Just Break It Off!

"Lady Carabell, do you believe that your position as the future queen of Whitensen is some hilarious joke?" his voice thundered. "Do you think that you don't have enough influence? What more do you desire, hm? We're already engaged, but it appears that's worthless to you!"

The tone of his voice was menacing, looming over me despite the additional height I gained from the raised slippers I wore. I casually turned to confront him face to face. Initially, I planned to say something remarkably witty, but my breath was caught in my throat. Barely a moment passed before the imperial atmosphere began to suffocate me. The crown prince was scarcely a few inches away from me.

His...his aura is nothing like how we met before class. It's as if the power of his piercing gaze is strangling me.

I was more than just confused when I glanced around and saw that everyone, including Professor Finnigan, had vanished! It was difficult for me to divert my eye contact, so I simply let myself fall into the depths of his mesmerizing gaze. His eyes illuminated an intense blue as he stood without cowering from his spot. I captured the perfect vision of his thick eyelashes and sharp jawline. Arms crossed, and smooth lips firmly compressed together, he refused to leave without an answer. His eyes gazed down at me as if I were some pesky insect, trying to nip away at his skin. I felt as if he was itching to swat at me, but he kept his hands restrained. Even though he looked enraged, something about the way he watched me warily felt as if he's holding back something more.

"Engaged...? What are you talking about?" I questioned him, just as bewildered as he is.

Immediately, he clicked his tongue and leaned his head down closer to mine. His silky hazelnut hair bounced a bit.

"I'd rather you not play dumb," Prince Caydel snapped at me. "I'm not afraid to break off ties with you after what you tried to do to Lady Lancaster. I know about every single diabolical plan you've ever executed behind the closed doors of the Carabell Estate."

He reached his hand out to grasp my chin, and somehow, my body obediently remained still. My heart throbbed rapidly, but there lacked any sudden alarm of danger. He was careful not to grip too tightly and rather beheld me as if I were some delicate butterfly.

"You're such a beautiful lady, and yet you continue to spout lies and nonsense unbefitting the characteristics of a future monarch," he whispered darkly.

"Hah," I scoffed sharply, drawing my chin away.

If it were back on Earth, I might have found that little compliment a tiny bit flattering, but it isn't me he's talking about. It's Elisabeth.

"I really don't understand," I told him with a small shrug.

He ruffled his fingers roughly through his hair and glared at me with clear disdain.

"What don't you understand?" he returned vehemently. "You are harming those around you with your actions! How many maids have returned home in tears and how many times have you disrespected your peers and elders without a morsel of remorse?"

My actions? Is he some fucking hypocrite?

His silk-gloved hand reached out to grasp my left hand. He gradually pulled it closer to his lips and derisively stated—as if reminding me, "Lady Carabell, I have the power to put a ring on this finger of yours and rip it off whenever I please."

I scoffed and leered at him in disgust. I ripped my hand from his grip and just chuckled to myself in disbelief.

"You have it wrong, your highness. If you have so much against me and my actions, why don't you just break off the engagement? I'm sure being engaged with me has brought you plenty of trouble, so just break it off! Am I right? Go ahead and break it off, I have no qualms about it!" I shouted at him.

He was immediately taken aback by my sudden rise in volume.

"Don't be ridiculous!" I continued, shoving him back. "You? Having the ability to just say you're engaged with me whenever you want? Are you trying to tell me that you're the only one who can break off the engagement?"

Without another sentence exchanged, I furiously descended down the stairs and exited the classroom with the shake of my head.

Unbelievable! It's like everyone hates Elisabeth! What has this girl been doing that she's on the receiving end of all this hostility? It's a shame that a handsome person like him has such a nasty personality!

- During Elisabeth and Caydel's argument -

"I quite dislike last-minute meetings," Professor Finnigan told the mysterious cloaked lady as he scribbled on a piece of paper. "Miss Carabell's performance in class will not be affected by any personal bias of mines. That is an agreement I pledged to the headmaster. I am nothing like Madam Rose. If you are here to try to manipulate Miss Carabell's grades, you'll, unfortunately, be disappointed."

The corners of the lady's lips curved up. She set down the hot teacup in her hand on its saucer with a clink. Then, she crossed her legs and leaned to the side of the leather armchair. The two were within the professor's personal office, where bookshelves lined the walls and a large desk piled with paperwork faced the door.

"Yes, of course, I'm aware of that. I only wanted to make sure that it remained so. Nevermind that opinionated woman named Madam Rose, this is about you. You are Duchess Carabell's favorite younger brother, are you not?" the woman asked him nonchalantly.

"I am her younger brother," he acknowledged, placing down the feathered pen.

The lady laughed and added, "And her favorite one at that."

"Could you get on with this discussion, Lady Millien? I have other classes to attend to. This meeting is almost nothing of importance to me," Professor Finnigan stated bluntly.

The noble lady in disguise laughed heartily. She sighed as she gazed elsewhere thoughtfully.

