Chapter 1: The Queen

Chapter 1:
The Queen

 

THE DAY BEFORE the festival, many of the students walked academy grounds with signboards, advertising the activities put on by their respective groups.

“Okay! I have to give this my all, too!” Livia toted her own handmade sign around the school, trying to advertise Leon’s café.

Leon had preparations to attend to, Daniel and Raymond were off buying necessities, and Angie was entirely consumed with her work as a class representative for the first-year students. That left Livia with the responsibility of spreading word about their café.

As she reached the courtyard, she noticed a number of boys with signboards of their own. When they spotted her, they called out. “Hey, you’re the scholarship student, right?”

Flustered, she responded, “Y-yes! Um, I’m trying to advertise our café.”

Livia steeled herself for a confrontation, but the boys merely smiled and chattered on in a friendly way.

“Ah, so you’re doing a café? We’ve got a food stand. Come by and try something if you have the time. We’ll give you a freebie.”

“We’re doing crepes. We don’t have a lot of competition in that field this year, but we’ve still got to put good effort in and earn what we can.”

“I heard a ton of other people are doing cafés this time around, so good luck!”

After the three boys turned to leave, Livia sighed with relief. Thank goodness. I wasn’t sure what I’d do if they ganged up on me…

Although Livia had been allowed to enroll at the academy, she was no noble. To the other students, that made her an anomaly, and in the past, some had been quite cruel to her.

As she continued, she stumbled across a trio of girls. “Um, excuse me!”

The three girls sat on a bench, their servants standing behind them. Obviously higher class. Unlike the boys, however, the girls shot Livia ice-cold looks.

“What do you want, scholarship? We’re busy.”

Livia plucked up her courage. “Um, I’m trying to advertise our café.”

One of the girls laughed mockingly. “Are you talking about Bartfort’s café? Like we’d ever go there. I know he’s taken a liking to you, but don’t let it go to your head. Having a guy fawning over you doesn’t mean you can go about getting ideas, commoner.”

Commoner. A stinging reminder of the wall separating Livia from the other students.

But then the other two girls stepped in. “Knock it off. That duke’s daughter favors her, you know.”

“It’s better to keep your distance. If you piss off Bartfort, your house might suffer the consequences.”

With the first girl pacified, all three took their servants and left.

Livia, on the verge of tears, quickly shook her head. “It’s okay, you’ve got this! On to the next place!”

This kind of encounter made her sad, sure, but she had Angie and Leon now. Compared to how lonely she had been when she first enrolled, this was nothing. That’s right, I’m fine. I have those two at my side.

Though Livia remained keenly aware she only had those two to rely on.

As Livia continued to advertise their café, she found boys were consistently rather nice to her. She almost wanted to pinch herself—it was so different from the treatment she’d received in the past. Unfortunately, the girls were as cold as ever. Most of them gave her a wide berth the moment they spotted her. Although she felt dejected each time, she always recovered her motivation.

“You’re doing a café?” someone said suddenly. “Oh, I see you’re handing out free tickets, too. Do you have any left?”

Livia glanced back to see a girl smiling at her. “Oh, yes!”

The tickets offered one free tea and snack combo. Livia promptly handed one over.

The girl had long, beautiful navy-blue hair and the slender body type Livia envied. On top of that, she had a confident, assertive air.

“You’re the scholarship student, right?” the girl asked.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I’m Carla. Carla Fou Wayne, the second daughter of a baronet. I’m part of the general class.”

The lessons for the general class differed from those for the higher class. Although both classes participated in school events together, they normally operated in separate circles. While the two girls might have passed each other in the halls, this was basically Livia’s first meeting with Carla.

Happy that Carla had been kind enough to introduce herself, Livia eagerly explained the directions to the café. “Oh, and my name’s Olivia,” she added. “I hope you’ll come visit!”

“That’s right next to Prince Julius’s café, isn’t it?”

