There, I found myself in a sumptuous red gown, sitting around the dining table while surrounded by bunches of hyenas.
As we discussed our daily routines, faking kindness and care, I did my best to not vomit out my heart.
Among the Permeson, we had a very special conception of the term "happy meal".
For us, the silence wasn't an obligation—unlike most noble families when there was no particular event— and was even replaced by tones of question.
If, by the end of the said meal, each of us came out intact, then it could be considered a happy meal.
"I heard that you had been accepted at the Royal Academy, Georgia. I did not know you had magic."
"Well, I didn't know too, countess. Until father received notice. Right Father?"
Replying calmly to the Countess of Permeson, the legitimate wife of the Count of Permeson, I didn't bother trying to explain. If she wanted answers, she would ask father.
But knowing the fact that she hated talking more than necessary with that one, she probably wouldn't.
I picked some food from my plate as I continued to munch.
"Is that so? Right, Alice, how is your ball of debutant ongoing?"
Alice was my second older sister, who would soon come of age.
"Great, Countess. All the preparations are ready, it will be held in one month."
"Fantastic. I am happy to see that in my absence, you can all continue to thrive!"
The villainous woman smiled, her face covered with makeup, as she pretended to gaze tenderly at all of us.
But everyone here knew that the backstabbing monster only cared about one person, herself.
Since she, herself, had never had children, she couldn't understand a mother's love for her child.
"Child, how's it going on with the ducal family? Have you had the chance to sympathize with the Duke's heir?"
My father, never forgetting his interests, interrupted the "cordial" atmosphere to directly ask his main worry.
I struggled to swallow my food, reaching for a cup of water to ingest the contents of my meal. I humidified my lips before clearing my throat.
"No, it is quite hard to meet him, father. He is a busy man."
"How busy can a mere child be? I am sure that you will find an occasion to spend some time with him. Do not disappoint me, child." He said with annoyance, not hiding the threats behind his words.
'If only I could cut this man in two.' I thought with bitterness as I smiled to show that I understood, nodding a bit.
Naturally, the rest of the conversations continued for the rest of the meal. Most of the time, it was the Countess who talked about her adventures in the annex empire, where she had a long and indeterminate stay.
Six years, that's how long she took to come back.
Not that I gave care, that is. That woman, however how horrible she truly was, was irrelevant to this family. Her only role was to fill the place with the matriarch's legitimate wife.
She had no marital duties she was obligated to or central role my father could control which would be of utility for her.
Ultimately, the only reason she stayed alive was because she didn't try to hinder my father's doing. He could take as many women as he wanted, she wouldn't say anything.
Finally, at the end of the evening, we reached the end of the meal.
I shared pleasantries with my siblings before taking my leave, as per the usual protocol.
Then, I rushed into my garden—through my bedroom —where I took a breath of fresh air.
The fresh breeze caressed my bare skin as he calmed me down and refreshed me.
My red cheeks, hot from the room's heating, became less rosy and sticky as time passed.
I looked toward the night sky and the stars. The sky was large and uncovered by pollution, allowing one to admire the spectacle of lights above.
'When all this will end?'
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Running between the classes' corridors, books in hand, I tried my best to arrive on time.
This was my second test of the day, and I was going to be late because I took a "small" nap after my first one.
Normally, I wouldn't find myself in that type of situation, but with yesterday's stimulation —the fight and my family reunion— I found myself exhausted.
"Shit!" I said in a muffled scream.
Sprinting a little more, soon, exactly one minute before the beginning of the test, I arrived before the class —rolling like a tornado toward my seat.
"Good morning, Miss Georgia."
My professor, Miss Claudette, greeted me with a smile as she closed the door.
"Good morning, Madame, sorry for being late."
Lucky for me, my history teacher was an adorable woman, or I would have, by default, failed that test.
"Georgia, take the paper on your table and write your name first."
As she waited for all of us to settle, she kindly reminded me of the procedure beforehand.
"Okay, children! Now that everyone is here, you can begin! Good luck to all of you!"
Then, without waiting any longer, each of us took our pen and turned the questions paper, placed at the end of the table.
I quickly read them before writing anything. While I did so, I repaired already a dozen of questions I had the answers to.
After that, I took my pen and began to write. I answered all of them, without exception.
There were one or two questions I wasn't sure of, but other than that, I had all of them right.
I knew it because I had, myself, asked those questions and made a personal goal to find them, reviewing multiple books from the library.
That was my daily activity in the academy when I didn't sleep, eat, or go on missions.
Exactly one hour later, two hours before the end of the test, I handed my paper as it was the minimal required time to hand over.
I verified I had put my name one last time, even though I already knew I did.
"Already finished? I hope it'll be good work, young miss."
Looking at me, Miss Claudette seemed a bit doubtful. She warned me with her gaze before taking my paper.
"You can go. Good day to you."
"Good day to you too, professor."
After that, I went back to my dormitory, as I had finished for the day.
I took my dress off, remaining in my underwear, before I collapsed on my comfortable bed, worn out.
"I'll just sleep a bit. Only a bit." I said slowly as I drifted away.
.....................…
"A bit" turned into hours and hours, and I finally spent all day in bed, recuperating.
Luck for me, my feet stopped hurting after yesterday's night. Now, I could hoop freely as I wanted.
Waking up from my dream, a miracle these days, I sat— my eyes still closed.
I fumbled, with my hand, around my bedside table to find the bottle of water I had put down earlier.
"Is that what you're searching for?"
Startled by the voice, I woke up in a jump, frightened.
'The hell! I didn't even feel him!'
Before me, at one millimeter from my face, stood Daniel with a bottle, my bottle, between his hands—smiling.
He was sitting at the border of the bed while looking at me.
"You! What are you doing here?" I yelled as I stood up in one quick motion before grabbing him by the collar and pulling him toward the living room.
"Aaaah! Murdering! You are trying to murder me!" He screamed as he put his hands above his face, faking being scared.
"Shut it, Daniel! Tell me why the hell are you in my bedroom!"
"Wow! That's not a proper way for a lady to talk, isn't it? What? Did you stop pretending?"
I took a big breath, fulminating at a rapid pace. I took it upon myself to stay calm and controlled.
"Georgia? Did you freeze?"
'Calm and collected.' I repeated
The teenager stood up, positioning himself before me, before waving his hands over my face.
"Whoa! You look like a broken doll like that! Your skin is so pale."
'Calm and composed.' I thought once again.
"Ah, you knew that you had a beauty mark on your temple? It's so tin—Aaahgh! Stop, stop, stop."
Before he could finish his sentence—as my calm broke, and I achieved my limit of words beginning with a "c"—I twisted his finger, which he had put on my face, before turning it sideways.
I waited a good while, enjoying his painful cries, before letting go. I took care to not break anything, though.
"Now, answer my questions," I said threateningly as I sweetly smiled.
"You are a demon! A demon!"
I sighed as I took a sit, tired. Then I looked up at him, expecting an answer.
"Well, your door was open, so I came to verify if you were actually there."
'I didn't close the door? ' I thought, puzzled, then I remembered how I rushed to sleep without verifying anything.
That could have been dangerous with the secret society doing their misdeeds inside the academy. Or at any situation by the way.
I sighed, yet again.
"What made you think you had the right to enter the bedroom of a lady?"
"Ah, but you are not exactly a lady, are you?"
The man, glanced at me before taking a sit too. Then he observed briefly the living room.
"What!?"
"Which lady would act like you do…" He retorted with a grimace, looking at his twisted red finger.