“Thank you for dinner!” The second years with them were smiling and laughing as the large group walked back towards campus.
“Thank you, Ilyana and Lady Tori!” The third and fourth years echoed their gratitude, though appeared a bit embarrassed that they hadn’t thanked the two soon enough.
“It’s our pleasure!” Ilyana said with a wide smile. “We’re all going to work hard this next week, so a great meal is a good way to start off!”
Tori chuckled to herself as she held on to Ilyana’s looped arm. There were about twenty-five of them in the group. Quite a decent amount considering there were thirty students on campus. All the second-year students and most of the third- and fourth-year students had joined the dinner.
The older students had warned the second years how boring it could get in their positions in the farthest reaches of the school. In some cases, they shouldn’t expect first years to come by.
This year, Tori was assigned to the east dorm and Ilyana was assigned to the west dorm. They were to help students looking for the correct dorm and give them directions if they got lost, which happened often.
“The faculty didn’t say anything against sitting on one of the benches along the walkway,” Tori pointed out. “So, as long as our sashes are visible and we call out to any students who look lost, there should be no problem with us sitting on the bench.”
“Now that you mention it, we’ll be standing the entire time we’re in the courtyard,” one of their seniors said with a scrunched face. “And it’s still hot out.”
“Do you have a water flask?”
“Yes, I’ll fill it up in the morning.”
“When are we going to post up the signup sheets for the weekend tours, Senior Tori?”
“Tomorrow morning. You can let first years sign up on the main notice board in the central courtyard.”
“Are you and Senior Ilyana going to go with us?”
“We’ll do the first two tomorrow morning and then follow you on the subsequent one,” Tori said. “After that, it’s up to you.”
“It’s not as difficult as it seems,” Ilyana added. “I’m sure by now, you know where everything is. All you need is a little refresh and you’ll be fine.”
The group continued to chatter as they reached the gates of Lycée. The guards welcomed them back and they filed through the gate to their respective dorms. As they walked, Tori caught a figure walking around along the walls and squinted.
“Tori?” Ilyana called to her, and Tori snapped her head up. “Did you see something?”
“I was distracted for a moment. It’s nothing.” Tori smiled and continued to walk into Lycée with Ilyana, arm-in-arm.
The figure she had noticed was caught under the lamplight and she was sure she had seenblue hair. There was only one person she’d seen so far with dark blue hair - Montan Alvere. She tried not to frown as Ilyana chattered beside her.
It was too early for other returning students to move in. Montan should’ve been staying at an inn near his workplace for a few more nights. At least until the first years had finished moving in. Why would Montan come?
Tori gave her head a shake. Perhaps she was just hypersensitive to all the love interests and Alessa, and she didn’t see who she thought. It could have been another person with that hair color. She hadn’t met everyone in the world. How would she know?
There was no point in bothering Piers to ask if his people reported Montan’s movement. It was late and they had a long day ahead of them. She pushed aside her suspicions and prepared her uniform and student guide sash before going to bed.
The next morning, she and Ilyana changed and went downstairs. They’d eaten a large meal the night before and neither was particularly hungry.
“We ordered food from Cafe Fortuna,” Tori said. “Since I’m picking it up, I can also get a few more snacks.”
Ilyana opened her mouth to agree, but someone overheard.
“Senior, are you going to buy snacks? Can you buy us snacks, too? I will give you money!” One of the second-year students in their dorm gave her a hopeful expression.
“Sure, what do you want?”
By the time Tori and Ilyana reached the central courtyard, all the students who were in their dorm had intercepted them and asked for snacks. The commons were only selling a simple packed lunch, but if they wanted something to nibble on in between, they’d have to go out and buy it.
Since everyone was on their own for food and drink during the first-year move-in day, there was an emphasis from the faculty and seniors to remind the students to pack their lunches and drinks. One of the dorm commons was open to supply the students with breakfast, but like last year, Tori and Ilyana still preferred their free meal from Cafe Fortuna.
Tori had made sure to confirm their orders before she left, after her little chat with Gideon. With Ilyana assisting with the setup of the check-in tables, Tori wandered off campus to pick up their meals.
A few people offered to go with Tori to help her carry it, but since they were just snacks and not full meals, like her and Ilyana’s orders, she dismissed their concerns. She dropped off Ilyana, who was to help with the check-in table, as last year, students complained that they had waited for some time for the table to be organized.
