I was claimed to the school for exactly 16 years, 358 days and in one more upcoming week, I would be free.
I have waited too darn long to escape and there's nothing that can stop me now I'm this close.
The school has lied to me and all the other girls who have been brought here , yet no one has noticed, of course, no one but me. The fact that we will be in good care and will be taught exceptionally well, for the upcoming event, The Collection, is only to make it easier for them so we don't have to shout and scream all the way.
But of course that's not what the girls here are excited about, we've received news that there's slight chance the duke will be there. It doesn't matter to me, as long as he stays out of my way.
Of course, that's all I know. The school does not teach us anything about politics, engineering and any other 'men' related subjects. They say that ladies should not worry about that and leave it for the men to deal with.
2 knocks at the door startle me back to life. "Hang on a moment!" I shout just after I saw the doorknob turn and fall back into place after hearing me. It must be Ann, my personal maid. Ann is never required to leave me alone. Yet I am the only one at school who has the most time by myself than any other girl. It's pure luck.
I settle my journal to one side of the drawer and close it silently but fast enough for Ann to not notice. She takes steps into my huge flamboyant room since the time I was brought here.
I don't remember anything about my family. I don't even know if I have one. The fourth world war simply wiped out nearly the whole nation and my family could possibly be watching over me out of this world. At least that means whatever sisters I had wouldn't go through with what I'm trying to escape from. They're safer where they are.
"Miss Audrey wants a word with you, Eden dear," Ann says in her young angelic voice.
I felt excitement fill me everywhere when thinking about the only remaining week I have left in this hell-hole. Now that I'm this close to accomplishing my dream, I feel that the past has gone in the blink of an eye, yet as slow as a flower would grow in winter. All those moments when the staff had tortured me for disobeying and making continuous mistakes. But all that has changed.
I have used my own method for the staff to trust me, in fact, they trust me most of all. But the time is wearing thin when they realise that they have been wrong.
They have always been wrong.
"I assure you, dear, that you are in no sort of trouble." She states automatically.
Ann opens the door before me and leaves.
After a while of circling her room and trophies, the door knob twisted and I turned round preparing to say my greetings. A tall figure with a short pencil skirt along with a blazer, lurking underneath it was a plain white shirt. She wore plain pointy heels with dark tied up hair. Miss Audrey looked at me and smiled.
She walked to her desk and sat down. "Hello, Eden." She said in her toneless voice. And tangled her fingers onto each other in a business position.
"Ann mentioned you wanted to see me, ma'am."
"Of course!" She exclaimed, "I have news to tell you and the girls."
She let out a laugh as she slurred to her antique wooden chair and sat down in comfort. It must be the heels. "You are very well aware that I and the staff trust you utterly and completely?" She looked at me, this
I nodded in response.
"Well, we have never had a student as much. . ." She paused, thinking of a word. "Like you. And well, since I'm not going to live forever, what do you reckon if you take my position as principle?"
This time, I was complete shocked and a feeling of dread slithered in me. There was no way I'm going to agree. That's that.
"Well?" She said with one of her stupid eyebrow raised at me.
Here goes. "Ma'am, I don't know what to say." I began, raising a hand to my heart. "Surely I am not even near to your standards and expectations. There must be other students who have the intention to do much better than me."
"Really? And who must that be, Eden?" She slumped back in her chair and gripped the armrests.
"Ann." I was as shocked as Miss Audrey. It came out of nowhere. I look at Miss Audrey to see where she would go with this from here.
"She is nothing but a maid, Eden. Do not concern yourself with what is worthy of Ann."
I panicked as my heart fastened its pace. This wasn't going to work. I have to find another excuse. If I refuse directly and bluntly she will definitely charge me for a year or two just by refusing her favours. I'm not going to let this come to me.
"If I have to tell you such thing, then I don't think I have a choice." I sighed, a plan already forming.
Miss Audrey, leaned in, looking interested at what I'm about to say, as if she is expecting me to blurt out a secret. Well, then I have to make it look like one.
"I have always had these dreams, about marrying a nobeleman and well, giving birth to my own child who will one day be the heir." Miss Audrey leaned back, as if she heard these stories a thousand times.
"I see. So you too have those dreams?" She let out a disapproving sigh. "I have just offered something much more valuable, but if that is your choice, then let it be."
When I figured this was a goodbye, Miss Audrey spoke again.
"Because becoming a principal at this school, starts a journey to your dreams, as I am. Being a principal here, means that you will be taking care of the future mothers of the heir, which is something much more important. Now please leave."
