As I woke up, I could hear the surrounding voices. The curtains had been lifted, letting the sun illuminate the room. I could hear the sound of rushed movements beside me: it was probably Anny-my personal maid, and some other servants preparing my refreshments to wash my face.
I slowly rose from my slumber, my eyes still tightly shut. Furthermore, I was exhausted from my training session yesterday. I had no energy left in me, even after the peaceful and restful night.
"Good morning, Anny!" I mumbled.
"Good Morning, young miss. Would you like to eat downstairs today? Your father wishes to see you."She mustered while gently wiping my face with a freshly wet cotton cloth.
"Hmmm…yes, yes."
"Can you go see if Ricardo is already up? He has to meet his instructor today, and I am afraid he will skip again. That stubborn brat!"
"Yes, young miss!"
"Thank you, Anny, you are an angel. I'll go take my bath first. You can take your leave now."
After finishing wiping my hands myself, I first took my "medicine" before going to the bathroom. Just like usual, I spent thirty minutes preparing myself-with the help of the servants-before going downstairs.
In the dining room, my father and my other half-siblings were sitting awaiting my arrival, creating the illusion of a serene home. A picture I was still not comfortable with even after so many years.
I never understood their obstinate resolution to pretend to be a sweet and loving family, which was an impossible event for the Premeson family. Before that could happen, the world would have gone instinctive.
More importantly, I knew that they honored this act only because of my new-found status in the family of assassins. As the most promising child, I was without any doubt an indispensable piece to the family. The only reason I was not proclaimed heir was because of our ancestors' policy: only a male descendant could become the leader of the house and, by alliance, the organization behind it.
So by default, I couldn't become the matriarch, since it was impossible from the start. What could you expect from a family of psychos—integrity? Never.
The moment I show any weaknesses, they will jump at me like a pack of hyenas. Their soul didn't contain any shreds of kindness whatsoever or empathy, not even for said family. No wonder the original Georgia became twisted at their hands.
At least I had enough power and status to protect myself and my previous one. I could endure it until my coming of age, when I will take my leave for faraway lands. Until then, my only mission was to protect and nurture my twin, my sole comfort in this strange world.
Good morning, Martin, giaisia, James, older brothers Fredmon and Alan, older sister Eliza and father. "Good morning." I uttered while smiling sweetly. Again, I took it upon myself to never break my mask of kindness. Even in the middle of a pack of starving wolves disguised as sheep, I did not let my guard down. That's something I had to learn to survive here.
"Good morning!" They answered back one by one.
-What a beautiful harmony indeed.
« Where is Ricardo? Is he still asleep? » Asked the man I had as a progenitor, his voice deep and full of disguised darkness.
On his calm and steady face, we could read a life full of battles. Even though he was an assassin, he still had the presence and aura of an honorable man.
-Tsss…what a fake.
"He had an appointment with his instructor, father. You know he has to keep up with his other pears now that his health allows him to. I am sure you would not like him to fall behind, father." I said it with my most sincere voice. At this point in my life, at fourteen years old, I was a master at this little game.
"Yes, indeed. Well, I will let you take care of his matters for me. "
"Of course, father, I will. "
I scanned the contents of the plates before I took a seat, choosing to begin with a cup of tea to lighten my stomach.
"I heard that you particularly asked for my presence here today, father. Is there something important?"I proceeded to ask, putting down my half-empty cup after a few minutes of silenced sipping.
My father cleared his throat, preparing himself to address the matter. From his tense figure and frowning eyebrows, it seemed to be a rather sensitive one. "I received a letter from the Royal Academy this morning. Following your test aptitude, you will be officially admitted as a student at the beginning of the semester."
"I understand, father. I believe it isn't the only thing that preoccupies your mind, dear father, am I right?"I calmly stated.
Adjusting my expression to look more anticipating, I gazed at my father with clear, unblemished eyes.
