98 Grounded
Selma Payne’s POV:
The views on the rules and the knowledge of the King were a bit profound. But, to be honest, I didn’t really understand it.
Perhaps my confused expression was too obvious, but my father consoled me patiently. “It’s okay if you don’t understand now, child. You’re still young and have a long way to go. Time will teach you everything.”
I lay between my parents, staring straight ahead as I silently digested what I had just heard.
In fact, the moment I walked out of the school gate, I regretted it a little. Of course, it was cool to punish evil and promote good and every student’s dream to teach an unscrupulous principal a lesson, but that didn’t stop it from being out of line, right?
The looks of adoration from my classmates were cool, but, Moon Goddess! It made me look like a rebellious junior high school student!
Moreover, as a princess, although not many people knew that I should be an idol of respecting my teachers, I was still a princess.
In addition, this principal didn’t have any good qualities that deserved my respect.
I was tangled up in these two thoughts.
My father’s words gave me a new idea.
“So, as leaders, we don’t have to be too rigid with the so-called rules, right? “I suddenly asked. “Sometimes, we should use the rules as a weapon to fight back and protect our people?”
My father pondered for a moment and said, “No, child. No matter what, we should follow the rules. Once you think you have the power not to do so, you will be punished by the rules, just like your principal.
“But at the same time, we don’t have to follow the rules. Everything changes constantly. You must use your wisdom, listen to other people’s opinions, and learn how to use the superposition or cancellation of rules to achieve a good goal.”
With a smile, he winked and said, “We can also create a new rule.”
“But didn’t you say that one or a few people can’t create the rules?”
“Of course, my child.” My father nodded. “But you don’t have to write down the rules to create them. It’s enough to recognize them from the bottom of your heart. Acknowledgment is the source of the law’s ‘inexhaustible vitality’.
I nodded thoughtfully, feeling that I had benefited a lot.
At this moment, I was extremely glad that I was the child of my parents. They didn’t indiscriminately chastize because of the principal’s complaint. Instead, they kindly taught me some wise principles.
“I love you, Father, Mother.” I gently kissed them on the cheek. “It’s such a blessing to be your daughter.”
“Oh, my baby.” My mother hugged me tightly while my father hugged the two of us. We enjoyed this quiet and warm moment together.
After a long while, my mother suddenly stood up and said, “But don’t even think about escaping punishment.”
“That’s right.” My father kissed my mother’s forehead and said to me seriously, “Although there’s a reason for this, you still have to be punished for your behavior of going against your teacher. This is the power of rules, do you understand?”
I wailed as I had no choice but to accept the next week’s miserable grounding.
Since the school had entered the ceremony preparation week, all the official classes had ended. For the week, my after-class activities and training with Aldrich were canceled. My life was only filled with boring activities like ‘go to school, go home, and copy scriptures in my grounding, then back to school the next day’.
Why hadn’t the student union expelled me for talking back to the principal? This way, I could openly stroll around the school!
During the lunch break, I lay weakly on the dining table, feeling as if my spine had been bent by life.
“This is reasonable revenge within the rules! That cunning old man!” I grumbled softly, “The number of documents I have to deal with has increased five times! Five times! I don’t even have time to drink water right now. Those overwhelming venue applications and reimbursement bills are simply drowning me!”
Mara chewed on the vegetable curry rice in satisfaction and comforted me. “Don’t overthink, my dear. Do you know how many clubs are fighting for the venue and funds? If you ask me, they’ll be considered restrained if their workload is five times more. With the royal family’s reimbursement, they can’t wait to include the rubber residue in the reimbursement list.”
That was right. The royal family would pay the bill for the Sivir Academy’s graduation ceremony as compensation for ‘Miss Selma’s unfortunate little argument with the esteemed school’s principal’. I would be even happier if this compensation weren’t deducted from my pocket money.
Dorothy was the only one in the school who knew about this. However, she could only give me a bitter smile, telling me that her move to the palace was a secret.
By the way, since Ryan had been stripped of his presidency status in the drama club. I thought my ruckus in the cafeteria had some positive effects. At the very least, it had removed Ryan’s paper tiger mask.
A few girls, who were usually bullied by Ryan and his small group, joined forces to complain about him. The principal might have wanted to cover it up, but the royal family was closely watching his movements because of me, so he could only do what he had to do and kick Ryan out of the drama club.
What a happy ending, right?