บท 20: Seeds of Chaos III

Sylvette arrived at the designated meeting place, an academy dorm room, near the window was the small round table and two chairs with tea and snacks on the table, and elegant drapes cascading from the windows. Two other ladies accompanied her, evidently part of Visenya Montclair's entourage. The attire they all wore was assigned by the academy, a detail that particularly irked Visenya. She loathed the idea of wearing a uniform that stripped her of individuality, a feeling that seemed to intensify her disdain for House Bethel.

For Visenya, this opportunity to gather information about the situation between Sylvette and the princess was a godsend. It was a chance to gain leverage against House Bethel, a family she resented deeply. The two ladies accompanying her were from smaller noble houses that depended on the Montclairs for support. Lady Gael Maekar and Lady Dulcie Hannes, loyal to Visenya, reported every incident to her that happened in the academy. Dulcie, who had brought the news about Sylvette's fight with Princess Andromeda, had been handsomely rewarded for her effort.

Visenya greeted Lady Sylvette with a polite smile and gestured for her to take a seat. Beneath the veneer of courtesy, tension hung palpably in the air. Since the academy allowed no attendants, Gael and Dulcie, despite being nobles themselves, had to assume the roles of Visenya's attendants. Gael poured tea for the group before taking her seat, an arrangement none of them found particularly comfortable. But to survive, one did what they must.

As they engaged in small talk and sipped tea, Visenya skillfully steered the conversation toward the incident involving Sylvette and Andromeda. With feigned innocence, she inquired, "Lady Sylvette, I heard there was quite an altercation with Lady Andromeda at the academy. Would you mind sharing your perspective on the matter?"

Sylvette, cautious but not entirely guarded, began to recount the incident as she perceived it. Unbeknownst to her, her words were being meticulously observed, destined to be reported back to the Montclair family. She saw this as an opportunity to harm the duchy. Perhaps all of this would be for nothing but she still wished to try.

As Sylvette spoke, Visenya leaned forward, her golden eyes locked intently on her. "Please, do go on," she encouraged, her voice as smooth as silk.

Still raw from the confrontation, Sylvette spoke with a hint of frustration. "It was an outrage, Lady Montclair. Princess Andromeda insulted me and my capabilities. She is a conceited and arrogant child! I had to issue a challenge to her; after all, she needs to be taught a lesson." She held her tea cup tightly, her face reddening with emotion. "How can she insult her teacher like that and question me! To say that I only got the position of her tutor because of my father- ridiculous."

Lady Visenya nodded sympathetically, but a triumphant gleam sparkled in her eyes. "How dreadful, Lady Sylvette. It must have been quite distressing for you. And Princess Andromeda's temper, truly uncalled for."

Sylvette continued, her voice tinged with indignation. "Indeed, it was. She made me challenge her to a duel at the knowledge fair. I had no choice but to do it to save face, but I fear she may have some hidden advantage, some unfair advantage."

Visenya didn't genuinely believe that Andromeda had acted wrongly, though she shared Andromeda's frustration. Sylvette's haughtiness was grating, to say the least. Suppressing her true thoughts, Visenya adopted a thoughtful expression and asked, "An advantage, you say? Do you suspect foul play, Lady Sylvette?"

Sylvette paused briefly, her words chosen carefully. "I cannot say for certain, Lady Visenya. But the way she reacted, it was as if she had something to prove, as if she possessed power she hadn't revealed before."

Sylvette's anxiety was palpable; she sought to win Visenya's support, knowing that the Bethel family was a formidable force in the academy and beyond. She had only met Duchess Anastasia a few times, but those encounters had left her with a lingering sense of unease. The Duchess was a force to be reckoned with, and Sylvette was acutely aware of it.

Lady Visenya smiled cryptically, her golden eyes narrowing as if contemplating something intriguing. "Very intriguing, Lady Sylvette. You have my sympathies in this matter, and you can rest assured that the Montclair family values honor and justice above all else." Her words held an underlying promise, one that Sylvette couldn't quite decipher.

------------------------------------

Meanwhile, in the Bethel residence's tea room, Andromeda sipped her tea quietly, her demeanor reserved as she listened to her parents discuss the upcoming knowledge fair and Lady Sylvette's challenge. She had decided to play the part of the wronged party, at least for the moment, to gauge her parents' reactions and the severity of the situation.

