I tamed the female lead

Chapter 9

The next day I wanted to go out to sleep in the grass but was quickly found by the crown prince. I signed as he sat down next to me looking at the sky just as I did a few seconds before.

"You always liked the sky.

-And how do you know that?

-I have classes just next to this tree. It isn't the first time I saw you here and really liked your peaceful smile. I was quite jealous in fact.

-Of my smile?

-Yes. I had to go through neverending classes and never had the courage to do what I wanted. Yet you were outside and smiling as if you were exactly where you were supposed to be."

Alastair suddenly turned towards me and smiled:

"You are really brave."

I didn't like the way he said that sentence. Why did he pretend to know me so well? I felt bad but everything he did was horrible. I didn't know why but Orange was standing a few feet away with a plate in her hands. I jumped on the occasion to run away from Alastair and jumped up:

"There you are!"

I put my arm around Orange's shoulders and ran away with her. Alastair stared at us with cold eyes but I didn't have time for him.

"I am so happy you came. I really didn't have the energy to talk to him. And of course I am always happy to see you. What did you bring?"

Orange handed me the plate with a sweet smile. She loved to bake and cook for me and I loved to eat whatever she made. She was the best cook I ever met and I always jumped on her dishes. On the plate there were panda shaped cookies.

"That's adorable! I love it! Thank you so much!"

I kissed Orange on the cheek and didn't see how red she turned. I didn't have to bite into the cookie to know it was delicious but it was. I never ate such a delicious cookie in my entire life and I couldn't stop eating.

"Thank you so much, Angie. You are the best friend ever. I love your cookies. They are amazing."

Orange seemed very happy and she stared at me while I was eating. She loved feeding me for some reason but it was still awkward so I handed her the plate:

"Don't you want some too?"

She shook her head and handed me a cookie. Why did she like staring at me eating so much? I didn't understand but wasn't going to complain when I was getting free food.

"Yum. What did I do to deserve you?"

Orange said something but I didn't hear her.

"Anyway, are you ready for the sports festival?

-Yes. And you?

-Oh really? You seem confident, that's great! Of course you are going to be amazing. What did you sign up for?

-Swimming.

-Oh me too! Not only swimming but it's on my list.

-We can be together.

-Of course! But are you not sparring too? You are so good at it!

-I prefer not to join this year. It's too early.

-As you wish but I think you would be really good. Anyway, you should come see me spare.

-I would never miss that.

-Perfect. I am a bit stressed though. I know I am good but there are people who are better than me and even though I know that, it's still frustrating and I don't know if I am ready to lose to them.

-Who?

-Astéria."

Orange flinched.

"She is amazing. You should see her during class. I got paired up against her and if she were to attack me in real life I wouldn't have a chance.

-She would never attack you.

-You are cute Orange but you can never know those things.

-Why would she attack you?"

I shrugged:

"I don't know. It was just a hypothesis. I'm not going to do anything to make her mad in the future anyway. We are not even close enough for me to look at her so I should be fine.

-You are really scared of her.

-Not scared, no. I am just...

-Yes?"

I wasn't really scared of Astéria for some weird reason but I couldn't help thinking about the end of the book whenever she was around. I wasn't scared of her as a person but was terrified of the possible future. Astéria in the book was ruthless and she would torture people for anything. I didn't mind dying but was scared of pain. I endured pain really well but that didn't mean I wasn't scared of torture. Especially after reading the details in the second book. I didn't want to finish that way.

"Never mind. I am glad I was paired up with her because that means I am the only one who has a chance against her. That's a huge compliment.

-You could take her."

I started laughing:

"I love how confident you are in my capacities. You are so cute."

Orange of course started blushing. She was so adorable that I pinched her cheek before getting up:

"Speaking of which, I better head to sparring class. I have to train before sports day. See you after school?

-Of course."

Iris and Azore were waiting for me in the changing rooms and I smiled at them in a good mood.

"You seem rather happy today. I thought you would be more stressed about this class.

-Why would I be?"