Ilyana was quick with her head and hands, so she volunteered to be of assistance in order to be ready by the time the first few students arrived.
A few steps away from the gate, Tori saw the same familiar figure she’d seen the night before. She furrowed her brows and frowned before looking over her shoulder. There was only one guard at the gate; the second one had yet to arrive, and the gates had yet to be opened all the way.
The first years hadn’t started arriving yet, either. Tori estimated they had another two hours before the first years started to arrive.
But today was only for first year students. Unless they were one of the thirty upperclassmen who arrived early to act as student guides, the earliest upperclassmen could move in was tomorrow. And even then, very few of them did. They usually dragged it out until the last weekend, after orientation week.
Henrik and Albert would certainly be coming the day before their classes start.
So why is Montan here? Tori looked back at the young man huddled behind a tree and out of view from the guard. He had a drawstring canvas bag slung over his shoulder. She couldn’t turn her head away fast enough and as he lifted his head, they made eye contact.
Montan’s eyes widened, and he snapped his head away, sliding his bag to the side so he could rummage through it and pretend he didn’t see her.
Don’t get involved. Just keep walking. She kept her eyes forward and continued in the direction of the café, as if nothing was amiss. What Montan was doing, hiding just beyond the front gates of their school with his things in a drawstring bag, had nothing to do with her. So, what if he appeared to have slept outside from his rumpled clothing and disheveled hair? Who cared if he’d have to spend another night outside because only first years and student guides were allowed in today?
Tori made it all the way to Cafe Fortuna. As Mama J and her two sons worked that morning to prepare all the snack orders, Tori watched the pile become bigger and bigger. She had clearly underestimated the volume and overestimated her ability to carry everything.
She needed assistance for manual labor. Tori fumbled with her comcry.
“Call Axton du Nassaun.” Her comcry pulsed once, but nothing happened. Axton must’ve already re-registered his comcry. “Call Axton Alvere.” Three pulses and then a voice answered.
“I was going to call you to tell you that I re-registered it, but you already figured it out,” Axton’s amused voice answered. “Good morning.”
“Morning! Are you busy today?”
“No, I’m feeding your cat.”
Tori frowned, disapproving. “Axton, Piers was the one who said he’d take responsibility. Did he make you do it?” He had assured her that he would take care of her cat, why was he pawning him off to Axton?
“No, no, I was already eating, and Alexander kept rubbing my leg-” He was cut off by a meow. “Don’t worry, Uncle Axton isn’t overcooking your chicken.” There was another meow, as if answering.
“...Did you call yourself Uncle Axton?”
“What’s your cat supposed to call me?”
“Nothing. He’s a cat. He can’t talk.”
“Tell that to Piers who refers to himself as Alexander’s dad.”
Tori pursed her lips. There was a lot to unpack, but she’d save it for another time. “Never mind that. I was going to ask if you could help me. Ilyana’s helping with the check in tables, and I thought I could carry our order back to Lycée, but I’ve grossly overestimated my abilities. If you’re busy, I’ll ask if one of Mama J’s sons can help.”
“If you wait a few minutes, I can meet you there,” Axton said. “Piers! Finish feeding your cat! I need to carry something.”
“He’s my cat!” Tori glared at the comcry. She lifted her hand and rubbed her head. “I’ll wait for you at Cafe Fortuna.”
“All right. Be patient.” Axton ended the call and Tori sighed.
“My lady, we do have a small wooden wagon you can use to carry your order,” Tobias said as he peeked out from behind the door.
Tori wrinkled her nose and shook her head. “No, I’d need to drag it with me the entire day if I bring it. I’ll just wait for Axton. Once I get to the gate, Ilyana is near and can help me.”
She didn’t wait too long. By the time she finished her croissant and coffee, Axton arrived. The bell to the cafe rang and he walked in wearing casual clothing. Tori dabbed her lips with a napkin as he stopped behind her and put his arms around her shoulders to give her a playful hug.
“You look very professional wearing your student guide sash,” he chuckled as he nuzzled the top of her head.
“You’ll wrinkle it.” He laughed and released her. “Are you sure I’m not bothering you?”
