Saving My Broken Ice Princess

Chapter Four

“Nervous?” Melonie asked as she straightened Báine’s tie.

“A little”, Báine lied.

“Don’t worry, Young Miss,” Sofia chuckled, “the Young Master has attended the academy from the Primary level. He knows his way around. You’ll both be fine.”

“I know”, but getting lost in a huge academy was the least of her concerns. “What’s the academy like?”

“A place for elites,” the maid answered excitedly. She picked up Báine’s brush. “Only the best of the best is good enough for the Young Masters.” Báine hummed.

Ten minutes later, her braid tucked under her beret and Báine made her way downstairs. Báine wasn’t sure how to deal with “elites”. Would keeping her head down be enough? A sigh left her lips.

“What’s eating ya?” Báine jumped ten feet in the air. She clutched her chest and faced Yule, who wore a s**t-eating grin. “Good morning.”

“You scared me!”

“Obviously”, he rolled his eyes. “You didn’t tell me what you’re sighing for”, Yule drew closer to poke her cheeks.

“It’s nothing”, she tapped the back of his hand.

Yule brows pulled together, a slow wry smile pulling his lips. “Alright, I’ll leave it this time”, he walked ahead. Báine heeled him. They arrived at the balustrade at the top of the bifurcated staircase. Báine saw Melonie was on the phone. Their mother’s grave expression was taken by the wind when she saw them. Melonie stretched out her hand and a maid came quickly to relieve her of the house phone.

“I can’t believe my eyes,” Melonie gasped, “who are these beautiful kids?”

“Mrs. Willows,” Yule rolled his eyes, “tell us that when we’re not wearing pink house slippers.” Báine looked down and realised they were both indeed wearing pink house slippers.

“Oh?” Melonie arched a brow and strode towards them.

He quickly realised his mistake. “Sorry Ma.”

“Much better”, Melonie huffed satisfied. Yule scratched his cheek while Báine watched with a secretive smile. “Oh, come here.” Yule saved face and bet to Melonie’s height. She tucked all the stray hairs back. When she patted his head, Yule righted himself. Melonie admits it wasn’t for his hair, the boy would be a carbon copy of his father. She moved to straighten Yule’s tie. “Are you sure you don’t want to sleep some more?”

“It’s alright, I’ll keep the duckling company,” he agreed readily.

“Well, aye.” A maid approached with the lint roller and Melonie sequestrated it.

“Why not let the servants do it?” Yule asked, confused. It was always the servants.

Melonie looked at him, then hummed thoughtfully. “I fancy caring for my ducklings is all”, she smiled brightly. Before they admitted Marek to the hospital, he never looked after Yule in this way. Yule scratched his cheek, and Báine laughed quietly to herself.

Afterwards, they had a light breakfast and made their way to the academy three hours before the orientation assembly. Why? Melonie wanted to speak with the principal. Melonie had arranged the talk a week before this. When she brought it up, the kids said they wanted to go as well, so Melonie obliged them.

The drive to the academy was a long one. Dewhirst Castle All-age academy was on a separate landmass from the rest of Bridnorthmid. Between the two masses sat the Keynivis river, but the Keynivis Royal Bridge connected the communities. Báine knew that Dewhirst Castle is known as a second town within Bridnorthmid. As they crossed into the community, Báine understood why Dewhirst Castle was seemingly untouched by time. Her lips parted in awe. The homes and establishments looked as if someone pasted here it from the pages of a book, a story of weathering and challenging times met with patient and stoic grit. Surely it was the story of a community that survived the world wars it had seen and flourished in cultural beauty. Contemporary elements were non-existent, in its place lush greens were corporate into the town. Flowering plants sat on the walls of the town and some houses had vines aesthetically covering their walls. If it weren’t for the early rising town folk, Báine could’ve led herself to believe she’d gone back in time.

Yule found his disinterest fleeting as he watched Báine absorbing her new surroundings. “You’ve never been to Dewhirst Castle?” he asked. She looked at him and shook her head. “The stores here are cool I guess”, he shrugged, “I’ll show you around.”

“Yule’s grafting is pitiful, innit,” Melonie murmured to Foder, who tried not to laugh. “I pity his future lassie.”

“Have mercy Madam,” he smiled, “the Young Master doesn’t have many chaps his age.”

“That’s one thing they have in common.” Melonie watched them in the rearview mirror. “Maybe that’s why they became such good friends.” Her face grew sad, “I pray this will be an excellent opportunity for them.” To have more friends went unspoken.

