Page 30 of Is It Wrong to Escape My Fate? (Dealing With Fate #1)

I was lucky to have Mia on my side. Responsible, knowledgeable, and loyal.

She took up my slack in getting informed about the world because of my numerous distractions.

In exchange, I promised her I’d teach her spellcasting as I attended the school.

I would when we start practical magic training. Hopefully, before I leave permanently.

In the meantime, back to my men. I needed their reassurance. “Do you promise to not give Elias a hard time, now that you know about him? And any other men in the future.”

Robin raised a hand to his chest. “This is our oath to you.”

Reuben did the same gesture. “We promise to protect and care for you for the rest of our lives, in however form that will take. If giving these men a hard time is needed, then we will move accordingly. We hope you understand, Bea.”

Well, that was a reasonable stance. I didn’t like in-fighting amongst my group of friends, but if it was necessary to improve ourselves, then I could understand. I just hoped this didn’t bite me in the ass in the future.

I was a little nervous about Monday. The way I left Winston’s mansion was less than ideal, and I didn’t have a clue how Claude would react to me from now on. Or the Prince himself. Or any of the other men I met yesterday.

Couldn’t a lady just be at peace?

After breakfast, Dahlia rushed me like a hurricane as we made our way to the first class. “Good morning, friend!”

“Good morning to you too.” I latched my arm in hers, Mia and my knights walking behind us. “How come I never saw you the entire weekend?”

“Oh, I promised my family I’ll go home on the weekends,” she shared. “I live far away, but they employed a teleport mage, so I have no excuse.”

I gasped. “They hired one so they could make you go home every week?”

She laughed at my reaction. “Don’t get the wrong idea; my family just loves me that much. It’s not like I’m being forced to do it.”

I envied her a little. I could imagine how expensive that might be, all so her parents could see their daughter weekly. Definitely not relatable. I had a curiosity that needed to be asked though.

“If the mage is over at your estate, how can they teleport you? There needs to be a Sigil, right?” I had never read about a teleportation spell initiated in reverse.

“Ah, that’s the beauty of a competent mage,” she grinned, pulling out a necklace from underneath her collar.

It had a simple but quite a huge charm, and I could see runes etched on it.

“My one-way teleport charm back to our estate. When I’m there, the spell gets recharged, and I get teleported back here through the usual means. ”

Wow, I never would have thought that was possible. “Must be one amazing mage to pull that off.”

“Amazing and cute,” she snickered.

I said my goodbyes to Mia — who happily sauntered off — and to my knights, who were much more hesitant to leave.

“I’ll be here like always?” I smiled, glancing between the two of them.

They looked over my shoulder for a few moments before nodding and heading off themselves. When I glanced back, I saw Elias leaning against his desk, watching me.

“Is it just me, or are your bodyguards more obsessed than usual?” Dahlia observed as we walked to our seats.

“I won’t use the word obsessed, but you’re not completely wrong,” I admitted without telling the whole truth. “A little apprehensive, maybe. Remember how the Prince proclaimed me as the Caregiver or whatever?”

Dahlia took her seat. “I heard the ‘maid’ insults, yes.”

I sat down next to her. “Really thought he was joking. Apparently, he was serious about it. Yesterday he forced me to attend the very first Champions meeting, and things didn’t exactly end on a high note. My knights are only worried.”

“That’s why you wore that dress yesterday?” Elias interrupted from behind me.

“Yes, I came from the Champions meeting,” I confirmed.

I didn’t get to tell him about it yesterday, did I?

“It was … interesting. Sam — Lord Grimwald is the third member; in case you didn’t know.

” Mia certainly did, even before any official announcements.

I knew the Royal Crown would announce it today as she told me.

“Baby girl,” Claude’s sudden crooning nearly launched me out of my seat. “I missed you.”

“We just saw each other yesterday,” I deadpanned, completely forgetting the nerves I claimed to have. I could sense Elias’s unease; maybe he was getting the wrong idea. Had to clear that up soon.

“But you ran away!” he whined.

“If the Prince weren’t being a little bi —”

I caught myself in time. Brain, control my mouth.

“Bea, what ‘prince’?” Claude scolded me with a pout. “We had an arrangement.”

“I can’t refer to him by his first name if he’s not even around!” I whisper-shrieked, but I was pretty sure both Dahlia and Eli heard me anyway.

