The World Of Sally

Chapter Twelve: Result

Helios remained to look at Sally who’s bowing down in front of them. His eyes were glaring and glowing like golden fires and everyone was intimidated.

“Lady Robia, Mr. Lionel, Felix, why are you here?” Helios asked.

“Ah, I’m here to help Sally, your highness,” Athena answered.

“So as for me, your highness,” Felix replied as well.

“… I’m here to help too, your highness.” Ethan insincerely answered. He kept on glancing at Athena and Helios caught it. A smile formed his lips. He leans on his chair and called Sally.

“Lady Esther, come here.” Sally went to his side and stood stiffly. “I understand everyone’s worry. You may join with us.” He mentioned calmly yet his eyes were still burning with anger. “So I decided, Lady Robia and Mr. Lionel to teach you.” Athena’s smile disappeared and her blue eyes widen in disbelief.

“Your highness…”

“It would be a great help, Lady Robia. You’ll help us, right?” Helios asked again while smiling. Athena blinked and hesitated to answer him. It’s not what she wants.

“Sally…”

“This has nothing to do with Lady Esther, Lady Robia. I’m asking you in my own accord. You’ll agree, right?”

Athena stared at Helios, forced a smile, and nodded.

“Yes. Yes, of course, your highness.” She replied and bowed down. She’s disappointed because she doesn’t want this as a result. Felix glanced at her before replying to the crown prince.

“Yes, your highness.”

“Then it’s settled.” Helios stood up and glance at Sally who’s beside him. “Ms. Esther, follow me.”

“Uh, yes.” She bowed down before them and followed the crown prince at a fast pace. She still felt anxious because of the commotion earlier. “Your highness, I hope that you forgive me.” She muttered weakly. The crown prince stopped and turn to face her.

“Why didn’t you refuse them directly?” He questioned directly. Sally blinked at his abrupt inquiry.

“That, your highness.”

Sally can tell the rage of the man in front of her. It’s ridiculously terrifying that she’s unable to breathe properly yet she answered him as calmly as she could.

“If I refused, I’m afraid it will taint your highness and the other’s reputation, not to mention you’re popular.”

“Ha! Nonsense!” He exclaimed. He walked again and Sally followed him quietly. They arrived at Sally’s hiding spot, the forest.

‘Right, the prince knows this place too. I should find a new hiding spot.’ She thought.

“Come here.” The prince commanded. Sally took a sit in front far from the crown prince. She doesn’t want to get close to Helios who’s angry right now.

‘For dear life.’ She thought while nodding.

“Why’re you nodding? Move closer.” The prince demanded again.

“Huh? Ah, yes, your highness.” She slowly moved forward but it’s still far away from the prince’s spot.

“Move closer.” He growled. Sally immediately move closer as she sensed his increasing anger. Sally opened her back and took her notes. Helios looked at it. Her handwriting is messy and it seems she pulled an all-night study.

‘This woman, how many hours did she sleep  last night?’ He wondered staring at her tired expression.

“Stop.” Sally halted and stared at him confused.

“Yes?”

“Keep that and sleep.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Do I need to repeat every single damn word I said? It’s irritating.”

“Ah, no. Thank you, your highness.”

She put her things back and moved towards the tulip tree to lean on the trunk. She has a lecture later and the professor is strict. She mustn’t fall asleep since she wants to have a good record in school.

“What are you thinking?” The prince promptly inquired.

“Random things.” She replied. Helios stared at her and speak again.

“Don’t think too much. If anything happens, I can still help those two.”

‘What am I saying? The hell I care.’ He wondered feeling bizarre about himself. He never cared about the misfortunes of others. Not even once.

“Thank you, your highness, but I don’t want to be a burden. It’s my business to deal with.”

He pressed his lips tightly. His forehead creased as he saw her forced smile again. ‘That forced smile, it’s always like that when I’m with her.’

“I told you, your worries are useless. Things happen unexpectedly because that’s life. Don’t pressure yourself too much over something so trivial.” He muttered indifferently.

‘Trivial? How can he say that?’ She wondered. She laughed awkwardly and forced herself widen her smile.

“Well, I’ll try, your highness.”

“Good.”

She looked away from the prince beside her and stared up at the cloudy sky. 

‘The feeling of ease is no longer in this place.’ She mumbled in her head. She thought it’s because of the crown prince’s presence.

