.. this is too good to be true.
'But this wouldn't be a problem, right? Since my plan was to win him over. It's a good sign that he treat me like this so it will not hurt to approach him in the future,' thought by Harmliet.
"Shall we head to cafeteria? Let's eat together."
Harmliet bit her lower lip, "I'm sorry but I have to decline your offer, Warver. There's something I need to check.."
Prince Warver lifted his shoulder in a half shrug, "Well it's fine though, there will be a next time for this. I'm sorry to trouble you. I didn't know you had plans.."
She shook her head, "No, it's fine. I'll go next time."
He smiled, "See you later then."
Harmliet waved her hand a little, "Yeah, see you later."
When she couldn't see the prince anymore, the smile she's been faking faded away.
'To think that he would invite me to go with them is really.. I did not expect that but if I really did go with them, what would be the reaction of his fiancee ?'
She couldn't help but to laugh silently. 'I bet her reaction is worth laughing for.'
The students at the room started to decrease, minutes later, Harmliet is only one left. This was her plan that she said to the prince. She's waiting for someone..
She cleared her throat, "Show yourself."
The shadow appeared before her eyes. A figure of a man wearing a cape bowed down on his knee.
"My lady, I apologize for making you wait."
"No, you're just in time. Now.." she rubbed her temples, "Tell me what you found."
"An underground association."
Her eyes widened. "WHAT?!" she slammed her hands on the table. "This is giving me headache.."
"It is an association created 3 years ago, under President Araullo Randiro. They don't just spread rumors but did illegal doings to corner their targets."
Harmliet pinched the bridge of her nose. "For real? That kind of association in this academy exist?"
"Yes my lady."
'This is more serious than I thought'. Harmliet took a deep sigh.
"What's the background of that previous president?"
"He's a commoner."
"I see.."
"What do you want me to do now, my Lady?"
"For now, watch their movements. I want to expose them in front of the second prince so don't touch them until I say so."
"Second prince? Now that I realize it, you don't usually involve yourself in this kind of issue even if you're the president now, you will always let me fix things just like before but now you seem different. Do you have a plan in mind, my lady? "
"Yes. There'll no progress if I don't change myself right? I'm aiming for something so I need to step forward."
"Good to hear that, my lady."
She smirked. "But hey.. you're really brilliant as always, expected from you.. Ezekiel."
The man named Ezekiel smiled, "Thank you for the compliment but can I ask what kind of plan is that.. Lady Harmliet?"
Harmliet rubbed her hands together. "Well, do you really need to ask for that?" she laughed sarcastically, "Of course it's evil.. as always."