[Ch. 27] The Day of Hangovers (Past)

There seems to be someone disturbing my sleep.

"Mmn?" My eyes fluttered open.

Amanda screamed, "Stop hugging him!"

I looked expressionlessly over to Raylon who was held tightly in my arms refusing to make eye contact.

Did I really… Do this?

I pushed him off the hammock while simultaneously releasing him from his frozen state. Raylon landed on the ground with an oof. I sat up sleepily and rubbed my eyes, smearing ink onto my face as a result. The group finally noticed that my hands were covered in ink. They didn't know whether to be surprised or angry to find out I was the culprit behind the ink drawings.

Either way, it's not like they were brave enough to say something to me.

Mona rushed over to follow me once I started walking away, "I am so sorry Lady Moao! I can't believe my brother had enticed you into something immoral."

"I didn't do anything!" Raylon protested, brushing the dust off of his clothes. He looked over at me for help, "Isn't that right?"

"Mmn."

A guy came over and elbowed him, "Come on Prince Charming. Be honest."

He pushed him away in a huff, "Nothing happened!"

"How could we believe that?" Amanda shouted angrily at him.

"Nothing happened." I confirmed with an expressionless face.

Everyone believed it instantly. They all assumed that Raylon had tried to make a move on me and was shot down instantly. They gave him a look of pity. Raylon noticed their stares and felt his face twitch, "What are those looks for?!"

I walked over to the table and sat down. I laid my head down and quickly fell back to sleep uninterested in the people around me.

Korph began to throw another quiet, but angry, tantrum. He stomped his feet and smacked the table I was sleeping on. I woke up and looked at him apathetically. He pointed to his face angrily and tried shouting something.

I ignored him and closed my eyes again.

Korph looked as if he might explode. Amanda sighed, "Prince Korph, please relax. The more you try to talk, the more likely you are to hurt yourself. I will go make some coffee and breakfast." She looked to everyone with their faces made of markings, "Also, try to wash that ink off in the meantime."

The group quickly shuffled off to the water basins as if just now remembering the ink on their faces. Mona smiled at Amanda with a slight blush, "I will help you."

Amanda looked at her, "Oh no! I couldn't possibly ask for your help, princess."

Mona shook her head and looked at her feet, "No! It would be my honor to help you."

Amanda reluctantly gave in and nodded. Mona followed Amanda to the kitchen that was located outside with no walls and only a roof above it. Raylon watched his sister closely while stretching out his back. His body ached from head to toe, but he was more curious about Mona's actions. He tilted his head, "I wonder why they are acting so odd… Did something happen last night between the two of them?"

I twirled my hair and replied absentmindedly, "Amanda passed out on top of Mona."

He looked shocked, "That's not so strange. Why would they act like this if that's all that happened?"

Are you dumb?

I closed my eyes without responding.

He heard someone shout, "What the?! The ink won't come off!"

Raylon chided them quickly, "Use soap!"

"Oooh."

He slapped his forehead, "Really?"

Mona frowned at Raylon, "Brother! Clear and clean the tables if you have nothing better to do than shout."

Raylon grumbled as he limped around cleaning up the messes from the previous life. Sure enough, Mona must still be angry about finding him in that position. Usually, she's overly affectionate and wouldn't even hesitate to give him a massage if he mentioned his back hurt.

Now it seemed as though she was happy watching him suffer. He wondered if she was perhaps jealous. But, she had seen him with several girls before and never cared this much. Perhaps it was because of Moao being the baron's daughter? He continued to ponder and sat down unconsciously next to me.

Amanda and Mona finished their preparation and began to lay out the food and drinks. Amanda spoke, "Food is ready."

The other group hastily rushed over with smudges still on their faces. Mona sat down and bashfully looked at Amanda who was still standing. She patted the seat next to her, "Sit down and enjoy the breakfast miss Amanda."

She shook her head hastily, "No! I couldn't. I'm supposed to serve-"

"Nonsense!" The dragon clan girl shouted, "Here in the Dragon clan we don't use any servants. If you have a body, you can serve yourself."

Mona gave a soft smile, "Miss Amanda. You are in the Dragon clan residence. So, you should follow their customs."

Amanda contemplated it before agreeing and sitting next to Mona. Mona watched Amanda with a bashful smile. Everyone knew she said this just so Amanda would sit next to her. Raylon, however, was completely clueless.

Everyone ate their meals groggily as a result of being hungover. All except for Korph who sat staring daggers at me while I napped at the table. I could tell he was concocting another plan to get his revenge, but I didn't care.

The scholar from the Phoenix nation spoke, "Weren't we supposed to go to class this morning?"

Amanda sighed, "By the time we woke up it was already the afternoon. I will go to the headmaster later and explain. I feel like it was partly my fault for not waking everyone up."

Mona shook her head, "No, we were all at fault. We should all go."

The scholar snickered, "If anyone should go it should be Korph."

They all looked at him protesting silently before bursting out in laughter.

A fellow dragon clan man slapped Korph on the back, "Guess you wouldn't be able to explain, now would you?"

Korph looked at him and hissed. However, nothing came out so everyone laughed even harder.

After they had finished their meals and coffee, the other two tables engaged in a pleasant conversation. I could tell they were all close by seeing them joking with each other. Amanda looked at the sky, "The headmaster should be in his office now."

Someone from the dragon clan asked, "How do you know?"

Amanda let out a forced laugh. Everyone turned to look at me and understood immediately. Amanda stood up and began to take care of everyone's dishes. Mona stood up quickly, "Let me help you with that."

The female dragon scoffed as she eyed Amanda with an unfriendly look, "Why are you always trying to serve us?" Mona and Raylon froze as she continued spitefully, "Oh, that's right. You belong to the Tyrant Baron."

