Bruises, discolored and swollen, ran up and down her pale and delicate arms. There were old crusty scratches and deep scars. Soiled by the innumerable count of injuries, the vestal image she bestowed vanished. It was wrong to try to perceive that all who looked pure were treated pure. The blemishes of abuse boldly displayed the truth, hidden behind sleeves or tucked away in the crevices of one’s mine.

Oh my goodness...what happened to her?

Immediately, when she noticed I was staring at them, she tugged down her sleeves defensively. Her expression was unmoving, leaving no room for me to read what thoughts wandered in her mind as they most likely accused me of all sorts of wrongful crimes.

The sky blue in her irises wanted to shred me apart. However, it was a fact that I did not do anything worth rendering immobile and lifeless. Not me, but perhaps, Elisabeth Madeline Carabell.

She held Teresa close to her and squeezed her as if protecting her from the claws that I’ve yet to unleash on anyone. “What did you do to her?” the young maiden questioned me, fury burning in her eyes.

The question was abrupt and took me aback. The accusation aggravated me to no end. I tilted my head to the side threateningly, saying in body language: "Excuse me?"

What did I do to Teresa? I didn’t do anything! I know now that Elisabeth is on nobody’s good graces, but couldn’t they at least give her the benefit of the doubt?

Suddenly, the students turned to look at me, wearing expressions filled with prejudice. Some scoffed, some leered, and some couldn't care less of what became of this scene.

“Jillian, please. It was not our lady’s fault. It was all me. Please have mercy on us, my lady. I will make sure this doesn’t happen again. Please believe me, my lady,” Teresa begged remorsefully.

I was beginning to feel very offended. I furrowed my eyebrows as I shook my head in disbelief. “Have mercy? I won’t do anything. As I said, don’t worry about it. The both of you can leave and rest.”

Jillian’s face contorted to disgust, her innocent facade fading away.

“My Lady, please don’t act like you are Lady Lancaster. It is frightening,” Jillian softly told me before turning to leave with Teresa.

“Jillian! Watch your mouth!” Teresa exclaimed, but Jillian remained unaffected.

Act like I’m Lady Lancaster? But...I’m not…I’m just being me...

“What does she have to do with this situation, huh? Why do you people always have to bring Viktoria up?” I questioned her angrily.

Murmurs buzzed through the dining hall. The adrenaline ran through my veins like coursing energy. Jillian whipped her head around, wearing an expression that said: “Screw you, you fucking piece of shit.” Teresa grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

“Could you just shut up, Elisabeth?! No one cares for what you have to say anymore! No one likes you. His Highness, the crown prince, should’ve broken the engagement by now. You’re a ridiculous excuse for this kingdom’s future queen!” Jillian screamed.

So that is why everyone is so uptight. The future queen of Whitensen is their future queen, and they hate Elisabeth! Prince Caydel is basically the future king of this kingdom! It’s no wonder everyone was glorifying him!

I clicked my tongue.

Could I be any more oblivious?

The realization was cut short when Jillian tried lunging herself at me. The girl was aggressively tugging herself from Teresa. Teresa bear-hugged Jillian in an attempt to subdue the maiden in rage.

“No, Jillian, no,” Teresa kept telling her when she struggled to free herself from Teresa’s grasp.

Jillian sneered at me. "You're a worthless noble! Worthless and useless!"

I took a step closer to her and shoved my finger in her face. “I asked you one stupid question, and you can’t even answer it! Viktoria has nothing to do with what happened! More or less, you’re the one who started blaming me for something I haven’t even done!”

“You think anyone’s going to believe you after you tried poisoning Viktoria? This whole thing has to do with Lady Lancaster! Don’t try lying to me. I know you too well. You’re not a noble, you’re less than that. You don’t even deserve to be a citizen of this kingdom. I can’t wait to see you becoming a prostitute or a farmer’s slave! That’s who you should be, Elisabeth Madeline Carabell,” the brazen maid told me in a burst of outrage.

