I tamed the female lead

Chapter 18

I had to admit that I was getting used to Astéria being around me. Contrary to before when I would feel uncomfortable or agitated, I started feeling rather relaxed when she was around. I didn't really want to get used to her but I couldn't help it. For some reason she started being very nice to me and even if I thought that was really weird and did my best to stay on guard, she wasn't trying anything special. This was even weirder but she only greeted me and wished me a good day before going to her seat. Everyone noticed how strange her behavior was but asking her about it would be too weird.

Not daring to ask her, I asked my friends instead but they seemed to think that Astéria only wanted to become friends with me. Did Astéria ever get friends in the books? She only focused on Alastair and becoming his wife while the other students would all bully her. She never tried getting friends but now that she gave up on her plans of becoming queen, did she want to be my friend to gain something else? I was in a difficult position. I didn't know what she wanted from me by becoming friends and was scared that I would finish the same way as Alastair once she didn't need me anymore. It seemed I failed at not being noticed by her so should I make sure to always be useful? Or should I disappear one day to the other? Those were possible plans especially because I didn't plan on living as a princess all my life. Another one of my worries was that if I didn't want to become friends with her, she would get frustrated and take it out on me. Astéria was very patient but who knew how patient she really was?

I did ask Orange what I should do about this whole situation but she only told me to do whatever I wanted as usual. After multiple days of simple greetings from Astéria, I decided to talk to her. I took the initiative to greet her this time and waited for her in front of the classroom. She seemed really surprised by this and started blushing for some reason.

"Good morning, Astéria.

-Good morning! How are you today?

-I'm fine, thank you. What about you?

-I am suddenly feeling amazing.

-I am really happy to hear that. I had a question if you don't mind.

-Of course not. Go ahead.

-Would you like to eat with us today?"

Astéria frowned. I knew she never got integrated in a friend group before and I felt like it would be a good idea. I thought about what would happen to Orange if I did but for some reason I knew that Astéria wouldn't hurt her. Maybe I was dumb acting on a feeling but I couldn't do otherwise with Astéria. I had no idea what her plans were so I had to follow my gut. Even if Astéria did want to hurt Orange, I would protect her. I knew I could. If I was the one integrating her then I would have the upper hand in this relationship and that was vital.

"Us?

-My friends and I: Orange and Azore. They are really nice and we eat together every day."

Astéria seemed to hesitate for a second.

"I am really honored by the invitation and I would love to have a meal with you but maybe just the two of us for now. I wouldn't want to rush things."

I frowned:

"Why don't you want to eat with my friends?"

I knew Astéria wasn't shy. So what was her reason?

"I don't know them that well yet. I wouldn't want them to be uncomfortable."

She was lying. I thought Astéria was an amazing liar but this was obviously false. What was her problem with my friends? She didn't want to meet them. Why? I got really mad for some reason. Orange was an amazing person and anyone would be blessed to meet her. So how dared Astéria say she didn't want to? I got so upset that I didn't know what I was saying anymore:

"Is it because they aren't as rich as you?"

Astéria opened wide eyes but I was too angry to mind her reaction:

"Is that why you wanted to be only my friend? Because I am the only other princess here?

-No that's not...

-So the others don't count at all because they aren't as good as you? Is that why you don't want to meet them?"

I knew that I was overreacting but I was furious that she didn't want to meet Orange. Why didn't she want to meet Orange?

"Poehina...

-Forget it. My friends are way better off without you."

I left and didn't look back. I felt that Astéria couldn't stop staring at me throughout the whole day but fortunately she didn't dare approach me at all. I ignored her openly but the few times I saw her she looked like a sad puppy. She really looked like Astéria from the first book and I would have been very surprised if I hadn't been mad at her. However, I was way too angry to focus on anything. I couldn't calm down and disappeared to find Orange as soon as I could. I needed to externalize all of this and Orange was the only person I thought of.

I found her pretty easily and practically jumped her:

"Orange!"

My friend didn't react at all and waited for me to elaborate what I had to say:

"Astéria is just an egocentric..."

I almost said a bad word but held back at the last second. Wasn't I playing with fire here? Insulting the biggest boss of this world.

"Rah! She is driving me crazy.

-What happened?

-She had been acting really friendly towards me and remember me saying that I found this weird?

-Yes.

-I thought I would be nice and proposed to her to eat all together, you, Azore, her and me. But she really didn't want to and she seemed agitated for some reason. It didn't make any sense so I thought about everything that had been happening and maybe I was wrong, now that I think about it I must have overreacted but I really felt like she didn't want to get to know you guys because you weren't as... How do I say this? You weren't princesses as us. I didn't understand why Astéria was being so nice to me since the beginning and only me but it makes sense this way."

Orange pinched her lips:

"What is it?"

Orange hated contradicting me but I could feel she didn't agree. I really wanted to hear her opinion but still felt I was right. I knew Astéria better than her having read the book. I knew that she was a snake and only did things that would be beneficial to her.

"You have been very nice to her. Maybe, I mean... Didn't she maybe want to be nice to you too?

-But that doesn't explain why she didn't want to meet you. That made me so angry. How could she not want to meet you? You are the most adorable person I know. She isn't shy. I know she isn't because I saw the way she interacted with people. So why else would she say no?"

Orange had no other hypothesis.

"I am not interested in this kind of friendship. If she had been honest from the start and told me that she just needed an alliance then it would have been better. How insulting."

Now that I had vented I started feeling better and Orange finally took her courage and said:

"I have something to confess."

I frowned:

"What is it?

-Please don't be mad. I just wanted the best for you and only lied because of that.

-You are starting to scare me.

-I was the reason why Astéria didn't want to eat with us all."

I was really surprised and didn't even know what to say. I didn't know that Orange ever talked to Astéria. How could she be the reason why Astéria didn't want to eat with her? I trusted Orange and knew whatever she did it was for my good.

"I told her that I didn't want her to get closer to us.

-When? I didn't know you guys talked.

-At the beginning when you said you were scared of her. I wanted her to leave you alone.

-Is that why she had been all awkward around me?

-I don't know. I just didn't want you to be scared.

-Of course. Thank you for thinking of me. I knew that she was acting weird but couldn't put the finger on it. She did try to get slowly closer to me I guess so I wouldn't be scared of her anymore.

-Did it work?

-I wasn't scared of her to begin with. She was just... Imposing. But I did get somewhat used to her I guess."

I signed.

"I feel so bad. I snapped at her when she literally just followed what you said."

I started scratching my cheek:

"I should apologize.

-I am sorry.

-No, you didn't do anything wrong, don't worry. I just feel bad for getting so worked up when I was wrong. I have to apologize. I'm sorry, Orange I have to go. I won't force her to eat with us if you don't want to but I will try being friends with her as an apology. I feel so bad..."