‘I need to find a new place soon…’ She pondered with a small smile. ‘Let’s do that after the prelims.’ She added.

---

Athena went inside the classroom feeling tired. She’s pretty annoyed because her plan backfired. 

She laid her head on the desk and sighed heavily as she recalls what happened earlier.

‘Did he, defended her over me? I wasn’t harsh on her though?’ She thought. She sighed heavily again and closed her eyes for a while.

“Athena.” Someone called her. She opened her eyes and raised her head.

“Brother.”

“Let’s talk for a while.”

Athena watched him went out of her classroom. She noticed the disappointment in Felix’s face. She stood up and followed him outside.

“Is there something wrong?”

“What did you just do?” He asked sharply.

“I beg your pardon?”

“I know you called those people and informed them about the study session between the crown prince and Miss Esther. You, are you insane?”

“Hah. What? Did she tell you? I never thought that she can be a bitch.” She scoffed. Felix blinked ridiculously at her expression. It’s far from what he usually saw.

“So it’s true that you’re responsible for that commotion.”

“Well, there’s no point of hiding it. I just felt that that girl is trying to get what’s mine. I just have to remind her, her place.” She calmly discoursed. Her blue eyes were filled with rage.

“Look, Miss Esther, she has a deal with the headmaster, and the crown prince is helping her because he doesn’t want Mr. Bolton and Dr. Ashton to be kicked out from the institution. Keep your jealousy away from her.”

“Why? Are you interested in her?” She asked. Felix’s expression turned cold.

“What if I say yes? What will you do?” He turned his back from her. “You’re aware what happens when the crown prince gets angry right? Try not to get to his bad side, understand?” Then he left.

Athena’s headache worsens. She went back to her classroom with a solemn face. ‘How the hell did this happen?’ She sighed. ‘I need to do something about this.’

---

The lecture ended peacefully. She’s so tired and hungry because she didn’t eat breakfast. She was about to go out when someone called her.

“Hey, you!” A female student said. It’s their representative of the class. She looked at her with a puzzled yet surprised expression on her face. It’s the first time someone called her.

“Yes?”

“Take these papers and put them on the teacher’s desk in the faculty.”

“Yes?” She glanced at the two piles of papers on the desk. How can she carry all of that?

‘I’ll just have to put those on the teacher’s desk. It’s not that hard.’ She thought.

“Alright.” She put her things back and took the papers and went out from the room. She doesn’t know why but she felt that something bad will happen.

‘I hope I’m wrong…’ She muttered inwardly. It took a long for her to arrive at the faculty room due to the crowd in the hallway. Because of her status as an outcast, it’s hard to receive kindness from anyone, well, she’s not expecting it so she’s not badly hurt emotionally. However, recently, she just received unexpected help from well-known people, especially from the crown prince. No matter how many times she thinks about it, there’s nothing special in her to receive such goodness. ‘I don’t understand.’ She pondered.

She went back to her classroom to get her things. When she arrived at her seat, her lips pressed tight and her eyes became strangely blank. Her things were ruined and soaking wet. She blinked and looked around, she saw the disgust in other people’s eyes and she felt humiliated. It’s making her irk. She shook her head and took a deep breath. ‘No, I need to calm down. This happens every time.’ She muttered to herself and took her things before going out of the room with a sullen face. She did not eat lunch and she’s thinking of skipping dinner too. It doesn’t matter. She felt really bad since all of her notes and books were gone, and the crown prince’s notes are oddly missing. Someone tapped her shoulder. She turned around seeing Felix's bright smiling face.

“Sir Robia, good afternoon.” She greeted.

“Sir Robia? Please, you can call me Felix.” He chuckled.

“Oh, how dare I do that?”

“Why? You’re one of my friends now.” He answered kindly to her. She was moved by his gentleness making her smile.

‘That’s the first time someone called me his friend.’ She thought.

“Tomorrow will be the prelim exam. Good luck, Ms. Esther.”

“Thank you, Felix. Call me Sally as well. It would be unfair if only I will call you by your name.” She chuckled and smile.

“Alright, Sally,” Felix replied as well. “Are you busy? Let’s eat together. I’m thinking to eat outside of school and it’s my treat.” He added. His classmates were forcing him to treat the whole class with dinner in the capital however he refused because he still needs to study for the upcoming exam. His eyes scrutinized Sally who’s in deep thoughts. She’s small and thin, and her uniform doesn’t fit her.

“Is your uniform like that?”

