Quest of Automata King

Princess's Accusation

After lunch at mess hall, Class F are on their way for the afternoon class with Miss Chiro Ptera. She teach subject of potion and illussion, where her class is located at the northeast side of the building, on the third floor.

Emmellia putting her tray into the small loading bay installed at the wall of the hall. On top of it, there is a big notification: ‘Please put dirty tray here’. Whenever someone put their tray with used spoon, knife, and plate there, that loading bay is closed, and when it opened again, the rack is empty, as if everything that have been put inside is disappear with magic.

After finishing her lunch and put her used tray into the loading bay, Emmellia preparing for the next class. She checking up the books on her bag, to make sure that nothing is missed. Meanwhile, Betty have just finished her lunch, and going to put the tray to the loading bay rack.

“Please wait for me Emmellia, I won’t take long,” said Betty. Emmellia smiled and lean back on her seat. Betty quickly get up with the tray on her hand, and queueing on the line in front of the device.

Emmellia back to checking her bag when two shadows appear in front of him. One of them sitting on Betty’s place without permission, while the other one is standing menachingly.

Emmellia close her eyes with frustation, although he does not want to know or reply whoever rude person in front of him is. Emmellia’s eyeball are automaticaly alligned to whoever sitting at her eye level.

In front of her, the face of noble she knew very well, sitting with smug smile on his face. He sweep his golden hair proudly, something that he always do since they they are little.

“Challender? Aren’t you should hurry for the next lesson? I don’t see anyone else from class A,” said Emmellia without throwing her focus from the book.

“How cold!” replied Challender, he smiled widely, but for Emmellia that smile look like a mock for her.

“It doesn’t matter, the class this afternoon is a history and geographic lesson. It have nothing to do with physical strength and magic. Beside, we have learned it all since we are kid aren’t we? It started to get a bit boring.”

Emmellia glaring at Challender’s dry laugh. In his mind, Emmellia have imagine hudreds way of her slapping that face either by hand or magic. Of course she does not doing it, it will create too much commotion.

She change her focus to the other boy standing beside Challender. He have similiar build with Challender, with black short hair and red pupil. Just like Challender, Emmellia knew that person too, since they are little.

“What about you, Julius? Playing bodyguard for the future king?” she said sarcastically.

Julius who standing with his back turned tilt his head until Emmellia can see the corner of his eye. She knows that Julius is not the type that like to talk, he is an introvert that for some reason able to get along with Challender.

But since that day happened, Julius’s silent turned into something that can’t be ignored. His glare is cold, soulless, and deathly. Even until today, Emmellia can’t talk to him without forming some sort of mental defense.

“...If I’m playing bodyguard, then you are the one that played the queen isn’t it? Princess Emmellia?” he replied coldly.

Emmellia lift one of her eyebrow, showing a sign of question. She feels that Julius is much more intimidating than how he usually is.

Julius turned his back, and the ruby color of his eye is in full display. Julius starring at Emmellia deeply, just like a predator observing his prey.

“My apologize Princess, but we have heard from the teachers recently,” said Julius. “As a training to sharpen your leadership and royalty sense for a queen, you volunteer to become a representative for class F, while also being the teacher’s assistant for all kind of lesson.”

Julius paused for a moment, both he and Emmellia is exchanging glare. “Although it does improve the grades for the students that are lagging behind, there are no other indicators to show how better they have developed. Aren’t as queen, you suppose to make sure that your underlings are in top shape for every future matters?” asked Julius with a cold voice.

Emmellia let out a sigh, she put her bag at the chair beside, and answer that question.

“If I’m looking for the best of the best, I will not move from class A. As a leader, there is something else that I have to do other than make sure that all of my underlings are able to do their job,” Emmellia cross her arm in front of her chest, while she lean back with leg crossed. This time, she clearly shown an authorative aura, owned by leaders.

Julius squint his brow, “And what is that?”

“Giving them hope,” Emmellia simply replied.

“Hope?”

“Yes. Julius, do you know how much the percentage of success at Magusica?” asked Emmellia, Julius does not answer, but he clearly shown face that he don’t know.

“Students of class A have almost 70% success rate of progressing to the next year. That number keep dwindling for the other classes, until we reach class F,” she paused, and turning her attention for Challender beside who rarely pay attention for things that Emmellia said.

