《The Rising of the Black Lotus》 A great entrance for the best guests Everyone at the Card Academy could only talk about one name, whether it was good or bad comments, it was always that name. That person could be none other than Annabell Prynrius, the youngest daughter of the White Queen. This day marked her arrival at the Academy, the beginning of the three best years of her life, or so people said. The Academy was considered the best place in all Wonderland, guaranteeing a glorious future and providing the best memories for its students, even if some memories were not so clear. The Academy was founded after the Great War of Colors, when the two kingdoms fought a war that lasted for years. It was founded with the sacrifice of the former rulers and various soldiers, whose souls merged with the structure of the castle, giving it a kind of life. The goal of the Academy is to minimize the chances of another war. People claim that the Academy encourages healthy rivalry among students and allows them to coexist, forgetting their differences. The Card Academy became a place where only the best from the kingdoms would have the right to enter. At 18 years old, if you were deemed worthy, you would receive a letter and your name would appear on the huge list of freshmen in front of the building. People didn''t know the criteria used to classify the "best from the kingdoms" but if your name appeared on the list, it could completely change your life. Annabell''s name was the first to appear on the list. For half of the school, it was a huge relief, but this joy was short-lived. Seconds later, another name emerged. Ezariel Filandry, one of the strong candidates to assume the position of the Jack of Hearts, responsible for the military organization of the Kingdom of Hearts. The Jack of Hearts was considered a threat to the White Kingdom, being the strongest, fastest, most agile, and intelligent. Moreover, the Jack was the only one who could declare war or peace in the Kingdom of Hearts. People from the White Kingdom often say, "Ezariel is a beast." There are rumors that he kills without hesitation if someone becomes a nuisance to him, the outcome won''t be pleasant. Annabell and Ezariel were loved in their kingdoms, but in the opposite kingdom, the situation was different. In the Kingdom of Hearts, Annabell was hated, seen as a spoiled and incompetent princess. In the White Kingdom, Ezariel was feared. Both of them caused joy and dissatisfaction, and both kingdoms would have important representatives at the Academy. Everyone believed that both of them would go to the dormitories of their respective kingdoms. The last time the school was so excited was 4 years ago when Annabell''s brothers were welcomed to the Academy. One of the two would be the future King of the White Kingdom, so it was obvious that this would cause a huge commotion. Annabell, even though she wasn''t a strong candidate to assume the throne, had a reputation as great as her brothers''. ... ?¦¸??¦¸??¦¸??¦¸??¦¸??... All the seniors were gathered at the castle entrance, and the enormous avenue leading to the castle was empty, as the students were on the lawn. Decorations in black, white, gold, and silver surrounded the entire castle. Students painted in the colors of the dormitories, flags, and balloons scattered everywhere. The ceremony, usually just a formality, was different this year. Because of the two special guests, the organizers of the ceremony decided to do something different. It would be a grand event, a grand entrance, unlike any opening scene in all the years of the Academy. "As everyone knows, this year''s opening ceremony is going to be different. We will have a parade of our newcomers, with two extremely important figures! In addition, of course, to our traditional dormitory selection ceremony" the headmistress said excitedly. A huge smile adorned the woman''s lips. The students cheered enthusiastically. "Open the gates!" the headmistress''s voice echoed throughout the space. The gates were opened, and a huge red carpet stretched along the avenue. Fireworks with the emblems of the dormitories began to appear in the sky, colorful birds flew, releasing white and red smoke. On the right side of the enormous avenue, a woman began to walk. She was simply stunning. The woman wore a white dress with small silver embroidered flowers and scattered shimmer. The silver details outlined her waist, forming a V-shape at the front of her body. The upper part of her shoulders was exposed, and the sleeves were wide without any kind of detail. The silver lining connected the sleeves to the dress, tracing the neckline. Her white hair reached her waist, with small curls forming at the ends, adding volume. On top of her head, she wore a crown with few details. Her makeup was striking and enhanced her beauty, though not extravagant. The most attention-grabbing feature was her lips painted in a bold red, adding a touch of aggressiveness to her gentle appearance. Her brown eyes conveyed kindness and immense joy. She never stopped smiling for a second. Annabell felt like she was in a magical moment, but it wasn''t as "amazing" as she had imagined. In fact, it was a bit intimidating. She would be staying in that Academy for five years. She could only speak to her parents on special occasions, and vacations lasted only one week. Sometimes she felt like she was going to some kind of prison. She didn''t let her thoughts show. She continued to smile and thank the people. Everyone believed that the Academy was the best option, and she had to go along with that idea. After all, Annabell believed in it too. "Stop smiling so much, it looks like your face is going to tear apart" Annabell resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She turned her face and looked at the redhead on the white horse. "It''s annoying" she had spent nearly 2 hours next to that man. Every comment he made was unbearable. The man had a fierce appearance, and compared to the princess, his attire was simple. He wore a black and red leather coat with golden details that accentuated his lines. Around his waist, there was a large black belt that marked the region. His vivid red hair was messy. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. "If you tried to smile, you wouldn''t be so unbearable" Annabell looked back at the people celebrating their arrival. Neither of them spoke until they reached the stairs that led to the castle entrance. Ezariel dismounted from the horse and gave a smug smile to the princess. The redhead looked at the princess''s dress and then back at her. "Can''t you climb the stairs? You should call one of them, they''re dying to do a favor for the lovely princess" his sarcasm was evident. When they were getting ready for the grand parade, the headmistress suggested that Ezariel help Annabell climb the stairs as a way to show that the Academy would unite the kingdoms. Annabell took a deep breath and held up the skirt of her dress, pulling it slightly upwards as she began to climb the stairs. Her steps were slow and confident. She knew Ezariel wouldn''t help her, and she didn''t need anyone for that. "If you keep standing there like a post, it will be you who requires help. They''ll think you''ve soiled your pants and given up on the Academy" Annabell spoke loudly enough for Ezariel to hear, amidst the noise and excitement of the students. No one would notice this small interaction. When they both reached the top, behind them, an enormous dragon began to soar. It was made of white and red energy threads. The dragon flew and interacted with the people. Ezariel and Annabell turned around, bowing to the students as a way of thanking them for their presence. The dragon flew towards them, and just as it was about to collide with them, the dragon exploded, causing red and white flowers to rain down from the sky. The headmistress opened a huge smile. She embraced each of them before speaking with enthusiasm. "It is a great honor to welcome these two great representatives. Annabell Prynrius, from the White Kingdom, and Ezariel Filandry, from the Kingdom of Hearts. We know it''s not easy to get here, but know that all this effort will be rewarded!" The students began to applaud. "It''s a highly anticipated moment for everyone, and no one can explain the immense excitement of receiving both of you. This year will be filled with new stories, but before we embark on the journey of our future students, some announcements need to be made." "This year, the Wonderland Cup will take place, where a representative from each dormitory will be chosen to compete in this marvelous event and bring pride to their dormitory! Alongside our traditional dormitory competitions" one of the teachers responsible for the school''s events said excitedly. "Now, let''s allow Annabell and Ezariel to say a few words" the headmistress said. A table with a microphone appeared in front of Annabell, decorated with various white flowers and silver vines. "I don''t even know how to express my gratitude for this wonderful reception. I was extremely happy when I found out that my name was