“No. We already had breakfast, and Piers and I don’t have any plans. He’s reviewing some documents today, meaning he likely won’t step outside his room until I feed him.”
Tori nodded and drew in her lips. “To be honest, I have an ulterior motive for asking you to come.” He raised a brow. “And if you’re angry, I understand, but it was bothering me, so I have to address it.”
Axton’s eyes slowly narrowed. He seemed to think for a moment, as if running through all the possible topics that could upset him. A flicker of recognition flew through his eyes, and he stared at her, frowning. His voice lowered. “Did the old bastard find him?”
Tori shook her head. “I think he slept outside Lycée last night. I thought I saw him last night, but wasn’t sure. This morning, I passed him on my way here. I saw him behind a tree by the gate with a bag.” She took a deep breath. “Axton...can he return to Lycée?”
He drew his head back and gave her a nod, as if confused. “Why wouldn’t he?”
“Tuition.” It was an obvious problem. Axton’s father was no longer Duke Alvere and had little to no money in his name, if what she understood was correct. Lycée’s tuition was paid at the beginning of the year, after Axton’s father was forced out of Sun Garden and forced to give up anything that was connected to the Alvere Duchy, including any sources of income. It was unlikely that Montan’s tuition had already been paid.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“It’s already been paid.”
Tori blinked. “It has?”
Axton’s face was solemn, but he gave her a small nod. “I paid it. An account has been set up to transfer tuition for next year, as well.”
Her eyes widened. Without a word she reached forward and hugged Axton. “You’re great, you know that?”
He let out a small chuckle and patted her head as he leaned forward and hugged her back. “You know I don’t like him, but I’m not going to ruin his life when he’s a victim of that old bastard as well.”
“Not everyone in your position would be so accommodating.” If she were honest, she didn’t think she could do the same.
“If I do this, no one can say that I’m being cruel to an innocent party,” Axton said. “Consider it more a pre-emptive measure to both save and bolster my reputation.”
Tori nodded her head and pulled away. “Does he know you paid for his tuition, though?”
Axton squinted and his lips pulled into a line. “I didn’t think to tell him.”
“You were going to let him believe his father was paying for him?”
Axton shrugged. “What he believes isn’t any of my business.” She looked past her, at the table where a large canvas bag that was sewn into the shape of a large box with handles was waiting. “Is that it?”
Tori nodded. She slid off her stool and grabbed one side. “An underclassman asked me to buy snacks and when everyone heard, I was swarmed. They gave me money to pay for it, so Cafe Fortuna isn’t at too big of a loss. I have to distribute them when I get back.”
“Let go. I can carry it all.”
“Are you sure?”
“I spend so much time training and you think I can’t carry a bag of food?”
“I’m sorry for doubting you, Your Grace.” She gave him an exaggerated bow and he snorted. She held the door open for him. She didn’t see Blue River. “Did you run here?”
“Once more, I spend a lot of time training.”
“Right, right.” She walked ahead of him, telling him where she was stationed and about the group dinner the night before. They discussed some specifics on their little joint project and her concerns about funding, only to be assured that Axton had more than enough. He wanted to proceed immediately.
“I’ve even come up with a name. I think it’s quite clever and rolls off the tongue.”
“What is it?”
“The Countess and the Duke.”
It sounded like a fancy pub in London where everyone spoke with a posh British accent and went to boarding schools funded by generations of inherited wealth.
“It’s...nice, but nothing about the name tells anyone about what it is,” Tori said.
“If you don’t like it, just tell me. Piers already told me it was terrible,” he said with a small, indifferent snort. “The names he came up with weren’t any better.”
“I’m a bit curious....”
“Victory Inn, Sapphire Inn, The Victoria.” He gave her an unimpressed look. “Do you see his theme?”
“I do and I’m touched.”
“Is this what Lady Ilyana calls special treatment?”
“Funny.” Tori shook her head. “Since we’re partners on it, it should reflect both of us. I considered using a portmanteau, like I did with Viclya, but Henrik said I should stop doing that. He says it’s ‘not refined enough’.” She rolled her eyes.
“Axtoria...Victon...Vicax...Axvic.”
“They’re all terrible - I already know.”
“Have you considered using one of your other names, Victoria Antonia Sophia?”