Livia’s shoulders slumped. Julius’s café couldn’t help being Leon’s biggest contender. “Yes, Leon’s been a bit anxious about that.”

“Oh, I see,” the girl said. “So you’re close to Baron Bartfort.”

Hearing someone call Leon by his title caught Livia off guard. Oh no, was I acting too familiar by using his first name?

Leon didn’t seem to mind, but the fact of his noble stature remained. As a commoner, Livia knew all too well how many among the nobility frowned on their closeness.

Carla, however, smiled pleasantly. “I’ve heard so many rumors about him, but he seems like a kind person.”

“Huh?”

“There’s no advantage for him in befriending a scholarship student, but he has. Oh, I’m not trying to say anything bad about you,” she clarified. “Just that he must be nicer than the rumors make him seem.”

It warmed Livia to hear someone describe Leon in a positive light. “Y-yes! He’s a very nice person. You can really rely on him. He does go overboard a bit at times, but I think people misunderstand him.”

In truth, people didn’t much misunderstand him at all, but through Livia’s rose-colored point of view, Leon had all the admirable qualities of the ideal knight: he was kind, strong, and had the power to protect those he cared for.

“Oh, uh, really? That’s great.” Livia’s gushing seemed to make Carla a bit uncomfortable, but Livia only smiled blithely.

“I’m glad I came here to the academy. And I owe that all to Leon—and Angie, too,” Livia said.

“‘Angie’? Do you mean the duke’s daughter, Lady Angelica?” Carla’s interest was newly piqued. “Say, do you think I might be able to talk to the baron during the festival?”

“Sure, I don’t see why not.”

“Wonderful,” Carla enthused. “Would you be so kind as to introduce me to him? I’d appreciate it if you would mediate for me.”

“Introduce you? I don’t think you really need me to introduce you, but I would be happy to, if you like.” Livia smiled and nodded, although she found Carla’s use of the word “mediate” a tad odd.

“Thank you. I promise to drop by. I look forward to seeing you then.” With that, Carla left.

Livia waved farewell, and she gave the encounter no further thought.

 

***

 

On opening day, fireworks exploded in the sky to signal the commencement of festivities. The wind swiftly cleared away any lingering wisps of white smoke.

Most of the attendees were relatives of the students, often women who felt nostalgic about their school days. They brought their husband and kids, and their lovers, as well. A bizarre sight to more foreign eyes.

One woman watched as guests filtered in through the front gate. At a glance, she looked to be in her twenties, with long, platinum-blonde hair, gentle blue eyes, and kind, inviting facial features. She wore a dress that pulled in tight at the waist, flattering her curvaceous figure. Despite her alluring appearance, her demeanor was soft and unassuming.

She joined the crowds and eagerly peered around at the stalls. “Oh, this looks fun! There are so many stands.”

The woman wasn’t talking to anyone in particular, but one of her bodyguards, disguised as a female attendee, responded. “Your Majesty, you’re getting carried away. If you wanted to enjoy the festivities, shouldn’t we have announced a formal visit?”

The two were so discreet that, to the unobservant, it would have seemed like they weren’t talking to each other at all.

Mylene Rapha Holfort’s gentle demeanor suddenly morphed as a clever, bewitching smile spread across her lips. She was the reigning queen of Holfort Kingdom—and Julius’s mother.

“That would be far too boring,” said Mylene. “I need to deliver a warning to the baron who made a fool out of my sweet Julius.”

Several more disguised bodyguards followed her through the crowd. The one closest to her sighed. “If you would give us the order, we would—”

Mylene smiled sweetly. “I’ll judge his character with my own two eyes. I wonder what kind of person he is? I’m looking forward to finding out.” The queen giggled before turning to one of her bodyguards. “Also, I need someone to escort me while I’m here. Angie would be perfect. Yes, fetch Angelica for me.”

One of the bodyguards bowed slightly before disappearing into the undulating swarm of attendees.