the first on the list! Many expect great things from me, and I hope to meet their expectations" she waved to some students. "And thank you to the Yellow Sea Dormitory for organizing this incredible event!" Most of the students started applauding and cheering. The headmistress waited for the students to calm down before moving the microphone. Now, the table was decorated with hearts and spades cards. Silence spread throughout the entrance of the castle. Ezariel leaned on the table, releasing a low laugh. "I thank you for the reception. I commit to doing my best to bring pride to the Kingdom of Hearts and prove that things will be different. This time, victory will be ours!" The crowd''s cheer was enthusiastic, almost like a battle cry. Seeing the excitement of the students, the headmistress decided to intervene. She snapped her fingers, and a strong wave passed through the students, making them quiet down. "Let''s begin the selection of the dormitories. Everyone will be taken to the Arena Theater." Don''t be fooled, people didn''t walk to the Theater. With a simple wave of magic, everyone was transported to the Theater. The place was entirely open, and the sound of birds could be heard. Just like the entrance of the castle, the Theater was fully decorated, but the colors were divided. Each one represented a dormitory. In the center of the Arena, there were four broken pillars with objects on top. The first one was a White Lotus flower. On the second, a Black Rose. The third one held two Joker cards. Finally, there was a painting of a Yellow Sea. These were the symbols that gave origin to the names of the dormitories. The headmistress began to speak about the importance of choosing the right dormitory. Regardless of what is imposed by family and friends, your dormitory should be your own choice, free from external influences. Selecting the right dormitory meant finding your home. The director began speaking about the importance of deciding the right dormitory. Regardless of what is imposed by family and friends, your dormitory should be your own choice, free from external influences. Selecting the right dormitory meant finding your home. "Which dormitory will the little princess decide?" he leaned towards her. "For someone who can''t stand me, you sure talk to me a lot" she pointed at him and chuckled softly. "It''s hard to endure all this nonsense in silence. Talking to you is better than listening to her, at least you don''t talk about unity and peace between the kingdoms" the redhead made a disgusted face. "Let''s begin with Annabell Pynrius!" The girl widened her eyes when she heard her name, having stopped paying attention to the speech. The headmistress extended her hand towards her and then pointed to the altars. Annabell walked slowly towards the altars. She could still hear her father''s voice recounting the meaning of each symbol. "The first one is the White Lotus. It represents our Kingdom. We are widely recognized for our arts and kindness. Although most people are from our kingdom, some residents from the Kingdom of Hearts takes the risk, as well as other people without a kingdom. Everyone is welcome." "The second one is the Black Rose. It represents the Kingdom of Hearts. They say that everything ends with them, so they chose the Black Rose as their symbol. They are skilled in battles and strategy. Furthermore, they are not very receptive to people from our kingdom. If someone from the White Kingdom enters there, they must prove themselves worthy." "The third one is the jokers. They have no side, always seeking their own benefit. They are not very trustworthy, but if any of them swears loyalty to you, do not doubt it, they do not lie about that. They are excellent in magic, with a strong connection to nature." "And lastly, the Yellow Sea. Nobody really understands them, they''re just there. Most of them support our Kingdom, they are very lively and friendly, but they also hold a lot of grudges. They are responsible for the events of the Academy." "Don''t worry about what others say, when deciding your Dormitory, pick the place where you will be happiest. It''s your life, my daughter." Annabell smiled at the fond memory. She approached the altars and held the knife next to the flower. She made a small cut on her finger, and a drop of blood fell onto the white petal. "Princess Annabell of the White Lotus Dormitory!" The applause resounded. Birds began to sing, and little fairies flew towards the princess. A glow enveloped the woman, and her clothes were replaced by a more comfortable skirt and blouse set. Her hair was now in a half-up bun with butterfly clips scattered throughout. Throughout the whole process, Annabell couldn''t hide her joy and surprise. Always inconvenient The members of the White Lotus Dormitory began to celebrate, hugging each other and cheering, showing complete excitement in welcoming Annabell. Annabell looked towards the area where the White Lotus students were gathered and started walking towards them. Everyone tried to talk to her and congratulated her on her choice. Annabell thanked the people and tried to make her way through them, looking for a place to sit. She climbed the steps of the bleachers, being careful not to stumble as she bumped into someone. When she found a seat, people crowded even closer, and the princess tried to ask them to move away and sit down, but none of them seemed to listen. In the midst of the crowd, a boy with brown hair started pushing people aside, urging them to sit down. Most of them complained, but seconds later, they complied with his requests. Annabell thanked him with a nod of her head, and just as she was about to speak, the director announced that it was Ezariel''s turn to choose. Ezariel didn''t take long to decide. As soon as the director said he could choose, he headed towards the Black Rose. Unlike Annabell, who had been careful when using the knife, he simply cut his palm without any concern, creating a deep gash. Blood began to drip onto the rose and trickle down the pillar''s stone. Black mist started to envelop Ezariel''s body, but his expression remained unchanged. He didn''t seem surprised by what was happening. Ezariel didn''t undergo many changes in his appearance, although the golden details on his clothing disappeared, and a black-bladed sword appeared in his hands. The students of the Black Rose Dormitory began celebrating Ezariel''s arrival. They all went towards the redhead and welcomed him with huge hugs. The ceremony of choosing dormitories passed in a flash. Annabell couldn''t remember the names of the people who entered her dormitory. During events, her siblings always helped her with the names of important individuals. Annabell was relieved to finally have a conversation that went beyond superficial topics and her brothers. While she loved talking about her siblings, they weren''t there with her. The majority of those long conversations revolved around her brothers, and in those moments, Annabell wished she could disappear. "Hi! I''m Diana, and this is Rosalia!" a girl with blue hair spoke, smiling. Annabell had a faint impression of having seen her during the dormitory selection. "Our room has an available bed. So, if you''d like, you''re very welcome to join us! If you prefer your brothers'' old room, we''ll understand!" Two girls approached Annabell, both wearing friendly expressions, but the brunette-haired one seemed more enthusiastic. They had a similar appearance, and if Annabell were to guess, she would say they were sisters. Annabell was surprised and happy about the invitation. She hadn''t expected people to invite her. It seemed as though everyone had already assumed she would stay in her brothers'' old room. She was somewhat amazed by their courage. "I think it''s perfectly fine to share the room," the princess''s voice was as gentle as a summer breeze. Annabell opened a wide smile. "That''s great! Di! I have to tell Mom!" Rosalia stood up, ready to run off, but she was held back by her sister. "Alright! Take a deep breath," she looked at Diana, giving her a thumbs-up sign with her hands. "We just arrived like you! We''re sisters... I think that''s pretty obvious!" Diana pointed to their faces and then burst into laughter. If it weren''t for their different hair colors, Annabell wouldn''t know which one was which. Behind the two girls, Annabell noticed a different commotion¡ªa brown-haired boy, the same one who had helped her with the crowd. He put a finger to his lips, and in the next second, his hands were on Rosalia''s shoulders, startling her. "I''m Gael! Responsible for welcoming the princess! I''ll inform you about everything you need to know about the Academy and our dormitory!" He sat down next to Annabell and waved to the twins, who responded in kind. "Important information: in the dormitory, the ''authority'' is the dormitory chief, and unfortunately, the guy is a complete tyrant. Meet Lucas!" He pointed to a blond-haired boy in the midst of the students. Lucas seemed like a spoiled child, the perfect embodiment of that word in Annabell''s eyes. He was short, impeccably