"You know, I've spent the majority of my free time cleaning after Lady Carabell's catastrophes. I know I don't have to inform you about the incident between Lady Lancaster and your "lovely" niece. If you like, I can provide you with the same poison the daughter of the Carabells had her hands on. It was such a potent substance! I've luckily convinced the common nobles that one of Lady Carabell's maids did the deed on her own accord, so all Lady Carabell has to do is act like it's not her fault," she told him.

The information about the recent incident didn't pique Professor Finnigan's interest at all, but even so, Lady Millien continued to ramble on.

"I'm sure many of Lady Lancaster's friends will support her side of the case, but I've already laid down the fake evidence. No matter how much Prince Caydel loves Lady Lancaster, the odds are forever in Lady Carabell's favor. I've been watching her from afar and she's doing an abnormally outstanding job! It's as if she's actually innocent. I wonder how the Carabells raised her for her to become so twisted. Her older brother is also a bit twisted. I wonder if it runs through their blood. Oh, that's right! You're related to that stuck-up young lady," Lady Millien said sarcastically.

"The Carabell affairs are none of my concern. Have you forgotten? I belong to the House of Finnigan now, not the House of Carabell," he clarified.

"Ah, yes! Now, does that mean the Lancaster affairs are also not your concern? You are married to Duke Lancaster's cousin, right? She was originally a Lancaster before she was wedded into the House of Finnigan. Then, her husband miraculously died and you came to her stead! I find that extremely suspicious—"

Professor Finnigan suddenly stood up, knocking a bottle of ink across his work.

"Oh, so it's true! You were involved—"

"Lady Millien, what do you want?" he questioned her, slumping back into his seat.

The noblewoman shifted, which made the hooded cloak slip slightly down her form, revealing a part of her face. She twirled her chocolate hair and flashed her sapphire eyes. The professor was unsettled by the unique, vibrant intensity of the irises she bestowed.

"The Lancasters are going to request that you remove Lady Carabell from your high honors class. I want you to refuse, despite the fact that you have a debt to pay to them. I've gone to great lengths to put that ungrateful brat with that smartass crown prince. Besides, you keep my secret and I'll keep yours. Isn't that a good deal?" she asked seriously.

The professor nodded slowly in agreement. "Yes... Yes, of course. However, I didn't hear clearly. What did you call the crown prince? Was it...smartass? I've never heard of such a term."

"Nevermind that. You wouldn't know what that means."

- In English class from Elisabeth's perspective -

"Miss Carabell, could you read the last few paragraphs of the passage?" Professor Ophelian, my English teacher, requested.

"Yes," I answered softly.

What may have come off as a timid response was really my sorrowful cry of exhaustion. The past three teachers I've gone to have somehow selected me out of all of the students to interrogate about the classes' lessons. I can't believe they're really out for Elisabeth's neck! Even Elisabeth's blood-related math teacher, Professor Finnigan, is trying to test me! And it's all because of whatever Elisabeth may have done to Viktoria! I don't even know if she actually did anything to her and yet everyone is accusing me of the crime. I have to ask Teresa when I find the chance.

I managed to recite the passage perfectly, right before the bell rang. At this point, the shocked expressions on my classmates' faces have become usual.

Ah, the last class before lunch has finally ended! What a relief. Perhaps, I should ask Professor Ophelian about why the professors keep badgering me with questions.

I scooped up my belongings once more and trotted over to the professor, who was sitting quietly at her desk. Her straight blonde hair trailed down her shoulders. I noticed there was a hint of purple in her irises when I looked closely.

"Professor Ophelian, I have something to ask you," I told her after hesitating for a moment.

"Do you, Miss Carabell? When was the last time you spoke to your professors so politely? Well then, what is it?" she responded.

I bit my lip before I asked, "Why are all of my professors targeting me? I mean, selecting me to give answers during lessons or recite paragraphs as you did. I don't mean to say that I believe I am special in any way. I just noticed how odd it was when in all of my recent classes, this is a reoccurring scene."

"Ah, we are doing an assessment on your academic capabilities for the first semester. There is nothing to be concerned about. That is, if you still don't care about your education," Professor Ophelia informed me.

As assessment? Why would they be conducting an assessment?

The professor smiled as she watched me in utter confusion.

"You see, after your predicament with Lady Lancaster, her allied nobles have been bothering Headmaster Oscar about your enrollment in our academy. After some thought, the board of education has decided that it is only fair that we dispute against your expelling with solid evidence that you belong in our prestigious classes. Then again, if we find that you are unable to keep up with the workload, we won't hesitate to have you removed from further lessons," she explained.

"I'll be expelled? Just because the nobles bothered the headmaster?" I questioned her.

"That is not exactly the case, Miss Carabell. All of your professors, including me, believe that you are unfit for education here at this academy. Just because you've answered a few questions correctly each day doesn't mean that you won't be expelled. You must prove that you are worthy to be taught lessons fit for monarchs and those alike. Perhaps, if you manage to place within the top five on this semester's scholar progress rankings, we will think otherwise. As always, they take place mid-semester for students to check where their current ranking is. Why don't you aim for that?" Professor Ophelian suggested.