Mylene continued to smile as she accepted a pamphlet from one of the students near the front entrance. She spread it out in front of her. “Yes, I am very much looking forward to this, Baron Bartfort.”

She hid her mischevious grin behind her brochure and perused the stalls by the front entrance as she waited for Angie to arrive.

 

***

 

For some strange reason, I felt a chill run down my spine. Must be my imagination. My intuition is almost always off.

I clapped my hands together, composing myself as I doled out orders to our staff. Today was opening day, and the preparations for our café were complete.

“All right, it’s day one. Put some pep in your step and work hard, my peons! As for the ladies, you two be sure to work in moderation and take plenty of breaks. Don’t forget to enjoy the festivities yourselves, too!”

Daniel and Raymond’s reception to my speech left much to be desired. I had them in charge of the kitchen, hidden away from the rest of the room by a curtain.

“So you mean to overwork us from the start, huh?”

“We expect you to pay up for our honest labor.”

By contrast, the girls wore tight smiles, anxious with anticipation.

“Angie, I’m nervous,” said Livia.

“I don’t have any experience working in a café either. But I do think it’ll be fun—”

As the two shared their apprehension, the door flew open, its chime ringing noisily.

I spun, wearing my best smile. “Welcome to—”

“Miss Angelica? The executive committee requests your presence.”

I had assumed we’d just gotten our first customer, but alas, one of the female professors stood before us.

Angie tilted her head. “They need me for something?”

“That’s what I was told. Please head to the committee room immediately.” The professor disappeared out the door.

Angie looked troubled. “Sorry, everyone. I’ll deal with whatever it is and return quickly.”

Right as we were getting revved up to do our best, someone had to come and pull Angelica away. But I felt more sorry for her than us.

Livia clenched her fists. “Don’t worry! I’ll work hard enough for the both of us!”

She looked so noble, getting fired up over our café, both arms raised in the air as she swore to put her everything into it. I wanted to take a picture.

I’ll ask Luxion to get one for me later.

Angie giggled and turned to leave with a smile. “Well, then I’ll work hard to make sure I can return as soon as possible. Leon, try not to overdo things.”

By “overdo,” I suspected she meant not to treat any of the customers poorly. “You really don’t trust me?”

She laughed. “You always take things too far. Anyway, I’ll be back soon.”

And with that, she was gone.

Livia peeked out the door and gasped. “Oh my. Leon, there’s a huge line.”

I could see it, too—an enormous line that snaked around the hallway…starting in front of the neighboring classroom.

 

***

 

“Your Majesty, it puts me in an awkward position when you make such unreasonable demands,” Angie said, still clad in her maid outfit.

The person who had requested her was none other than Queen Mylene, who to all appearances was innocently enjoying the festivities outside the school building.

Her Majesty gave a quick apology and added, “But I still want you to indulge me in your company today. I went through a great deal of trouble to honor your request before, you know. The one regarding that baron you’ve taken a liking to.”

Angie could hardly keep protesting when the queen brought that up.

The queen drew her into a quick embrace before pausing to bask in the atmosphere at the festival. “It’s my first time coming to one of these! And it’s been a long time since I saw you in a maid outfit like that, Angie. Although the novelty has worn off, I suppose.”

“Um, yes, I appreciated how you looked after me back then.”

Angie had worn a similar outfit in her time as a lady-in-waiting in the palace, where she had gone to learn proper etiquette. In essence, she’d spent the duration of her stay attending the queen. Being young, she’d made a lot of mistakes, especially in her less mature days. Angie’s personality had been fiercer and more unforgiving, her behavior more extreme.

I feel embarrassed, thinking back.

She had been so ignorant of the world, mistaking people’s outward kindness for sincerity. In the process, she’d caused no small amount of trouble for the queen. Angie looked down as the humiliating memories came flooding back.

The queen looked amused at Angie’s reaction. Apparently, she was only teasing.