dressed in tight clothes, with absolutely shiny blond hair and a stuck-up nose. "For some reason, the Academy thought it was a good idea to put him, so his name appears on the List as the Dormitory Chief," Gael rolled his eyes. "If he says something, obey him. Hopefully, he''ll step down from this cursed position soon!" "The Academy? I thought they only selected the students," Annabell''s voice carried a hint of shock and confusion. "Oh! That''s a common mistake. The List is a way for the Academy to communicate, and the announcements are also made by the Academy! Since the goal is to maintain peace, it''s better to have a neutral person in charge! The director only exists as our physical representative," Annabell blinked several times, processing the information. Gael continued, "We''re still trying to understand how Lucas managed to become the dormitory chief and stay in that position. That guy is completely nuts! The Academy''s sense of what makes a good dormitory chief must be a bit confused," Gael shook his head. "Another important point: the uniform! It''s not exactly mandatory, but it follows a color pattern, pastel tones and white! Registrations for teams and clubs start next week, and... welcome to the best dormitory in the entire Card Academy!" Gael finished speaking and struck an exaggerated pose with his arms open, releasing confetti from his hands. He stayed in that pose for a few seconds before starting to clap. "We won''t have to worry about a boring dormitory chief for long. Princess Annabell will soon take over the position!" Rosalia spoke with a proud smile. "I give it 5 months!" Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. "The people in the dormitory are saying 3 months! Dominick bet it will be less than a month," Gael put his hand on his own chin. Annabell smiled upon hearing Dominick''s name. She wondered where he might be; she didn''t see him during the entire ceremony. "I agree with the people in the dormitory. I think Dominick is crazy to think it will be within a month. Either way, we''re lucky to have the princess as our dormitory chief! If only she were the eldest, we''d be so fortunate. When she gets married, I''ll move to the small Kingdom she rules," Annabell widened her eyes and shook her hands, trying to get Gael to stop talking, but it only made him speak even more excitedly. "I''m not all that, don''t talk nonsense!" Annabell stood up and looked around. Most people were engaged in their own conversations and self-observations. When they noticed Annabell looking at them, the students waved excitedly. The princess smiled awkwardly and waved back, then turned to Gael. "Can we go out and explore the Castle?" She suggested, wanting to get away from the crowd of people. "Sure, if we''re lucky, we might come across some course demonstrations. If we''re unlucky, we''ll be bothered by the Black Rose," Gael grumbled in frustration. "At least that hothead was the second one to be chosen. The first victory is ours!" "Celebrating a victory too early is the first sign of your defeat," a female voice with a hint of teasing and disdain said. "Princess, be careful not to die from blood loss," the bald woman made a fake crying face. Annabell didn''t bother paying attention to the people. What caught her attention was the red dot in the midst of the crowd. Ezariel seemed to have turned and walked away, dragging the crowd along with him. "No matter where you go, people from the Kingdom of Hearts will always be unbearable," Diana let out a long sigh and ran her hand over her face. "Did someone from the Kingdom of Hearts join our dormitory?" "Not this year. Outside of the White Kingdom, only people from smaller or unaffiliated Kingdoms. Same old, same old," Gael shrugged, not really caring about it. "People from the Kingdom of Hearts rarely come here, and even if they did, it wouldn''t make a difference." "We should accept everyone and promote unity!" The four of them looked at each other after speaking in unison. That was the most heard phrase when someone was accepted into the Academy. "Our father used to say that every day. Before I left home, he said it at least 50 times. I thought I would go completely crazy," Diana laughed, and Rosalia nodded in agreement. "Father said it 50 times? Mom said it at least 100 times, just yesterday!" The small group began walking through the enormous castle. Gael spoke about every detail with great enthusiasm. He knew the name of every painting hanging on the walls. The decoration was simple and unremarkable, and Annabell was starting to find the place boring. If the dormitories were like this, it would be the biggest disappointment of her life. "As I affectionately call it, this is the boring side of the school! No fights, no arguments, we must act like old friends. It''s all a bunch of nonsense, just so we can show the rest of the world that we live harmoniously," Gael pointed to the door at the end of the corridor. "That''s where the school starts to get fun." The door was enormous and completely black, with each dormitory symbol carved into the wood, and above it, a huge phrase read, "The peace of all Kingdoms." Rosalia looked suspiciously at the door and stopped walking, gripping her sister''s arm. Annabell looked at them, and Diana began pulling her sister closer to the door. When they got close enough, the door swung open. The neutral and dull colors faded away in the front corridor, replaced by a vibrant array of colors, and the decoration became interesting and even strange. Crooked furniture, tables in the middle of the corridor, swords, dresses, and anything you could imagine. Despite being a complete mess, it was an organized and enjoyable mess. Flags representing the dormitories were scattered all over the ceiling. "This is where things get fun. Competitions, fights, arguments¡ªalmost anything is allowed as long as it fits within the ''healthy rivalry'' of the Academy. Of course, we can''t forget the most important rule: no deaths!" Gael pointed to the girls and turned to continue walking. "That''s the least important thing. As long as nothing serious happens, everything will be fine." There was a diverse crowd of students gathered in the corridor, all of them looking excited. Annabell looked inside the rooms with curiosity, observing the various activities taking place. She mentally noted the rooms she would revisit in the near future. "This is the sword room, where the greatest excitement lies. At least within the castle," Rosalia raised her hand eagerly, and as Gael nodded, she began to speak. "Currently, there are two legendary competitors. Dominick, representing our dormitory, and Eros, representing the Black Rose. They rarely fight, but when they do, it''s an exhilarating event!" Rosalia spoke with great enthusiasm. Gael looked surprised at the girl. "That''s right, and..." "Out of the five matches I had with Eros, I won three. So the Lotus dormitory remains the champion and the owner of this room," Annabell heard a different but familiar voice. She looked up and saw a face she knew well. "The last time I saw you, you were 16 years old and dreaming of coming to this school," Annabell made a pouting face. She hated being reminded of farewells. "I''m glad to see you here, Anna. Your brother...?" Dominick''s voice was gentle and hesitant, his expression showing a hint of anxiety. "He''s waiting for you to come back!" Annabell''s smile reassured him. Dominick sat down beside Annabell and greeted everyone. "We''re childhood friends." Dominick had a bronzed skin with a slight golden touch, light brown hair, and a relaxed smile on his lips. Annabell and Dominick had known each other since they were children, and when Dominick turned 10, he was assigned to protect Annabell. "Oh, of course... but I wasn''t going to talk about your impressive winning streak," Gael made a face at Dominick. "The rooms have leaders. The leaders can set the rules of the room and handle all the bureaucratic aspects. And the number of rooms under each dormitory''s ''dominance'' counts towards points at the end of the year. Currently, we''re in first place, and we hope to stay that way and widen the gap with the other dormitories. Of course, the number of battles within the room also contributes points, but we don''t really care about that." "I knew we chose the right dormitory, and you wanted to go to the Joker!" Diana nudged her sister with her elbow for her comment, and Rosalia grumbled while rubbing her arm. The previously noisy room fell into complete silence, and everyone found it strange. Annabell looked around, searching for the reason behind the silence. "A fight for the position of the owner of the sword room," a powerful voice broke the silence. No one dared to say anything. On the first day of school, it was expected that hopeful freshmen would try their luck for their dormitories, but in this case, he must have been a daredevil. Freshmen were always warned about Eros and Dominick; challenging either of them was like courting death. "And he loves being troublesome," Annabell whispered upon seeing the red-haired figure. Maybe a bored