Poisoning? Even if Elisabeth did do that, that has absolutely nothing to do with Teresa breaking down in a fit and me being blamed for causing all this ruckus. Everything would’ve been fine if this girl didn’t start jumping to conclusions the moment she saw her friend in tears. The fact remains: I haven’t done a single thing!

“That’s funny,” I laughed mockingly, “you’re going to pay to come to see me when I’m a prostitute? How kind of you!”

“You…! You’re crazy, you know that? You’re crazy if you think you can keep treating people as if you’re lower than them,” Jillian argued, breaking from Teresa’s grip.

“As if I’m lower?” I scoffed. “I was helping Teresa!”

"You're full of it!" Jillian stated before Teresa forcefully dragged her away.

Teresa kept bowing to me as an apology for Jillian's behavior as she left with the rambunctious girl. I curled my fingers into tight fists. My nails dug into my skin. I could feel my vision blurring and my throat burning.

Are you serious? This is so frustrating. I haven’t even⎯alright, that’s fine. Be that way. Keep thinking I’m trying to be like someone else. You’ll be sorry when you see what it means to be Elisabeth Madeline Carabell.

I straightened my gown and ran my fingers through the black curls on my head. The pained expression I wore just a moment ago vanished in a matter of seconds. I adorned a mask of apathy, acting as if I didn’t almost burst into tears from the exasperation of being wrongfully accused.

This dress and the long hair is such a pain to deal with. I should find something to tie it up later. I need to drink something. My mouth feels dry...and stale...and bitter.

I sighed as I pulled the locks back and reached for a napkin. I bent down and wiped the sauce from the platter. The servants that were waiting for the scene to die down watched me in awe. I gently turned my head up to look at them.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll clean it myself,” I told them with the loveliest smile an angry person could pull off.

Immediately, they took worried glances towards each other. Gradually, they left me alone.

This is such a mess.

“Oh wow, Elisabeth, I never thought I would see you in this state,” a voice hummed from behind.

I turned and caught my eyes on a familiar set of vibrant blue eyes. I was gazing up at a man that almost replicated Prince Caydel. Instead, his hair was glittering blonde, and his demeanor was laxer. The fact that he remotely looked like that bastard irritated me. Everything was irritating me.

The man leaned to one side. “Hm? What’s gotten into you, Eli? Aren’t you happy to see my face? Give me a kiss, would you? I’m sure the recent turn of events has gotten you a bit frustrated, so let’s skip your class and hang out for a bit.”

Whaaat?

I dropped the napkin in utter astonishment.

“No! Why would I do that?” I questioned him.

I can’t believe it. There are still people willing to cheat with Elisabeth?!

This suddenly aroused an interesting question.

Was she...cheating on Prince Caydel?

I unconsciously rubbed my gloved fingers over my lips.

Although she’s probably cheated on Caydel, she’s managed to still have someone to cheat with this terrible reputation she has.

How disgusting.

Beautiful women have it all, don’t they? Men and riches. It’s truly unbelievable.

“Hey, if you’re so low to try and woo someone who’s publicly taken, how about you stoop down and help me clean? Make yourself useful,” I told him.

He gasped so sharply that I turned my head to see what was wrong with him. “My, Eli, I didn’t think you’ve become so attractive in a matter of a few days. I prefer being the sadist in the relationship, so you can continue cleaning. Urm, rather, that terrible situation you’ve put yourself in.” He leaned down to whisper in my ear. “I can’t believe you failed to kill Viktoria. I even helped give you the poison with my most precious resources.”

Oh my God!

I jerked myself away from him. He leaned back, amusement displayed all over his face. The expression strongly reminded me of my argument with Prince Caydel earlier.

This guy supplied Elisabeth with poison to kill Viktoria?! Holy crap!

