Chương 39: Chapter 38

Alice paced to the cabinet and retrieved a bag of pastries; she preferred these to the tart of a girl who had just left her presence. A knock on the glass was heard, and she motioned for them to enter; there was only one-two people who would enter from there.

"Ooooh, someone's worked up." Lily strolled inside with her usual confidence, hopping on the sofa with practiced ease. A hand was raised with a grasping motion.

"Share?" Alice tossed the entire bag, opening a drawer and finding another.

"Don't leave any crumbs." Learning how to share a space with someone had been trying. They had different definitions of things like cleanliness, but she had made an effort to be accommodating. She wished he would show the same consideration and stop tracking dirt every other day.

"You know I don't have a cleaning service."

"If you did, I'd have to knock some sense into you." They shared a small smile at that. It was an error the younger families or those new to the Academy made. It was possible to bring your own staff to the grounds, but the cost associated was not insignificant. In lieu of that, the Academy provided a cleaning service for a small fee. Letting those not loyal to your house riffle through your belongings was the height of foolishness. As her mother taught her, loyalty needed to be carefully nurtured.

Even then, the garden needed frequent pruning. It was why she wished for that girl to be brought into their employment. Emily had known Callum before the shift in his status, and there was a connection between them. She could admit part of her push was wanting someone able to curb some of his eccentricities. If she could whisk her away to the manor, Alice knew of several charming young servants who would be fair matches with the girl. That would seal her to their house for a generation.

"How many of these does he make? I feel like you always have some now." Alice sat down on the opposite chair, and a troubled expression overcame her.

"More than I find sensible." They showed up at random intervals, and she wasn't blind to his attempt at appealing to her fondness of sweets. While she appreciated the gesture, it was getting to be a bit much. There was only so much she would allow herself to consume, and he was outpacing her appetite. However, refusing them may spurn him and remove what small progress they had made. A wafer was raised to her lips, and she worked through the bag; she'd have to struggle through it.

"You really are in a mood. Did it go that badly?" Lily prodded, cutting to what was currently ailing her. As she usually did.

"She knows, or heavily suspects," Alice confirmed, and Lily gave a sharp inhale.

"They've yet to question her. As for where she will land, I get the sense she is waiting to see how much fervor they give this investigation. Should it be bearable, I expect her silence to be buyable but expensive." A barony pressuring a count's house; it was a sad state of affairs. Anne Sauratus, they should never have involved her. Then again, she'd never have been able to predict things to develop as they had.

"Would you rather she have a spine and try to squeeze us or immediately spill her guts to the Justiciars?" It wasn't an actual question. Lily was simply easing the blow by appealing to her rationality.

"Any clue as to what she's after specifically?" House Sauratus was newly raised, being less than a generation old. Those types craved legitimacy, and binding themselves to houses with deeper roots was a favored tactic.

"She has an older sister…" Alice had never met the woman but she was said to have some accomplishments in the academic field. That she had not been matched yet spoke of underlying issues.

"I've met her before at a gala my father put on. She seemed pleasant enough. However," A hardness crept into Lily's voice.

"You're not actually entertaining that, are you?" Her friend, understandably, had a dim view of those manners of arrangements. That said, the accusation was unwarranted. Alice's finger flicked, and flame jutted out. Lily's eye widened slightly before she swatted it away. Lily gave her a lopsided grin, scratching the back of her head and ruining whatever work was done to comb her hair.

"Dumb question, sorry." As she should be. Father and Mother had not saddled her with one. It would be poor form to foist it on someone else. A match would be made for her but it would be on her own terms. Once, when she was a child, she harbored delusions about who that would be with. Her feelings were even reciprocated, or so she thought. Lily had taken to calling him spineless, and she couldn't disagree. She wanted to, she tried to, but she couldn't. Her blood still boiled at the betrayal.

He was acting under orders of his father, that much was clear. However, was what they had not worth even the faintest spark of rebellion? He could have reached out when she joined the Academy, she was waiting for it. It never came, and she went to him instead, only to have his eyes look through her. As if she were never there. Peace. She reminded herself. It was comforting to know he'd almost lost his life recently via her own family's spear. Perhaps that had put things into perspective for him?