student "The freshmen should learn to keep their mouths shut. That way, they would avoid trouble on the very first day." the darker-skinned man spoke, chuckling softly at the end of his sentence. "You are the favorite to assume the position of Jack within the Black Rose. Within the Black Rose, you must be well-beloved. Perhaps you should stay quiet to maintain your good reputation." Dominick sighed deeply. The first day was always the most eventful, until someone had the courage to challenge another. After that, rumors would do the rest. Ezariel didn''t seem to have any intention of backing down. One of Dominick''s classmates handed him a sword. The room started buzzing with excitement again as people rushed to find a good viewing spot. Annabell felt apprehensive about the confrontation. She knew Dominick''s skills, but was unfamiliar with Ezariel''s. She also feared that Ezariel might employ... unorthodox methods. "The rules are the same for everyone. It ends when a drop of blood falls." Dominick positioned himself at the center of the room. "Apologies, but we don''t have courtesy for freshmen. You should have gone to the intermediate level if you were looking for something easy." Ezariel didn''t say a word; he simply took a sword and positioned himself in front of Dominick. People began whispering, and bets on who would win were being made. "I hope Dom cuts his tongue off. That way, he''ll learn to keep his mouth shut." Annabell whispered to herself. She glanced at the astonished faces of the two sisters and ended up chuckling softly. "Sorry." "Annabell, I thought you would be more like... an..." Diana trailed off. "An angel? People from outside the capital tend to think that way about the royal family. Rumors cause these problems. People usually take them literally." Ros¨¢lia nodded, still looking dazed by the princess''s words. "The rumors are a bit exaggerated. I''m just a normal person. Don''t believe in people who seem too perfect; they''re suspicious!" She pointed at the redhead. "And he can be incredibly irritating. We had to spend two hours together! That was the worst experience of my life." "That must be a gift of people from the Kingdom of Hearts." Diana agreed with her sister. "Their fight is about to start. Dominick should defeat this guy in three minutes." "It won''t even reach two." Annabell spoke with certainty. Annabell didn''t understand much about fights, but she knew that Dominick was one of the best. It was difficult to make him fight for more than 5 minutes; the only ones who had a fair fight with Dominick were his brothers. Those who lasted 5 minutes were the knights of the White Kingdom''s Elite. If Ezariel could surpass the 3-minute mark, he would be considered lucky. A whistle sounded. Neither of them waited a second to start attacking. The movements were swift, and Annabell couldn''t keep up with the sword''s rhythm. She could only hear the sound of metal clashing. No one in the room spoke; they were afraid of missing any move in the fight. The princess could tell that Dominick''s expression was starting to grow irritated, while Ezariel seemed to be enjoying the situation. The sound of metal clashing grew more aggressive, and the duel between the two became more intense. The difference in their styles was evident. Dominick attacked aggressively, gripping the sword tightly and aiming his strikes at crucial points on Ezariel''s body. In his defense, as soon as he found an opening, Ezariel retaliated with his own attack. Ezariel, on the other hand, appeared incredibly calm. His strikes didn''t show aggression, but the sound of metal indicated that he used force. The sword seemed like an extension of his body, following Ezariel''s every move with mastery. Dominick spun his body, and the sword followed suit, defending against one of Ezariel''s strikes and causing the sword to go upwards. The dark-haired man maneuvered the sword, making a small cut on the redhead''s face. What he didn''t realize was that Ezariel had regained control of the sword and made a cut on his arm. Two drops of blood flew across the room but met the same destination: Princess Annabell''s clothing. Two red stains stood out on her white attire. The people in the room looked at Annabell and the two fighters, unsure whether they should help Annabell or inquire about the result. "It''s a draw." Annabell spoke as she looked at the two of them. The colors of the room began to change, but only on one side of the room. The white colors were replaced by black and red, refined furniture and paintings were substituted with rustic furniture, all in black. On the ceiling, banners with the emblem of the Black Rose started to appear. Annabell was impressed by the efficiency of the Academy''s transformations. Seeing the change in colors, the members of the Black Rose rushed to congratulate Ezariel. Most of them claimed that next time he would win, and the room would belong to them. On the other hand, the members of the White Lotus approached Annabell, asking if she was alright and if she needed a change of clothes. Annabell brushed her face with her hand, feeling overwhelmed by the exaggeration of their reactions. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. "Apologies for staining the pure princess with my blood." he bowed dramatically, but his expression showed clear mockery. "You should wear red... preferably the shade closest to blood. It suits Your Highness." Annabell felt a wave of nausea just hearing those words coming out of his mouth. Annabell stared at Ezariel and forced a smile, trying to figure out whether her disgust was triggered by his words, his expression, or the blood. It was probably a combination of all three "It''s alright, it was just an accident." she smiled genuinely to reassure her dorm mates. "I will excuse myself to change my clothes." "How long will you keep up the false kindness? Actually... the question should be different. How long will people pretend not to see?" The same girl from before, now wearing different clothes, had a scar visible on her neck. "Creating a scene won''t change the fact that my clothes are dirty. You wanted a show. I apologize, but that''s not my job." Annabell turned to leave, not wanting to engage with that kind of people. "As far as I know, my family isn''t the one of lunatics who kill anyone who crosses their path. We''re normal." "What did you say, you..." the girl''s voice was filled with anger as she made a threatening move towards Annabell. Dominick stepped forward to stop her, but Ezariel put his arm in front of her, blocking her from advancing. "The beloved flower of the white kingdom isn''t so delicate." Ezariel chuckled at the end of his sentence. "Flowers also have thorns." Annabell didn''t turn around, continuing her path out of the room. If Annabell turned to look at Ezariel, the likelihood of arguing with him was high. Just seeing his smug smile would ignite her anger. Annabell didn''t wait for anyone to accompany her; she headed towards the dormitories. Signs in the corridors indicated the direction. Inside the sword room, all the people belonging to the White Lotus dormitory left. The members of the Black Rose laughed at the situation and exaggeratedly mimicked Annabell. The White Lotus students followed Annabell, waiting for her to say something, any insult or dissatisfaction that would give them an excuse to retaliate against the Black Rose. Annabell could hear the footsteps of the people behind her, and she started to feel irritated. She clenched her fists and turned around, finding Dominick in front of her. Her irritated expression melted away, and she widened her eyes, wearing a saddened look on her face, furrowing her eyebrows and pouting her lips. "I''m not Johnny... and Mark made it very clear." Annabell crossed her arms and returned to her irritated expression. "Get out, all of you!" Dominick looked at the students, and the corridor quickly emptied. "It wasn''t my fault!" Annabell spoke loudly and turned her face away. "Don''t you dare start with those endless speeches my brother taught you!" She pointed at him. "Maintain good relations with the other dormitories and don''t provoke the people from the Kingdom of Hearts, especially Ezariel." Dominick stared at Annabell. "Mark made that clear." "If they don''t cooperate, I can''t work miracles! You heard what she said, they clearly think I''m the same as..." "Annabell!" Dominick raised his voice and approached her. "You''re not in the palace. If the Black Rose wants to, they can harm you." The princess ran her hand through her hair and sighed. Of course, she thought Dominick was exaggerating. They wouldn''t dare do something so blatant. They would be the first suspects if anything happened to her. "Stop exaggerating. I''m not stupid, and neither are they." Annabell smiled. "I won''t provoke them, but I won''t accept whatever they say either!" Dominick was about to say something, but Annabell put her hands on his shoulders. She smiled to reassure the dark-haired man, not wanting to discuss it further. "I need to go to the dormitory to change clothes. You go back to the