There are some whispers and strange gazes, while we walk through the hallways. It seems different to the usual chattering in the halls, focused and more attentive to each move I make. It unsettles me deep inside. I am no stranger to being bullied, nor to those strive to dismantle my mind with their words. The cause of their reaction being unknowns' to me, makes an anxious sense of nervousness rise up my spine.
There is always the possibility, that all this is just their reaction to what happend yesterday. By the gods I wouldn't fault them, yet there seems to be more to that, than it being about the case. It feels like a personal thing. Weary I look at my aunt, her stance has tensed slightly, despite that she gives me an encouraging smile, as we continue on our way.
As soon as I enter the classroom, all eyes in the room focus on me. Why? Their whispers grow louder, my gaze sweeps over the students in the room, stopping only when Keevas and Nakodas waiting eyes meet mine. They seem anxious, as if they want to drag me out of the room and confront me on whatever it is that has been going on, without my notice. I make a beeline for my seat between them. Though to my utter displeasure, before i can even try to understand why the entire school seems to be in unrest, the questions on the tip of my tongue, ready to be thrown at my seat mates, the three gracious ones interrupt me.
Again, it is Lanira, the oldest of Earl Suns daughters heading the group, proving my initial suspicion right, her being the oldest, yet not the heir is the cause for her inferiority complex. She tends to stick her nose where she doesn't belong, at least that is the feeling I get from her.
Should that actually be the case I feel sorry for Duke Red, because from what I gathered so far, any troubles she makes as daughter of his vassal, will be reflected upon him. In my understanding Vassals are considered lower ranked distant members of the ducal houses, in other words servants. A servant's behaviour is directly reflected upon the master. Barbaric yet sadly the truth in this world.
***
"Oh if that isn't Missy Black," her voice rings filled with taunts and spite. Still confused by the entire situation unable to understand what she is getting at, I just calmly sit down, raising an eyebrow. That only seems to spur her on, she doesn't seem to notice that maybe it isn't the best idea to openly start an conflict like this in front of pretty much everyone. I do not wish for this situation to turn out, like those in the medieval dramas, where whenever a lower ranked bully girl goes up against the higher ranked one, and essentially ends her own social live. I just wish to understand what has been going on. I hope she isn't going to do anything stupid.
"Did you enjoy sleeping around with to students council?" Her question startles me, like the heck what? That girl definitely has neither a Neurospicedar, a Gaydar, nor anything going in that direction, because if she did, she would have noticed that what she was spouting is nonsense. She doesn't stop with just that one question though, no she continues on with her rant, "Must have been real good for them to give you the position as President of the Students Council"
Even a few seconds after hearing her words and slowly comprehending them, they have me flabbergasted. It seems not just me, the entire room, even her elated company seems to be just as stunned by her accusation.
"Just to be sure I heard you correctly, have you just asked me, if I have been romantically and sexually involved with several people to gain the position as President on a students council?" I inquire calmly, trying to overshadow my confusion, as to where that came from. Some disgust raises inside my stomach at the very thought of what she just implied.
She nods vehemently. "Of course you must have done something like that for heir White to notice you, a low born Black and place you in such a prestigious position," she claims sure of herself with every fibre of her being, her words laced with arrogance and disgust.
But despite my hopes she isn't yet finished with throwing herself off the metaphorical social cliff. She adds with a huff, "Why else would you receive such a position when even I a daughter of the great Sun Family wasn't granted it?! I am a far better fit for it, and even more beautiful than someone like you."
"To your information Miss Sun, I wasn't even aware that I received such a position until you informed me so kindly about it." I reply to her words calmly, with enough underlying confusion to make it believable.
It's not that I didn't know about it, the System told me so after all, but other than that I wasn't aware about what happened. Which is why I shall claim exactly that. Her face splutters at my words and her eyes widen in disbelief. In any other situation I would be amused by her face and enjoy the sight of it.
"So to shorten this conversation, since our teacher should be arriving in a few minutes," I start my voice taking on a sharper tone. "I do not know, nor was I informed, about the change in position of the students council. Now, I would politely request, you and your friends, to return to your respective seats, before the teacher arrives, and asks questions about the situation."
***
When she is about to protest, her two friends grab her by the arm, dragging her to her seat. Once there they force her to sit down, and start berating her. Another rare sight I would usually enjoy. I sigh trying to gather my thoughts. I know now why everyone was reacting so strangely to my presence, if that is what has been making it's rounds it is no surprise at all. What had Conrad been thinking giving me such a position without any prior notice. Or was the system at play there?
I turn my attention to Keeva and Nakoda. Keeva makes the impression she wants to jump up and tear out Laniras throat, or do something that will make her regret ever existing. I lay a calming hand to her shoulder. "Keeva can you promise me to let me handle this?" I ask her trying to take her attention of them. She nods and agrees yet I am not so sure, if I can trust her to keep her words. "Same for you Nakoda. She is a dumb bully spouting nonsense that is nothing to get too upset about," I try to downplay it.
But Nakoda ever the aspiring Knight will have none of that "No don't you downplay that. She just accused you of having slept with the entire students council, that are 15 people. By my sword, 15, Lukida. And that is overlooking what positions everyone she accused of something like that holds."
I stop his protests there with a sigh. "Yes, yes. Still just leave it as it is. It are just empty words. Nothing like that happened wouldn't even have been possible as I was at the FMI until late in the night doing autopsies."
This time Keeva speaks up. "But Lukida to even imply that you, an honorable Lady of such a great house would do something like that. That-" I stop her rant right there, trying to prevent her from causing a great backlash upon that stupid girl.
"Just let her be stupid and leave it at that, there is no need to make it bigger than it is." I argue against her but Keeva stays stubborn and huffs.
"Fine, but should she say another word, I'll end her. You won't be stopping me then, not only because she is going after a Black, but because you are my friend now." Her insistent glare makes me surrender with a sigh. I know better than to argue in a lost fight.