As I went home, Orange was waiting for me in front of the door. She came up as soon as she saw the carriage and seeing her I opened wide eyes:
"Why are you still up? Did you wait for me?
-Yes.
-You are so cute. But it is really late. Let's hurry up to sleep.
-I am not tired. Tell me how the ball was?"
I was in a rather good mood and smiled:
"It was amazing."
Orange seemed very happy to hear this and she looked at me waiting for more details:
"You should have seen that ballroom! I am so sad that you didn't come. As soon as I went in I thought I would have a heart attack. I never saw a better looking room before. That should be a museum!"
I went on and on about the place and the buffet for hours and Orange listened to me with a big smile. She helped me undress as I was still talking and even called for some tea for me. Once I said everything that needed to be said about the location, I started talking about the people I met there:
"People were rather nice and I had a really good time talking to them. Who would have thought there would be so many people of my age there? I was pleasantly surprised. I would love to see them again."
I talked a bit about the people I spent the night with but Orange seemed restless for some reason. When I stopped she waited a bit as if she was waiting for something but because I didn't say more she asked:
"How was Astéria?"
I was surprised by that question. Orange was never curious about anyone but it seemed all the gossip interested her too. What did I think of Astéria? In the first book Astéria was presented as a shy and nice young woman but now that I was thinking back, she clearly looked like the terrifying Duchess of the north. Especially when she lost her smile. But even when she was smiling she looked imposing and untouchable. Was it because the first book didn't say the whole truth and tricked the reader? I was puzzled.
"She was really polite and welcoming. She seemed to really like me but I am sure I was mistaken.
-I am sure you weren't."
I decided to go with a joke to stop the conversation:
"I know, everyone loves me."
But Orange only stared into my eyes and agreed.
"Yes."
This scene reminded me of the way Astéria would look at me for some reason and I frowned. Seeing me most in thought Orange asked:
"What?"
But I just shook my head and smiled:
"Nothing."
They didn't look alike at all. I went to take a shower and came back to my room to sleep. Orange had her own room but my bed was huge so we started sleeping together over the years. We would talk and tell stories before sleeping and now I was just used to having her by my side. Orange rarely got sick but once she did and despite all my pleas to take care of her and to sleep with her to look after her during the night, she didn't yield and I had to sleep alone. She could be really stubborn at times and that night was the hardest of my life. I couldn't fall asleep at all and stayed up the whole night feeling that something was missing. Orange never let me sleep alone after that and this night wasn't an exception either. My parents did comment on this habit once during dinner and said that a young woman should sleep alone but for some reason they never talked about it again and no one dared criticize us about it ever again. I layed down next to Orange and as soon as my head touched the pillow, I fell asleep.
Slowly after the ball high school arrived which was the main stage of the book. Here they entered High School after being introduced to society which was troubling and I was surprised I ever got in because I never paid attention to noble studies and by this I meant how nobles talk, walk, behave... It wasn't hard but I just didn't care. Orange was way more invested in it than I was and being introduced to society at age 15, she also entered High School at that age. I thought Poehina's father would be much more mad about his daughter being less girly than Orange, but surprisingly he never said anything.
I was quite stressed out at the idea of going to High School and didn't want to meet Alastair at all. We had been engaged for years but our parents only introduced us once years ago and had I never read the book, I wouldn't have known what he looked like. Anyway, I didn't have a choice and went to the school's entrance ceremonie. The only reassuring thing was that Orange would be by my side. I really liked being around her and seeing her in her uniform I couldn't hold back a scream:
"You look so cute! You are gorgeous. The most gorgeous person I know."
Orange went red from head to toe like every time I complimented her and as usual she turned the focus back to me:
"You are prettier."
I started laughing. I was doing pretty much of the talking and when Orange was talking it was only to answer my questions or compliment me. She was adorable and I wanted to rub her cheeks so I did. Orange turned even redder which was surprising but she didn't move or push me away. She never did. She never initiated contact but always welcomed it.
