-your majesty Please think again. This event is very important, so the person in charge of giving the opening speech had to be you-
"I told you already to go after Selvia and leave me alone."
-Wait, but your highness-
"I still have business to attend to; gotta go bye."
-bu_-
"Off we go."
The call was shut down by a woman standing alone in a closed dark room, but it didn't even take a second before she called another number.
"I'll be home tonight. Tell her that she should be there; I have an important matter that I need to inform her about."
She didn't wait for a reply before ending the call and just moved toward the windows, dialing a strange number with another phone.
saying softly, "It's been a long time..."
She got silence for a while, only listening to the other end of the phone. Only when she ended this call did she finally realize the noise outside.
She turned, removing the curtains, looking at the crowd outside. The atmosphere was so lively; so many people were running as if they were going to be late for something.
Seeing this, she also turned to change her cloth and leave.
"REGIS"
This place is what we can call a prestigious college, but it's a bit more open, since anyone can get in as long as he has the abilities and, of course, passes the entrance exam. These rules were never broken until recently; that rule was broken for a certain student. Because of that student's status, the school had to enroll him.
But to ensure that student's safety, the school had to come up with a new strategy in which all identities of students enrolled that year will be concealed, and the students aren't allowed to reveal themselves to each other or even the teachers; only the board of directors at the university are allowed to know. In addition, all students will have to sign an agreement stating all this; the teachers as well signed a confidential agreement that nothing can be leaked.
But this farce reached an end; no matter who you are, you can't prevent nobles' vanity, so the school had to release them from the agreement sooner or later, so in the second half of their graduation year, this agreement would be over.
Right now is the first day in which the students are allowed to reveal themselves, although not everyone did since some of their identities are quite sensitive; they choose not to, mainly to avoid the headache afterwards. But in general everyone is happy because this day also happens to be the university's 964th anniversary. In addition to the ceremony, the rest of the day is off to do whatever they want.
(At the university's stadium)
"This banquet is really something; they sure paid a lot."
"A lot, you say? This table of food alone costs more than my life savings till I am a hundred years old."
"That's a surprise for sure after yesterday's events."
"I heard it too; that woman fell into the lake and almost died."
"I've never seen such decorations in my whole life; rich people surely know how to squander their money."
"It's not my money, so who cares?"
At a remote corner of the banquet there stand two students who seem indifferent to all that's around them, just peacefully chatting.
"These kids haven't really seen the world," a red-haired boy said, to be met by a voice mocking him from behind.
"Are you sure they are the ones who know nothing about the world? In my eyes, you are the one."
"What do you mean, old hag?"
"Who is the old hag? You brainless, perverted teenager. I am clearly a stunning beauty."
The atmosphere between the two of them tensed, and they seemed about to hit each other. A girl came after talking, trying to separate them.
She said gently, "Sylv, Dan, please stop fighting. There are a lot of people today. Just for today, can you please not fight?"
Dan shoved Sylv aside, straightened his hair with a flower in his hand, and leaned towards the girl.
"Beauty, how about we go on a da—"
He got punched to the ground before he even finished what he was about to say; he bled on the ground, and people around him just laughed at him.
It was a sight they were used to seeing daily for a whole three year
"You deserve it, you pervert. Who told you to harass Mariana?" She held her fists ready to throw another bunch at him, but Mariana held her hand, crying.
"Stop fighting!"
Sylv got flustered seeing her cry; not knowing what to do, she just hugged her, saying, " It's okay " while patting her head.
Dan shouted angrily at Sylv, "Look what you did; you made her cry."
"This is also your fault, you pervert," she shouted back at him.
But suddenly the atmosphere went silent, and everyone around them was looking at the entrance of the venue. There was a girl wearing a black dress with long black hair and glasses, not like the others who were wearing the uniform.
When she entered, everyone started whispering while giving her strange looks as she walked ahead; even when she sat on her chair, they didn't spare her the glances.
"Again with this nonsense," Dan angrily said.
"I really pity her," Mariana said, looking sad, but Sylve patted her head, saying, "You're just so kind, Mari; a woman like her doesn't deserve your sympathy."
She removed her hand from over Mari's head and frowned while saying, "Everyone has been faking it for years now, but it's not like we are idiots or something. I really get furious every time I see that girl; I just wish I could punch her."
"Careful there, that's a mine you are stepping on." Dan said seriously, "While I agree with some of what you said, don't forget we signed an agreement, and even if we didn't, she is not someone either you or I can easily touch. Don't forget who she is."
Sylv gave Dan a side-eye before saying, "Sometimes I really wonder if you are a brainless idiot, but you are right that she is not someone we can mess with since, after all this agreement, this whole mess was done to protect her. I thought it was so obvious who she was; I just don't get it. What was the use of the agreement in the first place?!"
"After all, some people managed to uncover the fact that the agreement was hiding her; from that moment on, they didn't spare her. For most people, she is just a spoiled person from an influenced family; little did they know the truth is far more terrifying," Dan said.