"Well…it's…" the man began, hesitating. While not nervous, he did not seem to want to say it himself.
-What is it again? This family will make me lose my mind.
"Yes, you are right, Gege." Said sweetly, older brother Fredmon, sparing the pride of the older man.
"Father doesn't want to say it, but the family had some difficulties recently. After the conflict with the house of Kredeboia, some of our interests has been disrupted. We would highly appreciate it if you could sympathize with the ducal family of Dupont and obtain some insight from them."
"Yes, continued the eldest sister Eliza, we think it is quite a simple task which is why we give it to you, for you to contribute to the family prestige. You are old enough now, Gorgia."
-Old enough for what? To begin, what are political interests? To mingle in the pool of high society?
What could a child of fourteen years old really do? Nothing. I still hadn't come of age yet.
Controlling myself from rolling my eyes, I meekly muttered, "Well, it's not that I don't want to; believe me, father, but I don't have any particular ties with the young master of the ducal house. Why are you asking me that?"
"Don't be a modest child. We are sure you are absolutely capable of doing that. Moreover, I remember that four years ago, you were chosen as one of the young master's playmates."
-Why am I draining myself trying to convince them? They obviously do not give a care about my opinion.
"If it can help our estimated house, then I will try my best, father."
"If you could excuse me, I still have my training to attend. I hope you enjoy the rest of your breakfast. Goodbye."
Extracting myself from the heavy atmosphere of the room, I went directly to my private quarters to change into a more formal dress. Today I went for green, my favorite color. I tied my semi-long pink curly hair in a ponytail and finally moisturized my hand.
I took the door directly connecting my room to my private garden, a place I created two years ago to nurture myself in the midst of nature.
As a mage, unlike my pears, I had an enormous amount of magical powers that were practically non-exhaustible, but to balance that, if I consumed too much of them, it would impact my mental health.
From my observations, I would become strangely tired without any power to spare. Moreover, I would be in a state of semi-slumberlessness. The only way to help me more quickly is with the help of plants. The closer and longer I am to them, the better.
So now, just like a ritual, I would practice my magic aptitude in the garden.
First things first, I began to chant spells. Normally this one isn't necessary to me, but to blend in the crowd, I have to perfectly use it since, normally, only mage of the 10th rank and above can use magic without chanting. Weirdly enough, it's harder for me to use magic with spells than just directly using it from thin air. Maybe it's because I have never really learned to.
In the air, you could see different colorful lines intertwining themselves in rapid motion. They continued to do so for a few minutes before dissolving slowly.
That is the kind of exercise I use to test my durability. It is to see how long my magic can last with chanting, which is up to ten to eleven minutes now.
Taking a seat in a chair, I began to think about what I should do now.
Four years ago, after the nightmarish night, I never went to the ducal estate of the Duponts again. I thought that since I knew nothing of the motives behind the original host's death, it would be a wise idea to distance myself from the problem magnet that is Mainu Frederic Dupont.
Maybe others would have done otherwise, preferring to create ties with him so they would avoid any bad ending, but for me, if not necessary, I never liked faking bonds with anyone. So becoming friends with him would have been hard. There is no way that, in my rational mind, I would have completely trusted and believed in him. And without those, could people really be friends?
My only way out was to get my brother and I out of the picture. No villainous acts, no horrible deaths. That's that.
Unfortunately, life did not seem to want to make things easy for me. Now, at the age of fourteen, I had to join the royal academy, an establishment of prestige made by the first queen of Gefya for rich nobles and brilliant commoners. Apparently, the idea was to create a place of equity among talented individuals.
Normally, because of my late blooming-or at least that's what people think- I should not have been granted permission to attend the academy. I was already in the school section, so I missed the first four years beforehand.
Because yes, ten years old is the required age for enrollment.
In fact, I didn't even want to take that aptitude test. It was my brother, thinking of good, that tricked me to it. And here are the results: I had to go there as a member of the school section-falling directly into the wolf's den.