I spend the rest of my week attending classes and preparing for my presentation. I sometimes see Prince Joachim if I have anything I don't understand, but as much as possible, I avoid seeing him.
After what I have seen in his office, my mind becomes messed up. I don't know what to think about Prince Joachim anymore. I don't know if he is a good person or not. I don't know if I should paint him as a villain or a good character?
So, to avoid overthinking, I avoided him and just focused on my presentation.
And now my presentation day has come. I look nervously at the closed door. The presentation is already starting, and some students have already finished presenting their research.
However, based on the faces of those students, I don't think this presentation will be easy as I thought so.
I closed my eyes and tried to relax myself. If I let the anxiety get a hold of me, I'm sure I will definitely fail this presentation.
"Lady Csille Lauretré. It's your turn."
I was about to open my eyes, but I realized something was wrong.
I couldn't open it no matter what I did. What is happening?
I started to panic. However, my anxiety disappeared when my eyes opened on its own. Even my foot move on its own.
The real Csille took over my body?
Is it because she noticed that I was so anxious that's why she took over my body?
With her doing the presentation, I'm sure I will definitely graduate at the top of my batch.
Csille walks inside the room with confidence. It's as if she's confident that she will answer every question the panel of Professors throws at her.
A moment after, the presentation started. The real Csille delivered the presentation speech I made with ease. It's as if she is the one who writes that, and she knows it by heart.
She didn't even stutter and continued to explain her research calmly. I can see that the Professors were amazed by how Csille presented the research I made.
The research THAT I MADE!
I know that the real Csille and I share the same body. But why is she the one taking credit for all the things I did? Isn't that unfair?
The presentation ended, and all the Professors clapped their hands. Principal Germund, who is at the back observing the presentation of the students, stands up and walks towards Csille."
"Lady Csille, congratulations on passing your presentation. Based on your performance, you will definitely get a high mark."
Al the Professors nod their heads in agreement.
The real Csille smiles shyly at them and bows her head. "Thank you for your compliments. I will take my leave now."
Csille walks out of the room like nothing happened. It's as if she hasn't even started her presentation.
Every student she passed looked at her with confusion on their faces. It was the first time they saw a student who looked calm after finishing their presentation. The first batch of students who finished their presentation all has if not disappointed face, a crying face.
However, the real Csille doesn't seem to notice the attention she is getting and just walk past them. She then goes straight to her classroom.
After the presentation, the students are required to return to their respective classes because aside from the presentation, students also need to prepare for their final examination.
Final exams are just two weeks away. So, they need to study hard if they want to graduate.
Csille knocks on the door of their room first before entering it. However, the moment the door opens, I suddenly regain the control over my body.
I look at my Professor, who got interrupted with his lesson. I bow my head as an apology. "Apologies, I just finished my presentation and was asked to return to my class immediately."
The Professor doesn't seem to mind and just nods his head. "Please, return to your seat Lady Csille."
I immediately walk to my seat and sigh. Now that my problem with the presentation is done, all I need to think of is my final examination.
Lilla, who is sitting beside me, leans towards my ears. "Lady Csille, how did your presentation end?"
I gently pushed Lilla and shook my head. I don't want the Professor to notice we are talking.
It's a rude thing to do. To interrupt your Professors while they are teaching.
I took a paper and wrote the things I wanted to say to Lilla.
"It went okay. Although it was a bit difficult than I expected, it's still not bad."
Come to think of it. If I was the one who did the presentation, I couldn't probably do it like how Csille has done it. I'll probably stutter or forget some line. It would also probably take some time before I could answer the questions they throw at Csille.
It's a good thing the real Csille took over my body.
However, I kind of feel bad too. Because it feels like I cheated. Although the real Csille and I are considered one already.
Lilla takes the paper and writes on it. While I focus my attention on the lesson that our Professor is teaching.
I need to listen intently to our lesson. The real Csille took over my body for the presentation. I need to do better than the real Csille.
I feel someone taps my arms. I looked down and found the paper with Lilla's reply.
"Is it that difficult? How difficult is it? Did they ask too many questions? Do you think I can pass it like you do? Lady Csille, I'm scared."
I look at Lilla's reply and smile. She even writes a crying face on the paper.
I took my pen and started to write my reply.
"Yes, it is difficult, but it's expected for a presentation. Also, the difficulty will depend on how much you know your research. If you study it thoroughly, you'll find the presentation a bit difficult, but if you don't know much about it? Forget about passing it. As for your question, I think you can pass. As long as you put your everything on it, you'll definitely pass. So, then be scared and try to calm down. Getting anxious won't help."