I’m no match for her, and I probably won’t be for the rest of my life, Angie thought.

She returned her attention to their surroundings. A number of Mylene’s guards had melted into the background to avoid notice as they kept watch in disguise.

“At any rate,” Mylene changed the subject, “this academy’s festival is incredible. We had no such thing in my motherland.” Evidently, the whole thing tickled her.

“Is that so?”

As a foreign princess, Mylene had married into Holfort Kingdom’s royal family. Normally, that status would have put her on the back foot, but the queen proved so resourceful that the palace had never been able to ignore her growing influence. If not for Her Majesty’s approval, Angie would never have been recognized as Julius’s betrothed.

The queen peered into Angie’s face. “It’s a relief to see your complexion so improved since the knighthood ceremony. You must be enjoying yourself more these days.”

Despite how naive she appears, Queen Mylene is incredibly observant. It’s a bit unnerving. Angie again mentally reaffirmed that she stood no chance against the queen. “Yes, I’m treasuring my time at the academy.”

After a pause, Mylene asked, “Are you planning to sneak off and see Leon after this?”

Angie’s cheeks heated up. “No, not at all. Do you really intend to sneak in and meet with him?”

Mylene held her head up proudly. “Of course I do. Julius is responsible for the actions that led to his disinheritance, but I am his mother. I must give that baron a piece of my mind. I admit, Julius was foolish to so frivolously accept that duel, but I don’t care for the way in which it transpired. Frankly, I was horrified when I heard. Speechless, even.”

“I apologize on Leon’s behalf. He was my proxy.” The queen was right. The duel had been despicable, and Angie constantly felt obligated to express her remorse for the whole affair.

Leon had used his overwhelming might to metaphorically twist his opponents’ arms, and then, despite the difference in their statuses, lectured and taunted each one of them. Julius had still been a crown prince at the time. Such a thing would have been unthinkable under normal circumstances. A harsh punishment should have awaited Leon, but instead, he’d been rewarded for his achievements.

And yet…

The queen must hold a grudge.

Mylene had forgiven Leon publicly, but personally, she couldn’t let what he’d done go unpunished. Angie understood, of course. After all, Julius was Mylene’s son, and Leon had humiliated him.

Even after all of that, she still manages to contain her feelings.

Despite her private upset, at the knighthood ceremony, Her Majesty had absolved Leon with the greatest poise.

“Now that he has been knighted, the kingdom is responsible for whatever actions he takes,” said Mylene sweetly. “I mean to make that clear to him.”

Angie awkwardly averted her gaze. “I hope you won’t be too harsh with him. I’d…feel sorry for him otherwise.”

“You’re kinder now than you once were. Before, you would have said, ‘Leave this to me, I’ll tell him off for you!’ Or are you still a bit hung up on how things ended with Julius?”

“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t.”

Mylene softened. “As his mother, I must apologize for what he put you through. How ever has he been so thoroughly taken in by that girl anyway? He never seemed so gullible in all the years I raised him.”

Angie agreed. In fact, in the past, Julius had always been on guard when women approached him. “According to His Highness, he enjoys the ‘normalcy’ of his life as a student here, and he feels like this Marie girl understands him.”

Mylene shook her head. “I’m afraid my inexperience with this academy means I haven’t the slightest what ‘normalcy’ entails. But based on what I’ve heard, this seems like a dreadful place.”

The queen no doubt referred to the attitudes of the noblewomen in attendance. Angie followed the queen’s gaze to a girl quibbling in front of a nearby food stall.

“You must be joking. You expect me to pay for this? Just give it to me.”

“I can’t do that.”

The female customer huffed and left without paying the male staff for the goods she’d received, her demi-human servant on her heels.

Being foreign-born, Mylene had to find this sight a strange one. “It truly is dreadful…”

Angie hung her head. “I’m embarrassed you have to see this.”

