CHAPTER 3.

Clovis' Point of View

I stare coldly at Beatrix, as she saunters into the student council room uninvited. The formerly happy atmosphere in the room immediately turns tense, and poor Delia is gripping the hem of her dress tightly, while trying desperately to avoid Beatrix's gaze.

If it hadn't been because Beatrix's eyes were only on me, I would've stepped between them. How dare she show up here with everything she's done?

More importantly, with all the gazes on her, Beatrix should know perfectly well that she isn't welcome here.

"Prince Clovis, what a pleasure to see you. The rest of you as well," she says politely, giving an elegant curtsy. Her long blonde locks of hair roll over her shoulder almost sensually, and in her eyes is a playfulness that's usually absent in her manners.

What did she come here for? I fell a shiver crawl up my spine as an instinctual warning. Dealing with Beatrix is like dealing with a rolled up porcupine, sticking out just a hand to give you a handshake.

The friendliness is superficial, and you have no way to get past the needles. Taking her hand, simply leaves you risking that she used said hand to pull you into the needles.

"You've said your greetings, you should leave now, Lady Beatrix," I respond coldly. The faster I send her away, the faster Delia will feel comfortable.

"Ara, how cold," she says softly with a bit of a laughter in her voice. I stare in disbelief at her outrageous attitude.

"And here I thought we should have an important conversation, about those plans you gentlemen have been making for tomorrow night."

I shudder at Beatrix's smile, as she rather blatantly calls out the condemnation we had planned for her tomorrow night. She'd looked so cold and annoyed recently, that seeing this amusement on her face makes my stomach tangle up into a knot of worry.

How long has she known?

If she's approaching like this, does that mean she has found a way to get out of the situation? No, that shouldn't be possible, we've been gathering all this evidence so she couldn't. She might just be bluffing, or just heard that I plan to leave her waiting, and go with Delia for the graduation ball tomorrow.

"If you already know, then why should I have a conversation with you about that?"

I glance to Delia, who seems to tremble at Beatrix' presence. With how Beatrix has been bullying her it's understandable... But seeing Delia's beautiful sapphire eyes shine with tears makes my heart ache with guilt that I can't make the situation better immediately.

She trusts me to handle this. Even if Beatrix's family brought the royal family back to power, I must be firm with her.

"Why? Are you that certain of your witnesses, and all your circumstantial evidence will hold up?"

Another shudder runs down my spine.

She knows.

Should I just start it here and hope enough of a crowd gather? I wanted to do this in front of a crowd so it couldn't be buried afterwards and the scandal would outweigh and potential gaps in the evidence that she could bribe herself out of. The student council room is somewhat isolated. There'll be little chance for the plan to succeed if we start it now.

"I'm simply suggesting a talk, so that we can do this far more... Cleanly....But, on the condition that it's only you and me talking, your highness."

Her honey golden eyes narrow at me, and there's a hint of pity in her gaze.

"Bea-"

Maximilian, her brother, tried to burst into the conversation, but is cut short by Beatrix unfolding a fan with a sharp snap.

"Silence Maximilian, I am aware if your part in this too. We will have a talk of our own at home, with our parents."

Her eyes narrow into a glare of disappoinment and disgust at Maximilian, and he flinches. If their parents find out he's been sabotaging Beatrix's claim to the throne, they'll rip him apart. They're just as set on her position as her, if not even more.

What do I do? Does she have a way out?

Beatrix looks towards Lenard, the son of the swords master, and then back to me, and I can see a smile form in her lips, as her eyes narrow with mockery this time.

"Lenard," she calls out, almost seductively, but while looking directly into my eyes, like she's warning me she's intending to ruin everything right here and now if she has to. I can't tell if she's bluffing.

"Lenard, take Delia outside. The rest of you go with them. I'm going to talk with Lady Beatrix for a while."

I'll have to cover for them, just in case.

I give a saying look to Maximilian, and he nods carefully, although giving a worried stare towards Beatrix. As he steps past me, he whispers in my ear, " Be careful your highness. When Beatrix is like this, she has some cruel plan concocted that she'd had going for a while."

I nod. That's how Beatrix works. While I myself am usually not at the end of this treatment, I've seen it happen uncomfortably many times.

Delia and the rest of the student council leave, and in the large office room remains only Beatrix and I, and her lips curl into a smile, that's only half hidden behind her fan.

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