Page XXXIII - Your Highness [Ｉ]

"Haa..."

Sweats poured in their faces and bodies as they've finished their practice. It lasted for about five hours. And only taking a break every hour or so for just ten minutes for them to rest.

"One last time!" Victoria's teaching for each and everyone of them held no privilege's for her friends or Theodore himself. Strict, straight to the point and has always something to say for their performances.

But no one held any contempt against her. Victoria has something to uphold to. The name of the school and the absolute strive to attain perfection.

For about five minutes of performance, she always brings everyone together to practice for about five hours just to perfect a single part of the song.

The whole place was fully air conditioned but everyone was sweating.

"Hmm." Theodore was shaking his hand.

Victoria noticed this, "Anything wrong?"

"Hand cramps. Nothing too serious."

"Will you able to continue?" She worriedly asked.

"Yeah." Theodore raised his hands and slammed his hand on the piano and continued playing. The others shrugged it off and followed his lead.

As the final note resonated within the whole room, the two girls cheered in happiness as their training were over.

Theodore wiped the sweat off his face. But soon stopped as he notices a bottle of water in front of him.

He took it and looked at the side with Victoria smiling. "Good work."

A smile that can get most men.

But Theodore's not in that group of men. "Mhm. Thanks."

"Victoria uses shining smile!" Calista then suddenly said. "It wasn't effective."

A loud thud was heard as Erina slams her from the back. "Sorry, we won't interrupt your conversation." She then pinched Calista's ears.

"Ouch! Erinaaaa!!!"

"We'll be going now." She then forcefully dragged Calista out of the room with her. Leaving Theodore and Victoria alone.

Victoria let out a giggle, "Those two... always... energetic." She then refocused her vision at Theodore. She stretched out her hand and placed it at Theodore's chest. And moved in closely.

Theodore stopped drinking the water bottle and looked at Victoria's eyes. "What are you doing?"

"Still emotionless even at the touch of the so-called goddess of the academy."

"Self proclaimed? How pitiful."

"No, just stating the truth."

"I'm done with these jokes." Theodore grabbed her hand and took it off his chest. He stood up and left the room.

"I did it again... haha..." Victoria's usual composed smile turned into sadness as tears fell from her eyes. "I'm using another person as a scapegoat for my life..."

~~***~~

"Damn it. A WOMAN!? What the hell can a woman do in this word of politics... God damn it!" An enraged man smashing every breakable things he could see.

It was several years ago. The day Victoria was born. Living in a high-class family. They have everything. Money, power and basically anything someone would dream of if they were born in a poor or middle class family.

"Haaaa. F*CK! You goddamn woman. You've given birth to this... thing!? Damn it... my plans are ruined... a woman can't be a heir to this family... what the hell can I use her for!?" His father was enraged at the fact that she was a woman. For the world is still mostly ruled by men in the area of politics.

"All I can do now is sell her off to some rich family looking for a wife... a single use. God damn it. Maids, raise her strictly. I won't allow failures or your family will take the fall." Celaine's father grabbed his coat and stormed off the room.

"Mr. Gerard!" The maids called out to him but he didn't even look back.

"Enough Fern." Celaine's mother, then called out to her. "Can I... hold her?"

"Yes ma'am." Fern slowly gave Celaine's mother Victoria.

A small figure. Victoria from her strict and very closed off self from her years won't compare to when she was a baby. A crybaby at that.

"Her hands are so small, only as big as my fingers. Her body looks so brittle. As if the winds would take her away from me." Her mother held her tightly within her arms. "Oh Victoria. I'm sorry for giving birth to you in this world. I hope you can forgive me. But no matter what, you must live on. Stronger than anyone. A woman who can hold on her own without relying on anyone. Be something great. And for you to be a woman... I'm sorry... I'm really... sorry Victoria. You'll be a great woman... I... promise..." Suddenly, her grip on Victoria loosened up.

Fern noticed it at first. "Ms..? Ms. Yera?" She looked around, "I'm sorry for this." She placed her hands in front of her nose but no air was coming out. "Ms. Yera! MS. YERA!" She violently shook and shouted loudly. Everyone in the house came to her aid.

"Move! Move!" The doctor shoved around the people around her and checked Yera's pulse. "None... Ms. Yera's... passed away."

The whole room turned silent as everyone started to sob silently. Everyone loved her for she treated the maids and butlers like equals. Not servants.

After a few minutes, the only thing they could hear was the baby's crying.