The two wandered the school festival together, slowly making their way toward Leon’s café. The moment they spotted it, Mylene’s face hardened. “So this is it. Seems the neighboring store is thriving.”

A long line had formed in front of the other classroom. Meanwhile, not a single customer waited outside Leon’s.

Angie hesitated. I should probably save showing her the prince’s café until after she finishes her business with Leon. Or perhaps it would be better to avoid it entirely, since she’s supposed to be visiting in secret. And…His Highness might feel uneasy seeing the two of us together.

Mylene reached out and took Angie’s hand. “Come, it’s time to wreak havoc. You’ll help me, won’t you?”

“No, um, I couldn’t. I’m a waitress, you see, and—”

“Details, details. I merely intend to complain that the tea is too cold—something of that nature. At worst, I’ll have him remake it a few times. That will satisfy me for now.”

Angie thought this pretty extreme in and of itself, but as the two of them stepped inside…

“The tea’s gone cold! I want it fresh!” A shrieking customer threw the entire cup at Leon.

Judging by his disheveled appearance, now drenched in tea, this wasn’t the first abuse he’d faced in Angie’s absence. He looked absolutely horrible. His chin pressed toward his chest, making it difficult to see his expression.

Livia, on the other hand, looked as though she might burst into tears any second where she hovered beside him. “Leon, we’d better treat your wounds—”

Leon held out a hand to cut her off, motioning for her to stay back. Then he turned his attention to the irate, gaudily dressed customer and her band of followers.

“My apologies. I’ll get you a fresh cup right away.” Leon crouched to recover the broken shards of the teacup.

The customer rose to her feet with a smirk and pressed her booted heel to the back of his head.

Daniel and Raymond peeked out of the kitchen. Their faces twisted in frustration, but they quickly looked away. Their unwillingness to step in and help might have seemed heartless, but a woman’s ire held absolute sway in the academy. Also, Angie spied the hard look Leon shot his friends, warning them not to interfere.

“Forget it,” the customer said. “I doubt you have anything decent here anyway. I’ll be taking my leave. I assume you won’t need any payment, since you offered me that lukewarm bilge. In fact, maybe we should be demanding compensation for the offense.”

The customer ground her leather bootheel into the back of Leon’s skull. Her friends and their slaves all snickered.

Leon practically kowtowed as he took the abuse. “No. You will pay.”

“Excuse me? Do you even realize how much money you’ve leeched from us already? Some girls are so saddled with debt they’ve had to sell their slaves because of you! How can you be so ignorant?!”

Angie’s entire body vibrated in anger. As if it were Leon’s fault that these girls had borrowed money to bet on his duel—everything, from the bet, to the borrowing, to the selling of slaves, had been their choice, not his.

Mylene, struck speechless, stared at the mortifying scene. She looked to Angie and Leon, as if searching for an explanation as to what was happening.

Angie could take no more. She charged forward and shoved the customer off of Leon. “What do you think you’re doing?!”

The customer stumbled back a few steps, and her servant stepped forward to keep her upright. Once steadied, the customer glared at Angie.

Leon lifted his head, but before he could stop her, Angie snarled, “Your attitude is inexcusable. I assume you possess the mental capacity to find the exit.”

Upon Angie’s appearance, the customer’s followers erupted into whispers, but their leader only grinned. She didn’t look the least bit intimidated by Angie, even with her ducal status.

“Well, if it isn’t Prince Julius’s ex-fiancée. I wondered who could have the audacity. What’s with that get-up? As a noble, don’t you feel the least bit of shame wearing something so slovenly?”

Angie held back the urge to click her tongue. The daughter of an earl’s house, hmm? And from an enemy faction, no less. What a nuisance.

“What’s with that look?” the customer sneered. “Don’t tell me you thought I’d be intimidated? Fat chance! These days, you’re nothing more than a—”

Livia cut in front of Angie. “Please, stop this! You’ve already tormented Leon. Leave Angie alone—or just leave, please!”