I walked out, not bothered about what I've done to her and close my door behind me. Just 7 days, I will be free and it's only a matter of time for the realisation of wrong doings that had been put into occurrence multiple times.
*****
The next morning I woke up as the sun shone on my face. I felt different. Maybe it was because I wasn't the person that Miss Audrey trusted anymore.
Whilst making my way out the room, I hear giggles and laughter downstairs. Usually the girls are quiet and controlled in their studies, but the atmosphere seems to have changed. Something was different.
I head towards the swirled stairs to make my way downstairs. Just then I heard a mans voice, maybe 2 or 3 at the same time. This has never happened before. I hear some grunts and sighs along with that.
I closed my eyes to brace what I was about to see.
I hit something big and hard. I opened my eyes desperately regretting I closed them, and saw a broad figure right in front of me. He held onto my shoulders to steady me, without his support I would have definitely fell hard to the floor.
"Whoa, careful there." His amazing blue eyes stared deep through me. He looked down my figure and looked back into my eyes. "Are you okay?" He seemed genuinely concerned, but I noticed his breath hitched as he set his eyes on me.
"Hey, William, take a look at this!" A male interrupted from behind. William ignored him, prbably knwing he was on about a girl.
I looked at him and noticed he wasn't just with any girl. It was Sophia.
As I try to go past the men, wanting to tell Miss Audrey the situation without attracting attention, William hastily speaking behind her.
"Were are you heading?"
I hesitate, although I've never really been touched by a man, I was taught it would be a wonderful experience, but this was frightening me.
I ignored him and went to the kitchen, hoping to find someone sober. And I did. "Miss Audrey," I say. She turns round and smiles gravely. She still must be stuck on that moment I rejected her favour. "Yes, child?" Child? When did she ever call me a child?
"There seems to be a problem-"
"Problem? What problem would that be?" She said. Does she really not hear the them?
"Sorry, that might have been me." I turn round to find William, he was running his hand at the back of his head, avoiding my gaze.
"Why in the world do you think that? This child is just surprised to find men here, that's all. Isn't it dear?" I look back at Miss Audrey, and the realisation came to me. She did this on purpose. "Why don't you two go wake the girls, I have an announcement." I was a hundred percent sure she wore her evil smirk on her face.
I walked out. I just had to endure this for 6 more days and I'd go out into the real world. I walked up the stairs, but heard an extra step behind me. I looked back and saw William trying to catch up.
"Listen, I just want to apologise. Back there, it-it wasn't cool."
I wanted so badly to tell him to just leave me alone, but something else came to me. He seems like a nice guy. Worrying about whether I'm still angry at him or not, maybe he was influenced by his friend to act annoyingly.
"It's okay, I'm not mad or anything." I reassured.
"Yeah but, that might have been an act." He said sounding confidant and hesitant at the same time.
"What do you mean?"
"It looked pretty clear you that you don't like her much."
"Oh." I didn't want to tell him the details. It was none of his business. "Are you following me?"
"Shit, does it look that way to you?" He paused, but I knew that he was just thinking of something to say.
"No, I was going to wake the girls." I looked at him and he had his smile switched on. Knowing it wouldn't work on me. Now that I was closer to him, I could see each of his individual lashes, stayed put. He had the smile, every girl dreamed for their future husband to have.
"Yeah well, when she says that, she means the girls who will turn 17 next week." We were now upstairs. But I had a feeling I should stay and talk to him more, and finish this conversation here.
"Are you?" He avoided my gaze, but when I turned away I could feel him staring at me at the corners of his eyes.
"Yeah."
"Right then, are we going to wake them and call the emergencies ready for the fainting ceremony or do we have to stay here and talk all day?" To my surprise, I actually laughed. He had some sense of humour and along with his nice personality, he seemed like a good guy.
"Actually, I wouldn't mind neither." I said. He was shocked at my response. "Are you okay?"
"Ye-Yes, I'm fine." He averted his eyes. "I didn't expect you to say that." He said, still in shock.
"Well, what did you expect me to say?" I questioned, calmly.
"Honestly, I thought you would call me a douchebag then ignore me for the rest of the day."
I laughed again.
"Come on, why would I turn down a nice guy like you? And anyway, I just found someone who is sober and quiete tolerent to talk to." I said as he watched me under his long lashes.
"Yeah, I can."
*****
Hey guys, sorry this chapter seemed a little boring to me. I'll come back to it as soon as I can.
All my focus is fixtated on Mystical Mundane- my first book as well as series. Go ahead and check it out.
Amazing cover by Baneen121!
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