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CHAPTER XIV

The Announcement

“Cenedy, do you know me?” Asks the woman who’s sitting by the tree, next to me.

I can't take my eyes off from staring at her yellow irises. I even reach for her white hair. It’s so soft and silky, as if each strand seems to be glittering.

“Who are you?” My voice sounds younger. I also just notice that I have my long hair again, very similar to my eleventh year's.

She won't answer me. She just smiles while looking at me. She picks a lilac colored flower from the same tree that we're resting at and pa.s.ses it to me.

“I’m a part of you Cenedy, same as you are a part of me.”

 I am confused with what she said.

“In time, Cenedy… very soon.”

I wake up from my dream with tears in my eyes. Why am I crying?

That dream. It’s much detailed compared before. That dream―I don’t know if it’s just a dream or not.

I just know that that woman is the First Mistress. So, it's the Mistress I’ve been dreaming since I was a child.

I don’t need any explanation to understand anything. But should I really believe it?

Unknowingly, without me realizing, my hand already reaches for my phone. I carelessly dial for Daniel’s number.

Krriinngg…

Krriinngg…

“h.e.l.lo.” I hear a happy voice over. I could even hear the music from the other line.

“How are you? Where are you now?” I ask Daniel.

I want to cry. I want to wail all my grievances to him but I feel guilty. He had enough of hards.h.i.+p because of me.

“I'm having a dinner with her.”

I think he is referring to his fiancée. They’ve been together for years. I think they are already such a perfect couple.

It’s not the right time to tell him what’s happening with me. I want him to be happy with the woman he loves.

“Tell her I said hi. I just called to ask how you’ve been.” I try to sound cheerful but it seems he could still tell that there’s a problem.

“I know there’s something you’re not telling me.” His voice sounds serious now.

“I can’t really hide anything from you. But I can handle this; such small things. I can manage this.” I lie. I just don’t want to ruin their moment together.

“You’re really a big girl now.  Remember, if there’s any problem you can’t handle just call me.” I hear the voice of his fiancée saying regards to me from over the other line.

“Oh, I’ll hang up now. You just enjoy there. And please Danny use protection.” I hear Daniel’s loud laugh after.

“Okay, I love you.”

“I love you too Danny, always.”

I lie on my bed and stare at the ceiling. I decided to paint stars on it last night and since Clover helped me, we're able to finish it immediately.

I’m used to hiding what I’m feeling inside. But from all these events happening around me, I just want to burst out. I don’t even have someone to talk to. I want to cry and just escape from everything.

“Cenedy Aceil.”

I rise from the bed. It’s Sugar in his child form, together with Sade.

“It has been days since I last saw you. You didn’t even check on me.” Sade pouts.

Because I've been brooding about so much I forgot this child. I touch her hair. This is what I like to do the most because her hair is so silky.

“I’m sorry. I was just thinking about things.” She suddenly holds my arm.

“You had a wound right here. What happened?” She asks me childishly. How can she tell? I bet it's one of her powers again. Sugar simply looks at us.

“I just stumbled.” I smile. They seem to believe what I said.

“Could you please leave us, Sade? We just have something to talk about.” Sugar speaks in a serious tone. Sade seems to understand how serious Sugar is so she just agrees.

“Whatever you say, old man,” as Sade goes to the door, leaving the two of us, Sugar and I, in the room.

“Why are you here?” Are they not going to give me a bit of rest from them? So much for the Majes. I’m now starting to feel irritated.

“So you met the First Mistress.” I raise my head at his question.

“Uh huh?” I don’t know what he's saying, who he's referring to. Did I meet someone new today?

“The one who healed your wound.” He says shortly while his hands are in his pockets.

I didn’t utter a word.

I have too many things to think about.

I want to sleep the whole day.

And forget everything.

“Are you here because of that?”

“Uh… no, actually I want to ask some personal questions.” Fear suddenly envelopes me. I feel like I turn deaf at what he said. Are they suspecting me now?

“Relax! I won’t force you. I just want to see if you want to talk about it since no one asks you.” he says.

He’s right; no one dares to ask me, not even Clover nor Rhoanne. I'm previously a.s.sured that no one will ask because I’m only a Scape. I feel even more suspicious now.