Iris grimaced:

"Astéria is even more terrifying with a sword. If I had to face her again I would literally die right on the spot.

-That's an exaggeration.

-It isn't. I am so sorry I stole your pair.

-Don't worry about it. I really don't mind."

As we were talking I started changing and was about to take my shirt off but suddenly I felt someone stop between me and the girls. The next thing I saw was Astéria's back while she was staring at the girls. Iris immediately felt her legs give out and Azore wasn't any better now that Astéria was staring at her too. I quickly changed my shirt and jumped between them to calm the situation:

"Hi, Astéria! Are you ready to go?"

Astéria slowly looked at me and her eyes seemed to calm down a bit which was reassuring. The girls took advantage of the situation to run away and I turned back towards Astéria, my lips pinched. I couldn't help feeling bad. One I didn't want her killing me or even the girls because of our gossiping and two I really didn't want her to be bullied:

"I hope we didn't hurt your feelings. The girls didn't want to be against you in sparring but that's really a compliment because you are so good. Please don't take it the wrong way."

Astéria stared at me for a long time and I couldn't help shrinking back. Feeling me back away, Astéria finally spoke:

"Do you mind being against me?

-Not at all! I told the girls too. It is quite nice sparring against you."

Did I just see her blush? No, it must have been the lights.

"Nice?

-Yes. You are the strongest in the class so being your opponent is the best too. I promise.

-Do you think I'm stronger than you?

-I mean. It is quite obvious. But I don't mind. The stronger you are the better the feeling when I'll beat you. So you better give it your all because you are my motivation!"

I started laughing and seeing me all happy even Astéria smiled which was nice. I was relieved that she wasn't sad.

"Come on, let's go."

Astéria followed me without a world and for some reason she was even more terrifying today. Her attacks didn't stop and came from everywhere, not giving me time to even breathe. I didn't complain and did my best to keep up. I did but I didn't touch her once. Astéria on the other hand won all our exchanges but she never hurt me nonetheless. And after every exchange she would tell me what I didn't wrong. I listened to her and tried again. This was the hardest training I ever had and at the end I couldn't even stand.

I didn't want to get up and just stayed there. I closed my eyes and forgot that Astéria was still there staring at me. Despite being terrified of her, my friends came up to us to see if I was still breathing:

"Poehina? Are you okay?"

I didn't open my eyes and just grunted:

"Yes."

Iris signed:

"I thought she was dead."

This made me laugh and I immediately grunted:

"Don't make me laugh, please. I can't feel my abs."

Iris grabbed my hand to help me get up but for some reason she let go immediately after. I opened my eyes and saw that Iris was paler than usual. I didn't understand what happened and got up myself:

"Are you okay?"

Iris quickly nodded but we could see how terrified she was:

"Yes, yes."

I turned towards what she was looking at and saw that the person she was staring at was Astéria. I frowned not getting what had happened and shrugged before waving Astéria goodbye. I took the girls by the arm and we left. After changing I still couldn't feel my legs and only wanted to sit down and sleep but I still had to get home. I never was happier to have Orange come home with me. I was really glad that she was here to help me get home because without her I would have stayed on the grass. Orange of course loved helping me. She surrounded me with her arms and half carried me to my room. Now that she was so close I realized that she was a lot taller than I thought. When had she grown so much? I always thought she was smaller than me because she was always so silent.

Once in my room, Orange helped me lie down and I closed my eyes ready to fall asleep. But seeing me all tired, Orange frowned:

"You will be uncomfortable if you sleep without taking a bath first."

I signed:

"I know... But I really don't have the strength to do anything about it. Astéria is a beast. I never met anyone stronger than her. I feel like I'm going to die.

-What can I do to help?

-If you can't give me a bath then nothing unfortunately."

I started laughing as Orange became redder and redder. However I didn't think she would be so determined to help me. She nodded once and looked at me straight in the eyes:

"Okay."

This made me laugh even more.

"Wow I never saw you that serious."

I slowly got up:

"Don't worry I was just kidding. I wouldn't disturb you like that."