Lessons of the Nobility
1529 Words
Chapter Three:
The maid stood before the wooden wardrobe, then grasped its rusted handle and pulled it with a bit of force. The door let out a sharp creak before slowly swinging open. The wardrobe was old, covered in dust from every side, and its edges were lined with numerous cracks that showed it had not been replaced for many years.
The maid let out a short laugh as she looked over its meager contents, then shook her head mockingly, as though she took pleasure in seeing Princess Matilda's condition.
As for Matilda, she paid her no attention. Instead, she remained silently staring at her own reflection in the mirror. Her face was unusually calm, yet her eyes concealed a sorrow she had long since learned to bury deep within herself.
The maid pulled one of the dresses from the wardrobe. It was nothing more than an old, faded dress whose colors had worn away from countless washings. Torn threads hung from its edges, and small patches showed where one of the maids had tried to repair it sometime in the past.
Matilda no longer received new clothes from the Emperor, and the financial allowance granted to her barely covered her basic necessities. As a result, she had no choice but to wear the old garments she still had.
She silently put on the dress. It was obvious that it had become too tight after she had grown a little older. The sleeves had become noticeably short, while the fabric stretched tightly around her waist, making it stand out.
The maid smiled sarcastically as she looked Matilda up and down before muttering in a voice full of mockery,
"Even servants' daughters wear better clothes than these..."
Matilda gave no reply. She had grown accustomed to hearing such words every single day.
---
A few minutes later, she sat down for breakfast.
But that table was nothing like the lavish dining tables of the royal family.
The wooden table was old and cracked, with one of its legs broken and propped up by a small block of wood to keep it from collapsing. Upon it were only two small dishes. One held a piece of stale bread, while the other contained a thin soup that was almost devoid of ingredients, with only two small pieces of potato floating on its surface.
Matilda picked up her spoon and quietly began eating, showing no sign of dissatisfaction, as though she had long since grown accustomed to such meals.
When she had finished, she stood, straightened her old dress, and left her mother's wing, making her way toward the section of the palace reserved for the education of the princes and princesses.
The closer Matilda came to the classroom, the faster her heart beat, and the heavier her breathing became with anxiety. She knew exactly what awaited her inside, yet she continued walking until she stood before the large door.
She slowly pushed it open.
The moment she stepped inside, every eye turned toward her.
A brief silence fell over the room, followed by scattered laughter that quickly spread throughout the classroom.
Princess Katerina stepped forward confidently, pointed at Matilda's dress, and said mockingly,
"My goodness... what are you wearing? Did you just come from a beggar's house?"
Matilda lowered her head, clasped her fingers together nervously, and could not find the courage to answer.
Katerina moved closer, then suddenly slapped her across the face as she said angrily,
"When I'm talking to you... answer me."
Matilda placed a hand over her aching cheek and whispered in a trembling voice,
"I... I'm sorry..."
Before she could finish, Prince Nayef's voice rang out from behind as he mimicked her mockingly,
"I... I'm sorry... She talks like a newborn baby."
The rest of the princes burst into loud laughter, while Matilda shrank into herself, desperately trying to keep her tears from falling.
Queen Kanaria's children had always found entertainment in humiliating her, and their mother had never once tried to stop them. She merely watched in silence.
Suddenly...
The classroom door opened once again.
Princess Tenarin entered with confident steps, and the atmosphere in the room changed the instant she appeared.
The laughter stopped, and smiles spread across everyone's faces as they greeted her respectfully.
Katerina quickly stepped away from Matilda and walked toward Tenarin, attempting to start a conversation with her. Tenarin ignored her completely, shoved her aside, and continued walking toward the front of the classroom.
Only then did everyone notice the thick iron chain she held in her hand.
The chain stretched out behind her...
And Prince Kylian was walking, bound by it.
Whispers spread throughout the classroom, mingling with mocking laughter, while Kylian continued walking in silence without raising his head or looking at anyone.
Tenarin sat proudly in the front seat, while Kylian stood beside her as though he were nothing more than a servant waiting for his mistress's orders.
As for Matilda...
She could not take her eyes off him.
The sunlight streaming through the window reflected off his black hair, emphasizing its quiet sheen, while his black eyes remained alert despite the obvious exhaustion written across his face. The bruises that had once covered his dark skin were still visible, though they had begun to fade gradually thanks to a werewolf's natural healing abilities.
For a brief moment, Kylian raised his head.
His eyes met Matilda's.
She immediately became flustered, yet she could not look away at once.
As for him, he regarded her with nothing more than a cold, piercing stare, one that carried unmistakable rejection of all the sympathy she tried so hard to hide.
Matilda quickly lowered her head and fixed her gaze on the blackboard.
At that moment, their instructor entered—the Count Albert Castmer.
He stood before the blackboard and began explaining the history of the Kingdom of Cristallo, speaking about its ancient civilization and the development of its magic, until Tenarin raised her hand and asked,
"Professor... if our kingdom surpasses all others in magic and spellcraft, why don't we simply wipe out the Kingdom of Gallus once and for all?"
Albert smiled calmly before replying,
"Power is not measured by magic alone, Your Highness. Gallus is the homeland of the werewolves, and its military strength still surpasses that of Cristallo."
A look of displeasure crossed Tenarin's face, but she said nothing further.
At the end of the lesson, the teacher assigned everyone a short exercise based on what he had taught.
Every prince answered correctly...
Except for Tenarin.
Her mistake was not genuine.
It was intentional.
According to the rules of royal education, the accompanying servant was required to receive the punishment in place of their master.
Kylian stood quietly where he was as the prescribed punishment was carried out on him before everyone.
Silence filled the classroom for a few moments. His face remained expressionless, as though he had endured pain for so long that he no longer allowed it to show.
Tenarin watched the scene with a satisfied smile, while several of the princes laughed mockingly.
As for Matilda, she felt her heart tighten painfully. More than once she nearly stood up to object, but fear and her low status within the palace left her frozen in place. All she could do was lower her head and bite her lip in silence.
---
As the lesson came to an end, the princes and princesses hurried out of the classroom, chatting and laughing among themselves.
Matilda, however, deliberately remained where she was until the classroom was completely empty.
All she wanted was a few moments to speak with Kylian.
She approached him with hesitant steps, clearly hearing the pounding of her own heart.
He was still standing exactly where Tenarin had left him, without moving.
Stopping in front of him, she spoke in a soft voice filled with apprehension,
"Excuse me... Your Highness... I think you should go to the infirmary and receive treatment."
Silence hung between them for a few seconds.
Then Kylian burst into laughter.
The sound of his laughter echoed throughout the empty classroom, but it was not the laughter of joy. It was bitter and mocking, concealing profound resentment.
He looked at her with scorn and said,
"The infirmary?"
He shook his head with a sarcastic smile.
"I never imagined there could be someone so naive in this palace."
Matilda's face flushed with embarrassment, but even so, she hesitantly reached out, trying to check on him.
Before her hand could touch his shoulder, he knocked it away with a sharp movement that forced her to take a step back, clutching her wrist.
He looked at her with eyes filled with anger and said firmly,
"Don't come near me."
Then he added in a low but cutting voice,
"And don't ever try to speak to me again."
His breathing began to quicken, and his fingers tightened around the iron chain with force, while an anger settled over his face that seemed to conceal something far deeper than mere hatred.
As for Matilda, she remained standing where she was, silently looking at him, unable to understand the reason for the wall he insisted on building between them.
- Writer