room, and I''ll go with Diana and Rosalia to my quarters!" She patted Dominick''s shoulder twice and turned around. Annabell went to the end of the corridor, where she found Rosalia and Diana engaged in an animated conversation. The princess waved at them and walked towards them. "Can you guys take me to my room? I still don''t know where it is..." "Sure, but we''re not entirely sure where it is either." Diana and Rosalia spoke simultaneously and burst into laughter. The three of them were completely lost. "Well, people did say that having you and Ezariel together would be interesting." Gael''s voice suddenly emerged from nowhere. Annabell felt her legs go weak. She had a slight problem with things appearing out of nowhere. She looked at Gael with widened eyes and leaned on Diana for support. "Please don''t do that again. Where did you come from?" Annabell''s gaze was filled with fear. Someone appeared out of thin air next to her, was a clear sign of danger. "I was trying to pass through the crowd. Well, that doesn''t matter. Oh! Congratulations, in less than... five hours? You''re on the candidate list for dormitory chief. That''s a new record! The downside is that Ezariel is also on the list. You two appeared at the same time." Gael chattered about how unprecedented it was. "The last person to achieve something that quickly took a week. It was your brothers; they were the first to have to share the position. It wasn''t bad for them! But you have to share such an achievement with Ezariel. That''s pretty tough. At least you''re not in the same dormitory. Imagine what a nightmare it would be with him in the White Lotus." a shiver ran down Gael''s body as he rubbed his arms and spun around three times. "My parents say it wards off negative energy!" Annabell thought it would be better not to ask. Some things were better off agreed upon. The princess puffed up her cheeks and nodded her head. "Are you guys sure that the person in charge of that list isn''t just a bored student?" The whole situation seemed like a cruel joke. "Don''t be silly, Princess Annabell. If it were just some student, it would be much worse, believe me! The students here can''t be trusted." Gael placed his hand on her shoulder and smiled. "That doesn''t exactly reassure me." Small Obstacles The first week of orientation at the academy was rather... boring! The headmistress announced that it was an introductory period, and they were supposed to reach out to the dormitory chiefs and classroom leaders to learn more about how the academy operated. Much to Annabell''s delight, she didn''t have to go after anyone; people volunteered or started talking without her even asking. Whenever someone asked her to start attending their classroom, she gave the same response, "I need to organize my schedule." "There are two types of classrooms: competitive ones and learning ones. At the end of the semester, there''s a competition to determine the top performers in the class and decide the new leader... in the end, everything is a competition." Gael chuckled softly. "I have to visit so many classrooms that I don''t even know where to start! I''m sure I''ll forget some of them." Annabell complained, laying her head on the table. "Most of the classrooms I won''t even enter, like the embroidery and dressmaking room. If I go in there, I''ll end up dead just by bumping into a pair of scissors!" She grumbled and waved her hand in front of her face. "If it''s a classroom with a White Lotus leader, you won''t even have to try!" Rosalia spoke confidently. "You''re Princess Annabell, only the Black Rose keeps that shitty attitude towards you!" "Well, it depends... the academy is a place where your status outside doesn''t matter as much. The princess can be considered useless by some..." Gael''s voice trailed off, his tone gradually lowering as if he was afraid to complete his sentences. "That''s impossible." Rosalia stared at Gael. "The academy is different, Rosa. Daddy told us that!" Diana put her arm around her sister''s shoulder. "Having a good performance in the academy can be really beneficial for the future. People won''t miss out on an opportunity like this!" "Rosa, even outside the academy, not everyone loves me, including the White Kingdom. The only difference is that there, my parents are the Kings and one of my brothers is the future King. Here, I don''t have them, and they don''t have permission to interfere in academy matters." Annabell''s voice was soft. "During the first week, it might work, but later on, it''s going to be quite complicated. I just need to find a classroom where I excel, participate in the lessons, and win a few games. The rest doesn''t matter as much." "Don''t forget about becoming the chief of the dormitory, that''s really important!" Gael leaned on the princess. "Of course! And becoming the dormitory chief." Annabell suppressed a laugh. "But you are loved by everyone." Rosalia spoke despondently. She looked down and crossed her arms, resembling a child whose dreams had been shattered. "And people are still people. Whether I''m a princess or not, it doesn''t make a difference. Outside the academy, I''m one of the representatives of the royal family, but here, I''m nothing. All the people who have succeeded in the academy have had a bright future. People won''t give up on an opportunity like this just because I''m the princess!" Annabell didn''t seem affected by it; as she said, she didn''t care. "I don''t want to be the big name of the White Lotus, as everyone keeps saying! That was my brothers'' job." Her brothers needed to maintain a strong and leadership image, and the best way to prove that was within the academy. When both of them graduated from the academy, it was a huge celebration. All the former students talked about how they were the best dormitory chiefs and excelled in any activity they participated in. Annabell didn''t need that. "And to be honest... I think I''ll have more trouble with our own dormitory than with the Black Rose!" Annabell laughed at her classmates'' confused expressions. "In academy activities, anything can happen, and as long as it''s not something serious, it''s all fine. If something serious happens, we know they''ll blame the Black Rose and Ezariel. As I said, people won''t miss out on the chance of a lifetime. Outside of here, I''ll still be the princess, and let''s agree, there''s nothing better than that!" "I don''t think our own dormitory will try to harm you!" Diana pointed to the people in the cafeteria. "The White Lotus is the place for kindness and justice!" "We may be considered kind and just, but we have a tyrant as the Dormitory Chief! Let''s agree that we have plenty of reasons not to take that statement seriously." she pointed at Gael, wanting to shift the blame for those words. "Your words, not mine." "You may have a point, but you seem so calm about it all." Annabell made a face in response to Gael''s statement. "I don''t have guards, Dominick will graduate this year, my contact with my parents will be... what, in a month? They won''t know anything that happens here, and I think they''ll only be informed if something serious, like a death, occurs. My brothers, my father, my mother, they all studied here. Accepting reality is the best way to go!" Annabell smiled widely. "The sooner people forget about me, the better!" Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. In just one day, Annabell had already heard several rumors. Most of them came from people within her own dormitory, as if they were eagerly waiting for some scandal to arise. Even though most of the rumors originated from her dormitory, the students of the White Lotus pretended not to know anything and even threatened students from other dormitories. Annabell didn''t know whether to laugh or cry. They were about to get up when a girl and a boy sat at their table. It wasn''t that unusual, but it was clear that they were about to leave, so the situation became a bit awkward. The girl had a macabre smile on her face. She wore a white outfit, and her blonde hair was adorned with curls. She waved at people passing by the table, her smile appearing to grow wider and wider. "Stay seated!" Her voice was gentle but gave off an impression of authority. Gael opened his mouth to speak up about who the blonde girl was, but she spoke before him. "I''m Lizzy, and I''m in my third year." her smile became increasingly unsettling. Annabell ran her hand over her own face and pondered for a few seconds. "I wonder if I look like that when I smile too much. It makes sense for him to find it annoying and say my face would tear apart." The princess pinched her own cheek, thinking it must be just her imagination. "Well... as your senior, I have a favor to ask of you! Of course, if you do me this favor, I''ll repay you!" Lizzy used her hands a lot while speaking, almost slapping Annabell in the process. "Lizzy is a great senior; she always repays her favors, and even the Black Rose people like her!" The boy nodded repeatedly. Annabell found the situation increasingly strange. Those two were beginning to scare her. The man''s