It wouldn't matter; she would not afford him a second chance.

"Good call; I mean, besides my own feelings about those things, he'd be wasted on a barony." She was correct; even if the woman was the heir, a potential Hand was worth more than a mere barony. Not that she would expect them to know that. Unless he'd been careless enough to display his true abilities, which she couldn't discount.

"But where does that leave you?" Stuck. Stalled. It was a familiar feeling. That didn't stop her frustration from rising.

"Okay." Lily crossed her legs and leaned forward.

"Ease up on those scary vibes. We don't need a repeat of third year." This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The recollection of that event came readily, and with it, the smell of smoke. She let herself relax, remembering the way the flames traveled up the curtains before engulfing the entire room. The look on Lucas Fulgur's face when he realized he needed to replace all the belongings he brought to the Academy was a treasured memory of hers.

"You enjoyed that far more than I." Lily had been grinning like a loon for the entire week that followed. It was a worthy trade, especially since she'd not been reprimanded for it.

"Guilty on all accounts, Miss Justiciar," Lily said with good cheer. Alice rolled her eyes at her antics.

"And I doubt we'll get away with that again. Pretty sure Evergreen covered for you the first time around." Alice suspected the same, but it wasn't something she'd say out loud.

"And yet you so wonderfully antagonized her. Dragging my brother to your level." That word still tasted strange on her tongue. She forced its use anyway, reminding herself who was truly at fault.

"Please," Lily scoffed, showing what she thought about that statement.

"Do you think my not being there would have made things any better? She would have torn into him if I hadn't distracted her so masterfully." Alice knew her long enough to know that it was not her primary motivation. Those two had never gotten along. If she were vain, she might believe herself to be the cause, but Lily had a penchant for needling people for the sake of it. That or she hoped to drive her father to an early grave.

"Oh yes, the peerless. Liliane Arcutien. Daring enough to try what all others failed, to snuff out the city's light." It was crass of her to joke about events surrounding the Fall. If it hadn't been for the heroic defense by the twenty-first Emperor, all could have been lost. The Empire, humanity itself may have never recovered.

"Ha," Lily slumped back, resting her arms on the sofa's back.

"Say what you want, but it definitely took the attention off of anything else." Oh yes, it had certainly done that. It was a shame Lily's skin was too thick to gain a reaction from it.

"Some restraint would have been appreciated." The Acadamy's rumor mill was temperamental. It had always existed, but the introduction of the forums had transformed the landscape of it. Things moved quickly, and it was difficult to understand what would be picked up. Romance was generally a hot topic, but attention could disappear in a day or persist for years. She still caught the errant mention of that time she'd made the mistake of publicly sharing a scone with Lily. They were irritants, most often ignored.

"I'll have you know that I had ulterior motives. I wanted to see if I could dig up more of his past for you." This was the first she had heard of this. She had made peace with waiting, given what little she did know of his past. It must have been a traumatic event to see your home destroyed and live on the road.

"What did you learn?" If Lily had already extracted information, then it would behoove her to know of it.

"That he can drink more than me." She sighed, now knowing why this hadn't come up before.

"How illuminating. I thank you for the sacrifice."

"The night's hazy, but maybe retracing my steps would jog my memory? Think I should try shorting out a grid again?" The edges of her mouth quirked up involuntarily. She could imagine the girl doing just that, if only to send the bill to the Marquis.

"Why must you make me feel like the only adult in the room?" She consoled herself with the knowledge that Lily was able to read the room and act appropriately when the situation called for it. Granted, she frequently decided to do the opposite.

"It's part of my charm." It was a pity she held no interest in William. He wasn't a bad man, and there was a short list of bachelors able to survive Lily's charm. A Finger certainly qualified.

"Yes, I suppose it is." She watched Lily's demeanor brighten at her words. Alice didn't know what the girl saw in her. They hadn't begun as friends, quite the opposite even. She had been one of many who used to deride her. That had changed one day. Alice had tried to pry out the reason from her on more than one occasion, but they each ended in failure, being told she would not understand. For a time, she believed there to be a nefarious reason behind it. Those had long since vanished.

