Chapter 5: First exam results
Madeline confidently made her way through the halls to the posted results of the first Exam. After failing to reach the top spot on the entrance exam, she had put much more effort into learning the class materials, even cutting back on her physical fitness training. Madeline felt as though she knew every answer on the exam. A group of students surrounded the board trying to find their name and score. As they noticed Madeline approach, they noticed the pin on her lapel and made way for her to approach. Madeline looked at the rankings in shock, instead of the top spot her name was listed third. First was Guy de Montfort, the second was Alicia de Foix and third Madeline Celeste d'Aumont.
Madeline was so stunned she felt she couldn't breathe. It was then that her eyes focused on something. That girl Alicia, her last name was Foix. She was from House Foix, the same as Lady Julianne de Foix, the girl that the second prince had chosen. Madeline's hands unconsciously balled into fists. Madeline's eyes turned red, she instantly turned on her heels and started to hurry away only to run directly into someone's chest. Madeline fell backward and assumed she would find herself in an embarrassing situation only to have her fall stopped immediately by a pair of strong arms that gently raised her back up into a standing position, "Are you alright m'lady? I apologize for startling you, I was just looking at the exam results." The steady voice of Guy de Montfort apologized.
Madeline blinked her red eyes trying to fight back the tears. With an unsure voice she said, "Congratulations Lord Molester, you were the top student."
"It's Montfort, and thank you," replied Guy in a warm tone. He looked at her and then asked, "Are you alright m'lady? You seem troubled by the results, you were in the top three, surely that is something to be proud of isn't it?"
Madeline found it even more difficult to hold back her tears so she just quietly said, "If you'll excuse me, Lord Molester, I am just not feeling well today."
Guy gave her a gentlemanly bow and then smiled at her and said, "Would you like me to walk you back to your room, m'lady?"
"I'll be fine, but thank you." Madeline walked away in a hurry not looking back.
Guy frowned slightly as he watched her walk off in a hurry. In an otome game, something like the love rival scoring higher on an exam would lead to a confrontation between the villain and the protagonist. Guy shook his head and dismissed the idea since that girl seemed to have no personal relationships with any of the students, let alone any of the male students. As he was lost in his thoughts he missed the approach of Alicia de Foix who was smiling in front of him. She giggled and said, "Congratulations Lord Montfort, you are the top student. Did you notice, our names are side by side?"
He smiled at her and replied, "Of course, Lady Foix, it seems you are gifted in brains as well as beauty. I wouldn't have guessed based on our previous conversations."
She giggled back at him not realizing the cleverly disguised put down, "Oh, thank you, Lord Montfort." She blushed and batted her eyelashes at him, she gently touched his arm and asked, "I was wondering if you would like to share a meal with me to celebrate our good results?"
Guy thought for a moment and then replied, "I'm sorry Lady Foix, I have already made plans with another student."
Alicia's right eye twitched and then she quietly spoke, "I don't know if you knew this already or not, but that girl, Madeline d'Aumont, was engaged to the second prince, he decided that a girl like her wasn't worthy to be married to a prince so he canceled her engagement. Also, since the prince later chose my sister, we have learned that Duke Aumont has fallen out of favor with his Majesty. It won't be long before that house is no longer one of the great houses."
Guy raised an eyebrow and the frowned, "Lady Foix, such talk is unbecoming of a noble lady. Those who spread rumor are worse than those commit crimes because when one commits a crime they at least have shown the courage to accept the responsibility for that crime." He gave a quick bow and finished, "If you'll excuse me, I have somewhere else to be." He walked away without looking back.
As Guy walked away his thoughts began to churn. Alicia had chosen him as her capture target and identified Madeline as the love rival due to a careless excuse to avoid her lunch date. If this was the game, Alicia would find men interested in her to intercept and harass Madeline so that she wouldn't get in the way of the capture events. More insidiously, she might spread rumors and cause Madeline to actually retaliate against her proving her villainous ways. Another thing that bothered him was that in the game certain capture routes had extremely bad endings for the villain. He remembered his sister talking about how one capture target led to Duke Aumont's entire family being killed.