eyes were wide open, and with every word, he leaned further forward. "When the Academy put your and Ezariel''s names on the list as dormitory chief candidates, it means that in three months, all the chiefs must be replaced. If, for some reason, a dormitory''s list doesn''t have any students, the Academy accepts volunteers! And, well..." she let out a muffled laugh, "I want to apply, but for that, I need you to be off the list." The blonde girl''s smile grew even larger, and she raised her eyebrows. "To be more direct, go to the front of the list and say you don''t want the position." The princess looked at the blonde girl completely confused and indignant. She paused for a few seconds, wondering if she had heard that correctly. After a moment, Annabell felt the urge to laugh. This was the most unusual situation she had ever encountered. The princess knew that people wouldn''t let opportunities pass by, but she didn''t expect them to be so direct. "Sorry, but no." Annabell stood up from the table. If she stayed there any longer, she would burst out laughing in the girl''s face. "What?" Lizzy blinked repeatedly, disbelief evident on her face. "I said I''m not going to withdraw my name." Annabell spoke slowly. "My brothers held this position, my parents, my grandparents, and who knows how many more people in my family. Besides, the position seems interesting to me!" Her tone became playful on the last word. "I''m sorry, Lizzy, but I can''t do this for you." Annabell never had any intention of giving up the position. Being a dormitory chief wasn''t something she desperately desired, but it seemed intriguing. Moreover, having someone speak to her in that manner only made her less inclined to back down. "Do you need anything else?" The princess''s tone was never arrogant; it was overly sweet. To anyone listening, it would sound like an ordinary conversation. Which it was, except for Lizzy. "You can try next year!" The blonde girl stood up and grabbed the princess''s arm. "We know that if I refuse the position this time, the probability of me getting it next year... is practically zero!" Annabell made Lizzy release her grip on her arm and made a face afterward. Lizzy positioned herself in front of the princess, intending to prevent Annabell from leaving. The blonde girl''s face alternated between the creepy smile and an indignant expression. The people in that place could be frightening at times. Annabell rolled her eyes and turned her head away. "What time do classes start?" Annabell asked Diana, as if this situation wasn''t happening. "Lizzy, don''t think I''ll accept anything people ask of me, let alone feel obligated to fulfill their desires." she said, addressing the blonde girl. Annabell walked away. Engaging in an argument with Lizzy would only give her a headache. The princess thought it would be better to focus on her class schedule. It was her first day of classes, and she didn''t want to stir up trouble. "I have a class on animal care. Who designs these schedules?" Annabell showed the paper to Diana, making a face. "I like animals, but not all animals." "The Academy itself. It knows what''s best for our future." Rosalia spoke, and Diana pointed to the castle structure. "I have a class on... how to hide a body without leaving any traces. I definitely don''t want to need that! My sister has a pastry class. I made this cupcake, and I wouldn''t even harm a fly. Most importantly... why is there a class on how to hide a body?" Rosalia was eating a cupcake with orange frosting, and Annabell wondered where she had gotten it from. "They definitely switched our schedules. It''s easier for me to hide a body, and besides, my sister likes baking." Diana ran her hand through her hair, irritated. "If the school catches fire, it was me! I think we''ve figured out the reason for your class, Rosa, to help me cover up my crime!" Rosalia nudged her sister. "If we''re going to cover up any crime, it''ll be mine, not yours!" The brunette threw a paper ball at her sister''s head. The three of them were so engrossed in the sisters'' argument that they didn''t notice Dominick''s arrival. "Your class is in the outdoor courtyard, I need to go there. So, I''ll take you." Annabell jumped upon hearing Dominick''s voice. The princess turned around and gave him a push. "You know you''re not supposed to appear like this." Annabell pointed at him. "Let''s go, but... no talking about my brother! Or Mark''s speeches!" She looked at him with a serious gaze. The two of them started walking, and for the first few seconds, there was complete silence. Annabell was even surprised by how long Dominick managed to stay quiet. "You need to be more careful while you''re at the Academy. You shouldn''t have treated Lizzy that way." his tone was no longer cheerful as before. "This is the only place where nobody can help you. People aren''t as nice, and there''s no one to set limits for them." "The headmistress is just a figurehead, I know! Accepting everything others say won''t work either! I''m not looking for enemies. I know how to handle myself, Dom!" She tried to reassure her friend. "And I wouldn''t have treated Lizzy that way if she hadn''t treated me like that!" Rabbits Annabell snapped back to reality as the teacher reprimanded her for not paying attention in class. She quickly refocused her attention on the lesson, realizing that in the Academy, she was just a student like everyone else. The Academy wasn''t the fairy tale that everyone thought it was. Most people only realized that once they arrived there. Throughout the Underland, the idea was maintained that the Academy upheld peace and that one day there would be no more threats of war between the Kingdom of Hearts and the White Kingdom. For the people inside the Academy, it was a dream come true. But before entering, Annabell already felt that it was one of those disturbing dreams, and now she was starting to think it was a true nightmare. Annabell recalled when her brothers returned from the Academy. They were completely excited and recounted their experiences. Before listening to them, Annabell thought the Academy was a peaceful place. But after hearing them, her reaction was this: "Locking people who have just turned 18 in a school for THREE years, promoting ''healthy'' rivalry without clear rules or limits. Are you sure this is for the good of Wonderland and not a survival test? And let''s not even get started on the fact that you fight among yourselves within your own dormitory. Oh, right, I forgot it''s for the good of the dormitory. None of this makes sense!" Annabell spent hours talking to her brothers, and the more they spoke, the less sense it made, and it made even less sense that they agreed with it. Mark even claimed it was the best way to prevent a war. Annabell wondered if it was the best way to prevent or provoke a war. Johnny said she would understand once she was at the Academy. "Princess Annabell, pay attention in class." the teacher called her out, bringing her back to the present. "In the White Kingdom, you may be one of the most important people, but here, you''re just a student." Some students laughed at the teacher''s speech, and those students received dirty looks from people in the Lotus dormitory. Annabell found the subject of the class boring and unnecessary. Everyone in Wonderland knew that you shouldn''t trust or approach an unfamiliar animal, and if you had to do so, it should be done with caution. Besides, Annabell had a slight advantage when it came to animals. The princess''s expression was one of complete boredom; it didn''t make sense for her to be in that class. "Teacher, what criteria are used to create our class schedules?" Annabell spoke, causing the teacher to pause the explanation. "The Academy knows what you will need in the future. Your siblings had classes related to leadership, combat techniques, war strategies. Your siblings said that the routine was similar to that of the castle, even the classes were similar." the teacher forced a smile and stared at Annabell. "Now, pay attention to the class." Annabell was about to ask more questions when the teacher directed an irritated look at her. The princess shrugged and crossed her arms; there was nothing wrong with her questions. The teacher was not pleased with Annabell''s reaction and approached the princess. "You can ask the principal after class." Annabell furrowed her brow, not understanding the reason for the teacher''s irritation. "As you''re asking questions about subjects that are not part of the class, you must have understood the material well." "The part where you talked about not approaching unfamiliar animals unnecessarily, or about how to approach them if necessary?" Annabell smiled at the teacher. "I don''t think I have any doubts about those subjects." The princess''s voice was gentle and devoid of any hint of arrogance. "If you understand it so well, then you should have no problem approaching the Tinagla. Don''t forget to follow the recommendations given in class." the teacher pointed to the animal walking in the courtyard. "I don''t think it will be possible