It is suffocating. Amy looked at the assignments for this year. During her first year in school, she learned that the lesson plans remained unchanged for the most part after comparing it to the story. She also discussed with Professor Zoe on her schoolwork, adamantly asking her that she desires to continue.
Other than praise for her school ethic, she has earned her favor too and was received everything in advance, getting permission to listen in to the lectures one-way from a crystal ball and compromise on certain things like tests. The one class she is unable to take is physical education but because she is a part of Prince Leon's retinue, she will not be held back on this subject. Initially, she thought she would be unable to do potions because she has neither the equipment and half of the class's tests are practical but her father has the equipment and she would have a proctor come in to watch her do it.
Perhaps this is due to her privilege as a noble but it is wonderful how things work in her favor.
How easy. she shamelessly thought, though she looked at the list of assignments she has for the school year. Her mental state could deteriorate to the point that she wouldn't be able to even concentrate so she's gonna finish it as quickly as possible so that she could focus on other things.
"Anna, bring me as much ink as you can provide me."
"Miss, do you intend to do all of it?"
"Of course. I could barely focus these days and I think this is what I need."
"Of course, miss." Anna said, slightly overwhelmed by the amount of work on her desk then left quickly to notify someone to get it.
Amy wishes to be left alone but her parents specifically ordered Anna not to do that so she has no choice but to finish it all while she watched.
She looked out of her window to see a wisp of a figure standing there. She closed the blinds to concentrate on her work.
"You can't get rid of me so easily."
Amy ignored her again and tried to think of something else; Alina's preparations to sell the grain she has grown, Alabaster's work and even the wooden birds she placed at the academy to keep an eye on the people inside.
"Why do you wish for me to leave? I have yet to do anything. I am a part of you."
The voice is beginning to sound persistent and speaks with clarity. This is gonna be troublesome.
It's already been two months. Just another ten more and I'll be fine and sane again.
"Miss," a voice called out and Amy nearly broke her pen in surprise. "I brought the ink."
"Thanks, Anna."
"By the way, there is a letter for you from Lady Violet."
She turned with excitement. This is the first letter since Violet returned to the Academy.
"Give it to me." she said and nearly snatched the letter before opening it.
*
Sabina hugged Leon and Rufus from behind while they're walking much to his displeasure but a quick finger to his mouth and eye motion made it all clear. The girls who are watching from a distance all walked away with embarrassment and disappointment.
"What-?" Leon opened his mouth only for it to be closed by Rufus.
"The girls are gone."
"Girls?" he looked around with uneasiness.
"I keep warning you not to have just the guys around. Keep Vivi, me and especially Melissa around when you go out in the open from now on." Sabina says and got off their backs. "These girls all see you as an opportunity. Even becoming your mistress would be an honor. They will pounce on you at any moment."
Disgusted, he leaned against the wall. "I'm twelve years old!"
"Twelve is old enough to start developing feelings." Rufus remarked.
"Anyway, you will need to start getting careful. All these noble first year girls are here for you. If not, then their parents. To be acquainted with the only prince of Solin is a rare honor." Sabina said.
"What about you?"
Sabina crossed her arms with a disapproving look, "No way! You think I want to be with you? Melissa is your fiancee and the others think so too so we refrain from creating rumors. But we are also your close friends from childhood and don't mind if we hug or touch you however, we also know you well enough to know what would happen if anyone else were to try it."
"I like to see them try." Rufus says with a dark voice.
*
Amy is surprised to see the letter is long. Really long. It seems she has a lot to say regarding what is going on at the school.
According to Viola, the number of first years make up triple the number than average and less than twenty are part are accepted as newcomers of Team Sun. The number of Solinean noble examinees make up around the hundreds yet only eighteen students were admitted and surprise, only four of them were boys. The girls were excited, boastful even. Viola even wrote down all the names, which Amy all recognize.
It is not surprising. All these new students are spares. No parent would actually enroll their heirs to the Magic Academy. As for the girls, they are competitive and eager despite Leon already having a fiancee.
He's gonna have problems in school, she thought. Viola also wrote that the girls are trying to hit on him, creating scenarios where they could be noticed. Leon acted very cold to them as a result. But they are not one to give up easily.
It's probably because of his father's reputation.
King Claude is infamous in his youth for being a skirt chaser. Despite not appearing it now, he had preferences for lower ranked noblewomen as his mistresses but none of them got pregnant. It wasn't until he remarried again and had Leon that he was able to stop his behavior. It was said that his mother was a Valerian that led to this long-term infertility. It was because of this, Leon is expected to follow this same behavior. It doesn't help that Leon was also a good-looking kid for their age. Well, he had three kids at the time of his death so he is most definitely not infertile.
Apparently, Melissa is getting harassed now for being the duke's niece rather than her father but she seems unbothered by it as it is a part of her character though the underlying reason is obvious. Although Amy doesn't know the details herself, Melissa's father was incompetent which led him to be an even more incompetent father and was taken in by the duke who later adopted her as his daughter after she developed an ability. The official story is that her father died but who knows what happened. This world is going downhill, isn't it? Amy thought unfavorably.
Leon dislikes nobles, that is a well-known fact. The cheating, lying and condescending views and attitudes are only a small piece of it. The primary reason he hates them is how judgmental they are and their inability to see the true worth of others. The reason he doesn't dislike his friend group is because they don't have that mindset. If any noble, he judges to be inferior, are too familiar with him because of their parents then he might incapacitate them. Leon is powerful already but hates feeling politically powerless the most because he is eager to change everything.
His mother has set up the pieces to consolidate his power by engaging him to a blue-blooded ability user with an incredibly useful ability, and surrounding himself with ability users who would prove useful at his side. Luckily they are all from neutral families who wouldn't participate in corruption especially Earl White, who is bedridden.
There is also one interesting thing to note. Despite the Valerian heritage, many girls were smitten with Rufus as well especially from the older girls but unlike Leon, he is more tolerant about it. The thought made Amy shook her head in amusement but since they met in person, she found out something about him.
One of Rufus's peeves is to be touched strangely by someone untrustworthy. Formal handshakes or touching out of etiquette, training which requires physical contact and platonic touching between friends are fine but any unwanted contact with complete strangers are out of the question. He once released a panther at a poor boy on one of Leon's birthdays. Despite knowing this is a story where anyone can overreact in the weirdest ways as a trope, his overreaction threw her off as she and Nathaniel subdued the panther.
Viola finished the letter by warning her not to send anything to Leon directly and any gift or letter she has for him would be delivered to her instead because Leon's mail is also getting tampered with.
Jeez, how far will these people go?
She tapped her finger rhythmically on the table as soon as she finished writing her reply as she was deep in thought of what to do before a sharp buzzing sound suddenly broke her out of her thoughts.