I had barely taken a bite of the stupidly overpriced dessert when the doors to the VIP section burst open. A hush fell over the room as every head turned toward the entrance. I froze mid-chew, the creamy texture of whatever "luxury mousse" I'd ordered turning to dust in my mouth.
Ananara, perched smugly in front of , narrowed his eyes—or at least I think he did. It's hard to tell when the eyes in question are carved into pineapple skin. "Well, isn't this dramatic," he said, his voice thick with disdain.
Enara straightened in her chair, her midnight eyes narrowing into slits. "What now?" she hissed.
A figure strode in, dressed in what could only be described as trying too hard. A floor-length coat of shimring gold, boots polished to a mirror shine, and a hat adorned with feathers that could've co from a particularly flamboyant peacock. The man's smirk was visible even from across the room.
"Ladies," he drawled, spreading his arms wide as if expecting applause. "I trust you've been enjoying the exclusive comforts of the academy's finest dining establishnt?"
I swallowed my bite reluctantly, because choking on mousse wasn't the way I planned to die today. "Who the hell are you?"
The man's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second before he recovered. "Ah, apologies for my oversight." He tipped his ridiculous hat. "Lord Aldrin Vexmore, second son of Duke Vexmore, heir to the Goldfla fortune, and—"
"No one cares," Ananara interrupted, his tone so flat it could've crushed mountains. "If you're going to waste our ti, at least do it with fewer syllables."
Lord Aldrin's jaw dropped. His hand froze mid-flourish. "Did… did that pineapple just insult ?" Discover hidden tales at empire
"Yes," I said, stifling a laugh. "Yes, it did. And honestly, it's the most accurate thing said in this room all day."
Enara, for her part, had a ghost of a smirk on her lips. She leaned back in her chair, her posture screaming condescension. "What do you want, Vexmore? We're busy."
"Busy eating overpriced garbage," I muttered, stabbing my dessert with a little too much force.
Lord Aldrin's face turned a charming shade of crimson. "This establishnt is reserved for individuals of refinent—a category into which I'm certain a talking fruit does not fall!"
Ananara let out a sound that could only be described as a derisive snort. "Refinent? Says the man dressed like a carnival reject."
Enara chuckled darkly. "Careful, Vexmore. Ananara's insults have a way of sticking. And frankly, I agree. That hat is a cri."
I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. Lord Aldrin, however, looked like he was about to explode.
"This is an outrage!" he sputtered. "I ca here to extend a personal invitation to—"
"Let guess," I cut in, waving my spoon at him. "You're throwing so fancy party, you want us to attend because we're 'notable,' and you think pretending to be charming will win us over."
The stunned silence was answer enough.
I leaned back, crossing my arms. "Hard pass. But thanks for stopping by. Now if you'll excuse us, I'd like to finish my garbage dessert in peace."
Lord Aldrin's face twisted in indignation. "You dare dismiss ? Do you know who I am?"
"Oh, we know," Ananara said with mock patience. "You're the second son of a duke, heir to so fortune, and a walking fashion disaster. Did I miss anything?"
The man spluttered incoherently, clearly unused to being treated like this.
"You're done here," Enara said coolly, her voice cutting through his outrage like a blade. "Leave before I decide to have you escorted out."
Lord Aldrin glared at her, his fists clenching. "You'll regret this," he hissed before storming out, his ridiculous coat billowing dramatically behind him.
The mont the doors slamd shut, I let out a laugh I'd been holding in since the mont he walked in. "What was that?"
"Another entitled noble with too much money and not enough brains," Enara said with a shrug.
"Honestly, I was starting to enjoy myself," Ananara added. "He was fun to mock."
"Well, now that he's gone," I said, turning back to my dessert, "can we please get back to—"
The doors burst open again.
"For the love of everything holy," I groaned, throwing my head back. "What now?"
This ti, it wasn't a pompous noble. It was one of the academy staff, a frantic-looking man clutching a clipboard. "Apologies for the intrusion!" he gasped. "There's… there's been an incident in the main hall. The principal has requested your imdiate presence."
I exchanged a look with Enara. "Why do I feel like this is sohow going to be my fault?"
"Because it usually is," she deadpanned, pushing her chair back.
Ananara let out a dramatic sigh. "I swear, you two attract chaos like flies to rotten fruit. And yes, I know the irony of that statent."
As we stood to leave, I couldn't help but glance back at the half-eaten dessert on my plate. "I just wanted a quiet lunch," I muttered.
Enara smirked. "With you around? Not a chance."
