Chapter 34
A second later she realized that the princess was not alone, taking notice of the children."Umm, princess, who are these people?" The maid kindly stepped closer to the princess, bending down her head to whisper into her ear.
Opening her mouth, she was ready to respond only to have the school bell cut off what she was about to say. The maid standing by her side hastily grabbed the princess's wrist. "Princess, you can not be late. A tardy mustn't ruin your perfect attendance." After saying this, the two figures quickly left the scene, leaving nothing but a cloud of dust behind.
"Well... that was interesting." Akihiko rose from his chair, ready to leave, but paused as if he forgot something. Walking back over to Maria, soft chubby cheeks turned rosy when she felt a pair of light feathery lips peck her on the cheek.
"Bye, Darling-Ack!" flirtatiously sang Akihiko with a wink, only to choke when the collar of his s.h.i.+rt was suddenly constricting his throat. The icy breeze coming nearby made him shudder as if he was stranded in the freezing winter with no source of warmth.
"Akihiko, it looks like we'll have to have another talk about you being inappropriate with Marichan." The warm gentle smile on Richard's face only made Akihiko's shudder even worse, noticing how those hint of malice in his best-friend aura.
"W-Wait! Ri-chan, forgive-"
"Not acceptable. Now let's head on to cla.s.s; see you tomorrow, Maria!" Richard shot the brunette a sincere and gentle smile before dragging the blue-faced Akihiko behind him.
"Think he's going to be okay?" asked Mai to which Maria answered with a blank face.
"No."
Now that Maria thought about it, Akihiko only started doing this new goodbye ritual of his a few months ago, and no matter how much Richard threatened him, he still didn't stop. 'Hang in there, Akihiko!' She wished the dark-haired boy well.
Following the lead of those who left before them, the small group of three made their way to cla.s.s, sitting in their seats, which allowed them to sit close by each other. The cla.s.sroom was filled with the chattering of students, only to quiet down when their teacher walked inside the cla.s.sroom.
"Students, I have a big announcement to make. Three weeks from today you all will be taking a trip to Amber Mountain, where Diamond Academy will be hosting its annual camping trip. " This immediately got the student's attention as everyone seemed familiar with their teacher's subject of announcement.
"The duration of this event is exactly one week. Now the purpose of this trip
"So it's finally that time, huh. If I remember correctly, this activity is only for third and fourth graders, allowing the two grades to blend and undergo activities together," Julian brought to their attention, only for it to be stolen by Mai when she snapped her fingers.
"Meaning that Ri-senpai and Aki-senpai will be joining us! Yay, it'll be just like lunchtime" cheered Mai having grown close to the two during the time they have spent together.
Ever since the group of friends started hanging out a bit more with Akihiko and Richard, Mai had really warmed up and considered them proud members of their group. Even though both Mai and Maria were excited at the chance to hang out with the two, the same could not be said for Julian who felt a bit hesitant.
Now don't get him wrong, he considered the two to be nice people; it was just that he felt threatened by the two. Every time they were around they always acted a bit too close to Maria, especially Akihiko who's lately grown the habit of kissing Maria's cheek at the end of lunch. Each time he saw Richard lean over to wipe Maria's cheek for her or Akihiko and his shameless inappropriate kisses, a sour feeling arose from him.
He didn't like it and yet he didn't understand why, since Maria clearly had no problems with their treatment towards her. This was understandable, well in Richard's case, due to him never stepping out of bounds; the Akihiko case still baffled him. Almost as if she could sense his discomfort, Maria gently placed her cheek on Julian's cheek, bring him from out of his train of thought.
"Julian, you feeling okay? You were frowning." Seeing her genuine care of concern for him, those big glistening emerald eyes peering up at him, feeling the cool gentle touch of her hand pressed against his cheek, just like last time during the ferris-wheel he felt his heart-pounding uncontrollably. A rush of heat consumed his cheeks.
"I-I'm fine!" The fl.u.s.tered boy quickly turned his head away, leaving Maria clueless about the reason for his behavior.
"Okay." Not wanting to rudely push the issue, Maria focused her mind on other things, such as this annual school trip. 'For some reason, I just don't feel right. I'm almost positive that something bad will happens on this trip,' For the remainder of cla.s.s, Maria could not stop feeling uneasy about the upcoming trip.
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Sitting inside a s.p.a.cious room, draped with lavender curtains and bedsheets, the material and furniture inside was simple but also very luxurious. On the huge four-poster bed that could fit about five people sat Princess Luna, who was deeply enticed in the romance novel she was in the middle of reading. Just as her fingers touched the next page of the story, she was interrupted by a knock at her door.
Just like a mouse scurrying away its cheese, the princess quickly hid the book under her pillow. Taking a deep breath, she regained her nonchalant expressionless face and let person on the other side of the door in, only for her eyes to meet with a person who looked very similar to herself but more mature and with light brownish silver hair.
The woman in the green imperial gown gracefully walked over to the young girl sitting on the bed. "Mother, what brings you here today?" Luna asked her mother, who took a seat on her daughter's bed.
"I just wanted to visit you and to make sure you are doing okay. I know things have been hard on you lately." Sensing her mother was worried about her welfare, Luna tried to comfort her mother with a smile, rea.s.suring her with her own words that she was okay.
"I know that you say that, but don't forget, I also have my own sources. Not as great as the empress but I know she has been trying to find trouble for you these last couple of weeks. That evil woman is starting to feel threatened by our presence. After dealing with Prince Cloud and Consort Ca.s.sandra, we are now her only threat left that could disrupt her son inheriting the throne."
Narrowing her eyes, fist clenched tightly underneath the warm palm of her daughter's hand, one could see that Lady Elaria did not like the empress and with valid reasons. Being born into such a family where sibling relations.h.i.+ps were nonexistent, a place where only the strong could survive, Luna's heart had s.h.i.+elded itself long ago.
Seeing to just what reaches the Empress would go for her brat of a son, such as her involvement in Consort Ca.s.sandra's death, she had learned how to conceal her feelings. The only person who loved her in this cold-blooded prison that people called a palace was her mother.
"Don't worry, Mother, I won't allow anything to happen to me," Luna rea.s.sured her mother, unaware of her fate the story had written.