Amanda folded her hands indignantly, "I don't belong to anyone."

The female dragon lifted an eyebrow, "Oh really? Could have fooled me. You're over here running around almost bending backwards for your master while she just lays there sleeping."

Amanda growled, "Don't bring her into this."

"Aw, that's cute. You're even defending her." The rest of the group began to snicker. They all hated the Baron and whoever was with him. She looked around, egged on by the crowd. She sneered, "You're nothing more than a slave."

Amanda looked to the ground angry and embarrassed as the group laughed at her. Just as Mona and Raylon were about to step in, a loud crash came from behind. They all turned to look with wide eyes. I sat with my fist on the marble table that broke in half from the pressure. I stood up and looked at them without a hint of anger.

My voice was chillingly sharp, "She is not a slave."

I walked over to them, staring with cold eyes that reflected killing intent. They all stared speechlessly as they shivered from the temperature dropping substantially under my gaze.

Amanda jumped in sensing my hostility, "That's right! I am not a slave. I decided to dedicate my life to lady Moao because I was inspired by her greatness. It was out of free will!"

The dragon female retreated slightly before regaining her composure, "Doesn't matter. You still belong to the Tyrant Baron."

Amanda clicked her tongue, "If you really think that then clearly you don't know a thing."

Raylon finally stepped in, "Okay, enough of this."

The dragon girl snapped at him, "Oh, coming to their defense? What is up with you lately, Prince Raylon?! You hate the Baron and his people more than any of us. Yet, here you are chasing Moao like some kind of dog."

He shook his head, "I do hate the Baron and his people. More than anything. But this isn't solving anything."

"Oh? Because it seems to me that you actually do like Moao. Maybe Korph was right. Maybe her giant chest is blinding you."

Korph nodded multiple times with strength.

I interrupted in an indifferent tone, "He is only using me to find out the weaknesses of the Baron's estate."

The female dragon blinked as if bricks had just dropped onto her lap, "What?"

"He wants to use me." I spoke clearly before turning to Amanda, "Let's go to the headmaster."

Amanda nodded and followed after me. The group hesitated before doing the same. The female dragon looked toward Raylon, "I guess that makes sense. It's not like you would join the Baron's side after what happened."

Raylon looked at Moao's back as he followed from a distance. It was true he was just using her. But then, why did he feel so conflicted hearing it from her mouth? Perhaps it was because he was caught? He felt Mona tap on his shoulder and give him an encouraging look.

He raised an eyebrow, "What?"

"Don't be glum because you were discovered. It's not like you will have to leave her side."

"Why is that?"

She smiled softly, "Because she's known this entire time and hasn't cared."

Korph looked at Raylon as he stared at Moao with a complicated look. He tried to ask Raylon what he was thinking about, but no voice came out. He looked away in defiance.

Once we all walked into the building, we quickly came upon the Headmaster's secretary. She sat reading a romantic novel that many would rather hide from others. Her cold eyes pulled away from the book and looked up at us.

She shook her head upon seeing me, "What did you do this time?"

Amanda cleared her throat, "We just wish to apologize and explain our absence."

She nodded and knocked on the large oak doors, "Sir. Lady Moao is here because of her absence. This time she's here with other students."

"Come in." The gruff voice answered.

She opened the door and motioned us inside. The Headmaster looked at all of us and observed the obvious divide. He focused his attention on Amanda.

She bowed respectfully in response, "I am sorry Headmaster. Moao overslept due to the bet that she and Korph had made. Everyone here missed their classes as a result."

He frowned, "You've been an expert at getting Moao to class in the morning. What changed?"

She blushed in shame, "I-I may have overslept as well."

He pushed his glasses up as he pinched his nose in irritation. He sighed, "So, it can be assumed that all of you drank too much, passed out, and overslept. Therefore, missing classes?"

The group all averted their eyes proving their guilt.

The Headmaster turned to Korph, "Since this bet was your idea, I can assume you will take full responsibility?"

Korph tried to protest his innocence, but no words came out. The rest of the group chuckled.

The headmaster shook his head, "I should have known." He turned to me as I observed the new plant on his windowsill. He motioned to it, "What do you think?"

I answered obediently, "You shouldn't keep it in the sun. If the leaves dry out it will release a noxious fume. Although it wouldn't kill you, it is combustive."

"I see. Acacious and Gaios." He said, referring to the men from the Dragon clan. Then he looked at the Phoenix scholar, "Michiya. You three will be assigned stable duty for a week."

The two from the Dragon clan moaned in protest. Michiya, however, didn't dare look too upset and shook his head quickly.

"Herais, Raylon, Taishiro, Tama, and Yoichi. You will be assigned magic collection for a week." He said referring to the female dragon and the rest of the Phoenix men respectfully.

"Mona, Korph, and Moao. You will be assigned library duty. Mona, you only need to go for a week. Moao and Korph, since you inspired this truancy, you shall be assigned the duty for a month."

Korph tried to protest only to get angry that his voice still didn't work.

The Headmaster held up his hand, "Starting tomorrow, you shall report to the library after your classes finish for the day. Amanda."

She stood up straight, "Yes sir?"

"I can't punish you because you don't attend classes here. However, I still feel that you require some punishment. Therefore, you won't be permitted to help lady Moao at the library."

Her face fell as if the entire world had turned upside down.

"You won't be permitted anywhere near the library until she is finished. Don't even think about sneaking over to watch either." He looked at all of them and dismissed them, "You may leave now."

We all walked out of the room after receiving our punishments.

The Headmaster sighed once they left, "Maybe this could lessen the divide amongst their nations? If they become friends, perhaps Moao wouldn't feel compelled to walk the path she is on." He walked over to the window and watched them as they walked away from the building.

He could feel his uneasiness grow in the pit of his stomach.