With that, we followed the staff mber out of the VIP section, the promise of chaos hanging heavy in the air.
As we followed the frantic staff mber out of the VIP section, I couldn't shake the feeling that sothing was off. His hurried steps, the sheen of sweat on his forehead, and the way he avoided eting Enara's eyes all scread suspicious.
"You know," I muttered under my breath to Enara, "I don't think this guy could look guiltier if he tried."
Enara didn't respond imdiately, but the faint tension in her jaw suggested she was thinking the sa thing. Ananara, balanced under my arm as usual, let out a low, derisive chuckle.
"Oh, he's definitely up to sothing," the pineapple murmured. "The question is whether you two are clever enough to survive it."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I hissed back.
The staff mber led us down a series of winding corridors that I didn't recognize. The further we went, the darker and more abandoned the halls beca.
"Wait a second," I said, stopping in my tracks. "This isn't the way to the main hall."
The man froze mid-step, his back stiffening. "It's… it's a shortcut," he stamred, glancing over his shoulder.
Enara stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "If this is a shortcut," she said coldly, "then why do you look like you're about to wet yourself?"
Before he could answer, the faint sound of footsteps echoed behind us. I turned, my pulse quickening, to see shadows moving at the far end of the corridor we'd just passed through.
"We're surrounded," I said, my voice low.
"Brilliant deduction," Ananara snarked. "Took you long enough."
The staff mber suddenly dropped his clipboard and bolted down the hall.
"Coward," Enara muttered, her tone icy. "I knew this was a trap."
The shadows at the end of the corridor resolved into a group of armored figures, their faces hidden behind polished helts. Their movents were deliberate, cutting off any chance of retreat.
"Well, this is cozy," I said, gripping Ananara a little tighter. "Do we fight, or are we pretending to be captured today?"
Enara tilted her head, her midnight eyes gleaming with dark amusent. "Let's see what they want first. If they're smart, they'll realize attacking is a death sentence."
One of the armored figures stepped forward, his helt marked with a crimson stripe. "Princess Enara," he said, his voice echoing within the tal casing. "You are to co with us. Your presence has been requested by soone who outranks even you."
Enara let out a sharp laugh, the sound dripping with disdain. "Outranks ?" she sneered. "That's adorable. Tell , who's foolish enough to think they can summon like a common servant?"
The soldier hesitated, but before he could answer, the shadows behind him shifted again, and another figure erged—a tall woman clad in flowing black robes. Her face was obscured by a deep hood, but the aura she exuded was enough to make my skin crawl.
"That would be ," the woman said, her voice smooth and venomous.
Enara's expression didn't change, but I could feel the tension radiating from her. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. "Friend of yours?"
"Hardly," Enara said through gritted teeth.
The woman stepped closer, her gaze fixed on Enara. "I am Lady Myrthe," she announced, her voice carrying an air of authority. "And I've co to take what is rightfully mine."
"Rightfully yours?" I blurted out, unable to stop myself. "What does that even an? She's not a piece of jewelry you can claim, lady."
Myrthe's gaze snapped to , and for a mont, I felt like I was being dissected under a microscope. "And who is this?" she asked, her tone dripping with disdain. "The princess's pet human?"
"Oh, that's rich," I shot back, ignoring the way Ananara snorted. "You've got a lot of nerve for soone wearing a cosplay cloak."
"Liria," Enara said sharply, though I could see the corner of her mouth twitching in amusent. "Not the ti."
Myrthe ignored , her focus returning to Enara. "Your mothers have kept you hidden for too long, Princess," she said. "It's ti you take your place by my side."
Enara crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "And if I refuse?"
Myrthe smiled, a chilling expression that sent a shiver down my spine. "Then you and your… entourage will never leave this place alive."
The armored figures tightened their formation, their weapons glinting in the dim light.
"Well," I muttered, shifting Ananara in my arms, "looks like we're fighting after all."
"Finally," Ananara said, sounding almost gleeful. "I was starting to get bored."
Enara stepped forward, her presence radiating cold fury. "You think you can threaten ?" she said, her voice soft but deadly. "You've made a grave mistake."
Myrthe's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered. "We'll see," she said, raising a hand. "Guards, take them."
As the soldiers moved in, I felt the familiar rush of adrenaline. "Looks like lunch is officially ruined," I said, drawing my weapon.
"Focus, Liria," Enara snapped, already preparing to unleash a spell.
The fight was about to begin, and I had a feeling this was going to be one for the history books. Or at least the gossip mill.
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