“But I’m around, and I’m going to snitch on you if you don’t follow Win’s order,” Claude retorted.

I pouted back at him. “I thought for sure you like me better than the Prince.”

“I do, but … he’s still the Crown Prince, Bea.”

Touché.

“Let me correct myself then.” I cleared my throat. “If Winston weren’t a little bitch, I would’ve stayed.”

Holy shit, I said that out loud! I already stopped myself once; why couldn’t I do it again?

Dahlia and Claude wheezed over in laughter while Elias choked on air. I could imagine that calling the Prince “a little bitch” wasn’t something you heard every day, and even if you did, the person would be executed sooner than later.

The academy’s bell tolled; it was spelled to be heard at every corner of the grounds, even deep inside buildings or underground. It was soon followed by a voice.

Reminded me of loudspeakers.

“Good morning, everyone.” It was Winston’s voice.

Everyone recognized it immediately, and the noise died down, waiting for his next words.

“The Kingdom and the Oracle discovered the third Champion. Currently one of the professors for Physical and Combat Training; a Captain of the Army; and a marquis’s heir — Lord Samuel Grimwald. ”

There were cheers and claps all around because this could only mean good things for the Kingdom; one step closer to victory against the Demon Lord.

“And much like before, I ask that all of us proceed as usual. The Priestesses’ prophecy can only be dismantled if there is a great variation between what they Saw what is happening. That means: no celebration. Do not treat the Champions differently than you would if they were not the chosen ones.”

This line of thinking coincided with how he declined his engagement with Lady Cecilia — it would be a huge, Kingdom- wide event, and would possibly disrupt the prophecy into becoming true.

It also emphasized how much of a nobody I was, since Winston didn’t consider adding a Caregiver to their group a “great variation”.

“That will be all. Thank you for listening.” At his dismissal, the noise and chatter started anew. “Wait.”

There was silence, again.

“Princess, you better be following my rules. That is all.”

What — the audacity of this man! Using the Royal Announcement to call me out — not that anyone would figure out who he was referring to as a “princess”. And besides, didn’t he tell us he wouldn’t use the nickname outside of our group?

Great, now I was referring to the Champions as our group.

Claude was laughing again while Dahlia watched me with curious eyes. “He calls you ‘princess’?” she asked in a whisper. Of course she’d realize it quickly; Dahlia was a smart woman as I realized over the past week.

“Now I know why you call him a little bitch,” Elias muttered, and I couldn’t help the giggles that poured out of me despite this messed up situation.

As for everyone else, renewed vigor was in the air amidst the gossip springing up: who the heck was the princess the Crown Prince mentioned?

Was he engaged? Shouldn’t there be an announcement?

Since everyone avoided gossiping about the Champions, it was expected they’d latch on to the very next thing.

Was that intentional on Winston’s part? Since he considered my involvement a non-factor to the prophecy, it was okay to distract everyone about me to avoid the topic of the Champions?

Very clever and manipulative. I had to give him credit for that, but I hated him a little for using me. Well, not like the majority of the people knew that. But still!

I chanced a look at Lady Kathel and Lady Mera — Lady Cecilia’s cronies; they were hunched together, gossiping, and I wondered if they figured out it was me, too. There was no way, right?

History and Language classes went by in a breeze.

Unsurprisingly, my one true skill in this universe was my voracious reading, which was useful in both classes.

It was easy for me to pick up facts and key events in History.

Language class was structured as expected, starting with an overview at a grade school level, to accommodate the commoners who didn’t get a homeschooled education as was typical for a noble child.

My family’s estate was a little fortunate in that. My parents sought education for everyone in the manor’s employ, at the very least. Mia and my knights were well-educated, but I couldn’t say the same for all noble’s personal maids or bodyguards.

Elemental Magic: Water class was next. Professor Strom waltzed in through the classroom door, dressed impeccably as always, the sight reminding me I still hadn’t returned his coat. It was currently sitting in my enchanted satchel. I couldn’t find the right time.

“We will try to perform some hands-on magic today,” he announced, and excitement bubbled up not just from me, but from everyone in the room. “But first, a review of the components needed for a successful spellcasting. Anyone?”

Dahlia raised her hand, and the professor called on her. “There are three components: gesture, chant, and implement.”