[Rrrr..]
Duke Alfred and Adela were riding in the carriage on their way to the academy. Alfred had received a summons from the academy, and as Duke of the Kingdom, he was required to appear there. For the entire journey, Adela and Alfred didn't speak to one another. They were both calmly seated and facing each other. Adela was staring out the window, and Alfred was sitting on the opposite side, taking in the scenery.
Despite Adela's best attempts to hide her true nature, it eventually emerged. She was at a loss about where to begin. Her father ignored her so many times in her previous life because of her selfishness. Perhaps she deserved it. Indeed, she deserved to be despised.
Alfred abruptly shattered the ice between them. "Adela, do you have any precise ideas concerning the mission?"
"No, Father. I... I didn't adequately try to research Sofia."
Adela spoke indifferently. Alfred gave her a sidelong glance, and after a while, he moved his gaze and said, "You should study well about the place."
"Yes, Father,"
Adela answered with a single word. She wasn't thinking about the mission right now; instead, her thoughts were on Richard. How was she going to save his life? Alfred could tell what his daughter was thinking. As a result, he turned his attention elsewhere and said, "Adela, if you truly want to accomplish it, I want to urge you to speak with him. I felt a bit of sentiment when you spoke of the first empress. That was my fault for not being more sensible."
Adela turned her gaze to her father, but she said nothing. After some time, she turned her sorrowful face to the ground and looked down. 'If I told him everything, would he ever be able to forgive me?' she pondered to herself. 'I don't believe he will forgive me. But I also can't bear the thought of him dying. Yet I made a promise to him I would free him from the curse.'
Adela tensed her grip as she considered the situation. The coachman tapped on the door as the carriage abruptly came to a stop.
"My Lord, we are here."
Alfred and Adela departed the carriage and started to make their way to the academy. Guards bowed when they entered. Alfred and Adela made their way immediately to the field. There were many individuals there, and they had all come to the meeting. Adela shifted her focus, but she couldn't spot Camilla in that area. Adela questioned whether Camilla had arrived.
In her section, everyone was present in the yard except Camilla. Adela came to a halt in the center and stated this to her father after moving her glance around again.
"Father, I need to speak to my pals. I'll be with you shortly."
When Alfred heard Adela, he nodded. Adela turned away from her father and headed towards her section. Alfred entered the administrative building without waiting outside. Adela walked up to her area and surveyed the surroundings. Adela stepped inside, ignoring the other members of her section, who were all engaged in conversation. She strolled across the corridor, looking for Camilla. She took a big breath and was going to walk out of there when she couldn't see Camilla anywhere.
She heard someone calling her name out of the blue.
"Adela."
As soon as Adela heard her name, she turned around. She spotted Theia there. Adela had a disinterested expression as she shrugged her shoulders. "What?" she questioned.
"Oh, it's nothing; I just wanted to say hello to you," Theia said with a grin as she approached her. "Where is your friend, by the way? Will she take part in the contest, or will she leave first?"
Adela raised an eyebrow as she heard Theia. Theia was intolerable to her. However, despite this, she kept appearing in front of her. Adela took a big breath and stated, "She is not a coward. Can you remember the last time she beat you? If so, I believe you are aware of it as well."
Theia tightened her lips while locking her gaze on Adela. "This time that won't happen, Adela," she retorted. "I'll show her where she should go. And I'll take such wonderful care of her. You guys won't believe it." Kim and Haley were Theia's bullying partners. They were also grinning at Adela.
Kim was an expert on the red mana, earth, and fire elements, and the Hellion was her pet. Haley was adept at using red mana, and her creature was carnage. Most students were fearful of them because they both carried lethal power. Normally, they didn't get along with them.
"I missed the show that day; I wish I could have been there," Kim said as she folded her arms.
As Theia heard Kim, her eyes became tight. Suddenly, Haley chuckled when hearing Kim say she had skipped that day's classes as well. She said, "Same here. I didn't see it. How did that slob beat you up so badly, Theia?"
As her own friends began making fun of her in front of everyone, Theia gritted her teeth. Hearing Haley, Kim remarked, "That brat beat her a lot, of course. You did not see her face that day, right?"
As soon as they said that, they burst out laughing. When Theia noticed her friends were making fun of her, she tightened her jaws. She abruptly yelled, "Shut the fuck up!"
"This time, it won't happen," Theia muttered as she turned to face Adela. "I'll make certain until her bones break". Theia and Adela exchanged ominous looks. Haley and Kim both grinned as well. Adela had a horrible day already, and seeing them made it worse.
In front of Adela, Theia insulted Camilla once more. Adela clenched her teeth and spoke calmly to Theia, "This time, not Camilla. You should be my adversary, I hope. Then I'll show you how to defeat someone like you who merely spreads nonsense to everyone." Theia arched her brows after hearing Adela.
She nodded her head and said in an angry tone, "Adela, I swear I will make you guys suffer there. There, I'll show my true might. Watch and see. I won't ever give up on you folks so quickly."
Haley and Kim both had harsh expressions in their eyes. After threatening Adela, they left the area. Adela inhaled deeply before checking the area. She came here looking for Camilla, but she encountered Theia. The most repulsive thing in her life was that. Adela thought in a rage that she would make sure that Theia would not be able to walk after the competition. She walked out of the building, cursing Theia.
In the meantime, Camilla and David were on their way to the academy. They were having such a great time together. They eventually made it to the academy. David took the first step out of the carriage, then offered his hand to his daughter. Camilla stepped out of the carriage while grasping her father's hand. They made their way together to the academy. When they entered, the guards also curtsied.
David and Camilla made their way through the crowd. But eventually, Camilla started to look around. Some of them were glancing their way. Camilla's face suddenly became pallid as she heard whispers around her. Everyone was discussing her and her father.
"It's astonishing that Lord David has brought his daughter with him."
"Is everything all right between them now?"
"Perhaps he came to the conference. He accompanied his daughter because of this."
Camilla bowed her head and raised one eyebrow slightly. She was strolling while clutching her father's arms.
David was gripping his daughter's arm and walking with a harsh expression on his face. Even though David could hear everyone conversing, he didn't bother anyone. Then, all of a sudden, he felt his daughter grasp his arm. He cast a sidelong glance at his daughter as he narrowed his eyes. It startled him when he saw his daughter's face. He had never seen his daughter that way before. Her rage was written all over her face. David fixed his gaze on her for a few seconds. He reasoned that his daughter's response was reasonable. He once treated his daughter so rudely, but he now realizes what he did. He squeezed her more firmly while patting her hands.
Hearing such whispers caused Camilla to become quite enraged. Camilla, however, thought her father was suddenly attempting to calm her down. She turned her head to face her father. David flashed her a kind smile. Once Camilla realized what her father was attempting, she turned her attention away. Her father was attempting to soothe her.
They eventually came to a stop in front of the magic area. David said, "Camilla, we are here in your department. Go ahead, please. I have an important meeting. I'll be with you shortly."
Camilla entered with just a slight nod of her head, saying farewell to her father. He remained standing until his daughter entered. As she entered, David walked out of there. David headed straight to the administrative area. As he arrived, he noticed everyone was present. David turned to approach Alfred after spotting him. Alex was also present. Alfred and Alex greeted David as he got close to them.
To be continued...