"Congratulations, My Lady!" Maria exclaimed in joy. Jack settled into Morrigan’s hands, allowing himself to be petted.
"Maria, you’re being too loud," Morrigan said, but she wasn’t upset. She didn’t mind Maria’s excitement for her. Thomas offered tea to his Lady with a smile. "The Queen’s move was timely."
Morrigan nodded. Although she didn’t know Queen Anne personally, she appreciated the decision made on her behalf. "Even though I don’t know my aunt, I’m grateful for her help."
"The Queen is a good woman, despite the rumors," Thomas said. "She may seem cold and ruthless from the outside, but that doesn’t mean she is."
Morrigan’s expression turned slightly puzzled. "You talk as if you know my aunt?"
A faint expression of admiration appeared on Thomas’s face. "The Queen is a woman to be admired."
Maria’s face soured. "It seems you like the Queen a lot."
Thomas gave Maria a curious look, then grinned. "Are you jealous?"
Maria looked away, her blushing face causing Jack to caw with laughter.
"What are you laughing at, you silly crow!" Jack, enjoying the softness of Morrigan’s hands, ignored Maria.
Morrigan pulled the crow closer to her. Jack involuntarily melted when he felt Morrigan’s two... entities.
"What’s with that expression on this crow’s face?" Thomas eyed the crow suspiciously. "This is the first time I’ve seen a perverted crow."
Even though Morrigan didn’t understand, she assumed the crow’s expression meant he was happy. "Seth just looks happy."
Jack cawed in agreement, and Thomas decided not to speak further.
As night began to fall, Morrigan wanted to sleep. "I want to sleep."
"Your room is ready, My Lady," Thomas said. As Morrigan headed to her room, the crow flew from her hand and perched on a random tree in the garden.
After everyone left, Jack deactivated his ability and found himself back in his own body. He glanced at the clock and saw it was nearing 3 AM. He yawned. "Looks like it’s bedtime."
Jack got up and dragged himself to bed, falling asleep like a baby without even thinking.
**
***
****
"My Lady, the Academy starts today. Are you excited?" Maria asked excitedly as she brushed Morrigan’s hair. Morrigan only looked on emotionlessly.
After everything that had happened, the excitement she once had for the Academy had faded. "I’m excited."
"You should make lots of friends today, My Lady," Maria said. Morrigan’s expression grew thoughtful for a moment. "Who would want to be friends with me?"
Maria’s expression faltered, her eyes becoming unexpectedly stern and ruthless, surprising Morrigan. "If you keep thinking that way, you won’t make any friends!"
Morrigan raised an eyebrow. "Why? What does friendship matter?"
Maria looked into Morrigan’s eyes through the mirror with a determined gaze. "Friends always stand by each other, they help one another! I’m sure you’ll have many friends!"
"Does that make us friends?" Morrigan asked seriously, catching Maria off guard and making her embarrassed. "Do you see me as a friend, My Lady..."
Morrigan’s brow furrowed. "Aren’t we friends?"
Maria quickly nodded, a wide smile spreading across her lips. The fact that her Lady saw her as a friend made Maria very happy. "No, no! We are friends, My Lady."
"Then, as real friends, call me by my name," Morrigan said with a serious expression. Maria hesitated to dare, but Morrigan’s stern eyes stopped her. "Mor-Morrigan."
Even though Morrigan kept her stoic expression, she was inwardly pleased. "Good, from now on, we’re best friends."
"Best friends!"
"Yes, best friends." Morrigan didn’t understand why Maria was so shocked.
"My Lady, your carriage is ready."
Hearing Thomas, Morrigan stood up and looked at Maria. "See you, Maria."
"See you, Mor-rigan," Maria said, stuttering. She still wasn’t used to it, but knowing that Morrigan saw her as a friend left her both surprised and happy.
After Morrigan left, Maria hummed a happy tune, singing, "We’re best friends!"
With a sweet hum, Maria decided to clean with renewed motivation.