We went to the entrance ceremony together but things started wrong because for some reason, Alastair, my fiance, really wanted to show me around. I had only met him once in my whole life by accident and had been really cold to him so why was he so nice? He was waiting for me in front of the school and kissed my hand as soon as he saw me arrive. I crinched immediately, wiping my hand with a frown. Things didn't start on a good note:
"Don't do that."
Alastair straightened up and apologized sincerely. I didn't like people touching me.
"If you don't mind I would love to take you around before the ceremony."
I pointed to Orange:
"I am already with someone."
I wasn't going to apologize for being with my friend but for some reason Alastair didn't want to let go. I was ready to lash out when Orange said she had something to do and flew away. I was disappointed but had to agree without really wanting to and followed him. What could I say when he was already here? Moreover I really needed someone to show me around. I had a terrible sense of direction and knew I would get lost easily. I never spent time with him so I could really do this much. What was 30 minutes in my life? I therefore followed him around and tried remembering my way around. For some reason Alastair seemed quite amused by my seriousness. Hearing him laugh I frowned:
"Sorry. I didn't think you would be so interested in this tour."
I shrugged. Alastair didn't know about my bad sense of direction because I was always escorted by Prissy and never got lost thanks to her.
"It is always important to know about our surroundings."
He laughed again.
"You sure are right. I am glad I could be the one to show you around."
I shrugged again.
"You have been here for a year. You are perfectly fit for showing me around the place."
Alastair nodded slowly, his cheeks turning red for some reason. After my remark he started telling me more and more about the place and I heard a lot of anecdotes about life at school. Prissy and him seemed to enjoy gossip and I got used to listening to them. It was more interesting than I would have thought and I listened to him intently. After the tour, Alastair took me to the entrance ceremony and I was really scared for a second that I would be the center of attention because I was the only princess arriving this year but fortunately everything went by without a glitch. People stole glances of me but that was all. I got used to it throughout the years. Being from the north I had different features from these people and was easily noticeable. As long as they were respectful I didn't really mind.
A lot of people came to talk to me, being the daughter of a Duke and I didn't like that at all. I had two moods: when I was in a good mood I liked meeting new people and when I was in a bad mood like now because of Alastair, I didn't like humans and didn't want to talk to them, not interested in their lives. The fact that these people only wanted to be in the good graces of my father by talking to me wasn't helping. I was an empath and could feel how fake their smiles were from afar. I told them that my father didn't care about me and that they could just go away which saved me some space. Therefore I just bit my tongue and waited. The only person I wanted to see was Orange but I couldn't find her anywhere and it was making me worry.
Looking at the crowd I suddenly noticed black hair. It was Astéria. We were the same age and of course would enter High School at the same time. I didn't like romance but was quite interested in the expression Astéria would make when she would faint falling in love. I couldn't imagine her blank face in love and couldn't wait to see it. However I was very surprised to see that Astéria wasn't looking at Alastair. Ew, even their names sounded the same. Who was the author?
Maybe she didn't see him yet but she was staring straight at me which made me a little shy. She was getting prettier by the day and I had a hard time maintaining eye contact. Why was she looking at me the way she did? Did I have something on my face? I could still feel her glance on me and was growing uncomfortable. I didn't really care if people looked at me. I was gorgeous after all so I could understand the urge but being stared at for multiple minutes was weird. Stop looking at me! Look at the male lead! Not at me. With his blond hair and his basic prince smile. There was something really disturbing in Astéria's stare and I started fidgeting.
I was so anxious that I didn't see the first romantic scene of the book. It wasn't that bad. I had a lot of time to see these two be a way too in love couple. I knew it was all for revenge but this book was still about romance for a few more years. I could observe in secret and disappear as soon as blood appeared. The next scene would be where we thought Astéria would fall in love with Alastair. She didn't see him in the crowd but he would follow her to the library and save her from a fall. This was so cliché that my head hurt. Wasn't this in every romance ever? Even my friend crinched.