“What do you think Cenedy? You’ve been with Clover for a long time now. Why isn't she asking anything?” What is he trying to say? Is he saying that Clover knows something about me?

“Wh―what are… you trying to say?” I can’t help feeling anxious at what he's saying. It’s bothering me so much.

“Nah… not much. I’m just here to give you some advice… Don’t trust anyone.” He seriously looks at me, leaving me looking at empty s.p.a.ce. Does Clover know something?

Oh, good Lord!

“Today is the main event of the foundation of the school. I want you to be there.”

I'm not able to hear the last words he said. My mind is stuck on the thought that Clover knows everything all along. Somehow, I feel betrayed.

I don’t know what to feel right now. If she'd known, why didn’t she say anything to me?

“Cenedy, what are you doing? We're going to be late! There’s a program now in the Great Hall.“

Clover just suddenly appears in front of me. Does she really know? Should I ask?

What am I do?

“Cen… Cenedy, are you okay? You’re s.p.a.cing out again.” She says in full concern. Am I seeing it correctly? Is she really concerned or is it all just an act?

“Uh… yes, I’m just wondering because previously it's not compulsory to attend this.”

I don’t really care about the event. I just said it so that she won’t ask.

“Uhm… you’re right. From what I heard, it’s about our First Mistress.” I look at Clover. The Mistress?

“Huh… The Mistress?” I stutter. What is it about the Mistress?

“Why are you so shocked?”

“No―nothing.” I'm about to turn from her, but I really want to hear if she knows something about me.

“Clover,” I speak in a soft voice.

“Uh… huh?” She stops and faces me.

“Have you been looking up about my past?” I decided to directly ask her. I already had enough thinking and I need to face them now.

It's been a while before she answers. Her eyes are looking around the room, as if looking for the right words to say to me.

“As much as I want to, Cenedy. I want to know you; ever since we met and when we talked about our childhood memories, you always changed the topic. That’s why I know that you don’t want to talk about it. I’m just waiting for you, Cenedy.”

I’m so guilty at what I heard. I become too paranoid. To think, it's been four years since we met each other. I’m so selfish.

But it’s the only way to keep herself safe. It’s better that she knows nothing.

***

All of the students are inside the Great Hall. The Great Hall is divided into two areas, for Gein and Sveta. Even inside the hall, there are indicators where you should belong. For me, it's neither of the two; I know that I don’t belong even if I’m wearing the Gein's uniform.

The hall is full of whispers. Everyone wonders why it becomes compulsory to attend. Last time I check, if they say it's compulsory then they are going to announce something important.

“Thank you, students, for coming this early in the morning." Said by a voice from the stage of the Great Hall.

In the center of the stage, there are seven people that I haven't seen before sitting comfortably. The faces of those people up there are all unfamiliar, except for Claude, Rhoanne, Aiden, Victoria, Preceptor Louie and the Headmaster.”

“Aren’t they the Hiso?“

(AN: HISO - short term for High Society)

“Why are they here?”

“Is the Academy in danger?”

“The Head of Hiso is Victoria’s father, right?”

Those are the whispers in the surrounding. And so, they really are the Hiso.

“Silence. We are not going to beat around the bush. This is a very important announcement.” Everyone suddenly turns quiet.

“Cenedy, do you know that the one sitting in the middle is Victoria’s father? From what I heard, he’s grouchy.”

I've almost forgotten that Clover is sitting beside me. I look at the person she’s referring to.

Victoria’s father is in the mid-40s, that’s why a few white hairs on his head are noticeable. By simply looking at his face, no one would want to do something wrong in front of him.

“We are here to announce who is the First Mistress’s other half.” My eyes widens at the person who's talking. Other half?

“We have been protecting her for a long time along with the Majes. We're forced to announce this to all of you because the Academy is in danger, especially the Mistress.”

I look at Claude, and he is also looking at me. I can’t read what he's thinking right now. He stands there, without any expressions.

“The person I’m talking about, the Mistress’s other half, is Victoria Sein Grawn and her lead protector is Claude Vyel Cynnvoc.”

Claude holds Victoria’s hand and they walk to the center of the stage.