Meanwhile, Morrigan set off for the Academy. As she traveled down the cobblestone road, she admired the architectural beauty of the capital.
"This city always makes me sick," Thomas said with a grimace. Morrigan rolled her eyes. "I think you shouldn’t be so pessimistic."
The carriage arrived at the Academy, and Morrigan was greeted by the other students as she got out. The nobles were lined up like sheep.
Morrigan was surprised by the expressions directed at her. Why were they so angry? "Thomas, why are they looking at me like that?"
A small smirk formed on Thomas’s face, "I don’t know, My Lady. Maybe they’re jealous of your beauty."
Morrigan had to roll her eyes again. "I don’t think that’s the case."
Thomas’s sly grin caused Morrigan to narrow her eyes. "Is there something you didn’t tell me?"
"Absolutely not, my Lady," Thomas said. "I swear I’ve reviewed the rules three times."
A while later, Morrigan’s carriage came to a stop. As Thomas accompanied his Lady, The arrival of the Morrigan caused a stir in the crowd with intense whispering.
The crowd, upon seeing Morrigan, seemed surprisingly angry.
"Look at that witch! She doesn’t even care about the rules. Isn’t she afraid of the Headmaster?!"
"Even the Prince didn’t enter here by carriage! Who does this woman think she is?!"
The crowd was whispering loud enough for even Morrigan to hear. After catching some of the sentences, Morrigan glanced at Thomas, who was grinning like a Cheshire cat, with a hint of anger. "You knew it was forbidden to come here by carriage, didn’t you?"
Thomas turned his head away as if he hadn’t heard the question, making Morrigan want to punch him in the face.
"My apologies, my Lady. I forgot to mention it." Despite his apology, Thomas’s face didn’t look sincere. "It won’t happen again."
Alice glanced nervously at the prince. "If she doesn’t want to be friends, we can’t force her, Julias." Hearing Alice, the prince’s expression softened.
Morrigan was surprised that Alice addressed the prince by name, but she didn’t show it on her face. Alice looked at Morrigan apologetically, bowing slightly. "I’m sorry for bothering you, my lady."
Some nobles who saw Alice bow to Morrigan looked at Morrigan with disdain, to which Morrigan responded with an equally stern glare.
"If you have nothing more to say, I’m leaving," Morrigan said. She didn’t want to stay any longer. It annoyed her that people were giving her dirty looks for no reason.
As Morrigan left, Rachel looked at her with admiration. "What a brave woman..."
"It would be better a If she was from Wargan."
Listening to Rachel, Richard nodded. Unlike everyone else, they understood that Morrigan was innocent.
A look of frustration appeared on Rachel’s face. "Unlike Morrigan, that girl named Alice seems like an idiot."
"I expected more from a Saint," Richard agreed with his sister. Alice’s emotional demeanor was a sign of weakness and inferiority among Wargans.
"But that’s better," Richard said with a smile. "The weaker the Saint of the Light Goddess, the better it is for us."
Rachel agreed. "We’ve sent word to our father about Morrigan’s presence. I want to leave this cursed place as soon as possible."
"But for now, we’ll just have to be patient," Richard said.
"I’m going to meet this woman named Morrigan, and you focus on Alice."
"Wait, why do I have to befriend Alice?" Richard’s face showed irritation; he didn’t want to deal with the men fawning over Alice.
Rachel donned a sarcastic expression. "Because you’re a good actor. I’m afraid I might accidentally let something slip."
Richard sighed and agreed. His sister was easily provoked and quick to lash out. "Fine, I’m going."
As Richard headed toward Alice, Rachel went in the direction Morrigan had gone.
Following the path Morrigan had taken, Rachel soon found her sitting on a bench. "You were very brave back there, my girl."
Morrigan turned her head and squinted when she saw Rachel, not understanding why she had approached her. "Why did you come here?"
"Relax, I just came to talk," Rachel said with a playful smile. She sat down next to Morrigan without asking for permission.