“No, I have not, Axton Michel Sherez. I didn’t even know you had additional names until the banquet,” Tori said as she cast him a suspicious look. He grinned.
“I’m a noble, of course I have additional names.” Axton followed behind her as they crossed the street to get to Lycée. “We can name it after Alexander.”
“Alexander Inn?”
“The Gray Cat.”
Tori could only imagine the logo of a simplified gray cat similar to a particular Japanese moving company’s logo and bit her lips. Goddamn, that’s cute. “We’ll put that in the maybe pile.” Axton chuckled and Tori reached for her comcry. “Let me call Ilyana and tell her to meet me at the gate so we can carry in the food since you can’t enter.”
“No, I will get someone to help you.”
“Axton, non-students aren’t allowed-”
“You!” Tori jumped as Axton’s voice boomed behind her. His earlier playful, cheerful voice became demanding and authoritative, as if he were giving orders while out on the field. She turned around and saw him glaring to one side.
She let out a low hiss and cringed. Perhaps calling out in the guise of helping with the food wasn’t as good an idea as she thought, though she really did need to exploit his labor. Tori turned her head and followed his gaze to where a skinny boy with dark blue hair had pushed himself up against the tall stone walls of Lycée. He clutched his bag tightly in one hand and seemed to be several shades paler than when Tori saw him in the morning.
“Axton. Let me call, Ilyana-”
“He has free hands.” Axton brushed off her concern and Tori chewed on her lower lip. His eyes were fixed on Montan, cold and predatory. Tori reached out and touched Axton’s arm.
“Remember what we told you about him,” Tori whispered as she leaned forward. She felt his muscles tense for a moment before he took a deep breath. He didn’t take his eyes off of Montan.
“I called you over. Why are you standing there? Are you afraid of me?”
“Your voice.” They were this far; she might as well remind him. Axton took another deep breath and seemed to calm himself.
“Your name is Montan, isn’t it?” His demeanor remained cold and sharp, but his voice wasn't loud.
Montan nodded his head then bent down to do an awkward, shaky bow. “Good morning, Your Grace.”
Axton gave him a curt nod. “Why are you sleeping outside the walls of Lycée?”
Tori watched Montan flinch. He lowered his eyes, unable to meet Axton’s. “I am waiting to move back into the dorms and pay for my tuition.”
Tori knit her brows. She knew where he worked; there was no way Montan could earn enough money working part time, for only part of the summer, to pay for Lycée’s tuition.
“Where did you get the money?” Axton asked with a frown. He was well aware of Montan’s situation, too. “Your father is in debt.”
Montan’s long fingers dug into his bag, his head still lowered. “He didn’t give me money. I haven’t seen him. I worked this summer.”
“And you made enough to cover tuition that is a year’s worth of an average farmer’s annual wages?”
“I borrowed money from the store owner of where I work,” Montan said. He looked up and seemed to put up a facade of confidence. “When I graduate, I can work it off at the store.”
“Did you sign a work contract?” Axton asked. Montan didn’t answer. A look of confusion and then worry crossed his face, making Axton frown more so. “Give the money back.”
“What? No!” Montan’s face seemed to pale even more. His eyes crinkled up and he clutched his bag against him. “I need to go to school-”
“You don’t need to borrow the money.”
“Your Grace, please-”
“You haven’t signed a work contract, are you stupid? If you take the money with no written and executed agreement in place, one party could exploit the other, and you have more to lose. The store owner can easily say you stole the money-”
“He wouldn’t do that! He’s helped me so much-”
“Then why didn’t he have a work contract signed to assure the terms?” Axton snapped, glaring at the younger man. Montan’s shoulders fell. He shut his eyes and grit his teeth.
“Your Grace, my parents have no money. I can only depend on myself.”
“And by depending on yourself, you mean sleeping outside your school to save on inn expenses?” Axton sneered. “I bet you haven’t eaten since yesterday.”
Montan’s hand drifted over his stomach, and he looked down, guilty.
“Axton,” Tori said in a quiet voice. “The food is getting cold.” They were all sandwiches and other cold foods, but Axton didn’t know that. She just needed to calm him.
He flared his nostrils and let out a grumble.
“I’ve already paid for your tuition this year and next,” Axton said, sounding irritated. “You don’t have to pay me back. Just return the money you borrowed from the store owner. Make sure he writes you a receipt that your debt has been paid.”