Angie’s eyes widened at her friend. “Livia, you—”

An angry vein protruded on the customer’s forehead. “Don’t push your luck, commoner scum.”

“Wha…?” Livia shrank back.

“You think some insignificant mite like you has any right to speak to me like an equal? You must be drunk off the favoritism of these two disgraces. Do you fancy yourself a noble now, too? Do you really think Angie treating you like a cute little pet means you’re on even footing with me?”

“Pet?” Livia’s jaw dropped.

Incensed, Angie cut in. “That’s enough. If you keep this up, you’ll understand what it really means to draw my ire.”

But the customer wouldn’t let up. “So now that you’ve lost all of your friends, you’ve turned to the commoner? How pathetic for a duke’s daughter to be reduced to these scraps. What was that you told me once? ‘Commoners are chattel.’ You never cared about them before, did you?”

Livia slowly turned her gaze toward Angie. “That can’t be true,” she murmured.

“No, it’s not like that,” Angie protested. “I—”

The customer’s lip curled. “Commoners aren’t even human, scholarship scum! Do you really not understand? The only reason no one’s said anything to you yet is because you hide behind this disappointment of a duke’s daughter and that upstart wannabe-knight. But a wretch like you—”

A low voice suddenly cut through the air. “Shut your filthy sewer mouth.”

To Angie’s shock, it was Leon.

The customer sneered at him. “Now you’re getting carried away, too. I’m the daughter of an earl. Can you even begin to comprehend the consequences of making an enemy of me?”

She jerked her chin at her servant, who promptly stomped over and slammed his foot down on Leon’s head.

“Hmph, this one sure is cocky,” the servant huffed. “My lady, I think he requires some strict reeducation.”

The other servants snickered.

Suddenly, Mylene’s voice thundered out. “Enough! I can’t stand by a minute longer.”

Everyone’s eyes abruptly turned to her.

The customer, who’d been glaring at Angie, scowled at Mylene. “What’s your problem, old lady?”

“Old…old lady?!” Angie cradled her head in her hands. This idiot doesn’t even know the face of our queen?! I—I almost can’t blame her. Who would imagine a queen showing up at a place like this?

Although the customer was the daughter of an earl, she held no particularly respectable social position. She was one of the nouveau riche, though not in the same vein as Leon, who’d acquired his wealth with his own abilities. Given her standing, she had never set foot in the palace. She had some room to be ignorant on this matter.

So, as a courtesy, Angie tried to step in and warn her, but she paused at Mylene’s strained expression. “I will pretend I didn’t hear that. You ladies, pay your bill and leave. Immediately. Can you truly call yourselves students of this renowned academy with such vile behavior? No, you ought to feel embarrassed to even consider yourselves nobility!”

Some of the girls snorted with derision. And the main culprit wasn’t the least bit dissuaded.

“Pardon? Don’t get mouthy with me. Who do you think I am? My father is Earl Offrey. Learn your place! Remove that old bag from my sight.” The moment she gave the order, the other girls’ servants surrounded Mylene.

Angie careened past pity into panic. “You unbelievable fools, do you even know who you’re—”

She broke off. Leon was looking her way. His eyes flitted between her and Mylene. Gradually, his lips twisted into a grin. At first, he’d gaped in disbelief at the interruption of this older woman, but now, he seemed to have surmised the truth of the situation, and he was…amused. His eyes closed as his smile stretched from ear to ear.

Angie could almost hear him: Yes! Just cause! Sweet, sweet just cause!

Oh no, this is bad, she realized. If I don’t intercede—

Too late.

Leon slammed his foot into one of the servants. Demi-humans had sturdy bodies, but Leon sent his victim flying. He must have imbued his body with magic and attacked with all the might he could muster,

“How you like them apples, moron?!”

