Pretending To Be Gilead's Prince and Master Wizard

{Author's notes: Be known unto you, my readers, that in this world... eating pancakes and drinking deliciously brewed tea, especially Barley, are mostly afford by the people who belong in the upper class. So, yeah... just don't be surprised xD}

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We still have a couple of minutes to spare before the meeting that the class president and I should attend to will start. So he decided to invite me to the cafeteria before we officially go to the said meeting.

In the next couple of minutes right after we sat in our chairs on the table near the counter, both of us refrained from talking. The whole place is also in silence since students don't bother to come here after classes and off to wherever they plan to go.

"Right. The food." the class president blurted out all of a sudden then turned his head to look at me. "What would you like, Krisella?"

"If you have plans to treat me here, just so you know I also have my own money and can pay for my expenses," I said it right here and there so that he doesn't say anything nasty to me.

The lad fell silent after that, not knowing what to respond. Then after a couple of seconds of staying silent, he barked a laugh.

"You, paying? Come on, we all know you have to work hard to afford anything in this cafeteria." he finally said in a mocking tone. 

Normally, I would have punched this guy in the face after hearing those words from here. But right now, I did not have the urge to do so for some reason. Maybe I just wanted to play with this guy even for a while despite his rude behavior.

"Let me treat you for a snack instead," he added, smiling playfully at me.

Well, since he already insisted, I will give him the dose of his own medicine.

"Fine. Here's what I want…"

I made sure to order the most expensive meal combo in this cafeteria that set his jaw to almost drop. But I know that he was born with a silver spoon on his mouth so he could eventually manage.

Then, he disappeared for merely a few minutes to get our order, giving time for me to think of the possible scenarios that I will encounter as soon as I went back to the castle.

"You! How many times do I have to tell you not to be late for our training sessions?!" 

I could already imagine Alex's eyes literally burning while his right index finger pointed towards my direction when he saw me running my way towards the prince's office while I made them wait for several hours already.

"Alex, calm down." Lance, being the one who can calm that guy sometimes, would then cut in through the argument and try his best to rescue me from the captain's wrath.

Lucas, on the other hand, would only be silent in a corner and amuse himself as he watches this kind of scenario every single time I am late for the training sessions, just like watching some people perform in the theater minus the music.

Oh, I suddenly wonder if I have this thing called salary deduction every time I came late during our training. I may have to ask the archbishop for that later on when I get back from this… whatever this is. 

'It's a date, you fool." my conscience whispered right to my ear, as if that answers my question.

Wait… a date? A DATE?

Does a date really involve eating in a cafeteria after classes? I don't think so.

"And I am finally back with the food you almost ripped me out of my allowance." 

My train of thoughts was immediately interrupted when the class president finally returned from getting our food with the tray in hand. He then distributed what's his and what is mine. And from there, we started eating.

My taste buds soon rejoiced after having a taste of their precious six pieces of pancakes piled into one with honey syrup drizzled right at the top. Then alongside the plate of pancakes is a cup of freshly brewed barley tea that immediately filled my nostrils.

"You are really hungry, aren't you? Are you really that poor?" the class president asked, continuing to mock me. One more mocking and I will have to spill this cup of tea in his polo shirt.

"Very poor indeed." I played along with what he is thinking of me. "Thanks for the food, by the way. It is quite delicious for its price." 

"Good thing you like the taste of the food that can be afforded mostly by rich people."

"Yes. All thanks to you."

It seems that the class president is very well-pleased with himself and began eating as soon as he said nothing else after my last remark. 

Since then, the air around this place has been filled with nothing but silence as both of us continue to concentrate on what we eat. I could feel the other student's gazes as they saw me and this being who merely belonged in the upper class together at one table yet I chose to ignore them.

What more if the whole country of Gilead knew that I am friends with the captain of the magic army, the archbishop of Citadel, and one of the prince's royal counselors? I'm sure they would be shocked by that revelation.

Especially if they also find out that I am their fake prince.

"Say, what are your plans after we graduate here in Gilead Academy?" 

I almost choked with the tea that I was drinking when the class president asked me that question all of a sudden. How come he is bringing this topic all of a sudden?

"Well…" I started when I felt that I am already at ease to give my reply. "I am planning to train in the magic army of my home village back in Ziv so that I could be the first-ever woman to be their master wizard." 

In prior to what I said just now, I already mentioned to the whole class my intentions of enrolling in Gilead Academy during our introductory part. 

And if I remember it correctly, I also mentioned as well that every woman is not allowed to learn the art of magical offense since we are only forced to use our magic for healing purposes only. Ziv still sticks to its tradition of letting the men fight only for the village and for the whole country.

And I hate my village for that.

"So that means your village has its own magic academy," he said. "Why enroll in Gilead Academy and be separated from your family?"

I almost arch my eyebrow at him for forgetting what I said during the introductory part. Or was he not really interested in what his classmates are saying that time and is too bored to even listen?

"I already mentioned back in the introductory part of our class that my village doesn't teach women the art of magic offense," I stated for him once more. 

"That means, women are only there for healing… and healing alone. That is why I am in Gilead Academy in the first place."

"In other words to what you are saying…" he took a sip from the same barley tea that he ordered before proceeding. "You are learning magic to prove your worth to your village? Am I correct?"

I sternly looked at him and said, "Not just my worth, but every girl in the village. I am here because I want my home village to see that every woman deserves to learn magic for offense and to serve the army."

Seeing that the tension is now starting to build upon me, I held the cup of barley tea in my right hand and took a sip from it to somehow help calm my nerves.

"I see." the class president then responded after a short silence. "I'd say that is a very good plan. I commend you for being courageous to stand up against your tradition."

The class president plastered a sincere smile across his face, a kind of smile that I rarely see through him.

"What about you, class president?" I asked back. "What are your future plans after you graduate?"

"Well, it is kind of the same as you, actually," he responded. "I plan to go train with the other magic army trainees and if I am lucky enough… I wanted to be Captain Alex's vice-captain. Then later on, if I prove myself worthy of my service, I would eventually go apply as one of the members of the royal council by taking this certain law exam specifically for that position." 

With what he said, I also gave him a sincere smile to return the favor.

"That is also a brilliant plan, class president." I commended. "And I know that you can achieve that with hard work."

"Thanks. You as well," he said. "I know we could both achieve what we want in life someday."

After that heart-to-heart talk with the class president, and after we finished what we ordered, it was exactly when the meeting would begin in ten minutes so we hurriedly went to the venue. 

It made me stop walking when he himself did the same in front of me and glanced over his shoulder.

"One more thing," he said, as if he is about to say a very significant thing.

I can't help but crease my forehead for that. 

"What is it?"

"Stop calling me class president all the time. I have a name, you know…" He paused for a moment, then sighed, before belting out the next words that he is about to say.

"William…William Wilson. Don't you ever forget my beautiful name!"

And just like that, he spun around once again and continued storming off towards the council room.