APRIALLA
We were back in Wisteria but nothing was the same anymore.
Pauline has grown even quieter and she doesn't talk to me much. She has begun to give me a cold shoulder. Even during the lunch, she hangs out with Princess Patricia.
And I cannot handle it anymore!
Why is she doing this? Is it because I censured Irene of the murder or is it because the other royals condemn my father?
I had just pointed out that Irene had disappeared the exact moment and there was no reason for my father to do this.
Brindlemark has no grudge against Delphinia.
We are allies!
Then… why?!
I am not this aggravated even when I engage into a tussle with my boyfriend and we don't speak. He is just my lover. But she is my soulmate!
He might not be present at my wedding but she would certainly be.
I grabbed my hair in frustration and groaned, slamming my head on the table. I was nonchalant of the possibility of me grabbing unwanted attention from the students at the table.
Shanon patted my back.
"It will work out…" She made an attempt to calm me down. "Seventeen years!! Seventeen years of friendship, Shanon and it just snapped like that?!" I let out a frustrated cry.
Since our kingdoms were allies, I and Princess Pauline knew each other since we were toddlers.
"Should've accepted my offer when I proposed." I sensed Benjamin slipping onto the seat on my other side. I didn't lift my head. "What offer?"
"Investigating these atypical events that are happening around us. I approached Shanon but in return she threatened me to divulge this to the professors." Benjamin said with his mouth full.
I jerked my head up.
"I heard about it…" I muttered to myself. I then fixed my dishevelled hair and turned to Benjamin, putting on an angelic expression. "Is the offer still valid?"
"No."
My face immediately fell. "Why?" I whined. Benjamin dropped his fork and met my eyes. "Because if we proceed with the plan and your beloved friend has warned us that she would snitch about it to the professors."
I abruptly turned to Shanon.
"No." She sternly said before I could even open my mouth.
"But-"
"April, I am against it for our own good. If any professor finds out about this and informs to our parents…" She appeared to be terrified even at the thought of it. "Our parents have sent us here to study. Not to immerse ourselves in matters that are better off in the hands of the adults."
"But Shanon… If we manage to discover the actual culprit behind this, we would stop blaming our friends and allies!" I countered.
"And it also sounds adventurous, doesn't it?" I attempted to persuade her.
"Please, for me?" I flashed the doe-est doe eyes I could put on. I was unbothered that it made Benjamin retch.
Shanon stared at me for a couple of seconds.
"I shall take the full responsibility if things go awry." I nudged her. Shanon sighed. She had finally given in. "It must be extremely secretive."
I nodded hastily.
"It certainly has to be secretive. My father is literally in the teaching faculty. I will go ballistic if he discovers I am doing something like this at school." Benjamin spoke up.
"I am agreeing only for the sake of Aprialla proving that her father is innocent." She said to Benjamin before she turned to me. "And tell your fiancé to not get on my nerves."
I grinned and briefly hugged Shanon.
"So, what exactly is the plan of action and who are the people involved?" I turned to Benjamin. Shanon leaned in to listen as well.
"I had already convinced Angus, Kristian, Agustus and Perseus before we had to drop the scheme because of Shanon." Benjamin earned an eyeroll from Shanon.
"So, count them in. If you could influence the rest of the princesses…"
"The entire class?!" Shanon intruded.
"Certainly not. I am only talking about the ones from the Major kingdoms." Benjamin said.
"Why the Majors only?" I questioned.
"Don't you see the pattern? Only the sorcerers of the Major kingdoms have been attacked." Benjamin answered. "That is because only the Major kingdoms have sorcerers." Shanon snapped.
"We can just get them involved if they are needed. But for now, let us just stick to the Major kingdoms. They are more influential anyway." Benjamin explained.
"All the major kingdom? You mean… Athenburg too? Irene too?" I wasn't quite fond of the idea.
"She is literally our prime suspect!" Shanon argued.
Benjamin begun ticking off points on his fingers.
"First, I don't think Irene would do that. Second, you have no evidence against her. Third, keep your friends close. But, your foes closer."
"I'm not quite sure…" I sceptically said.
"I shall attempt to persuade her. You can just try to sway the other princesses." Benjamin suggested.
"Don't worry about that. I will even wail in front of Pauline. Sabrina will join if I do and Isabelle will join if Sabrina does. I will win Scarlette somehow and if you manage to coax Irene, you'll automatically have Pristine and Samirah is literally Kristian's shadow. She will even jump from the rooftop if he asks her to."