The entrance ceremony finished and we went to class afterwards. We didn't have enough time to look around so I couldn't find Orange. I was so sad that we weren't in the same class and jerked around every time I saw a blond person. I was really worried that these people would bully her because she was a year younger. I sat in the center of the class whereas Astéria sat in the back not hiding the fact that she was already bored of this day. I raised my eyes to the ceiling. Why did I have such a soft place for charismatic people? As if she felt my glance, Astéria suddenly raised her head and I froze, almost choking on my saliva. This made the kids around me panic and they asked me if I was alright. Astéria on the other hand continued staring with empty eyes. I had no idea what was going on in her mind and I didn't want to know. My pride crumbled and I wanted to act as if nothing happened. I didn't think too much about it and went back to ignoring her. I was in the same class as her which was dangerous. Not bullying her wasn't enough. I needed to completely disappear from her life. I couldn't die. Not again.
I didn't have time to think about it with classes starting and as soon as they stopped I ran to find Orange.
"There you are! I have been looking for you for hours!
-I'm sorry.
-Don't apologize, it's not your fault. How was your first day?
-Good. Yours?
-It wasn't that bad. Teachers seem nice. I am curious to see what this year's subjects are going to be. I heard we'll have new ones very soon. Are people in your class nice?
-I don't know.
-What do you mean you don't know? You didn't talk to them?
-No.
-That's fine. Me neither. It's too early yet. We still have a lot of time to get to know them.
-What about your classmates?
-I didn't talk to them either.
-I mean... Do they seem nice?"
Orange was really talkative today.
"Do you find any of them interesting?"
I thought about it a bit.
"I don't really know."
Noble teens were annoying most of the time. They were all hypocrites and only cared about popularity. It wasn't entirely their fault. This world was written this way so that the female lead would take revenge on everyone. Of course they weren't all bad and I wasn't closed off to meeting them and being friends with them. But for now I hadn't been pleasantly surprised.
"They seem nice. I hope we'll talk more tomorrow."
Orange didn't seem satisfied.
"Who seemed nice?"
I started laughing.
"You really are curious today.
-Sorry.
-No! Don't apologize, I was just kidding. I have nothing to hide from you. You can ask all you want. Let me think about it... Who did I think was really nice? There was this girl sitting next to me. I smiled at her and she smiled back. We couldn't talk because the class started immediately. I hate it when they start class on the first day. I don't want to study! Anyway she seemed nice. I hope she is."
Orange seemed gloomier the more I talked. Usually I was amazing at reading her. She didn't have to talk and I would know exactly what she wanted but at that moment I was completely lost. And when I was lost or uncomfortable, I started talking even more:
"And there was this other girl in the front row. She seems very smart and very sweet. I think it would be cool to get to know her."
It was getting worse!
"And... And... Oh! Guess who is in my class.
-Who?
-Astéria Glisten."
Orange seemed finally interested so I kept going:
"She stared at me at some point and I almost choked on my saliva. It was so embarrassing..."
Orange laughed and I opened wide eyes:
"Don't make fun of me too!
-I wouldn't."
But she couldn't stop laughing.
"Stop! Okay yes it was fun but I was really embarrassed. I'm sure she thinks I'm an idiot now.
-I'm sure she doesn't.
-I don't really care. I don't want to be her friend.
-Why?"
I froze. I started being more and more comfortable around Orange and talked without thinking which I wasn't used to.
"I don't know.
-Didn't you say she was nice last time?"
Touché.
"Yes she was.
-But?"
Orange was being way too stubborn. I had to lie.
"I thought she liked me but not anymore.
-Why?
-I feel terrible saying this but... She is scary. I choked just from our eyes meeting. She wouldn't look at me like that if she liked me. So I won't force her to be friends."
Orange went silent. I wasn't really scared of her but gorgeous people were always imposing. So it was only half a lie.
"I know I'm horrible. I don't want to judge her looks but..."
But I read the book. I wasn't judging her. I knew exactly the type of person she was. However I couldn't say that to her. I had to be scared of her even if I wasn't.
"I don't feel that I should get closer to her."
I needed to stay as far away from her as possible if I didn't want to die a horrible death.
"It's just like with Sela. I felt that she was a bad person as soon as I saw her and...
-Wait. What did she do?"
I frowned:
"Didn't I tell you?
-No.
-Oh... Well nothing important. She was just a bad person."
Orange really wanted to know. I saw it on her but I didn't think it was important so I moved on.