Chapter 17: Fan-Fiction
Eydis had never met her roommate. Oh, she had a name, but Eydis hadn't cared enough to look it up. She noticed the worried glances her friends shot her way when they discovered who her roommate was. The girl apparently meant trouble.
Despite never meeting her, Eydis had heard her, especially during restless nights. She vaguely recalled the click of the door, a shuffle, and muffled curses that almost woke her. Putting a face to the sounds, surprisingly, wasn't entirely unpleasant.
Then came the infamous encounter.
"Get out!" the girl spat, the venom dripping thicker than maple syrup
A smirk played on Eydis's lips, sharper than intended. "Funny you should say that," she drawled, sarcasm dripping from her tongue. "Last I checked, I owned half this room."
As Eydis held her ground, they found themselves in a glaring gladiator match. All she needed was a change of clothes, and she couldn't fathom why she faced sudden anger from almost all the girls in this academy. The thought deepened her appreciation for her acquainta...friends.
The silver-haired girl, fueled by anger, threw insults at Eydis, who relished the drama. Fortunately, she had surrounded herself with kind people so far, but it was about time she encountered a bully and a rude roommate trying to kick her out of her own room.
Eydis maintained a defiant gaze into her roommate's eyes. Deploying her usual tactic, she remarked, "So, are you getting dressed, or do you need my help?" Her eyes briefly surveyed the state of undress, unapologetic in her audacity.
Dodging the incoming punch with ease, Eydis rolled her eyes at her roommate's choice of violence. Frustrated, the shorter girl seized Eydis by the collar and forcefully slammed her against the wall.
"I need no help from the likes of you!" the violet-eyed girl hissed, an unusual colour. From what Eydis had learned so far, purple was occasionally associated with House Inferno, but her silver hair pointed to Silverkeep.
"The likes of me?" Eydis chose not to dwell on it further, annoyed by two separate instances of ostracism due to her background.
Then again, Eydis might as well enjoy this, she thought. With a swift movement, she reversed their positions, pinning her roommate against the wall. The shorter girl's violet eyes burned with rage as her back met the cold concrete. Despite her supposed fragility, Eydis proved physically stronger than she appeared. "The likes of me you preferred to press yourself against instead." Eydis purred, her face inches away from the delinquent's, "Isn't that right, roomie?"
The amethyst depths of her roommate's eyes shimmered with something dark and primal, sending a shiver down Eydis' spine. "Release me," she growled, the air around her crackling with raw energy. It was the snarl of a cornered tigress, and Eydis instinctively tightened her grip.
"Why would I," Eydis shot back, her voice honeyed but eyes hard, "when your fists were itching to introduce themselves to my jaw?"
Her roommate snarled, her delicate features contorting into a mask of fury. Before she could react, their door slammed open, revealing the frantic Prince Adrian. "What's the commotion, Eydis? Are you alright?"
Eydis wished she could disappear, or better yet, the prince could vanish, seeing his face morphing into a lecherous smirk.
"Wha-, hold on, disappear? Lecherous? I'm hurt!" The prince's concerned expression morphed into a wide grin, a perfect reflection of Cherise Cat.
With an amused huff, Eydis released her roommate, whom she had previously cornered with an uncompromising stance against the wall. The silver-haired girl hastily adjusted her blouse on her shoulder, seemingly oblivious to its dampness from the contact with Eydis. She shot Eydis a poisonous glare before slipping past them, vanishing into the hallway like a ghost.
The prince chuckled. "Looks like you're having fun with your hot roommate. No wonder why you keep resisting my charm."
"You must be mistaken," Eydis denied, smirking as she turned back to the wardrobe. "Though your charm would benefit from a touch of subtlety."
Opening the doors, she began browsing for a fresh outfit. In the reflection, she caught a glimpse of the prince's wide eyes fixed on her back. She unhurriedly removed her wet blouse, the silk slithering down her arm.
His eyebrows shot up, but before he could stammer a word, she turned, and raised an eyebrow. "Well, Your Highness? Are you going to assist me, or will you just stand there for the show?"
Adrian, for the first time in his memory, found himself tongue-tied. His gaze, usually quick and calculating, lingered on the delicate curve of her neck, the whisper of lace peeking from her camisole. He appreciated playful banter, but being outwitted at his own game was unsettling.
He certainly found Eydis captivating, a fact he readily acknowledged. Their afternoons in Theo's garden had become a cherished escape, not just for her beauty, but for her keen mind. Eydis had transformed her inconvenient curse into a formidable weapon, consistently winning him over in every game, including those he crafted. He, Prince Adrian, renowned as the Empire's most cunning strategist, hadn't secured a single victory against this enigmatic girl. While his initial interest had been sparked by a desire to stir Theo's jealousy, it had blossomed into something more.
Now, under the steady gaze of her amber eyes, his thoughts ventured into dangerous territory. "I-I wouldn't dream of intruding, Eydis," he stammered, finally regaining his composure. "Please, take your time. I shall...um...leave you to it."
