Quickly, I stood into attention before the lieutenant and so did Nikolas beside me. Damn it, had I been too rash?
She had her arms folded, her toe tapping the ground and a look of expectation on her face. Lieutenant Catalina's personality matched her elemental power—her ability to manipulate earth. She was as formidable and sturdy and unyielding as rocks.
"Well?" she said.
Oh, right. I scrambled my thoughts for words, for an explanation. For anything! Panic overtook my senses and in turn, I couldn't get a single sound out of my mouth.
Nikolas cleared his throat. "We were just… uh…"
"Go on," she drawled, a hint of annoyance in her expression.
Niko winced, hands raised defensively. "…sparring?"
I bit my lower lip, resisting the urge to slap him.
"I was not asking what you two were doing," she said. "Had you two finally lost your senses after years of mentally choking one another?"
I groaned inwardly. Lieutenant Catalina had witnessed our exchange of jabs and insults throughout our years in the academy since she was our instructor in Weapon Specialization Training. So as funny as it may sound, she was indeed asking a valid question.
Someone giggled sheepishly, catching my attention. Lieutenant's assistant had black hair, long and wavy and glossy. Her complexion was fair, her black eyes shimmering beneath the light of the moon. She wore the Templar's uniform, and for a person so tall, it suited her perfectly.
I would often see her at the academy, running errands for the Order and assisting the lieutenant during classes.
She batted her lashes at me.
"Sara," I greeted, feeling my cheeks heat up.
"Lily, how are you?" she asked, her voice smooth as silk.
"F-fine," I stammered and then laughed uncomfortably, "In a bit of a tight spot, but I'm fine. Really."
She snorted, turning away as her shoulders shook from silent laughter.
A grin cracked my lips, warmth invading my chest. She's beautiful.
"Unbelievable," Nikolas grunted.
I whipped toward him. "What?"
"Forget it," he said, murmuring, "blockhead."
"Wha—"
A forced cough.
I returned my focus on the lieutenant, Sara and Niko followed.
"I need your undivided attentions on me," she said, her brows scrunched. "Is that too hard to ask?"
"No, ma'am." Niko and I said it in unison. I had to bunch my hands to prevent my eyes from rolling.
"Now, back to business." The Lieutenant sighed, causing her to appear older than she was. "I heard the both of you applied for temporary leave from the academy… but I certainly didn't expect," she considered us from head to toe, "this."
I stepped forward. "Lieutenant, allow me to explain."
"The floor is yours, Rusells."
"August and Erilyn, my sister..." I answered. "They vanished. We were told to pretend as them so the wedding would proceed accordingly. But Kore and I only found out that both sides had the same exact solution when we took the vows before the altar."
"I see," said the Lieutenant. She held up a finger. "Ah, I knew the bride and groom were acting so strange from the wedding until the reception. I know August and Erilyn personally. And you two are doing horrible jobs at impersonating them. You might have almost fooled me with that appearance-altering potion you used, Nikolas, but seeing you here made me confirm my suspicions. Now I can see right through you."
I wasn't surprised anymore, recalling how sharp and keen she was.
Niko's shoulders slumped. "You got me. Please, don't tell anyone about this."
"Yes," I added. "Except for the family heads. Since we're already busted, might as well stop this stupidity."
Lieutenant Catalina tilted her head. "Oh?"
Niko's hand slashed the air. "No, we should definitely not. That is out of the picture. We are not telling anyone. My dad's position is on the line here!"
I was taken aback. But still, I said, "Your dad will still be captain of the Varemont knights. I'll make sure my mother and August's father will talk. We'll even do search operations together—"
"And what hold do you have on the adults, Lily?" he glared at me. "What makes you so assured that they'll merely 'talk this out'? Those people knowing that they've been lied to would lead to a feud between both families. Meanwhile, as the one tasked to do the job, they'll punish me and my father for ruining everything!"
"Make up your mind," said the lieutenant. "I haven't got all night."
"I think Lily has a point," Sara joined in. "Many differences and misunderstandings have been fixed through proper discussions by going through specific circumstances appropriately. One more thing, wouldn't you two like to go back to school? Why forego this plan and miss out dozens of classes? You two are vying for the top spot, after all."
I thought my stomach made a flip. Sara actually took my side.
She saw me gawking at her and she winked. At that, heat rushed into my neck.
"You're not getting it," Niko said. "The Rusells and Varemont households were forced to agree on this ceasefire by the court and half of the Quartet. One reason is all it will take for them to be at each other's throats again. They will, by all means, ignore the queen's decree because of this mishap. Lily, you only hate the Varemonts because I'm with them. But your family, their grudge stems from generations and generations of hatred."
I rubbed my temple, a headache beginning to form. Shit, this wouldn't have happened if Erilyn and August didn't disappear in the first place. Talk about irresponsible. But there blaming them would be no use and would only hurt my head more.
As much as I didn't want to admit it, half of what Nikolas was saying truly did make sense.
Then, the lieutenant spoke. "I have an idea."
"Really?" I smiled. "You do?"
Niko's eyes narrowed, skeptical. "What is it?"
Lieutenant Catalina lifted her chin. "We shall bring this matter to the queen."
The world around me spun, a loud buzzing in my ears. Did I hear that correctly? Had I gone deaf?
"You can't!" Niko lost his composure. "She's the last person in all of Carnelia that we'd tell this to!"
"Th-that's right!" I held myself together. "Her Majesty will give us hell for this! We deceived her. She'll sentence us to death!"
"Well," said the lieutenant, her jaw set. "We'll have the opportunity to verify your arguments tomorrow."
I sneaked a glance at Sara, and she seemed anxious as well. But she wouldn't dare speak against her senior, of course. I could totally understand that. Instead, she offered me a look of sympathy.
And with that, I understood. No one could change the lieutenant's mind.