It was more probable that the Federation accepted vassalation over Lily being her enemy. She danced to her own tune, not beholden to anyone. She was strong as well, more than most knew. Her true level of power was hidden from Alice herself. The reasoning behind it was not. At least it was plain as day to Alice. Alice's growth had stalled. Lily's had not, and she could push for a higher ranking whenever she pleased. The girl didn't want to leave her behind. A ridiculous notion, a weak one.

She'd told her that, only to be met with denials. Her father's dalliances may have gotten her a brother but a sister? That she had found on her own.

"Something to share?" The girl quirked a brow at her, noticing the change.

"Is it about how amazing I am?"

"Infuriating would be more apt," she quipped in good humor.

"Or insufferable, I shall let you decide." Her mother had formed a similar bond in her youth. It was frayed now, but still there. Mother had stressed the value and care that needed to be considered to call on her old friend's aid. She was uncertain how much goodwill remained, but she hoped it was enough.

"I need a new dress," Alice spoke, and Lily stopped forming a rebuttal to her last. Lily's eyes searched hers, and she nodded, confirming her intentions.

"Will she even do anything?" Lily responded skeptically, "Isn't she supposed to be retired?" She was.

"Then she can grant me a referral. People in that line of work keep their contacts." And with her reputation, a referral would carry weight.

"Are you sure getting her involved is a good idea?" Lily had a strained look, nervousness apparent.

"That's not a bell you can unring."

"You're normally at ease around her." She rightfully pointed out. They'd spent plenty of time being fitted.

"Easier to be that way when you're just asking for what skirt goes with what top. I like that Miss Plusier; I don't like the stories of the spider." The picture of the kind tailor was hard to reconcile with what she heard whispered.

"If you're that worried about the Sauratus girl, why don't you have Callum talk to her? They're friends, right?" As far as he was aware, they were letting Anne be.

"It won't hurt to have the conversation with her. Besides, that friendship is what worries me." He'd agreed on Alice's behalf for an interview, and Ancestors know what else. That it was done to be rid of someone posed against her only intensified her worry.

"He's too emotional. We can't let that get in the way." She didn't appreciate him making commitments for her, nor having to find out about it from a third party. Perhaps she should return the favor? As a jest, of course.

"That's rich," Lily commented dryly, not satisfied with her justification.

"I'm calling it now. You're both idiots, and this is a bad idea." Lily slapped her hands against her thighs and rose.

"I got a trade relations test I need to cram for. Text me if you light anything on fire." She resented the implication. It wasn't that common of an occurrence.

"So be it." She matched her friend, rising and heading to her bedroom.

"I'm going to rest my eyes for a while." They did not bid any more farewells, and she found herself seated at her bed. Reaching into her nightstand, she retrieved a small box. Her hand ran along its face, tracing the grain of the wood. When was the last time she had indulged? Right, it was the day of their arrival. She regretted it. If she had abstained, then maybe she would not have dragged him in front of so many. She opened the latch, and black orbs rolled around inside.

The time before that was the day she'd met him. Alice Ardere was the hope of her house. With her lay the great responsibility of continuing a lineage that dated near the foundation of the Empire. For the entirety of her life, she bore it. Mother and Father tried to help, raising and believing in her as best they could. Even so, it was suffocating. In her heart, she knew herself to be inadequate. But with such expectations of her, how could she give anything less than everything?

How could she appear anything but perfect? And so she slipped, allowing herself slight reprieves. The day she learned of his arrival at the manor was one such day. Her father, who had always extolled his belief in her, had lied. Did he always harbor doubts about her ability? If so, why did he remain quiet? She would have preferred learning of it before a bastard arrived at their door. It stung. Any words he said after did little to soothe the pain.

A facsimile of her face was reflected in the glass-like surface of the cores, tempting her. The box was slammed shut. She didn't need them. That crushing weight on her, the one she'd grown with. It hadn't disappeared. However, with two to carry their line, it seemed more bearable.