to do things the way you want." she spoke slowly, judging by the teacher''s expression, she wasn''t interested in hearing Annabell''s explanations. Annabell bit her lower lip and widened her eyes; she was out of options. The Tinagla was a wild animal and could be quite aggressive when it felt threatened. The animal was almost the size of Annabell, with a pointed nose, enormous paws, and a body covered in fur. Annabell decided not to argue with the teacher. If she wasn''t willing to listen, it wasn''t her fault. The princess sat on the ground, looked at the animal, and smiled. Annabell didn''t speak; she simply stared at the animal. She knew she was doing the complete opposite of what the teacher asked, and following her recommendations would be a waste of time. The animal looked at Annabell with curiosity but didn''t move. The princess lowered her head and placed both hands on the ground, lowering her torso. When she stood up, she reached out her hand. Tinagla started walking towards the princess. When it got close enough, it put its head in Annabell''s hand. Annabell began stroking the soft fur; the animal showed no hostility or any signs of aggression. Dealing with animals in that state was easy for the princess. "The instructions regarding the first contact were clear: do not approach and show that you don''t intend to harm the animal." the teacher''s voice was irritated. She tried to approach the princess, but Tinagla growled at the woman. "If he had attacked the princess, what would we tell her siblings?" The teacher stepped back and smoothed her dress. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. "If he had intended to attack me, I wouldn''t have approached, and I would have waited for an ideal moment to get closer." the animal lay down in the princess''s lap. "Everyone in the White Kingdom knows that I have a knack for dealing with animals. So, well... I won''t follow your instructions." the animal was completely relaxed in Annabell''s lap. "Since the princess is so talented, how about we move up your test?" Teacher Li seemed to get excited, and she smiled broadly. "Do people''s smiles here have to be so frightening?" "Today is the hunting class. You can imagine that animals get very scared and skittish during these moments. Today, Professor Bonk will train the students with small targets, specifically rabbits. They are fast and can hide well in the woods." the princess couldn''t understand what the teacher meant by that explanation. "Since you have a great affinity with animals, it won''t be difficult for you to calm a rabbit down and make it survive today''s hunting class." Annabell blinked a few times, staring at the teacher, hoping she would say it was just a joke. "The tests are held every three months, so having a test now isn''t advisable." Annabell tried to remain calm. The teacher ignored the princess and continued speaking: "There are five white rabbits in the forest, and you need to calm down at least one of them! Of course, don''t let the rabbit be killed or get hurt in the process." the teacher pointed towards the forest. "If you manage to do that, the White Lotus Dormitory will gain 600 points. Professor Bonk''s students are already entering the forest, so I recommend you go quickly." Annabell hoped for any sign that it was just a joke, but judging by the teacher''s expression, it was a serious matter. The princess looked at the forest and saw a group of students entering, all of them seemed to be carrying bows and arrows. Annabell grumbled at the possibility of being accidentally hit. The students from the princess''s class looked at her with anticipation. If she went and succeeded, she would be the first to earn a large number of points for her dormitory. If she failed, Annabell didn''t even want to imagine the hell that her next few days would be. She had to admit that she was the only one to blame for being in that situation, along with the insane teacher. Annabell stood up and ran towards the forest. Now she was certain that she was in some kind of survival test or something similar. She knew that asking the hunting class students to let her catch the rabbit was not a viable option. Maybe she would encounter Dominick, but that would hinder her main objective. Annabell shook her head and looked at the forest. "Why am I here? I could have just said no and be done with it!" the princess slapped her own face and cursed herself for her stupidity. "Now I have to prevent a rabbit from being killed and try not to get hit by an arrow. What a wonderful day!" Annabell heard a faint sound coming from her right side. It seemed like something was cutting through the air. She turned her face to try to identify the source of the noise, feeling the wind brushing against her face and something cold on her cheek. Seconds later, the princess began to feel a slight stinging sensation in the area. Annabell frowned and touched her cheek with her hand. "The princess shouldn''t invade other people''s classes." Annabell felt unhappy upon hearing the voice of a certain red-haired man. "A rabbit passed behind you, my apologies. Classroom activities, it wasn''t my intention to hit you." Ezariel''s voice lacked sincerity. "Be careful not to get marked." he said, pointing to his own face. Just by looking at Ezariel, Annabell knew he was enjoying the situation. She glared at him with anger and then looked at the tips of her fingers. There was a small amount of blood on them. Annabell looked at Ezariel irritably, knowing that arguing with the redhead would be pointless. In the end, she would only get more frustrated, and Ezariel seemed to relish in the princess''s anger. Annabell remembered how Ezariel had acted on the first day; he seemed to care about all this dormitory, points, and classroom business happening within the Academy. "I''ll consider it... a trade! I''ll keep the rabbit, so I can ignore this incident!" Annabell wiped her fingers on her white dress. "I hope you''re not upset! It''s just Academy matters, you should understand!" Annabell turned around and ran to catch the rabbit. It didn''t take a genius to figure out that everything they did in the Academy earned points for their respective dormitories. Catching the rabbit would give points to Annabell, while killing the rabbit would give points to Ezariel. It might be a trivial reason, but now she felt motivated to catch that rabbit. She didn''t care about the points or the teacher''s test, but the cut on her face and Ezariel enjoying himself at her expense, that did matter. Annabell walked through the forest until she heard something rustling in a bush. She looked in the direction of the sound and saw a small ball of white fur. The princess smiled and crouched down; the rabbit seemed to sense something approaching and turned to see what it was. Annabell reached out her hand towards it. Most of the time, her voice helped calm the animals in the castle; perhaps it would help now. "Hey, bunny, stop running. I''m getting tired. I''ll give you lots of food if you come to me." the princess spoke softly. "Do you think he''ll understand what you''re saying and come to you?" Ezariel laughed at the end of his sentence. This time, Annabell was paying attention to the sounds around her. She could hear the sounds of dry leaves being torn, probably by someone running. She wasn''t startled by Ezariel''s voice, nor was she shaken by his comment. "With rabbits, it might not work, but with tapirs, it seems to!" Behind Annabell, Ezariel drew his bow, and an arrow flew towards the rabbit. At the same moment, the princess snapped her fingers. The movement of the arrow stopped; it remained suspended in the air, surrounded by strands of white energy. The rabbit was completely unaware of the arrow that almost pierced it. It started hopping towards Annabell. She turned with the rabbit in her arms, snapped her fingers again, and the arrow fell to the ground. The two stared at each other in silence. Annabell didn''t know what Ezariel was feeling at that moment; it was like trying to guess the feelings of a stone. The princess was only certain that he was not the least bit happy. "White Lotus Dormitory, 600 points earned in the activity, Rabbit Protection. Congratulations, Princess Annabell, on the points earned." the announcement echoed throughout the castle. Annabell petted the rabbit and began thanking it for making her day happier. She just wanted to leave the forest and return to her activities for the day. "Second activity with the rabbit: Evade the rabbit. It overslept and is now irritated. Those who are not caught before the cannons sound will earn 800 points." another announcement was made. The rabbit in Annabell''s hands jumped to the ground and started running into the forest. "Don''t forget that the first activity still counts." A rabbit theft After the announcement, the forest began to change. The foliage of the trees became denser, and the environment grew darker. The sounds of the animals became more wild and even frightening. "Evade the rabbit, but complete the first activity? Are they serious?" Annabell looked at the forest