One of Guy's friends came up behind him and slapped him on the back, "Lord Montfort, you sure do have good luck with women. The two school beauties both talk to you. Even the ice queen who talks to almost no one and never even acknowledges male students is friendly with you." He grinned.
"Lord Girard, let me ask you, what do you think of House Foix?" Guy looked at his friend with a serious expression.
Olivier de Girard was a handsome man who looked much like the royal family, he was tall and thin with a gentle smile that seemed to be permanently attached to his face. He shrugged and replied, "Aside from his two beautiful daughters, Count Foix is mostly just a figurehead for his territory. He's certainly not Duke material. His son is also here at the Academy, he scored at the bottom of the exam rankings, which means the heir to the territory won't make anything of himself either. Honestly, I find it odd that the two beautiful daughters both scored high on their exams here. The older sister went through the Academy two years ago and nearly won the King's medal."
"You said the Count is not Duke material, is there a rumor he'll be promoted?" Guy asked with a curious tone.
Olivier nodded, "Mhm, his Majesty won't marry a prince to a Count's daughter, as long as the second prince chooses Lady Foix, he'll be forced to act. Count Foix will be made a Duke. Since there won't be a territory available to grant to a Duke, it's most likely they will find an excuse to eliminate a House and move the Count's family into that position. A true shame."
Guy frowned and then asked, "Lord Girard if you had to guess, which Dukes would be the most likely targets?"
Olivier's permanent smile disappeared and he asked, "Are you sure you want to hear it?"
"So it's my House as one... Who are the others?" Guy frowned.
Olivier moved in close and whispered, "House Aumont."
Guy felt as if a lightning bolt had passed down his spine. He looked into his friend's eyes and said, "Thank you, my friend." He put a hand on Olivier's shoulder, "I appreciate hearing the truth. If I don't improve my image it'll be my house. If it's not my house it'll be hers is what you are telling me."
Olivier nodded and then his smile returned, "I honestly don't feel like you need to worry, House Aumont may very well bury themselves long before you screw up again." He gave his friend another slap on the back, "If you want the ice queen, I suggest you marry her before too long." He came close and whispered again, "Rumor has it, Duke Aumont has been expanding his army in secret as if expecting some trouble from the capital."
*****
Madeline wandered aimlessly around the campus before she finally ended up at the training ground. She took a heavy wooden sword and began to run through her practice routine letting herself forget her troubles. After an hour she felt much better.
As Madeline took a break she heard clapping. A handsome man was standing next to the rack of wooden swords. He was slightly taller than Guy de Montfort with dark hair and sword like brows. His face was filled with quiet confidence. He took a wooden sword from the rack and said, "M'lady is quite skilled with the sword. It looks as though you studied under a knight from the Order of Thorns, am I right?"
Madeline nodded and then answered stoically, "Indeed, my teacher was Sir Clem Vergy."
He smiled and asked, "If m'lady isn't too exhausted, would you care for a spar?"
Madeline nodded and then introduced herself, "Madeline Celeste d'Aumont." She raised the wooden sword in salute.
The handsome man gave her a genuine smile, "Claude de Rouvroy."
Madeline and Claude circled each other and made several feints before the two heavy wooden swords began to click and clack against each other as each attack launched was intercepted by a defending sword. After a while, it was clear that Madeline was on the defensive more often than on the attack. Madeline tried to use a trick she learned from her training at the Academy and next thing she knew her wooden sword was spinning away and Claude's wooden sword was gently touching the bottom of her chin, "I am afraid it is my win, m'lady."
As Madeline stood still where she had just lost, Claude walked over and picked up her wooden sword and returned both swords to the sword rack on the side of the training ground. "M'lady, it was a pleasure to spar with you. Perhaps we can have another match sometime when you haven't exhausted yourself beforehand." He gave her a gentlemanly bow that for some reason reminded her of Guy de Montfort.
"I would like that," Madeline said to his departing figure. His right hand came up at her words and gave a wave of acknowledgment.
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