Morrigan didn’t say anything, but a small expression of displeasure appeared on her face. Looking at Morrigan, Rachel liked the girl’s expression. "You don’t like Alice, do you?"
"That’s none of your business," Morrigan said.
"So, you don’t like her," Rachel said, sitting comfortably on the bench. "Good, I don’t like that pink head either."
There was a moment of silence until Morrigan looked at Rachel curiously. "What brought you here?"
Rachel smiled. "Just to get to know you. You know, friendship and stuff."
"I won’t be your friend."
"I like your attitude, girl," Rachel said. A look of disgust briefly crossed her face. "You’re not like the others with their painted faces."
A small smile involuntarily appeared on Morrigan’s lips but disappeared as quickly as it came.
Rachel didn’t understand why Morrigan always wore a stoic expression but didn’t question it.
"When we first came here, I had high hopes," Rachel said with disappointment. "When I saw the children of the people who defeated us, I felt ashamed for them."
Listening to Rachel, Morrigan agreed. Rachel continued, "I can’t help but wonder how you defeated us. These people are just disappointing."
"Your father Alfred isn’t very well-liked in our land." Morrigan’s curiosity increased when her father’s name was mentioned.
"But we still respected him; he fought bravely on the front lines and even earned my father’s respect," Rachel said with an admiring expression. "That’s why your father sent us here."
"Why are you happy despite losing the war because of my father?" It was something Morrigan didn’t understand. The losing side always suffered.
Rachel laughed as if she had heard something funny. "Winning and losing doesn’t matter to us; what matters is the intention. We fought to protect our homeland, and even if we lost, we’re proud of fighting for that cause."
Rachel said with exaggerated pride, "That will never change, it will stay the same."
"You’re like your father, brave and cold," Rachel said, observing Morrigan. It was the first time Morrigan had been compared to her father. "Even though he’s cold, your father is actually a good person."
Morrigan frowned; she had been exiled from her home since she was six. How could such a father be a good person?
Rachel smiled as if she knew Morrigan’s feelings toward her father. "Unlike those here, we go to war at the age of twelve. I even won my first battle."
Seeing Rachel’s happy expression, Morrigan felt more surprised. "Is child soldiering legal in your land?"
Morrigan noticed Rachel’s expression fall briefly but then quickly return. Rachel looked at Morrigan with an unusual seriousness. "Even if we don’t want to, we have to do it. Otherwise, we’ll be without a homeland, like 700 years ago."
Morrigan felt sympathy for Rachel. When Rachel noticed Morrigan’s expression, she laughed. "Don’t pity me; this is what made me who I am."
"If I were given another chance at life, I would make the same decision," Rachel said. "I have no regrets about the choices I made."
Morrigan admired Rachel. "Your father must be very proud of you."
Rachel nodded happily when her father was mentioned. "My father supported us in everything. I’m proud to be his daughter."
Morrigan would be lying if she said she wasn’t envious. Still, she tried not to show it on her face.
"I encountered your father in battle when I was thirteen," Rachel said, capturing Morrigan’s attention. Rachel continued, "We were severely defeated. Your knights brought me before my father."
"He asked me my age. At first, I was surprised and yelled at him, but he didn’t get angry and patiently waited," a look of admiration passed across Rachel’s face. "When I told him my age, he let me go, even gave me money."
It was the first time Morrigan had heard of her father doing such a thing, and a wave of pride welled up inside her, but she didn’t dwell on it.
"Since then, I’ve wanted to thank your father," Rachel said, looking at Morrigan. Before continuing, Rachel saw Richard waiting for her.
"Sorry, let’s continue later, my girl," Rachel said, standing up from the bench. She looked at Morrigan and added, "I enjoyed this conversation. See you later."
Morrigan watched Rachel leave, and after she was gone, she felt more at ease. Placing her hand on her chest, Morrigan felt the good feelings rising inside her.
"Did I just make a real friend for the first time?" Morrigan felt the happiness inside her and became certain.
"My Lady, class is about to start," a knight warned Morrigan. Morrigan nodded and then headed to her new class.