with an irritated gaze. The princess glanced at Ezariel, surprised that he was still there. The redhead seemed more agitated than usual, his red eyes had a different gleam. Annabell took two steps back, distancing herself from him. "It would be best for the princess to find a place to hide. We don''t want any more royal blood to be spilled." Ezariel pointed to his own cheek and laughed. "Dominick should still be in the forest; you can go after him." The blood on the princess''s cheek had already dried, leaving only a small mark. The skin around the wound was red. "I don''t need your advice." She couldn''t stand to hear any more comments from him. The anger of being hit by that arrow returned, and the princess''s gaze became irritated. "You should worry about yourself." Annabell turned to leave. She would find her own way. She didn''t care about the activity; she just wanted to stay away from Ezariel. The longer she spent near him, the more irritated she became. "Don''t go around as if it''s a walk in the park." Ezariel''s voice sounded serious as he grabbed Annabell''s arm and pulled her back. "As if I were the dumb and defenseless princess." The platinum-haired girl forcefully pulled her arm away and walked off. Annabell glanced at Ezariel from the corner of her eye. For a few seconds, she thought he might genuinely be concerned, but upon seeing the smile on his lips, she changed her mind and started walking faster. The princess grumbled as she walked, mimicking Ezariel''s words and making faces. The forest had completely changed, and Annabell couldn''t find her way back. The forest must have turned into a maze, but one without any exits¡ªa way for the Academy to force the students to participate in the activities. "When you get there, you''ll understand, and you''ll start to enjoy it. Of course, it''s not like I have many choices! Evade the rabbit and earn points. To hell with the points and Ezariel!" Annabell grumbled to herself. Annabell had hoped that at least the first week would be somewhat normal. To her dismay, the "friendly" competition had started early. She could feel small cuts opening on her skin as the tree branches grew larger, always causing her to bump into them. Her white dress was torn and completely dirty. Annabell was starting to consider sitting on the ground and waiting for the activity to end. Then she heard a noise¡ªit sounded like people running. She searched for the source of the sound and began running away from it, but it seemed futile as the footsteps grew closer. The princess started hearing voices; those people must have been hunting something. "Shit!" The last thing she wanted was to encounter more people from the hunting class. Annabell hid in a bush with dense and large leaves, luckily without thorns. She curled up and prayed that no one would see her there. The students were just a few meters away from Annabell''s hiding spot, and she couldn''t see clearly what they were doing. She imagined they were trying to catch the rabbit, even though the rabbit was somewhat angry, slightly larger, and even aggressive. It didn''t make sense to have so many students after just one rabbit. A bestial roar echoed through the forest. Annabell covered her mouth with her hand to prevent herself from screaming. That roar didn''t seem to belong to a rabbit or any small animal. Annabell looked around, trying to spot the creature responsible for that roar, but the leaves of the bush prevented her from getting a clear view. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. The princess wasn''t accustomed to seeing creatures of that kind, so she could only imagine what kind of animal it might be. Annabell decided to step out of the bush. With her limited vision, if that creature appeared, she would only know when it was trampling her. She got a better view of the hunting students; they seemed to be surrounding a beast. In the midst of the encirclement, a massive beast growled at the boys. It threatened to attack but backed away whenever one of them aimed their bows at it. The creature resembled a rabbit, but a giant rabbit with red eyes, bristling fur, and enormous teeth. "They can deal with killing that thing; it''s their problem. But now I''m supposed to calm that beast? That creature that''s almost the size of a tree?" Annabell started nervously laughing; she felt like she was being sent to her death. Annabell watched as the boys tried to attack the giant rabbit, but the arrows didn''t even tickle it. Its white fur acted as armor, preventing anything from penetrating its skin. The beast seemed to realize that the weapons had no effect and charged at the students. The rabbit lunged, throwing the students backward, causing some to collide with trees. The beast attacked without hesitation, driven by rage. The boys began running out of the rabbit''s sight, and a small group of students remained. Annabell recognized one of them. The princess couldn''t let the rabbit be killed, as long as Dominick was there, the chances of that rabbit surviving were minimal. Annabell snapped her fingers, and threads of energy flew towards the rabbit and the three students, wrapping around their bodies and preventing them from making any movements. The princess clenched her hand, and the threads tightened their grip on the students. "Annabell!" The princess frowned upon hearing Dominick''s shout. His voice didn''t sound like a request; it sounded like an order. Annabell could see the anger in Dominick''s expression as he locked eyes with her. The princess tried to think of a way to explain the situation, but she couldn''t come up with an acceptable explanation. She settled for waving at her friend and ignoring him. "Apologize?! Look, I know you''re a little angry, but it''s necessary!" Annabell smiled and began walking towards the rabbit. The situation with the giant rabbit was somewhat comical. The threads wrapped around its entire body, allowing only its head to move. The rabbit attempted to bite the threads, but they evaded the animal''s bites and flicked its nose. "Hey! No hitting!" Annabell looked at the thread that was about to strike the animal again. "Annabell! Get away from there!" The concern in Dominick''s voice became more evident. "Release us, and we''ll handle it. Get out of there!" The princess continued to ignore Dominick''s voice. With a hand movement, the white thread widened and covered his mouth. The more noise there was, the higher the chances of the beast becoming agitated. Annabell tried to think of a way to calm the creature. After all, she had never done something like this before. Calming a nervous animal was one thing, but calming a creature that had turned into a beast was different. "Princess, Dominick is concerned about your safety. Listen to him." one of the students said, worried evident on his face. Dominick''s face was turning red, as if he was about to explode. Annabell paid no attention to the student; she began walking closer to the rabbit, just an arm''s length away from it. She reached out and touched its white fur, which, contrary to her expectations, was soft. She could have laid down and fallen asleep right there. The rabbit seemed to calm down, no longer attempting to bite the thread. The princess didn''t pay attention to what was happening around her. If the students said anything, she wouldn''t hear them. If someone approached her, she wouldn''t notice. Her entire focus was on the rabbit. The creature was starting to calm down, and small changes became noticeable, such as the size of its teeth decreasing. "Annabell!" The shout came loudly. All those men shouted together, but the princess didn''t hear. Annabell was so distracted and relieved that the rabbit was calming down that she didn''t hear the sound of the arrow slicing through the air, nor did she hear the students'' warnings. She only realized something was wrong when the rabbit was struck by the arrow. The rabbit roared in pain and tried to move, running towards the person who had shot the arrow. Annabell was startled by the roar, and the threads of energy released their grip. The rabbit began thrashing around, hitting everything in its vicinity. The arrow had struck its eye, impairing its vision. Annabell narrowly avoided being hit by the rabbit. She felt something pulling her by the waist, dragging her away from the rabbit. The princess was still in shock, blinking repeatedly as she processed the situation. Unfortunately, the ground didn''t give her time to catch her breath. As soon as her body hit the ground, a hole opened up. Darkness engulfed everything around her. She searched for something to hold onto, but all she could see were dirt and roots in front of her. Her body collided with the walls of the hole, causing scratches all over her skin. A cannon was heard, indicating the end of the activity. The Academy''s announcement followed soon after, and Annabell knew who had hit the rabbit. But hearing the announcement only fueled her anger. "Black Rose Dormitory, 1400 points earned. Congratulations, Ezariel, on the achievement. Scored activities: Escape the Rabbit and Hunt the Rabbit."