Unduh Aplikasi
54.54% Accidentally Ascended at Princess School! / Chapter 6: Chapter 5

Bab 6: Chapter 5

"Hey! Stop right there!" 

Q's arms quaked against the iron bars, her fingers clinging to the cold metal like it was the only thing tethering her to the earth. Her legs dangled uselessly, her footing slipping with every tremor of her body. The world around her tilted, the ornate gate and the grand spires beyond it swirling together in a dizzying haze. She couldn't tell if the faint scream she heard was hers or someone else's, but the ground rushed up to meet her all the same.

And then, the darkness swallowed her.

When Q opened her eyes, she gasped as though breaking the surface of deep water. Her body jerked upright, her chest heaving as she clawed at the air. The sensation of falling clung to her, sharp and visceral, even as her hands met nothing but empty space.

But this wasn't the dirt-packed road she'd expected to wake up on. This wasn't the unforgiving mud of the pigpen or the splintering wood of the barn floor. No, this was something else entirely.

Her hands pressed against the fabric beneath her, impossibly soft, smoother than anything she had ever touched. Pillows surrounded her, plush and overfilled, their delicate floral scent so foreign it made her head spin. Slowly, her fingers traced the edge of a blanket, fine and intricately embroidered, its pattern swirling like the ironwork of the gate she had climbed.

The room around her was vast and alien. Pale light filtered through tall windows draped in heavy crimson curtains, their edges embroidered with golden thread. The walls gleamed with the polish of marble, seamless and perfect, reflecting the faint glow of strange machines tucked into the corners—machines that blinked with tiny lights and dials that ticked rhythmically. A long table stood in the center of the room, flanked by high-backed chairs upholstered in deep red velvet. Everything gleamed, pristine and untouched, as though it belonged to a world she wasn't meant to see.

Q sat up slowly, her muscles stiff and her head heavy. Her bare feet brushed against the smooth surface of the floor, so clean it reflected the pale light like glass.

"Where… am I?"

The answer came not in words but in footsteps—measured, deliberate, and unhurried. Her chest tightened as the sound grew louder, each step striking the marble with a soft but certain rhythm. She turned her head toward the door just as it swung open.

The man who entered was unlike anyone she had ever encountered. He was tall and slender, his figure cutting a striking silhouette against the light pouring in from the hallway. A wide-brimmed hat cast shadows over most of his face, but the glint of enormous round glasses caught the light, magnifying his sharp, gray eyes into something owl-like. His long coat billowed softly as he walked, the hem skimming the floor with every step.

"Well," he said, stopping at the foot of her bed. His voice was smooth, with an edge of curiosity that made her feel like a puzzle he intended to solve. "You've certainly caused quite the stir."

Q stared at him, her mouth dry and her heart pounding in her chest. She tried to speak, but the words tangled in her throat, refusing to form.

The man raised an eyebrow, his head tilting slightly.

"I see we're starting with silence," he said, not unkindly. "Allow me to begin, then. My name is Professor Ligarius. And you, young lady, are trespassing."

The word struck her like a blow, sharp and heavy. Trespassing. Of course, she was trespassing. She shouldn't be here. She shouldn't have tried to climb the gate. What had she been thinking?

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, hot and unwelcome.

Professor Ligarius sighed, removing his hat and placing it on a nearby chair.

"There's no need for dramatics," he said, though his tone softened. "Just tell me what you were doing climbing the gate to RAPS. And perhaps... start with your name?"

Q's hands clenched the edge of the blanket, her knuckles white as she tried to gather the courage to speak. Her voice cracked when it finally came.

"I—I'm Q."

"Q," he repeated, his expression thoughtful. "And what exactly were you hoping to accomplish by scaling a locked gate?"

Her lips trembled, and she couldn't hold the tears back any longer. They spilled over, streaking her cheeks as the words tumbled from her in halting sobs.

"I… I wanted to see Maddy."

"Maddy?"

"My friend," she choked out. "She's the only one who made me feel like I wasn't nothing. But she left, and my parents, they—they hate me, and the pigs—"

Her voice broke entirely, and she buried her face in her hands.

"I don't belong anywhere. I just wanted to find her."

The room fell into a heavy silence, the only sound her ragged breathing and the faint hum of the machines.

Professor Ligarius removed his glasses, polishing them slowly as he watched her. When he spoke again, his voice was softer, gentler.

"Well," he said, "It seems you've had quite the day."

Q let out a watery laugh, though it sounded more like a hiccup.

Professor Ligarius stepped closer, his long coat trailing behind him.

"I'll admit, it's not every day someone attempts to climb the gate. And certainly not while carrying…" He gestured toward the small box sitting on the nearby table. "…a rather unusual bundle of letters."

Q flushed, her gaze darting to the box.

"They're for Maddy," she mumbled. "One for every day she's gone."

For a moment, Ligarius said nothing. Then, he nodded, as if reaching some private conclusion.

"Well, Miss Q, it seems you've wandered into quite the predicament. But if you'll allow me, I'd like to help you figure out what to do next."

Her head snapped up, hope flickering in her eyes. "You'd… help me?"

"It's not every day a girl climbs the gates of RAPS," he said, his voice edged with something wry. "Most girls who come here don't ask for much. They're taught to take what they're given and be silent about it. But you…"

His lips curved faintly, though it was impossible to tell if it was a smile.

"You didn't wait. You climbed."

Q swallowed hard, unsure if his words were meant to flatter or admonish her.

"Always do that," Ligarius said, his tone thoughtful. "Always climb, even when the gate is locked. Even when the world tells you to stay on the ground."

She couldn't know it then, neither of them could, that those words would be a turning point.

