Chapter 11: Political Maneuvering

Author's Note: I wasn't sure whether to do an extra chapter with the political response from the attack or do it this way but decided on this cause I feel that while the politics of this world are important it's better to learn them slowly rather than all at once. We'll hear more of the different treaties and agreements between countries as well as how they get around them in sneaky snek ways in later chapters. Enjoy!

[Is she... ...just in a... ...after a little while...] -Unknown Voices

[Ugh.... I feel like shit...] - Rose

Opening my eyes blearily I was blinded by a bright white light above me while I was laying on a soft bed with my tail slightly stretched off the end. My confused mind focused on that the bed must be crazy long if it can nearly fit me. As I was dazed I felt myself pulled into a hug by two different people while my eyes were still adjusting.

[Rose! You're okay, we heard from the school what happened and took the first train over! Your father and I were so worried!] - Lily

[Honey! I'm so sorry that we weren't there for you, we had no idea it was this bad!] - Robert

[Huh? Momma? Papa? How did you get here? Where am I?] - Rose

My eyes finally adjusted to the light and what greeted me was the worried faces of my parents. Looking around I didn't recognize the room but the various medical-looking instruments and monitors told me it was most likely a hospital or something similar.

[Oh baby you're in the Medical Ward of the Academy, you collapsed and have been in a coma for a full month.] - Lily

[A month!?! How? Why?] - Rose

[How much do you remember Miss Rose? Shoo! We need to make sure she's healthy before we stress her too much.] - Doctor Looking Human

A human woman suddenly interrupted or conversation while shooing away my parents with her hands. They gave her dirty looks but backed away as instructed. Thinking for a moment I recalled the last thing I remembered.

[I remember that we were at the social and that Duke guy took hostages... I remember being so angry and... Wait! I remember the Prince getting stabbed! Is he okay? There was so much blood! Tell me what happened to him!] - Rose

[Calm down calm down, he's fine. He's in quite a bit of pain and lost a lot of pride but his draconic heritage saved his life. I was actually going to be releasing him today with activity restrictions.] - Doctor Looking Human

Sighing as I leaned back into my bed I noticed my parents smirking at my reaction and my face immediately went beet-red.

[I-It's not what you're thinking! I w-was only worried cause he protected me! No o-other reason!] - Rose

[If you say so...] - Robert

[Looks like I won't have to wait long for grandbabies, momma is so happy...] - Lily

Laughing to themselves while they teased me my face reddened from embarrassment even more. Keeping silent for fear of giving my parents more ammo I heard the doctor lady clear her throat.

[Ahem! Well anyway I'd like to keep you under observation for a few more days but in the future please don't use that much mana at once, mana depletion can be serious and can lead to death or even worse. Ah and my name is Dr. Giatros, if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.] - Dr. Giatros

[Mana Depletion? Isn't that the fuel for magic? Why would running out of it be bad?] - Rose

[Actually it's a lot more important than just the fuel for magic, you see every living being has mana inside of them and has evolved to live with it in turn. When that mana is depleted it's like going without food for a few weeks, not necessarily deadly but even when it's not it can cause a whole host of problems.] - Dr. Giatros

My father nodded at her explanation while my mother blinked confusedly while looking back and forth between the doctor and father. Nodding my head as well I could only think that life is amazing! I'd have to ask Legal Loli Sensei later on what mana actually was cause I'd always just assumed it was only a fuel for spells and never asked more about it. For now though I was exhausted and needed to sleep. Closing my eye's I felt darkness take me.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[How are you feeling? Still feeling tired?] - Arlen

[I-I'm feeling a little better, w-what about your wounds?] - Rose

Currently I was still in the hospital-like room recovering from my apparent mana depletion while the Prince cut up apple's for me. Wait isn't it usually the other way around? In anime it was always the guy that would be in the hospital bed with injuries while the girl took care of him so why is it the opposite this time? Oh no, the Prince was the damsel in distress this time wasn't he? Bemoaning my fate that led to this embarrassing situation I almost didn't hear the Prince's response.

[The stab wound still hurts sometimes but it's the least I can do to protect my...] - Arlen

[...your?] - Rose

[Oh um.... nothing! It's nothing!] - Arlen

Suddenly the Prince's face flushed as I stared at him in confusion. Wasn't he trying to protect me? My memory of the very end of the social is a bit vague but I do remember him crawling towards me before everything got confusing. I was so distracted by these thoughts I didn't realize that I'd been staring directly at the Prince for several minute's as he squirmed in his seat.

[Oh right! I've been wanting to say this since I met you again but circumstances kept getting in the way.] - Arlen

[O-oh? W-what is it?] - Rose

Thinking back on the "circumstances" which were mostly me violently attacking him then running away afterwards and subsequently avoiding him for the majority of the time since my face flushed in embarrassment. That embarrassment kicked it up another notch when the Prince suddenly stood from his chair and bowed his head nearly horizontally.

[I wanted to apologize for my conduct the first time we met! I was arrogant and childish and deserved being put in my place. Thank you for setting me on the right path!] - Arlen

[W-Wait ahh I-I mean! Umm... N-No problem...?] - Rose

Raising his head with a serious look he continued.