I passed the paper to Lilla, but I didn't get a reply from her after. We both focus on our class.
An hour after, our morning class had just finished. My classmates who don't have a schedule for today's presentation immediately rush towards me.
"Lady Csille, how did your presentation go?"
"Lady Csille, is the presentation too difficult? Can you give us some tips?"
"Lady Csille, what questions they have asked to you? Can you let us know? So we can have an idea what questions they will throw at us."
They all bombarded me with questions that I didn't know where to start. Lilla, who is standing beside me, walk in front of me and waves her hand.
"Can you all calm down, Lady Csille won't be able to answer all our questions if you keep throwing her questions at the same time. I know everyone is anxious but can you be a little considerate with Lady Csille too? You're stressing her."
Everyone got silent, and they all looked at me sorrily. I sigh and explain to them what happened with my presentation. Although it was not me who did that presentation, it is still me technically since the real Csille and I are considered one now.
After a few minutes of explaining, they all let us go. Lilla and I immediately take our lunch. But even in our meal, Lilla was complaining about how much anxious she was.
"Lady Csille, I heard that there are a few students from other classes who failed their presentation. What will happen to them? Can they really not graduate?"
I paused and tried to remember what the senior told us about research. "I think they really have no chance now. You know how strict the school is when it comes to graduating students. Even if we spend four years here just to graduate, if we fail, we fail. There are no exceptions. But even if a person didn't graduate here as long as they take the final exam and pass it, the school will give a certificate to prove that the person studies here."
That's what I remember from our seniors. They said that even if they failed the presentation, as long as they complete what is needed to graduate, they could still get a certificate. Although this certificate is different than the diploma, it still has its importance.
This certificate is already enough for other Cities to flock over them. Even though they couldn't graduate but they still spent four years in Alderrdeen. They still undergo the same education as those students who graduate in Alderrdeen. So, they are still considered important too.
Lilla looks more anxious. "Lady Csille, do you think I can graduate? Although having a certificate isn't a bad thing too compared to having none. However, my parents will definitely get disappointed in me if I won't graduate in Alderrdeen."
I squeeze Lilla's hand. "Don't worry. Everything will be okay. Just continue to work hard. If you want, I can even help you prepare for your presentation. It's just Monday. We still have plenty of time for you to prepare. I'm sure if you prepare, you can pass the presentation. So don't worry."
Lilla clings to my arm and cries. "I'm really blessed to meet you, Lady Csille. You're smart, kind, and everything. How can a person like you exist?"
I just chucked with Lilla's words.
Kind? Csille Lauretré being a kind person? I think she is describing a different person. How can the Villainess be kind? In a year's time, Csille will return to her old self again. Cruel and sinister. Selfish and apathetic.
________________________________
Through the days left before Friday. Lilla and I spend our days preparing for her presentation. We repeatedly did a mock presentation, and I asked her the same questions the panel of Professors asked to Csille.
And at Thursday, Lilla finished preparing for her presentation.
I look at Lilla and gently squeeze her hand. She still looks anxious. Probably because she heard that almost half of the students who finished their presentation didn't pass it. And that adds to her anxiety even more.
"Lilla, come on. Why do you look like you're still anxious? We have already done our best for your presentation. If you will only follow what we did with the mock presentation, I'm sure you will definitely pass it. So, cheer up. I'm sure we'll definitely graduate together. Isn't that a promise we made to each other five years ago?"
Lilla looked at me and smiled anxiously. Tomorrow is the day of Lilla's presentation, and I bet she is full of anxiety now. It's the reason why I treat her an ice cream. It's what I did back in the real world. If I don't feel okay, all I will do is eat a bucket of ice cream. I just hope it works on her.
The night ended with Lilla calming down a little. However, the effect of ice cream didn't last until the morning of the next day.
I met Lilla before coming to our class and before her presentation started. We still have one week of lessons before we can take the final examination. After that, we can prepare for our graduation.
Lilla looks at me and hugs me. "Lady Csille, wish me good luck. I really hope I can pass this so we can graduate together."
I hug her back. "Good luck with your presentation. I know you can pass it. I'll be waiting for you in our classroom, okay? Let's celebrate after."
Lilla takes a deep breath before she walks towards the room where the presentation is happening. I look at Lilla's back and smile.
Lilla will definitely pass this presentation. Although her marks can't be comparable to Csille's, it is still considered a high mark.
Why do I know about it? Because I have written this.. I have written what will happen next.