Not As it Seems

Chapter 7: Winds of Unease

Dear mother,

Something awful has just happened at Royale High. Yesterday, on Divinia founding day, there was a play to celebrate the day. I was supposed to be in a group with Princess Audrey, Prince Drake, one noble, and two commoners. This group was kidnapped at the conclusion of the play, and they haven't resurfaced. I was supposed to be kidnapped too, no doubt. I have just recovered from the fever that had kept me in bed for a few days, and I fear for my safety here. I cannot leave the school, and I am going against the principal's orders by sending this letter to inform you. She believes that informing anyone would lead to a continental dispute, but I'm afraid she's trying to prevent any involvement. I hope you take this threat as seriously as I do and bring me home, because here I feel that I can be kidnapped at any moment. I don't feel safe. I'm scared.

Your daughter,
Amaya

After breakfast, everyone went to their first lesson: geography. As Anna was once again sitting alone, and Elizabeth was now in the middle of an infestation of Theros nobles, Levi talked the group into sitting with the lone Imperial Princess. She was flustered by the sudden attention at first, but quickly felt more at ease. Professor Abigail started a lecture on the Amestou Archipelago, an archipelago to the west of Falmar, and also owned by Falmar, except for one island. The controversial Sunset Island was owned by Divinia. Laura had always believed it to be an economic move to prevent Falmar from making boats passing through the sea towards Diamond Beach (an important Divinian port city) pay toll for sailing through Falmarian Waters. If they really cared about Sunset Island, then perhaps it wouldn't have zero inhabitants.
"-and that is how the archipelago was born. Anna, do you know what the effect on the rest of the continent was in the years after this?" Anna nearly got a heart attack when she heard her name, and quickly read through her notes, which contained just a few words. It looked like she had been preoccupied with something else.
"Don't bother! Anna doesn't know anything about anything," something else shouted. Most of the other nobles from Theros laughed along with her.
"Elizabeth! I will not tolerate such behavior in the classroom, or anywhere else in this school! Leave this room and report to Principal Mary immediately!" Professor Abigail was probably the only teacher who was willing to call out Elizabeth, which immediately made her Laura's favorite. Elizabeth merely shrugged and shot Anna a glare before leaving the classroom. Why she was so confident despite having to report to the principal was anyone's guess.
"Let us return to our lesson," professor Abigail continued, "Anna?" She still had no idea what to say, and the fact that the remaining Theros nobles (except two, who had taken some distance) were whispering and laughing, clearly mocking Anna, wasn't helping.
"I... well... I... Uhm..." Anna was shaking and sweating, and Laura immediately got rid of any hatred she had left for the girl. She redirected it to Elizabeth, who had clearly used Anna as a pawn and had then thrown her away when she wasn't useful anymore. Anna turned around and ran out of the classroom with tears rolling down her cheeks. Laura and Astrid both turned their gaze to professor Abigail, who silently nodded. The two girls stood up and went after Anna.

Laura and Astrid just barely saw Anna head in the direction of the dorms and immediately went after her. Anna was apparently a natural athletic, because by the time the duo reached the dorm, Anna was already in her room. Astrid knocked on the door.
"Anna, can we come in? We want to help. It's just Laura and me." They waited for a response, but it stayed silent. Astrid took that as a sign of permission and entered the room. Laura quickly followed behind her. They saw Anna, laying on her bed, crying into a pillow.
"I'm so sorry about what happened... Elizabeth is the worst princess I've ever met," Laura tried to comfort her. Anna got up and looked at the two girls.
"W-Why are you helping me?"
"Because you're not a bad person," Astrid answered, "and we want to help you."
"How? E-Elizabeth hates me now..."
"Why?" Laura inquired.
"After the play, I asked her if she hadn't gone too far, since she was rude to all of you... She became so angry at me... I've never seen her like that. And then when Levi got angry at her, she blamed me and took it out on me... Now she only talks with the Theros nobles..." Anna sniffed.
"She's not a good person," Astrid said, "you should take some rest, turn in sick for the day, and tomorrow, you can sit with us."
"Us?"
"Astrid, Glen, Felix, Levi, and myself, of course," Laura clarified.
"R-Really? Thank you so much!" Anna exclaimed. She tightly hugged Laura and Astrid. The duo then left and almost ran into Elizabeth.
"Look where you're going!"
"You're supposed to be at the principal's office..." Astrid said.
"I just got back! The principal pardoned me."
"On what grounds? Insanity?" Laura asked. Elizabeth laughed in a mocking tone before going into her room.

The next morning, Laura and Astrid were waiting at their usual breakfast table for Anna to arrive. They hadn't told the boys about it, but the girls were sure they'd understand. Anna walked nervously into the cafeteria and made her way to the table upon seeing Astrid wave at her.
"G-Good morning!" Felix and Glen gave her a confused look, while Laura made room for Anna to sit down.
"Anna, I'm glad you're doing better," Astrid greeted her, "sit down, please." Anna nodded and sat down with her food.
"I see you're finally free of a certain tyrant," Levi smiled.
"We felt it best to take Anna under our wing," Laura explained.
"A smart decision."
"Indeed," Glen agreed, "your hair looks like a shining waterfall of honey. I'm so glad you're with us." Laura shot Glen a deadly glare.
"Don't mind him, Anna."
"Something else also happened yesterday," Astrid interrupted, "Elizabeth was pardoned by the principal!"
"Again?!" Levi shouted. Felix suddenly stood up. He was once again holding a letter.
"I have to go, please tell the teachers I'm sick." And he left the cafeteria. Just like that. As if that wasn't suspicious.
"I wonder what he's up to," Glen said. That was exactly what Laura was thinking. Between Felix's distrust of anyone but himself, his insistence in gathering proof alone, the mysterious letters, the fact that he was in the garden at the exact right time, and now this sudden departure... He was hiding something. The thought of him working with Elizabeth or Mary in secret was enough reason for Laura to stand up as well.
"I'm not feeling too well, I'm going back to my dorm. Astrid, can you tell the teachers I'm sick too?" Laura didn't even wait for a response before leaving the cafeteria and following Felix from a distance. She saw him leave the school and go into a carriage. Laura entered the next available carriage and asked the driver to follow Felix. He wouldn't keep anything hidden for much longer.