Not As it Seems

Chapter 4: Divinia Founding Day

Laura tried her best to sleep, but it seemed impossible. She wanted to save the mysterious conversation she and Felix had overheard in the garden for tomorrow, but she couldn't sleep without at least thinking it over for a bit. Laura had so many questions. Who was principal Mary talking to? What was the package they mentioned? Where was the storage it was brought to? Why was Felix in the garden, and how did he know that whoever was coming to the garden was dangerous? And, most importantly, why didn't he tell Glen about what they'd heard? Something strange was going on at Royale High, that much was certain. With those thoughts on her mind, Laura fell asleep.

When she left her dorm the next morning, it was still early, so Astrid, Elizabeth and Anna, were thankfully (in the case of the latter two) still asleep. Laura was planning to go to the garden to clear her head, but she was also secretly hoping to run into Felix, so she could question him. She ran into Glen instead.
"Good morning, Laura! You're up early."
"So are you." Laura noticed Glen was wearing sporty clothes and was covered in sweat.
"No 'good morning' back? You really are loosening up!" he teased, "I was doing my morning exercise."
"That's... wonderful. Have you seen Felix?"
"He went to Earth, didn't say why."
"I guess he likes having secrets," Laura said, more to herself than to Glen.
"You're awfully interested in him, is there something between you two?"
Laura didn't expect that question. "What? Of course not." She walked away from Glen and went to breakfast, as she was now feeling hungry. Why would Felix go to Earth this early in the morning? Laura wasn't sure if she could trust him. As if summoned by her thoughts, Felix walked into the cafeteria. He sat down with Laura.
"Good morning," she greeted him.
"You too." Laura noticed there was a letter next to his plate. She didn't recognize the seal, but it was probably the reason Felix went to Earth.
"Who sent that letter?"
Felix grabbed the letter and put it in his pocket, "no one important."
"Very well. When are we going to tell Astrid and Glen about what we heard in the garden yesterday?"
"We're not going to tell them." That was it. Felix was acting way too suspicious, and Laura wasn't having any more of it!
"And why not? Could it be the same reason you just happened to know that Mary and the other person were coming towards us? Or the same reason you refused to tell Glen yesterday? Or perhaps why you went to Earth early in the morning for a mysterious letter sent by 'no one important', as you put it?"
Felix stood up, "listen, Laura, I know it might seem suspicious, but I want to have proof first before I go to anyone, even Glen and Astrid, with wild claims. You have to trust me."
"I don't and can't. I will tell Glen and Astrid, even if you won't. They can help and deserve to know. I might not have had many friends before, but I know that friends shouldn't have to keep secrets from each other." Laura stood up too, and left the cafeteria.

After everyone had finished their after school activities, Laura took all of her friends (including Felix) to the tavern in Earth they'd visited on their first day at Royale High. Normally she would go to the cafeteria instead, but being away from the building under principal Mary's control was safer, considering this particular conversation was about her. Glen couldn't resist the urge to joke ("I never thought I'd see the day you would invite me to a tavern!"), Astrid was confused ("why have a confidential conversation in a tavern?") and Felix was... well, himself ("don't say I didn't warn you..."). All three of them were now staring at Laura, waiting for her to explain everything.
"So..." Laura started, "the reason I called us all together here is that Felix and I discovered something worrisome yesterday."
"Is that why you two were together?" Glen questioned. Felix nodded.
"While I was walking there, Felix told me to hide in the bushes," Laura continued, "and we overheard principal Mary talk to someone about a package that had arrived, which was brought to a storage. The other person also said there were a few slow processes in motion."
"Who was the other person?" Astrid inquired.
"We don't know, I didn't recognize the voice. It was clearly a man, but not one of the staff members."
"Maybe it's something for celebrating Divinia Founding Day, which is tomorrow."
"Mary said she was getting weary, but the man explained that it would be a few weeks until they'd use the package, so it can't be that," Felix said.
"Why would she go to the garden, anyway? Doesn't she have an office?" Glen wondered.
"It's definitely fishy, but we can't really do anything without evidence or more information, like I was trying to tell someone..."
"But at least we'll be on guard in case something happens, and we'll come together again if one of us finds out something," Astrid reassured.
"Like I was trying to tell someone," Laura gave Felix a triumphant smile.

The next day, Astrid was acting more excited than usual, so much that it was strange. Her voice was a few pitches higher, she was almost jumping around, and it looked like she was about to burst. Laura was worried for a second that she had a side that adored her country to a creepy extent (it was Divinia Founding Day, after all), but it all made sense once Laura noticed that they had no classes scheduled for the day, and that Astrid wanted to wait at the entrance of the school. At seven in the morning. A carriage quickly arrived, and two people walked out. One was a little girl who looked ten at most, and the other a young lady almost entirely dressed in black except for a white collar and golden necklace. She was dressed very similarly to Astrid. The little girl, who was wearing way more colorful clothes, immediately ran towards Astrid.
"Astrid!" she shouted before tightly hugging her.
"Emma! It's so good to see you. I'm glad you could come."
"She was so excited to see you, she could hardly wait," the lady cut in. Astrid then remembered Laura's presence.
"Oh, right. Laura, this is my younger sister, Emma, and this is my dear friend, Edith. She's a member of the Divinian church. Edith, Emma, this is Laura, the princess of Falmar."
"We're here for Divinia Founding Day!" Emma exclaimed.
"Principal Mary had originally asked my brother to come, but you know how he is. Always so busy..." Edith laughed, "speaking of, we should go to the principal's office. Come, Emma." The young princess let go of her sister and followed Edith. If Laura hadn't seen Astrid act all excited the entire morning, she'd think that Astrid and Emma were polar opposites.

The way they would be celebrating Divinia Founding Day became more clear when everyone was called to the school auditorium. Laura didn't like where things were going, though. The stage at the back of the room looked terrifying to speak on, and she hoped and prayed she didn't have to stand on it. Thankfully, principal Mary arrived to end the suspense.
"Hello, my dear students!" she started, "as you likely know, today is Divinia Founding Day. Such a grand day for our country must of course be celebrated, and this year, we have decided to hold a play. We will be reenacting the events that took place on this very day, 489 years ago. You will be placed in groups of four to six students and will have the whole morning and afternoon to practice. The best group will get a prize at the end of the day! After she has listed all the groups, sister Edith of the Divinian Church will hand you all a copy of the script, while Princess Emma will assign you a classroom where you will practice. Have fun, students!" Laura nearly fainted. A play, really? She would have to go on stage, and everyone would look at her... This was awful! Could it get any worse than that?
"-and the final group will consist of Glen, Felix, Astrid, Laura, Elizabeth, and Anna." Apparently it could.