Chapter 49 A flower turns towards the sun
...
Nathaniel sat in the student council room, Oliver stood behind him like his secretary, although technically he was, being the vice student council president and all.
As the two waited, There was a knock at the door, Nathaniel nodded at Oliver before gesturing for the guest to enter.
"Welcome, lady jasmine...."
Jasmine held her fan, covering half of her face like a true noble woman before taking a sit on the velvet sofa opposite him.
"I'd been informed of an audience with his highness, however if this wasn't important I'd swiftly decline. " She smiled a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
Nathaniel's expression darkened for a moment before masking it with a smile just as quickly.
Elves and demon kin never got along, they just barely tolerated each other to avoid a civil war.
Elven were seen as sacred spirit ls while demon kin were seen as hellish creatures taking form of man. Naturally they were polar opposites, but civil enough to tolerate one another.
"I found it rather strange that someone of your status was seen hanging around lady shiori....". He said staring right through her soul
"I refuse to see how that's plausible, ever since met shiori, I've been drawn to her charm, she's helped me quite a lot you see, it's only natural we became very close friends." She grinned as closed her fan
His eye brow twitched
"The reason I called for you...."
"It's regarding lady shiori, isn't it..."
Nathaniel nodded smiling politely
"my fiancee has caused quite a stir in school. After confronting lady amber, it would seem as if a portion of the student body has come to admire her. I'd like for you to investigate, just the prevent any nuisance from getting too close..."
"My my, how romantic, although I'm pretty sure youve investigated that yourself, have you not...., A man diving into a maiden's matter... How borrish..." She sent him a shape glare despite the polite smile she gave him.
Wow, she's acting like an ideal villiness shiori described
"Is that so, then I might as while tell my lovely fiancee that you've been investing her to give crucial information to prince Felix.." he smirked
Jasmine tensed as her eyes widened in shock.
, "to think a demoness of your standing adores my fiancee so much, even going as far as studying her behind her back.."
"You pointy eared, black hearted scammer! I can't believe a lady as honest and adorable as lady shiori is engaged to an stick up elven fiend like you!" She barked, eyes blazing with hatred.
"Are you jealous?" He tilted his head with a knowing smile.
"I am not " she huffed,
"So you are..." He teased
"Your highness, I'd advise you take the teasing to a reasonable limit or...." Oliver advised sensing her hostility.
"Is that so...." Nate said, completely ignoring her glares.
"Please share the dangerous information you've gathered...."
"Very well " she huffed as she slid a sheet of towards him.
"The portion that supports lady shiori call themselves court of Ivory. They're not harmful or attempting anything unwise, just admirers...." She said placing her fan down.
"However, there are a few who formed resentment towards her as they support lady Amber. I believe their pettiness might lead them to bother her, not harm her exactly but rather inconvenience...." She sighed
"I see, how amusing..." He chuckled
"How is any of this entertaining?!"
"It's not that believe me, after all she can handle herself just fine, and if push comes to shove, I know she has you to protect her as well as the others...."
"Well if course she is my friend after all..." Jasmine stared at him with a softer look as she remembers the fox girl
"Knowing that gives me such great satisfaction...." He nods
"I guess I have no choice, I'll protect her better than you could... Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to take my leave..." She walked out with grace.
"That takes care of that., now what moves should I make towards this matter" he hummed for a moment before standing up.
"I'm going to see lady shiori..." He turned for the door leaving Oliver to handle the rest of the council matters.
....
As he walked towards the school's garden, he noticed lady amber laying on the ground against a tree, currently asleep, snoring softly.
So that's her, lady amber hunt.
Looking around he spotted shiori sitting on the grass behind some bushes, reading those 18+ forbidden romance novels that were particularly prohibited for first years....[1]
I guess I'll leave her be for now.
He took a sit by the bench calmly observing the commoner. Her cheeks were rosy as her skin was fair a beautiful for a lady of such low status.
Nathaniel was about to leave when a piercing scream echoed through the garden.
"CA... Caterpillar!!!" Shiori screamed like it was bloody murder. the said organism was calmly laying on her head. She instinctively covered her fox ears for dear life.
Nathaniel was trying so hard not to double over laughing. This was the same girl who didn't react to slicing open her arm but is trembling like a wet kitten over a bug not much not bigger than her finger.
He calmed himself before walking over to her calmly and flicking the caterpillar away.
"Dear dear, I've handled the bug..." He grinned.
"Thankyou" she sighed with relief. Her fox ears twitching.