"Sounds like a plan." Benjamin put forward his hand for a shake which I gratefully accepted.
It helped me earn a disapproving sigh from Shanon.
But I shall do whatever it takes to get my best friend back.
After the classes, before the dinner, Benjamin summoned everyone to the Great Bell Tower as it is a space that's usually unoccupied.
I had managed to convince Scarlette by agreeing to listen to her break up story (People usually avoid her the moment she sheds a tear for the 2nd boy of the week). I had also coerced Sabrina that if she doesn't join us, I shall hand over her unappealing photos to Irene and whatever Irene might do with them will be a nightmare and she dragged Isabelle along.
Shanon had somehow succeeded in bringing Pauline here.
Now, the room was filled by Scarlette, Angus, Pauline, Kristian, me, Augustine, Perseus, Benjamin, Isabelle, Shanon and Sabrina.
"So, you consented to this just so you could gain Pauline's trust again?" Angus asked.
"Indeed." I briefly glanced at Pauline who was conversing with Shanon. She appeared to be sceptical about being here. She hasn't talked to me yet.
"Why have you assented to this?" I questioned Angus.
I couldn't think of any possible reason why Angus had to give in to this. He is not someone one can manipulate either.
"Adventure." He simply responded.
Just then footsteps approached the room and soon Irene had arrived with Pristine and Samirah on either side of her. She walked into the room with a scowl.
Then her eyes fell on someone.
Kristian.
"What is he doing here?"
"Irene…" Benjamin went to her. "No, what is he doing here? You never said anything about him being here." Irene accused Benjamin.
"I know but since I have gathered everyone from the Major kin-" Benjamin was interrupted by Irene's scoff.
"Count me out if he is in." She turned around to leave.
No! We cannot afford to keep her out of the plan after she already knows about it. Though she won't snitch about it to the teachers, there is a high possibility that many other students might be informed about this.
We cannot risk that.
Benjamin ran to her and positioned himself between Irene and the door.
He muttered something to her for a few seconds. Irene appeared to ruminate over whatever Benjamin was offering.
She eventually gave in.
With a relieved face, Benjamin approached me. "What did she get sold over?" I said in a low tone. "Had offered Mermaid's Pearls earlier. Had to bargain it to The Peacock Brooch." He simply replied.
"Your kingdom had the Peacock Brooch?!" I whisper-yelled.
It was one of the most valuable jewels of Elowyn. He just it up for this?!
Benjamin shrugged as a response.
"You're unbelievable!" I scoffed and followed him to the table. Benjamin had positioned a table in the middle of the room. He then pulled out some parchments from the bag that he was carrying and flattened them over the table-top.
Everyone had gathered to encircle the table.
"Something you people already know is that two sorcerers have been murdered brutally and a fairy lost her magic." His eyes travelled through the gathering.
"But what you are oblivious to is that the mythical creatures around have been losing their magic as well."
"The mythical creatures?" Pauline questioned.
"Try to recall. When was the last time any of you had spotted a unicorn, a phoenix, elves, dragons or any other mythical creature that usually is a mundane sight in the campus?" Benjamin raised a question.
Come to think of it, I hadn't noticed until now but they were disappearing…
"You mean… they are…?" A fidgeted voice escaped my mouth.
"They aren't dead. But they're unwell. They are under treatment currently. Magic is fading from their blood." Benjamin explained.
"How did you know?" Shanon raised a questioning brow.
"I suppose you are overlooking the fact that my father is a teaching faculty here, Princess Shanon." Benjamin replied. "But there is no way he would tell you any of this!" I countered.
"Indeed. He didn't. But I overheard."
"So, we are aware of the situation. Sorcerers are getting butchered and other non-human creatures are losing their magic…" Angus voiced.
"Someone is after the magic." Irene pointed out blankly.
"Indeed, and we must get to the root of it." Benjamin enthusiastically said. "Easier said than done." Irene's scowl deepened.
"You are correct. Still, we will have to make an attempt. First, I suggest we should stop suspecting one another." Benjamin suggested.
"Though Irene had disappeared the exact moment when Miss Astrid was murdered, she was in the class when Sir Malcolm was murdered. We should not condemn one another without adequate evidence." Isabelle said.
She is not incorrect…
Also, its not wise to get on Irene's bad side.
What I spluttered out that day was instinctive. My father was being doubted and hence it just slipped off my tongue. If I had to think the situation over again now… Yes, Irene was crooked, but I don't think she will slaughter anyone.
She had no reason to.
