I was walking alongside Lucius and Isolde, ready for the entrance exam. It wasn't an easy step, but I'd accepted it. Yet, before I could even cross the threshold, one of the staff approached me with an expression that brooked no argument.
"Your Highness, this way, please," the secretary said formally, opening a door at the end of the hall.
"Thank you," I replied politely. I stepped through, unsure of what awaited me.
There stood my father, in front of a large window, with Elias at his side. Both radiated authority. They shouldn't be here. Not now. He was supposed to be at the castle, overseeing preparations for the Day of Supreme Grace. Though months away, every detail required early planning. His presence here could only mean one thing: he'd decided something without me. Again.
At the back of the room, behind a desk, an unfamiliar man read a newspaper. I didn't know his face, but his presence was as commanding as the others'. He wasn't an ordinary companion; his relaxed posture and trained physique made that clear. He didn't need to raise his voice to demand respect.
"You're here, Alicia," my father said without turning. "Sit. We need to discuss something."
I took a seat against the wall, sitting upright. It was clear I wasn't here by choice.
"Shouldn't you be at the castle? There are more pressing matters to handle," I said calmly.
"This won't interfere with the event's planning. It's something I decided when I learned you'd returned. Consider this your punishment," he declared, turning to face me.
"Punishment?" The word struck me as absurd. I was confused, and I didn't hide it.
He approached the desk, standing behind the stranger. "This is Frederic D'Amico, the academy's director."
The man set his newspaper aside and looked at me directly. Dark green hair, red eyes like mine and Father's. His expression was calm, but his sharp features revealed resolve. He wasn't someone who sought likability, nor did he hide who he was.
"So, you're the princess? You've grown a lot since I last saw you," he said with a smile, propping his feet on the desk.
Carefree. Almost insolent.
"Fred," Elias interjected, nudging his feet off the desk. "This is serious."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," he said, rolling his eyes. "So, you want her to be student council president? That's easy enough. But…"
"What?" My voice rose unintentionally. I stood. "President?"
"Can you make it happen?" my father asked Frederic, his tone flat. "I don't care about the entrance exam. I want Alicia to take on a leadership role from the start. She'll agree. Won't you?"
He looked at me. That look didn't seek approval. It was an order disguised as a question. And for the first time, it scared me.
"Y-yes," I stammered, my voice barely a whisper. The fear wasn't from the role… but from how he'd forced it on me.
"President won't be possible," Frederic clarified with a shrug. "That position's already taken. The best I can offer is vice president. That's the most the institution allows."
My father fell silent. His gaze drifted back to the view beyond the window. He frowned.
"Fine. As long as it's a heavy enough responsibility, I don't care about the title."
"Wait!" I cut in. "What is this? Why wasn't I asked? Why are you deciding for me like this?"
My voice didn't waver. Not this time. I wasn't a child anymore. But no answer came. Not right away.
"I told you. This is your punishment for returning early," my father said without hesitation. "Whether you accept it or not, I'll have to be stricter with you now."
"But…!"
My voice broke before I could finish. He looked at me directly. Not with anger, but with an impenetrable coldness. He wasn't going to argue. There was no room for reason. The decision was made, and it weighed heavier than any argument.
"Wow… you're tough," Frederic cut in with a half-smile, easing the tension slightly. "It'll take some getting used to this side of you, Your Majesty."
"It won't be necessary. It's only temporary," my father replied without glancing at him.
"Haha… let's hope so. Alright, I'll handle this," Frederic said, turning to me. "Alicia, you can go. Your Majesty, I need to discuss something privately."
"How can I assist?"
I left the room with an emptiness in my chest. The hallway felt longer than usual. The secretary was waiting by the door.
"Are you alright, Princess?" she asked kindly, though her eyes showed concern.
"Huh? Yeah. Just… a bit in shock," I replied, staring at my hands, which wouldn't stop fidgeting.
"Did something happen?"
"You could say that, but it's not important."
"I see. I won't pry. Would you like me to escort you to the training field for the exam?"
"Thanks, but that won't be necessary. I need to go home. I need to think."
"Oh…" she said, disappointed. "Alright, I'll walk you to the exit."
"No. Really, thank you. You've been kind, but I'd rather be alone for a bit."
"I understand. See you, Princess."
"Yeah…"
I started walking aimlessly. I passed classrooms I didn't recognize, corridors that seemed to stretch on forever. For a moment, I thought I was lost. Everything felt foreign. Until, by mistake, I reached the training field.
There was Lucius, locked in combat. His technique was solid, though not without struggle. It must've been part of the exam.
I couldn't interfere. Only watch.
I thought about what had just been forced on me. Vice president. A title I didn't seek or earn. It felt more like a trap than a merit, though I couldn't deny it gave me an edge. But that edge was a burden, not a privilege. Worse, it meant less time with Lucius.
Why did that bother me so much?
No. This wasn't normal. Something was stirring inside me. Something I didn't want to face. I knew it. But I clung to ignorance, as if not naming it could keep it at bay. Not for long.
I kept walking, this time with a clear destination: home. I needed to process everything.
The unearned role, the political pressure, the student council… I didn't even know its members. Would they be nobles? People shaped by status like me? How would they see me? What would they think of me?
And Lucius… what would he think?
It's not that I forgot Isolde. Her presence mattered. But Lucius… he understood me in a way no one else did.
I sighed. I couldn't help it. It was the only way to release some of the weight.
I kept walking. And I didn't look back.