“Since the reopening three years ago, student of class F have the lowest rate of progressing to the next year. The system that put classes as mean to ranking the students aren’t helping either,” continue Emmellia.

“Then what you have to with this matter? Do you want to magically turned the system upside down?” Julius seems uncomfortable that Emmellia is showing her point.

There is pause for a moment before Emmellia continue, she looked at Julius with some sort of annoyed face.

“That is what I do. I become ‘hope’ for the most bottom of the community, just like Master Katta used to said.”

Julius squint his eyes, “Master Katta, that old knight from the previous world war?” he looked to the Challender, and he just nod his head with annoyed face.

Emmellia nodding, she then get up and taking her bag. Emmellia feels that there are nothing more to talk with those cocky people, so she would go get Betty first before proceeding to the next class.

“Heh! You say that bravely while in reality you’re just playing favorites are you?” said Julius as Emmellia walked away. Even Challender did not know what is getting to Julius, he tried to stops him, but Julius brushed him away.

“That Devil is pretty impressive huh? The first Devil to attend school of Magusica, imagine how much popularity you would make among those ‘bottom-barrell’ people,” said Julius mockingly.

Emmellia turned around, and return to the table.

“Did you guys did something to Mui?” asked her.

Julius did not answer, he glaring at Emmellia with arrogant eyes. Meanwhile, Challender let out a grunt, and then depressed sigh.

Emmellia walked back to her table and then slam it, but not too hard that everyone at the mess hall could heard.

“What did you do?” pushed Emmellia.

“Um... We’re just doing some little sparring with him...” said Challender unconvincing.

“I beat him to a pulp yesterday, He would not be able to get up this morning,” said Julius suddenly. Emmellia’s pupil widen an she held her breath.

Other than when Mui passed out in the middle of the class, this is the first time he does not show his face in the morning. After what happened yesterday too when Emmellia brushed off Mui’s question, she worried if her words are hurting him at some point.

Emmellia don’t care anymore about the two of them. With her bag on the shoulder, she walked toward the exit of the mess hall.

Julius looking at her for the last time, and shouting his accusation once more.

“See that? That is what called favoritism!” shout Julius.

“Oh, shut up, will you!?” Challender slap his friend’s shoulder, while Julius did not give any reaction whatsoever.

“I said that we’re just giving that Devil some friendly sparring aren’t we? Why did you even spill the milk to Emmellia? Of course she is going to worry about her pet!” said Challender angrily.

“It is better than hiding it,” said Julius coldly. “Less thing to worry about when that Devil decide to get out of the school.”

***

Emmellia hastily walking throughout the corridor, but she does not heading to the class. Instead, she head to the dormitory wing. She have never stepped into the boy’s dorm, but maybe if she ask permission to whoever person in charge is, she would manage to meet Mui.

Now, she started to feel terrible for what she have done yesterday. Emmellia does not have any problem Mui, but when he asked that question, sweat are rolling down her head.

“If you don’t like it, why don’t you stop?”

The question is so simple, yet it have anwers that are far more complex. Emmellia want Mui to understand that she can’t just stop whenever she feels like it. Since she was born, she have a duty as noble, especially because she is the next person for the throne.

“Princess! Please wait!” Betty catching her up from behind, but she keeps walking.

“Go ahead Betty! I have other thing to do first!” replied Emmellia.

“But Princess! Miss Chiro would be angry if we’re late for class! Aren’t you have volunteered to be the class assistant for the other students?” shout Betty.

Suddenly Emmellia stopped. What Betty said is right. She have said her commitment isn’t she? If she going to deny it for certain student, then she will swallow everything that she said to Mui yesterday.

“Let’s go back to the class?” asked Betty, she look kind of concerned with her young mistress’s condition right now. Emmellia nod and they going back to the direction they come for.

Unknown to them, there is someone behind the wall on the intersection in front of Emmellia. That man lean his shoulder, and looking to the other side of the wall while maintaining to hide his presence.

“Oh dear, that was close,” said him as he let out a sigh.

Mui never expected that he almost meet Emmellia in the middle of the way to the class. Right now, he does not want to be seen with this new body that will be very weird for everyone who know what Mui is actually look like.