Chapter 91 Hi.
SOMA
The mid-semester exams are finally over. Brynne hasn’t apologized, and if he doesn’t do so tomorrow or Thursday, I’ll attend the ball with a random person. I don’t care who, but I’ll be at that ball.
Though the exams are over, I’m in the annex, hoping he shows up since he’s avoided my room and the entire house. Jade sits a few chairs away from me, frowning at the book I’m making her read. There is a set of questions to be answered after reading. A quilt is spread out on her lap with the knitting needles poking out from the edge.
A few times, she raises her head to ask questions from the book. I answer as best as I can and tell her to sort the rest herself. The next time I do that, she groans and bangs her fists on the table.
“But I don’t even like studying,” Jade grumbles. She raises the light green quilt. “This is what I love doing.”
“Maybe you can do both,” I say.
“It’s so exhausting.” She closes her eyes and shakes her head. “I can’t. I can’t. I can’t. No.”
Laughing, I lean over to check the answers in her booklet. My brows wrinkle as my eyes scroll over the page. She got them all right. She’s smarter than she gives herself credit for.
“If you really want people to see you beyond a maid, you’ll need to do something to elevate your status,” I tell her.
Everyone in Shadowspire Royal Academy might have adjusted to my title, but I’m not sure what it will be like in the palace or the pack. The fear of the king is enough to make everyone keep their opinions to themselves. But I want their genuine respect and acceptance, not one fueled by fear. For now, I can only earn it in little ways by passing all my exams.
Jade groans. “You’re like Prince Tristan. He makes me read all these boring books.” Her nose wrinkles in fake disgust, and I laugh. She’s cute. We both know she’ll read over a thousand difficult books if it means more time in the presence of her prince. “He even makes me read them to him. Says it helps with pronunciation.”
A snort hitches in my throat, and I clap a hand over my mouth, my body halfway from falling off the chair from the laughter. Her facial muscles relax as she watches me, her amusement shifting to concern.
“He’s smart,” I mutter, the residue laughter lingering in my voice. She scoffs, folding her arms across her chest. I pick up the cookies she set out on the table and take a bite. “And he can see the future. When you become the princess, he wouldn’t want people to accuse you of being ignorant.”
She blushes, her gaze lowering. “I can’t be a princess.”
“Says who?” I wave a hand over my body, the same body I never would have dreamed of it looking this healthy. “Look at me. I’m an omega and still a lady. Who would have thought? We can be anything we want if the right opportunity presents itself. Tristan won’t fail you.”
Her lower lip trembles, and her hands clamp on my forearm. Hope shines so much in her eyes that it’s hard to look away.
“Do you really think so?” she whispers.
“Yes,” I say. “But you must know how to read and write. You must be really smart and work hard.”
She pouts. “But knitting is hard work.”
I smack her forehead. “Just try. Now that I think of it, it’s my fault for making you attend first-year classes when you don’t even know how to read.” She hugs me, mumbling something about it not being my fault. I rub her back, saying, “Sienna talked about Dianna helping her with her assignments, and I assumed you two were on the same level of literacy.”
Jade pulls back with a laugh. “No. I think she got that privilege only because of the princess.” Her voice lowers in a conspiratorial whisper, and she adds, “She does most of Princess Sienna’s assignments. Her handwriting is so pretty.”
“Yours will be if you work hard,” I tell her. “And if you become a princess, you won’t have to worry about calling me Dee in public. You can even call Tristan in front of anyone.”
Her blush spreads to her ears. “Tristan.” I nod, and she says, “He wants me to call him that, or even Tris. But I’m too scared I’ll slip up where others are. Sometimes…”
“What?” I encourage.
“Sometimes, I think I don’t deserve him. He’s too—”
“Too nothing,” I cut in. “You’re perfect for each other. If not, the Moon Goddess wouldn’t pair you with him.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes, Jadesola. You’re enough and perfect for him.”
A small, nervous laugh escapes her. She shakes her head, muttering, “I’m enough” under her breath like she’s shocked to be told that. I throw my arms around her shoulders, tugging her into a brief hug before pulling away.
My phone vibrates in the bag at my feet, and I lift it up. Jade returns to reading, her pencil flying over the page with more determination. There are numerous benefits to Tristan accepting her. We might not be equal, but she won’t have to serve me anymore. I won’t have to hide our friendship, and most importantly, I’ll be able to introduce her as my friend openly. She’ll get to call me by my name.
There’s a text from an unknown number. Only three people have my contact. Tristan. Lilith. Helga. I might have forgiven Helga, but we don’t chat anymore. Tristan doesn’t care to text me unless it’s related to Jade, but he’s aware she’s in the annex with me. I used Brynne’s key to get in. As nice as that act was, it’s not an apology.
Tapping open the text, I read out the words, “Hi. It’s Brynne. Can we meet in Year 5 class on Thursday? I’d like to apologize properly.”
A shiver runs through me, and a smile breaks out on my lips. Finally. But what if this is a prank?
“My lady,” Jade murmurs. “Are you fine?”
“Yes. Yes.” I set the phone down on the table, a lump thick in my throat. “Someone claiming to be Brynne sent me a message. I think it’s a prank.”
Her eyes flare open. “What if it’s not?”
Why will he text me when he can barge into my room?
“If you show me the number, I can confirm from Prince Tristan,” she suggests. I read out the phone number, and she writes it on the back of her note. “I’ll ask him.”
“Thank you.”
A few moments pass before she asks, “Do you like him?”
“I hate him,” I blurt.
Saying I hate him has become my default setting. I don’t want to think of these complicated feelings as something else. Jade nods and resumes her work. I stare at the words on the screen again, and my head throbs from many thoughts.