"May I ask why you were so startled by it" he rose a brow
"I can't stand those things! There slimy and gross, one wrong move and they slip into your ear like a worm!" She explained with vague bodily gestures, looking even more ridiculous.
That explains her reaction 😅
"It that so, so the great queen is afraid of bugs now...."
"Not bugs just wormy organism" she corrected
"My apologies, shall we go, I'd like to talk to you privately..."
"Ok...." She nodded as the two walked side by side.
What's this, I could get you sworn, someone was staring at me just a moment ago. Oh well, as long as my darling fiancee is safe....
.....
They sat down at a table surrounded by tea and sweets
"It would seem like you little confrontation with miss amber has caused quite a stir..." Nate said, casually sipping his cup of freshly brewed Earl GrayI.
"I was merely pointing out the flaws of her essay..." I said calmly
We had sat down at the Terence for tea. The afternoon breeze was cool and refreshing, gently cooling my body with ease.
"Fortunately I have jasmine and Mai for support." I smiled faintly
Nate set his cup down as he laced his fingers together, staring at me with authority.
"The classes are divided, Some believe your in the right, while others are have resorted to follow miss ambers ideology...."
I'd noticed the looks other students had been giving me these past few days. It's not surprising, however I refuse to indulge in this senseless banter.
"Let's them think as they please..."
He smiled and caressed my cheek
"If it ever becomes to much, please inform me"
"I'm fine, I simply refuse to subject to her unreasonable ideal anyway... Just because she some kind of saint doesn't give an excuse for her naivety. This isn't an issues of morals..."
"Are you sure, what if she uses worm attacks" he teased
"Are you ever going to let that slide!" I muttered flustered
He sighed, pulling away and continue to drink his tea as we enjoyed the rest of our conversation.
.....
Another day they were studying together in the student council room.
"Understand now?" He said pointing at the solution.
"Yeah, thanks..." I smiled. Turning to stare at the clock my eyes widened.
"It's already so late... I have to get going to my dorms" I stood up packing my things.
"Is something wrong?" I asked as I Sensed him staring at me.
"Where's that hair clip of yours?" He asked curiously.
"Huh?" I immediately felt my hair and froze, my star hair clip was missing.
No wonder my bangs kept covering my eyes
"I must have left it in the classroom..."
"I'll go get it for you...." He offered
"Oh thanks..."
"Not problem....." He stood up and kisses the back of my hand before leaving.
....
Nate walked through the halls to the classroom in question. It was a normal one used for lectures on history of the realm.
As he stepped inside he knew something was immediately wrong.
"Ah prince Nathaniel, what a surprise...." Amber's sweet soft voice echoed as she stared at him with a charming smile.
Why is she here?
Another student was running to said classroom in a hurry.
"Oh man, I forgot to lock the classroom before closing, I just hope the teacher hasn't found out.." she panic.
Reaching the classroom, the student locked the door with a final click as the two students inside stared at each other in realization.
"My this is rather unfortunately what ever shall we do?" Amber said shyly looking away
This is bad, if rumors spread shiori might misread the situation.
"Yes how unfortunate" he said flatly.
"Um your highness, may I stand close to you. I'm really uncomfortable in closed spaces and we don't know long-..."
She didn't get to finish her sentence as Nathaniel grabbed what he came for, headed for the window and jumped as he slid down a rough barked tree.
"What?! You can't just leave me here! What am I supposed to do?!" Amber yelled in shock at his complete disinterest in her distress.
"My gloves are ruined now, oh well...." He shrugged staring ahead as a teacher passed by
"Teacher! A girl is locked in classroom 4A..." He said, the teacher quickly sprung into action as Nate walked away.
How odd, why was she there in the first place? She didn't seem to have any study material with her, not to mention she's I'll mannered.
.....
A few days later during free time, shiori and Nate sat together In the student council room for tea.
"Yummy...." I squealed munching on macaroons.
"I'm glad you like them..." He smiled
I never told her about my encounter. It's not worth digging into, probably a one time thing. If things escalate I'll handle it myself.
"I heard you recently rejected Miss Amber's proposal to jointhe student council the student council ...."
"Indeed, she was very persistent it was irritating. She had nothing to offer, it's only natural I refuse...." He explained
"I see .." i didn't say afterwards
But I wonder why I find such displeased in speaking to lady amber hunt. Is it because she's I'll mannered? The way she stared at me with such purpose made my skin crawl
[1] the average first year is around fifteen to sixteen years old and are sheltered from such extremely detailed genres