“Pardon?”

“It didn’t fit your size.” He answered.

“Ah, yes. I got smaller and I don’t have time to adjust my uniform’s size but it’s not uncomfortable at all.” She smiled at him. “And about your invitation, I’m sorry but I have to decline. I’m preparing for the exam tomorrow and there’s still a lot to learn.” She said.

“Oh. I see. Then, how about after the exam?”

“I can’t promise anything. A lot of things might happen.” She joked. Felix laughed and asked her,

“What kind of things?”

She shrugged her shoulders and her smile went bigger.

“Who knows? It’s a mystery. Excuse me, I have to go now. Goodbye, Felix.”

“Yes, goodbye Sally.”

He watched her back walking away from him. He did not expect that kind of answer from her. ‘A mystery, huh. Well, it’s true.’ He thought with a smile and started walking in the opposite direction.

---

Helios woke up early and felt a slight headache. He slept for two hours only and he needs to wake up early because he needs to meet Sally. ‘Damn that woman. She wakes up too early.’ He growled inwardly and went to the bathroom to take a quick bath. He wore his uniform and combed his hair before going out of his room.

He went to the cafeteria leisurely. The sun has not completely risen yet. While walking, he saw a familiar person. Her black hair is messy, and her uniform is strangely loose.

‘She became thinner than before.’ He concluded after observing.

“Hey.” He called. Sally stopped and turn to face him.

“Your highness, good morning.” She smiled and bowed down in respect.

“Where are you going?” He asked.

“I’m going to my classroom, your highness.” She replied.

“Did you eat breakfast?”

“I’m skipping breakfast.”

“Skipping?”

“Yes. I don’t eat anything before taking the exam because it makes me sleepy.” She smiled at him. Helios stared at her pale face. Her eyes are oddly blank so he asked,

“Are you sick?”

“No, your highness. What makes his highness think like that?” She laughed. “Excuse me, I must leave now, your highness.” She bowed and started to walk away from him. Helios remained silent while watching her back.

‘That woman sucks in lying.’ He thought. He chased him and grab her small wrist, pulling her to face him.

“Y-Your highness?” She called in surprise.

“Let’s visit the infirmary first. Do you think you can focus if you’re unwell?”

“But…”

He didn’t listen and took her to the infirmary immediately. She didn’t resist anymore and just let him drag her. What can she do? He’s the crown prince.

‘I must not provoke him.’ She muttered to herself. The prince opened the door and they saw the temporary doctor the headmaster personally chose. Unlike Dr. Ashton, he doesn’t have that welcoming vibe around him. He’s unpleased to work early in the morning as well as ruining his morning tea.

“Treat her,” Helios ordered and pulled Sally. Unfortunately, he’s dealing with the crown prince right now.

“Yes, your highness.” The doctor answered but he can feel the insincerity. The doctor looked at Sally with despise but she ignored it. “How are you feeling?” He asked.

“I have a slight headache and dizziness.” She answered. The doctor stood up and went to take the medicine she needed. He gave it to her and instruct her when and how to drink the medicine. “Thank you, doctor.” She said as she stood up. They went out from the infirmary. She stopped and turned to face the crown prince. She bowed down and sincerely muttered words of gratitude to him.

“Thank you, your highness, for helping me.”

“No need. I expect a lot from you. I dare you not to fail.” He said gravely. She smiled brightly and nodded.

“Of course. I won’t disappoint you, your highness. Then, I’ll leave now. Good luck on your exam.”

“Yes. Good luck as well.”

Both of them went to their classrooms waiting for the exam to start. Sally felt nauseated and nervous at the same time but she can manage. She mustn’t fail this exam.

‘I will not fail. I will not fail.’ She repeated and stared at the window.

The students must take seven exams today and one physical exam tomorrow to measure their abilities. The result will be taken separately. The basis of being included in the first-rank list is the two exams however, if the student shows great performance in the first exam, he will be included automatically to the list without even taking the second exam, however, the second exam is necessary and must be taken despite the result. Students must do their best because their performance will be sent to their houses right after the exams.

Time is running and everyone is nervous. The bell of the clock tower rang which means, the exam is over. After an hour, the result was posted on the bulletin board. Helios looked at the list and his lips lift to a proud smile. It’s not because he’s still in the first place but because in the fifth place, an unfamiliar name was written

The name Sally Esther is in there with a score of ninety-five point five percent.

***