Everyone in the room—even Daniel and Raymond, peeking in from the kitchen—stared in abject shock. Livia looked entirely confounded.

Daniel screeched in dismay. “You idiot! You can’t put your hands on a servant—”

“Sure I can! Time for some fun, guys. It’s going to be the party of a lifetime now!”

Normally, boys couldn’t touch servants—they didn’t want to risk angering the girls. However, Leon now had the perfect excuse. Unlike the other nobility in the room, he’d recognized the queen. Of course he had—he’d met Mylene at his knighthood ceremony. And seeing Angie by her side had been all he needed to allay any lingering doubts.

“Eat this!”

Leon swung his arms through the air and onto another servant, hands locked together as if bringing down a hammer. The servant promptly slammed into the floor. Leon showed them no ounce of mercy.

One of the servants tried to leap at him from behind, but Leon turned his fists on the other man and sent him tumbling to the ground. In an instant, he’d taken out three opponents. Now he stood in front of Mylene as if to shield her.

“Fall back, lowly worms! Allow me to enlighten you. You stand in the presence of Holfort Kingdom’s Queen Mylene! You shame yourselves and your families. On your knees!” Leon grinned like a maniac at the customer and her minions.

The queen was at a loss. “What? Um? Why…?”

Angie hid her face in her hands. “Leon, you’re incorrigible.”

Her Majesty’s undercover ruse had all been for naught, now that Leon had used her as an excuse to batter some servants and bring a gaggle of noble ladies to heel.

“I hope you’re all prepared to suffer the consequences of turning on Her Majesty! You better not think you can get away with this simply because you’re the daughter of an earl!” Leon brandished the queen’s authority as though it were his own, cackling all the while.

Frozen in place, the noble ladies stood with their mouths hanging wide open, their faces ghostly white.

Mylene clung to Leon’s arm. “Leon, wait. I’m here incognito. We can’t afford to create a fuss! So please, calm yourself. You’re a good boy, aren’t you?”

It was strange to see the queen trying to pacify the very man she’d come to heckle.

But Leon wasn’t listening. His eyes burned with malice, already too carried away. “Leave everything to me, Your Majesty. As your humble servant, when it comes time to mete out the necessary punishment, I will be the first to volunteer. Just give me the order! If you desire, I will destroy their families. Should you prefer it, I’ll exterminate every last trace of their bloodline. I, Leon Fou Bartfort, will wipe out any foe who dare stands before you. I’ll obliterate them all!”

“No, that’s what I’m saying—you mustn’t!” Mylene cried, tears in her eyes.

Angie sighed. Well, now he’s just riled. Not that I can entirely blame him. It’s all too easy to picture what hell he must have endured before we returned.

The dozen ladies in the café had clearly all come with a mind to torment Leon. Every one of them now stared at their feet, trembling.

Leon’s clothes were a mess. The floor was scuffed with evidence of thrown silverware, and filth littered the tabletops. A glance at the garbage revealed a mountain of broken porcelain.

An army of girls had charged in here hoping for revenge. Mylene had planned to do the same, but her horror was apparent—these students had gone far past the line she had drawn for herself.

Leon roared with laughter, euphoric with the spirit of payback. “You dared to threaten the queen! Just you wait—Arroganz and I are going to trample your families’ territories!”

“Please stop! This is my fault. I’m the one who should be asking for forgiveness.” Livia had tears in her eyes, distraught at how out of control everything had spun.

At that moment, emboldened, Daniel and Raymond leaped forth from the kitchen to assist Leon by tying up the felled servants.

“This is your fault, you know,” said Daniel. “To think you’d go and threaten the queen of all people.”

“The nerve,” said Raymond. “Really, this is the least you deserve.”

The two grinned at one another.

This has gotten entirely out of hand, Angie thought. I’d better call for him.

Unable to think of any other resolution, she found herself glancing at Livia’s face only to look away again.

I don’t even know what to say. Not after I said such horrid things.