With a chuckle, Eydis watched him flee, his retreat as flustered as her roommate's. He was bark without bite, his teasing veiled by awkwardness.
Stripping off her remaining damp clothes, she contemplated her next move. Anonymity was now her distant past. Outsmarting the nobles in a direct confrontation was obviously foolish, especially if facing them outside of the academy's restrictive magic. Her only weapon was her unpredictability, but that wouldn't suffice in the long run. Perhaps, it was time to take a closer look at Dean Swans' pet project.
**
The air in the opulent cafeteria buzzed with a newfound intensity after Prince Adrian's visit. Gone was Eydis' blissful anonymity; in its place, whispers and curious glances followed her like wisps of smoke. The inexplicable influx of love letters in private was one thing, but the public gossip about her became increasingly bothersome.
"Well, well, that's not how you greet a friend, is it?" Natalia's voice, dripping with mock chivalry, cut through the murmurs. She draped her blazer over Colete's shoulders, her crimson eyes sparkling with mischief. "It appears we should escort you back to your room; you're…drenched."
Laughter rippled through the room, Birgit joining in with a nervous giggle. Eydis glowered, the scene embarrassing her on a profound level. "That's not it! You weren't even there!"
Colete smirked, her voice laced with amusement, "We didn't need to be, Eydis. Your encounter with the prince has already become fan-fiction."
"Fan-fiction? Is that a thing here?" Eydis asked, genuinely bewildered.
"Of course! We devour fiction, especially when it stars real people," Birgit chimed in, her normally composed demeanor ruffled.
"And nothing sparks the imagination like the most eligible bachelor in the Empire being swept off his feet by a regular girl," Colete added, a playful tilt to her lips.
"Regular girl?" Eydis rubbed her temples, the term grating against her sense of self. When did the prince, someone she barely knew, become the epitome of noble desire?
Natalia coughed, a blush creeping up her neck. "We also debated whether 'regular' applies, but technically, without magic…"
"I get it!" Eydis cut her off, a wave of frustration washing over her. "Regardless of lineage, people love a good Cinderella story."
"Who's Cinderella?" Natalia inquired, tilting her head in genuine curiosity.
"My alter ego from another universe," Eydis replied, earning confused chuckles from her friends. But then, a thought struck her, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Wait, 'most eligible bachelor'? Don't we have another prince, the firstborn? Isn't he unmarried too?"
Suddenly, the girls, all daughters of prominent families, became fascinated by the intricate patterns on the tablecloths. Interesting.
Crossing her arms, Eydis locked eyes with Natalia. "Nat, tell me what you know about the first prince."
Flustered, Natalia hid her face behind her blonde hair. "I-I can't, it's not my secret to tell!"
Eydis sighed, her voice tinged with resignation. "It's not a secret if you already know about it."
"That's, um, true, but…"
"But my story has become fan-fiction, and I'm sure there's one brewing about the first prince too, isn't there?" Eydis leaned forward, her voice a low hum.
"I-I can't! My brother will kill me if I blabber!" Natalia wailed, burying her face in her hands.
Natalia could be stubborn, but Eydis had another card to play. One she rarely used, but the situation demanded it. "So, three of you knew but chose not to tell me," she feigned hurt, her voice barely above a whisper. "I guess I'm never truly one of you."
Colete stepped forward, her voice firm yet apologetic. "That's not it, Eydis. We were bound to secrecy."
Natalia, overcome with guilt, caved. "Alright, alright, but this stays between us, okay?"
"Why is it a secret if it's already fan-fiction?" Eydis challenged, her eyes narrowed.
Natalia leaned in, her voice barely audible. "There's a rumor about the first prince's…preference."
"Preference?" Eydis raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"During his time at the academy, he was… close to the heir of Sylvanwood."
Eydis frowned, confused. "Close? What's wrong with that?"
Natalia covered Eydis' mouth, her voice hushed. "Quiet! They were…together, two men. It's unnatural! We can't have such things among our future leaders!"
Eydis pushed Natalia's hand away, her own voice unwavering. "Unnatural? Why? Their love is no different from anyone else's. They may not have children, but that doesn't diminish their bond."
Birgit, her face pale, piped up, "But God created us with a purpose, to pass on our magic through generations. Their love defies His will."
Eydis, her eyes flashing with defiance, shook her head. "We are not machines, Birgit. Love is not about fulfilling some divine decree. It's about connection, understanding, and acceptance." Eydis wouldn't say she was a love expert, but even so, she understood the logic.
Her words hung heavy in the air, a challenge to the ingrained prejudices and rigid expectations. As Eydis turned and walked away, the three girls, their faces clouded with a mixture of confusion and introspection, watched her go. The whispers continued, but their tone had shifted, a seed of doubt sown in the fertile ground of their previously unquestioned beliefs.
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