"When you say it like that, I wonder when she will expose the truth and how those who bullied her will react when the truth is finally known. I don't want to finish this year without seeing it," Sylv said.
Dan nodded in agreement. "I am actually looking forward to it."
Maria said, "It's not important because we didn't really get affected by it; we are childhood friends after all. The problem of the identities wasn't even a problem."
The lights suddenly went off, announcing the beginning of the celebration.
Everyone turned their gazes over to the stage. The principal entered the stage wearing a veil over her head and face, but from her eyes and that elegant walk, you could tell she was a strong, noble lady, and everyone stood respectfully to greet her all in one voice.
"Greetings, lady. 'FEAR' is the 9th-cycle magician."
She waved for them as she said, "Welcome everyone to Regis University's 964th anniversary celebration. It's a joyous event and also a reminder for us to keep fighting for a brighter future for the new generation and for ourselves. You all honored us with your pleasant presence. Today we are only here to celebrate. As for 'CUP OF GLORY,' the championship will begin starting tomorrow. Everyone is welcome to participate or watch since there are only those who are really strong who can continue till the end. You can keep going with the celebration. That's the end of my speech."
The entire venue exploded with cheers and congratulations, but only one person was nowhere to be seen.
At another place the black dress girl was being led somewhere by a group of maids; when they reached a huge door at the end of the corridor, they got stopped by the person at the door, who looked like a maid but seemed of a higher status.
"Only the princess is allowed in; the rest of you wait outside." Then she turned to the girl bowing slightly, and she pointed at the door, saying, "Please come inside; her majesty is waiting for you."
"Okay," she replied.
The maid opened the door for her; once she got in, the door was sealed shut behind her, and the maid stood at the door again like before.
Inside the room there are only two people: one is a snow elf with sky blue hair, cold eyes, and white skin wearing a crown and going through a file of documents, while the other is a male dark elf with black hair, black eyes, and darker skin handing her the documents.
She greeted them, "Queen Mother, Assistant Liu."
"What did you just call me?" The snow elf looked at her with cold stares. She unintentionally released a strong freezing aura that filled the room with blocks of ice.
"Please calm down, your majesty," Assistant Liu calmly said and turned to glance at the princess to check on her.
She was surprisingly standing in her place and didn't even flinch, still looking her mother in the eyes.
Her majesty took a deep breath, melting the ice, and then asked, "What do you want this time?"
"Queen Luna, I want nothing from you," she said.
"What?!"
"I already told Assistant Liu on the phone I'm here to inform you, not ask from you. I don't need your opinion," she said.
Assistant Liu saw Her Majesty getting angry, so he hurried to ask, "Princess Serenity, I advise you to be careful with your choice of words."
" enough." Queen Luna put her hand under her chin , saying, "I wonder what those things are that I need to know and have no say in?!"
"Cancel the engagement with the Right family."
"That's not possible."
"You talked right away. I guess even if I told you that because of him I almost died, you still won't back down. Well, okay, that's why it's just informing you," Serenity said.
Queen Luna slammed the table firmly, saying, "Canceling the engagement is impossible."
She adjusted her posture to sit down again, saying, "If he wronged you, we can talk it out, but it can't end."
"Why are you that afraid your daughter Ellia might marry him if I backed out? You don't want to ruin her future, but what about mine? Have you ever thought that I might live a miserable life there?" Serenity said coldly.
"Still you can't," the queen said.
Serenity let out a big sigh, shaking her head, saying, "I guess you don't get the informing thing. I never asked what you think, nor do I care. Got it?"
"This is a marriage between families; you can't simply back down because you want to. That's not how it works," the queen said.
Sermity replied, "Strange, that wasn't the case with you."
Queen Luna released a killing intent aimed at Serenity strong enough it caused a deep wound on her face, but the queen realized it too late.
Serenity reached out to her cheeks, where she felt pain; her hand got soaked with blood instantly. She looked at her hand with blank eyes, then looked at her mother again.
The queen felt as if she was pierced with thousands of swords; she said in a faint voice, "Yo...are you okay?"
"Let's go to the second thing...I am leaving," Serenity said.
"What do you mean leaving? Where do you want to go?!"
"ALKANA"
"How dare you!? Just a weak human dares to talk to me like that. Who do you think you are?"
"Isn't it your dear stepson's fault I ended up like this?"
"Serenity, I didn't mean it like that." The queen seemed concerned about what she said; she got the feeling of opening a wound that's long been healed and forgotten.
"Enough!" Serenity said coldly, "I already talked to my father; from now on I am moving with him."
"No! You can't; I don't agree with that." Queen Luna said,
"You have no say in this matter; you already signed long ago. From now on I am an Alkana...a Voldemort no more."
By saying this, Serenity turned and left , leaving them stunned, to start that new chapter of her life without any burden or regrets.