I cleared my throat to prepare myself. "Irene, I apologise, for that day, you kno-" But, she spoke over me. "Actually, what if I am the murderer and am being here just to be an imposter?" She smirked at everyone.
Everyone turned to her with pale faces.
"I'm just kidding." She snickered. "You drab folks can't even take a jest."
The room felt so silent that I could almost hear the crickets' sounds somewhere in the background. "You fooling around while I am attempting to clear your name is not helping." Benjamin looked at her, deadpan.
Irene rolled her eyes and groaned out. "Come on, I might look like a murderer, but I am not one."
Benjamin tore his eyes away from Irene.
"Since everything began with Sir Malcolm's death. I suggest we commence this plan by investigating it." I pushed on the actual intention of the gathering.
"But how will we start? We do not have any leads or any prime suspects. We barely know anything about the murder." Said Pauline. "The elimination method. If we do not have leads, we must invent them. Start by crossing out the people who do not qualify to be the suspect." Irene nonchalantly said.
She appears as interested as all of us are usually during the Royal History and Legacy class.
"Then all of us are out of league. We were in class at that time." Angus prompted.
"So is Professor Cressida." Pauline spoke up.
"All the Trues were present in class that day, am I wrong?" Shanon questioned Pauline. As Pauline was the Senator, she had the record of attendance of the students. "Probably. I am not sure. The record-book is at Professor Benedict's table in the staff room." Pauline responded.
"It won't be a problem. The Senators get their hands on the record-book everyday to record the attendance anyway." Benjamin filled in.
"But then literally all of the school remains under suspicion…" My voice trailed off.
It was hopeless.
An intruder might be behind this too.
"And we are not allowed to see the other sections or years' record-books! There is no way we can lay our hands on them." Pauline's restless voice said.
"Correction. There is no official way." Irene smirked.
Pauline gasped but before she could open her mouth to protest against it, Benjamin towered her. "Irene is right. There is no other way."
"W-we can just request th-"
"Uh-huh? And the teachers will be like," Angus put on a mocking voice, "Sure, my favourite student, go ahead, take the record-books of all sections and years for some reason that appears to be extremely suspicious but since you 'requested' you can have them and we won't be suspicious at all."
Samirah and Kristian snorted loudly.
"Why are you being so sarcastic…" Pauline said, timidly.
"If you are scared to break the rules, don't tag along during the actual mission then. But do not try to stop us." Benjamin warned her.
"And do not divulge this to the professors." Kristian added. "Even so… it is risky…" Pauline said with a disapproving face.
"What is life without risks?" Augustine sneered.
"We are just going to go check who were absent from the class that was being held at that time. What could possibly go wrong?" Benjamin promptly said. He then turned to everyone. "So which ones of you possess the guts to perform the actual deed. You know, sneaking into the staff room and the principal's office to get the records. The others can just keep their mouths shut and do minor tasks such as making excuses if anyone spots that we are missing and stuff."
Angus was the first to raise his hand. Kristian, Shanon and my hands accompanied Angus' hand in the air soon after. Benjamin extended his hand up as well.
Samirah looked around and caught sprang her hand up the moment she spotted Kristian's hand in the air.
"No more?" Benjamin's eyes scanned the room.
But no more hands rose.
"I think this would be ample. Too many people can get us caught." Shanon reasoned. "Indeed. The others can just make excuses for our disappearance if anyone notices." It was a rare sight to see Benjamin agreeing with Shanon.
"The curfew begins at 9 p.m. We shall sneak out after that. We will wait in the common room till everyone goes to bed." Benjamin added.
"If this meeting has met its purpose, may we depart?" Augustine voiced. Benjamin nodded and everyone had started to scatter just when struck a chord.
"Wait!"
It made everyone stop their tracks.
"We have not named ourselves. Wouldn't it magnificent if we gave the group a name?" I looked at everyone with a glowing face. "And here I thought you people could not be more banal." Irene scowled.
I would have been offended but I did not even know the meaning of the word. Besides, Irene's insults had grew on me.
"Sounds enthralling!" Kristian grinned.
"But what shall the name be…" I wondered. "Since we are in Wisteria, it would only be fair if we include it in the name. So… How about Wisteria Royals?!" I looked around the room.
"You know if you were not a fiancée I was forced to be with while you were in love with someone else, I would totally have fallen for your creative skills!" Benjamin smiled down at me. "It sounds great!"
I earned many nods from the room.
"Wisteria Royals?" I asked once more.
"Wisteria Royals." Everyone chorused.