[When my mother first told me of our possible engagement and the 4 year timeframe I planned on apologizing when we first met then refusing the engagement right then and there. I dislike other people making decisions for me and wanted to choose my bride for myself!] - Arlen

[I-I see...?] - Rose

[When I saw you for the first time however I couldn't help but think that it wouldn't be that bad if I accepted the engagement and my hesitation led to an awkward situation for you, I apologize for that as well!] - Arlen

[...o-okay?] - Rose

[After that incident I thought about it and came to the decision that I wanted to get to know you seriously with marriage in mind but if you decide to cancel our engagement at the end of the four years while I will be disappointed I'll accept it. Will you allow my selfish wish for the agreement to continue until the four year timeframe?] - Arlen

[U-umm... I....] - Rose

His straightforward question and clear eyes put all sorts of pressure on me and the way he let me make the final call like that was a bit intimidating. However, I still had not made a decision on what I would actually do about our potential engagement so his suggestion to leave it entirely in my hands was only beneficial to me. After thinking for a little longer I nodded.

[U-Umm, please take care of me for the next four years. B-But don't think this means I'm going to say y-y-yes!] - Rose

Confronted with the Prince's ecstatic eyes and fully aware that I sounded like the typical tsundere my face burned even more than it had before. Oh god the only thing I'm missing is twintails and to say, [It's not like I like you or anything!] and I'll complete the set! Karen would laugh her ass off if she could see me now.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[What do you mean you won't do anything?!?] - Lily

[Unfortunately while we are aware that they are most likely the culprit behind this event we can't make any obvious moves without proof.] - Principal Night

[Hah.... she's right honey, if the academy accused them without proof they would just use it as a justification for war.] - Robert

Currently we were in the Principal's office while my mother lay into her and the subject of concern here that had most likely caused the previous incident was of course the Church of Light. Unfortunately because the Duke was never caught and the thugs he hired didn't actually know anything the Church couldn't be called out for fear of major repercussions.

[What about that Duke person that attacked my darling baby Rose? Do we have any clues to where's he's gone?] - Lily

[Hah... I actually just received word this morning that the Holy Empire of Fos caught him crossing their border and attempted to capture him. They claimed that he was killed in the struggle and apologized for failing to capture him alive.] - Principal Night

[Wait but isn't that the home country of the Church of Light? We can't possibly believe anything they say!] - Lily

[I agree with you but our treaty with them prevents us from doing anything besides a formal inquiry.] - Principal Night

[...besides, we shouldn't say more than this in front of certain company. Rose why don't you leave the room and go find Legal Loli, I mean Lolianne Sensei, I believe she wanted to talk with you about something.] - Principal Night

Glancing pointedly in my direction I was not so subtly directed to leave the room, but her last sentence terrified me because I had done the one thing that I'd been warned not to do by Legal Loli Sensei. I had finally been released from the hospital after a full week to be safe, during which the Prince visited me every day as well as several of my classmate's and my three roommate's. During that time most of my memories of the social had returned, including my use of chantless magic. As a result I was dreading my first meeting with Lolianne Sensei.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[So...? What do you have to say for yourself?] Lolianne "Sens"ei

[I-I have no excuse, I'm sorry for the trouble.] - Rose

Tapping her feet as she gave of an aura of intimidation that made her less than 3 foot stature seem enormous I kept my eyes firmly on the ground while answering.

[I see... In that case I hope you're prepared for what's coming...] - Lolianne "Sens"ei

Flinching at her words I soundlessly nodded while still keeping my eyes firmly downward. I closed them as Lolianne stepped towards me only to open them in surprise when I felt her hugging my upper body tightly while pulling me down so she could pat my head.

[Well I'm glad your safe, you did something stupid and now no matter what we do news of your abilities will spread but you survived. That's all a teacher can hope for from her beloved students.] - Lolianne "Sens"ei

[Teacher... I...] - Rose

[However! It's only a matter of time before those Church of Light asshole's cause trouble so I will be personally tutoring you to prepare you for the next incident! Hahahaha! Prepare yourself!] - Lolianne "Sens"ei

I had started to tear up with her first sentence but her second made me freeze up instantly with terror. I knew of some of my classmate's that had been tutored by Legal Loli Sensei and the only thing any of them had to say afterwards was panic filled plea's for mercy. None of those tutored by her ever let their grade's lower enough to repeat the experience.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[So I heard the Prince visited you in the hospital every day. Any "lucky" events?] - Malaise

[Yeah yeah! Did he fess his undying love for you? Spill tha deets!] - Veronica

[...] - Shade

[N-Nothing like that happened... W-we just talked, yeah talked that's all...] - Rose

[Hmmmmmmm....] - Veronica

All three of them, even Shade, looked at me with disbelief in their eye's but didn't persue it further. I glanced at Malaise with pleading eyes and she seemed to get my request as she changed the subject after that.

[Well putting aside her obvious lie, the practical test is in a week. Did Lolianne "Sens"ei say anything about whether you'll be exempt or not?] - Malaise

[L-Lie? Umm I mean, no Lolianne didn't say anything about it.] - Rose

[Hah... Then we have to assume you're gonna be forced to take it. Why don't we have a study session after class tomorrow?] - Malaise

[Ugh! More Studying? WRRRYYYYY?] - Veronica

[Because you're falling behind Ver and while Myself, Rose and Shade are all doing fine we could all use a review session.] - Malaise

[Tch! If you weren't so cute....] - Veronica

[Hah! What was that?] - Malaise

[Nothing Madam Malaise boss lady sir!] - Veronica

Brandishing a book in a threatening manner shut Veronica up immediately as she hid behind me. Being the largest of the four of us made it easy for me to be used as a wall. I laughed at her reaction as I smiled warmly looking forward to the next 4 years together with them.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------