That they would linger with her, shaping the choices she would make and the person she would become.

For now, it was only the beginning.


PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA
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Bab 7: Chapter 6

RAPS was unlike anything Q had ever imagined.

The halls gleamed with an otherworldly brilliance, every inch of the space a symphony of opulence and artistry. Polished marble floors stretched endlessly, their smooth surfaces reflecting the sunlight that poured in through towering arched windows. Intricate carvings adorned the walls, transforming cold stone into lace-like patterns that danced in the golden light. Chandeliers hung high above, their crystals catching every ray of sun and splintering it into a cascade of rainbows that played across the ceilings.

Q craned her neck as she walked, her footsteps hesitant on the pristine floor.

The grandeur of the place made her feel like an unwelcome intruder, a smudge on a flawless painting. Her gaze lingered on the enormous oil portraits lining the walls, each one depicting a regal woman with eyes that seemed to follow her.

Their expressions were serene, their gowns impossibly detailed, the fabric practically spilling off the canvas. Princesses, she realized. Generations of them.

Professor Ligarius strode ahead, his long coat trailing behind him like a shadow. His voice echoed through the grand corridor, loud and theatrical, as though the sheer magnificence of RAPS demanded an equally grandiose tone.

"The Royal Ascension Princess School," he declared, his voice swelling with pride, "Is the jewel of the nation, a bastion of refinement, discipline, and excellence! For centuries, we have sculpted young women into paragons of virtue, wisdom, and grace. Queens, duchesses, empresses—if there is a crown to be worn, you can be assured it rests on the head of a RAPS graduate!"

Q trailed behind, her attention stolen by the view through one of the towering windows.

Beyond the glass lay a sprawling garden, so vibrant and alive it seemed to pulse with color. Neatly trimmed hedges wove intricate patterns into the landscape, their designs spiraling outward toward a fountain at the center. Flowers of every imaginable hue dotted the green, their blooms swaying gently in a breeze she couldn't feel. The fountain sparkled in the sun, its water leaping and falling in perfect arcs, the sound a faint, melodic murmur even from this distance.

She drifted toward the nearest door, the professor's voice becoming background noise as she pushed it open. The scent of flowers and freshly cut grass washed over her, soft and sweet, a stark contrast to the stale air of the barn she had left behind. For a moment, she simply stood there, drinking it in.

"Each candidate," Ligarius was saying, "Is held to standards so high, they could elevate even the most stubborn mule into a refined creature! Here, they master diplomacy, the art of etiquette, and—perhaps most importantly—curtsying. A proper curtsy can disarm even the most hardened of warlords!"

Q stepped into the garden, her bare feet meeting the cool stone of the pathway. She let out a soft laugh under her breath, the absurdity of his words juxtaposed with the serene beauty around her. The sunlight here felt different, warmer, softer. She edged closer to the grass, her fingers brushing against the tops of the flowers that lined the path.

She was just about to step onto the lush green when a sharp tug at her collar yanked her backward.

"What do you think you're doing?" Professor Ligarius's voice sliced through her reverie, his tone sharp enough to make her wince.

She spun to face him, her hands flying to her neck. "What was that for?"

"You don't walk on the grass," he said, his expression severe. "It's delicate. Stepping on it will kill it."

Q blinked, her confusion turning to defiance. "Grass doesn't die from being walked on."

"It most certainly does." Ligarius replied, his voice clipped.

She crossed her arms. "That's not true. The part of the grass that grows—the base—is what matters. You could stomp on the blades all you want, and it would still grow back just fine."

For the first time, Ligarius faltered. His sharp gray eyes narrowed as he studied her, his lips twitching as though holding back a retort. "And how, pray tell, does a girl like you know so much about grass?"

"I've spent more time with grass than people." she said simply, brushing past him to step onto the forbidden green.

Her feet sank slightly into the soft ground, and she let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. The cool blades tickled her toes, the sensation grounding her in a way nothing else had in days. The garden seemed brighter now, more vivid, as if welcoming her intrusion.

Behind her, Ligarius let out a sound that was half-sigh, half-laugh.

"You are a curious one, aren't you?"

Q ignored him, spinning slowly in the middle of the lawn, her arms outstretched. The air felt lighter here, the weight she'd carried since leaving the farm lifting, if only for a moment. She tilted her head back to the sky, the sunlight warm against her cheeks.

"Enjoying yourself?" Ligarius's voice cut through her bliss, calm and measured, but carrying an undercurrent of amusement.

She stopped, brushing her hands against her skirt as a flush crept up her neck.

"It's… nice." she admitted, the word feeling insufficient.

"Nice," Ligarius repeated, his lips twitching into the faintest of smiles. "Well, now that your frolic is complete, I believe it's time for proper introductions."

Q hesitated, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her apron. "I told you already. I'm Q."

"And just Q?" he pressed, his tone curious but not unkind.

"Just Q." she said firmly.

He tilted his head, as if considering her answer, before gesturing for her to follow him.

"And the friend you're looking for—Madeline Carlton, was it?"

At the name, Q's breath caught. She nodded quickly, her voice rushing out in a desperate tumble.

"Yes, Maddy. She came here last week. Do you know her? Is she here?"

Ligarius's expression shifted, the faintest flicker of something unreadable passing through his features.

"Perhaps." he said at last, his voice deliberately vague.

"Please," Q pressed, stepping closer. "I need to see her."

Without another word, Ligarius turned on his heel and began walking down the garden path, his coat swaying with each step.

"Hey!" Q called after him, hurrying to keep up. "Where are you going?"

He glanced back, his tone brisk but calm.

"If you wish to find your friend, you'd best follow me."


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