The air was tense, and Tori looked back and forth. Montan seemed to stare at Axton with eyes that wanted to believe him, but a slumped body that was afraid to. Although she didn’t like him either, it was pitiful to see. After what felt like ages, he took a tentative step forward and looked at Axton with uncertainty.
“Why?” he asked. “What...what do you want from me?”
“I want you to carry this bag of food into Lycée for Tori,” Axton said, lifting his chin. He looked strangely arrogant.
Montan drew his head back and frowned. “What else?”
Axton met his eyes. He glanced at Tori and put the large bag down. He walked towards Montan and seemed to loom over the younger man. When they were next to each other, their differences were clear. Axton was a shade darker, taller, with broad shoulders and wavy hair. Montan wasn’t as fit, his hair was an unusual color and straight more than wavy.
The only thing that was similar seemed to be their eye color.
Tori couldn’t hear what Axton was telling him, but from Montan’s clenched hands and defeated expression, it wasn’t necessarily good.
“Do you understand?” Axton asked in a low voice as he stepped back. Montan nodded without a word. “Then pick up the bag and go. Remember what we talked about.”
Montan kept his eyes diverted as he ducked around Axton. He slung his bag over his shoulder and bent down to pick up the large bag of food that was easily half his size.
Tori looked back at Axton, worried. “I will call you later.” It was the best she could do at the moment.
Axton nodded and reached out to rub her head. “He’ll behave. Don’t worry.”
She had an uncomfortable feeling that whatever Axton told Montan had something to do with her. However, she brought this on herself. She was the one who called Axton and dragged him into this. He didn’t have to humor her as he did. She didn’t say a word and nodded.
“Follow me, Mr. Alvere.” Tori walked through the gates and spoke with the guards. Montan had to put the food down to produce his Lycée token before being allowed in. She didn’t know if it was because he was with her that no one else seemed to ask questions aloud.
However, Ilyana had them written all over her face. Most people didn’t know there was conflict between Tori and Montan, but Ilyana did. Tori gave her a small nod of her head; a silent conversation assuring her that Tori would tell her what happened later.
Montan followed her around as Tori called for students to come and pick up their snacks accordingly. After one of the seniors picked up the last small box of cookies, Tori went to her assigned post to wait for students. She took the nearly empty bag from Montan and turned around.
“Did you ask him to pay my tuition?” For the first time since they walked into Lycée, he spoke up.
“No.”
“But you knew about my father being removed from Sun Garden.”
“Everyone knows about that,” Tori said with a dismissive wave. “I didn’t know Axton paid your tuition, either.”
“He hates me.”
“That he does.”
“He has no reason to pay for my tuition.”
“And yet, he did.” Tori took a seat on a bench just outside the dorm where she was stationed. It would be under the shade of a tree for most of the day and then in the shade of the dorm come afternoon. It was an ideal place for her to sit and wait for students to arrive. “I don’t know what he told you, but I can guarantee I had nothing to do with his decision. I didn’t try to convince him of anything. Nor do I have a reason to.” She brought the nearly empty bag beside her on the bench and looked up. “I don’t like you either.”
Montan glared at her. “The feeling is mutual. Don’t expect me to feel grateful.”
“To me? No. To Axton, yes,” Tori said as she pulled out a sandwich that was wrapped in brown paper. After she checked to make sure it was secure, she tossed it at him.
Montan seemed to instinctively reach forward to try to grab it. He nearly crushed it when it fell in his hands. He stared at the sandwich and frowned. “What’s this?”
“Breakfast,” Tori said. “Don’t worry. I don’t expect you to be grateful. Consider this noblesse oblige.”
He tossed the sandwich back at her with the corner of his lip curled up in a disgusted sneer. “I don’t need your pity.”
“Then starve.” Tori neatly put it away and crossed her legs. She looked him up and down and raised a brow. “What are you still doing here? You’ve completed your task and carried the bag in for me. We have nothing more to say to each other.” She lifted her hand and gave him another dismissive wave. “You may leave.”
The corner of Montan’s eye twitched. He sent her one last scathing look before turning around and marching to his dorm.
Tori sighed and shook her head. As awkward as it had been, it went far better than she thought it would.