I was struck dumbfounded by all my recent discoveries. The first thing I did was distance myself a few more feet. He drew himself away and dragged over a seat for himself to sit and watch me labor like the peasant everyone is treating me like.

I was technically a “peasant” on Earth. I was normal, and I worked for everything I was given. That’s how things should be. However, I shouldn’t be the one receiving all the punishment for something that I didn’t do. It’s unfair treatment!

“Don’t you owe me something for all that I’ve done for you? I prepared the most expensive wine, and I’ve cleared my schedule to allow a free night. It’ll be just me and you, just like how you like it. As I’ve said before: If you marry me, I’ll get rid of my lovely harem⎯”

I instantly stood up and brushed the crumbs off my hands. “Keep your harem.”

I lost any interest in what he was saying the moment he uttered harem. I’m not into that, and I’m not into Prince Caydel look-alikes. Both of them are jerks. Now I know I should stay away from anyone that looks like them.

“Aw, really? I was hoping you’d say that. I’ve grown quite attached to the ladies. It’s nice that you’re going to share the bed with them. I’ve been longing to have a night with all of us together,” the man rambled on.

“Hm? A night with all of us? Are you kidding? No!” I exclaimed.

I was so disgusted that I had my mouth agape.

“Are you holding back because your relationship with Prince Delly has become strained? I assure you, I’m a better match,” he boasted. “Besides, he’s still a virgin. That kid won’t know how to treat you right.”

Delly? Is that Prince Caydel’s nickname?

I burst out laughing. His sly grin immediately dropped. “Really? Thanks for the information!”

What a pedophile. I should probably leave quickly. Is there security? What do I do when an adult has entered an academy campus and is trying to pursue underaged teens? Caydel is graduating this year, and this dude is older than him. You think princes could get arrested in their own kingdom?

Slam!

As I contemplated these things, I didn’t notice how a certain someone snuck up and snatched the unknown intruder and threw him into a column in the dining hall. The nobles in the dining hall all gasped.

I assume that's security.

“Hey...hey...easy… It was only one sentence.” The trespassing prince tried to reason with the man who pinned him firmly. It was to no avail, and rather, it only increased the man’s irritability.

Armed knights rushed into the hall, filed in rows. Students immediately moved away from the entering ensemble. The man holding the older Whitensen prince had beautifully smooth pale skin and piercing vermilion eyes. He adorned a lush velvet cape and was equipped with a blade that he kept in its sheath.

It doesn't look like he's here to hurt anyone. It's not like he's running around with a sword and trying to poke anyone with it.

“You think you could try to seduce the princess of Lotte without any repercussions?” The knight squeezed the prince’s shoulder with a crushing sound.

I cringed at the snapping of his bones. The prince yelped at the agonizing pain.

Another enrobed knight emerged from the crowd. “Sir Garrod, must I remind you that we are here to apprehend Prince Patrick for trespassing the academy grounds?”

Yeah, I should leave. Immediately. Good idea, me.

Instantly, as I took a single step, it was as if my camouflage disappeared.

“Oh, Princess of Whitensen,” he called out.

Princess of Whitensen?

I glanced around awkwardly.

Where…? Oh...that’s right! Elisabeth is technically a “princess” because she’s engaged with Prince Caydel.

My heart jumped. Suddenly, he leaned towards me and looked me directly in my eyes as if there was something that intrigued him.

Woah...personal space, please!

“Hmm, odd,” he mumbled. He sighed, pushing the prince into the other knight’s arms. “I didn’t notice you were here...with this man.”

I took a step away from him.

Under his breath, he mumbled, “Ah, I’m just disappointed in you.”

“Excuse me?” I gasped.

He advanced me! I didn’t approach him!

“Oh, you heard that? My apologies, your highness,” he said half-heartedly.

They wrapped the prince’s arms behind his back and escorted him away as if he were to be brought to trial.

Poor guy. I should...probably go prepare for my next class. Forget lunch.