Duchess Anastasia, her warm smile masking her concern, patted the seat beside her. "Come, Andromeda, join us for tea. I trust you're feeling better now?"

Andromeda took her mother's offered seat, her eyes downcast, and replied with feigned vulnerability, "Thank you, Mother. I'm just... still quite shaken by what happened with Lady Sylvette. It was so unexpected."

The Duke, his brow furrowing as he glanced between his wife and daughter, chimed in, "Indeed, Andromeda. Your mother and I were discussing this matter. Lady Sylvette's challenge at the knowledge fair is a serious issue. We need to address it and find a suitable resolution."

Andromeda nodded solemnly, her gaze flickering towards her father. "I understand, Father. I never wanted things to escalate this far, but she left me with no choice. She stormed out and said that she would make sure I don't come out of this unscathed."

The Duchess exchanged a knowing glance with her husband before speaking gently, "We will handle this matter with the utmost care, Andromeda. But first, we must ensure that your honor is upheld and that there are no further misunderstandings."

Andromeda nodded again, her demeanor a careful blend of innocence and maturity. There was a glimmer of gratitude in her eyes, though hidden beneath her façade of distress. "Thank you, Mother, Father. I just hope this situation can be resolved without any more harm to our family's name."

The Duke, his concern evident in his eyes, reached out to gently squeeze Andromeda's hand. "We will do everything in our power to protect our family's honor, my dear. You need not worry. Now, tell us everything that transpired between you and Lady Sylvette. Leave nothing out, so we can better understand the situation."

Andromeda began recounting the incident in more detail, carefully crafting her narrative to emphasize her innocence and Lady Sylvette's alleged mistreatment of her. As she spoke, her parents listened intently, occasionally exchanging glances as they absorbed the information.

Duchess Anastasia interjected at one point, her voice laced with concern. "Andromeda, my love, did you feel threatened by Lady Sylvette during this encounter? Were there any witnesses to what transpired?"

Andromeda hesitated for a moment, her eyes casting down as if to recall the situation. "I... I did feel threatened, Mother. Lady Sylvette was so angry, and she challenged me to a duel suddenly. As for witnesses, there are none since I had sent Dennis away for tea and snacks. I had no idea that such would happen."

The Duke nodded thoughtfully, his mind already formulating a plan. "We will need to speak with Lady Sylvette and Lord Joss LeBlanc. I agree with your mother; if there were witnesses, their testimonies might have proven useful but we will take this matter so just focus on getting better and study."

Andromeda's eyes brightened with a glimmer of hope. "Thank you, Father. I knew you would help me."

The Duchess leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on Andromeda's forehead. "We are always here for you, my dear. Now, let us enjoy our tea together, and we will take the necessary steps to address this situation."

The atmosphere in the tea room shifted from tension to a sense of unity, while Andromeda kept up her pretense of innocence. She knew that an arrogant person like Sylvette wouldn't back down and would find some support. But it was good. The more Sylvette will struggle, the more she will show her true colors and her loyalties and then, when public opinion would change to be in the favor of innocent child who is being used for politics, Sylvette will lose her prestige.

Andromeda knew that she wouldn't even have to do much. The temple visit would be enough to make everyone regret ever crossing her. She couldn't wait~

---------------------------------------------------

Andromeda returned to her room after the tea with her parents. As she stood alone in the quiet chamber after sending away Dennis and standing in the middle of the room to resume her training, her thoughts drifted back to her past life, a tumultuous journey that had led her to this point.

She remembered the death of her uncle, the former king, which had sent shockwaves through the kingdom. And then, the unexpected tragedy of the first prince, the heir to the throne, had changed the course of her destiny forever. She couldn't forget the day when her parents had informed her of their decision to engage her to the crown prince, the new heir, a union that was meant to secure their family's position and also to support the crown prince.

But Andromeda had always been different. She had dreams and aspirations that stretched beyond the confines of a traditional noblewoman's life. And then, there was Delphine. Her 'beloved sister', who had fallen in love with Antioch, the crown prince. Andromeda had watched their secret romance unfold, torn between supporting her sister's happiness and knowing the consequences it could bring to their family. She had always wondered, did Delphine truly love Antioch? If she did then why Andromeda did always had to step in and help her out of her careless flings with noblemen. Even after she became the queen, she didn't stop her ways. And then there was Erhard….

She wondered what he was doing at this very moment.

She slowly closed her eyes and focused on her training, aiming to alleviate the stifling ache in her chest.