[https://static.wixstatic.com/media/334114_6091e4325c304c4d9804d3c53f9887d3~mv2.png] The second years picked up the tour like fish to water. Tori couldn’t expect anything less from the highest ranked students of the most prestigious secondary school in the empire. After the first tour, the second-year trainee tour guides looked confident, so Tori had them lead the next one.
Ilyana and Tori still followed them, but Tori didn’t think it was needed. She had told them that walking backwards wasn’t necessary and she only did it because it was fun and made the tour memorable, but all of them still insisted on walking backwards. Several students nearly fell, but they still wanted to try.
At the end of the tour, after the students were asked if they had any questions, Tori made a point to advertise the Sword Association. She planned to run another First Year Excursion preparation and training lecture set, but wanted to save that offer for orientation week, when they tried to get students to sign up.
After they accompanied the last tour, Tori and Ilyana began to walk around campus to try to be visible for any students who were lost. Most student guides preferred to stay in the central campus, so Tori and Ilyana walked further out, towards the greenhouses, stables, and the sword training grounds which were all out of the way.
They circled around areas and were approached several times by lost and confused first years. As they reached the campus where most of the buildings were, they heard a familiar voice.
“Lady Tori!” Tiff waved her arm to try to get her attention.
Ilyana raised her hand and waved back. “Hi, Tiff.”
Tori tilted her head to the side. “Is something wrong?”
Tiff reached them and shook her head. Though she had run towards them, she wasn’t out of breath. All the Sword Association conditioning paid off. “No, not really, but I got a call from my cousin.”
Ilyana gasped. “Oh no, did he reject our request for a tabletop gaming table?”
Tiff shook her head once more. “No, he’s really excited for that. He heard about it through some knight cadets and La Garda students. He’s actually quite upset that it hadn’t been introduced to us sooner, since we go to school with you.”
Ilyana chuckled. “We’ll invite him to Duel’s grand opening then.”
“He’ll like that. He’s still mad that he couldn’t go to Lady Tori’s birthday party because of a family trip.”
“Tiff, we’re getting off topic. Are you looking for me because of Captain Kowalski?” Tori asked before they veered off on a tangent.
Tiff gasped and blushed. She shook her head. “No, sorry! It’s not because of him, but he did call me. As the captain and the head of the Sword Association, he’s in contact with the heads of other clubs and groups in Lycée. Word has been going around that for orientation week, the baking club will issue a baking challenge to all the other clubs. My cousin told me. He heard from the head of the folk music club. She was contacted by the head of the baking club since their booths are next to each other and they need space.”
Ilyana drew her head back and Tori raised a brow. “All right....” She sort of knew where this was going.
“Does the Sword Association need to take part?” Ilyana asked.
“I don’t think it’s mandatory, but my cousin is very competitive,” Tiff said, awkwardly fumbling with her fingers. “At first, he didn’t think to have the Sword Association participate, since word has spread, a lot of the other clubs are planning to take up the challenge. Now, all the heads are trying to find members who can bake.”
Both Tiff and Ilyana’s eyes turned to Tori.
Everyone in the Sword Association knew Tori knew how to cook. If she knew how to cook, then she’d also know how to bake, right? She was sure that was their train of thought.
“Tori...you’ve helped make the cakes for our birthdays....”
“I just told them what I wanted. Mama J’s son took care of the rest. And the mille crepe cakes weren’t baked. They’re fried.” That was a technicality.
Tiff looked disappointed. “I suppose cooking isn’t the same as baking.”
Ilyana also looked disappointed. “It would’ve been nice to defeat the baking club with their own specialty.”
I swear Ilyana is much more bloodthirsty than people think.
“I heard Hart gave the club the idea. She said it’ll attract attention,” Tiff told them.
Ilyana’s eyes narrowed. “Is Hart going to represent the baking club?”
Tiff nodded. “My cousin said that he heard she’s the best at baking bread and wants to represent the club.”
Ilyana looked almost pained and turned to Tori. “Hart issued a challenge....”
“Cooking is not the same as baking, Ilyana.” But you’re lucky I have many interests. “If no one else is available, I’ll do it.”
“Yes!” Ilyana clapped her hands with Tiff before Tiff pulled out her comcry.
“Call Devon Kowalski!”
Tori closed her eyes and let out a low breath. “Every day I suffer....”