Not knowing what happened the night before bothered Cecilia more than she expected. Not because she had any interest in the prince in a romantic sense, but it didn't seem that Lady Ivalyn had either. And there was the whole business with Duke Everglow and his notorious personality.
Ignoring the two men who continued their conversation about the ball, she navigated between the desks with swift steps until she reached the last one. Unhinged by the sudden approach, Lady Ivalyn raised her head looking at her with a sweet smile, inviting her in.
"Lady Cecilia, it's always a pleasure to see you. I hope everything is fine?" the lady asked.
Cecilia smiled back at her, seeing an evident change in her. Last night Lady Ivalyn was not only cold, but also dissatisfied with something and somehow anxious. That day she was more relaxed, still with an indifferent air to her as always.
"Everything is just fine. Did you have a good time at the ball last night, Lady Ivalyn?"
"Please call me Ivy. I hope we can get along from now on." the lady suggested.
It took Cecilia by surprise. Upon looking at the sitting woman, she found no trace of disingenuousness. "It'll be a great pleasure if we become friends, Ivy. You may also call me Cecilia."
"Cecilia, about your question, I had a very pleasant time last night. The ballroom was just splendid, and everyone had such marvellous gowns," Ivy reminiscenced about the ball. "Of course, there was one lady who just eclipsed the others," she added with a smirk while raising a brow at her.
Strange enough, Cecilia felt her cheeks burn and had to take a deeper breath of air before she could answer. Ivy's words had a strange effect on her. "There were indeed many beautiful gowns last night," she managed to answer.
"But only yourself shined more beautifully than others, Cecilia."
Cecilia avoided her eyes, "You flatter me, I am sure the others were just as fine."
"There are some who do not agree with that." she peeked at the men in front who seemed to have been staring before. Lord Markus flinched at that moment, but the other just nodded and smiled deeply in thought. "Every eligible bachelor was lost upon seeing your beauty."
The statement that she caught many men's eyes last not was not far from the truth, but saying that about all bachelors seemed far-fetched. Cecilia knew at least one who didn't pay attention to her and was evidently missing most of the night.
"I have to disagree, there was at least one who remained unaffected," she wanted to ask about the crown prince and their meeting.
A loud sound marking the entrance of the High Chancellor stopped Cecilia's thoughts of inquiring anything more. "Good day, my lords and ladies. I hope the ball last night didn't leave you less interested in our subject today."
Leaving Ivy's side, Cecilia walked to her own desk. On her way her eyes caught Daemon still staring at the other lady. That didn't sit well with her, and a strange feeling surged inside her. Like a lump in her throat that was hard to swallow.
"Last time we talked about the Great Mage who was in a tight place in the war with the monsters, but a great weapon was waiting for them. Does anyone know what it was?"
"Dragons," they answered in unison.
"Dragons. Something so powerful, the war was won shortly after. Where did they find the dragons?"
This time silence met the chancellor.
A sweet low voice was the one that broke the silence. "In the east. More exactly, under the Snowy Mountains where the then ruler in the east, Lord Rolfe, built a castle for his future wife to be close to the dragons' lair."
Every pair in the room turned to look at Ivy and then back at the High Chancellor to check the veracity of the words. "Partly correct, my lady," he answered. "They were indeed found in the east, most likely somewhere in the Snowy Mountains. But nobody knows the exact place."
"It may be so. Yet the presence of the castle is proof to my words," Ivy insisted much to the annoyance of the old man.
The chancellor didn't try to hide his displeasure at all. "The castle was a holiday place for the lord at that time and it still remains like that to this day."
"Strange place for a holiday, in my opinion, considering the place was so near the border with the monsters. The forest must have been filled with such creatures. Yet, who am I to judge the tastes of others," she added, her eyes provoking the old man while her face showed innocence. "Lord Daemon here can attest whether it is such a pleasant place."
They turned to look at the young lord and Cecilia felt anxious.
The man smiled surprised at Ivy. "The castle is in the heat of the mountains, in the middle of the forest. It is a very quiet place where some might find solace."
"There you have, a holiday place for those who want to find solace," the chancellor concluded before moving on with his lesson.
The door opened, interrupting the old man, and a blond-haired young man's head popped in the door, entering carefully. "I present my excuses for being late, High Chancellor."
The chancellor waved his hand to invite him inside. "It's quite alright, Lord Allan. Welcome!"
Cecilia felt her mouth open not believing the injustice. When Ivy came late the other day, she had to be embarrassed in front of everyone. Lord Allan, on the other hand, was just welcomed in.
Before she could continue with her surprise and frustration, a know was heard at the door.
"Is it possible to have this lesson in peace and quiet?" the chancellor bursted and went to open the door himself.
A servant of the king was the one to intrude. He started whispering something with a distressed voice and the old man was also whispering back, his voice more and more grave. The students were all trying to catch a word of their discussion to no avail.
When the two men in the door finished their conversation, the chancellor turned to the rest of them. "We have to make this lesson short. Something terrible has happened to our prince. He had been cursed. I rely on your discretion.
He left the room leaving a heavy silence behind him. Slowly Cecilia turned to watch the others, but all three men turned at the back of the desks, at the woman sitting there.