The kids, ignorant of the adults’ concerns, chatted care freely until they arrived at their destination. The school was high and wide. Branches of the Wych elm tree peeked over the parking lot, their leaves decorating the asphalt. At first glance, Báine could tell it boasted three floors. She allowed her eyes to roam the rugged clay walls, the magnificent russet bright yet earthen. Wide, dark-framed windows uniformly took their place on the wall. After a three-minute drive uphill, the engine finally went silent in the vacant car park. Báine stepped out of the car, dried leaves crunched under her feet. Melonie looked them over, straightening their vests and adjusting Báine’s beret.

Yule looked at the crested hat intently. “I didn’t know they permitted berets”, he said.

“They will”, she winked at her son.

“Alright”, he articulated slowly. Yule took the lead, “I’ll show you the admin office.”

In front of the administration office sat a lake. “The school has their own lake”, Báine couldn’t stop her head from whipping around, “this is insane!”

The chauffer quietly tailed the family of three. The disparity between the Young Miss and her family caused the chauffeur to think. Melonie came from a family more affluent than the one she married, and the Young Master was raised in the Edurne household. Both thought little of grand displays of wealth in contrast to the Young Miss, who’s awed by the glamour on most occasions. Foder found the Young Miss endearing. Foder continued to watch the children, the uprightness of their posture. Despite the separation from the family, Báine was no less graceful than her brother, it’s a result of their Edurne education. He cheats himself if he believes the Young Master’s attentiveness towards the Young Miss stems from anything but Yule's intentions.

“Good morning.” The gruff voice brought the chauffeur and Báine back to the present. Standing outside the office was the headmaster himself. Báine looked at the grey-head man. His features were rather stern. She gravitated to Yule, he subtly tucked her into his side. The man eyed the interaction with great interest. “It’s a pleasure to have you joining us for another year Yule”, he spoke to the boy.

Yule gave little reaction, only offering his signature hum. Melonie spared the teen a glance. “I will work hard this year as well Headmaster Edinburg”, he answered.

The headmaster’s eyes widened but he quickly recovered. “The students will have to sit behind the glass panel while we talk in the office,” the old man would rather stay and watch the family interact longer. Yule’s muted hostility was nowhere to be seen in the presence of his half-sister and step-mother.

“Lead the way”, Melonie stepped forward. He finally tore his eyes off the boy but met imposing eyes. She arched a brow. “Is there a problem, Mr. Edinburg?” The headmaster felt unspeakable oppression from her simple question.

There were no cracks in her demeanour. Melonie gave off an air of regal authority. People of her ruddy complexion usually fade into the background and are forgotten. However, he can understand why the Tyrant Marek would choose a woman like this. She was ferocious in her own right.

“Just who is this woman?” he questioned in his heart. Of course, Edinburg painted a smile on his stern features. “Of course not”, he motioned ahead of him, “this way.” He turned his back and led them.

The glass partition separated the children from the adults inside the inner office. Yule slouched in the expensive leather seats and closed his eyes. Báine leaned on him and occupied herself with cat videos. She was immersed until her bladder started singing a different tune. Yule cracked an eye open when his shoulder felt a little lighter.

“Are there any bathrooms around here?”

“The bathroom on this building are for the teachers only.” He pointed to a building on their right. “Go across the field to that main building. Follow the path, when you get to the open corridor and turn right”, he recited.

Báine looked to the big building to their right. “Okay”, she got up.

Yule closed his eyes immediately after, “You sure you got it?”

“I got it.”

He hummed as Báine’s footsteps decrescendo. “Follow here and go right”, she murmured the directions like a mantra. She hopped from stone to stone on the paved walkway, the manicured grass swayed in the gentle breeze. Báine tuned into the empty corridor and continued until she saw the marked doors. “Does this belong to a school?” She blinked at the glistening pink and cream tiles. It reminded her of a resort or restaurant bathroom.

A bit creeped out by the dead silence Báine used the bathroom quickly. She hummed as she returned to the administration building. Báine crossed the field hopping on the broken stone paving and arrived at a court? No this isn’t right. She looked about but the lake was nowhere in sight.

“I had it in the first half”, Báine looked between the identical buildings, “Sofia I actually got lost…”

Thwock! The echo ricocheted off the walls. Báine looked towards the back of the building. If someone was here she could ask for directions. Báine followed the echoes that sang in the empty halls. They lead to an open door that connected to a blue fence, she followed the fence and took sharply took the corner.

“Stop!”

It was like thunder rumbled in her ear, Báine’s whole body locked up as wind rushed past her face. the gentle tap on her shoe brought her back to life but her legs gave way. Báine crumbled, her shaking fingers pushed at the fuzzy green ball that could have activated her life insurance.

Báine clutched the tennis ball. “I’m so glad I already used the bathroom”, a shaky laugh left her lips. “That was a close one.”

“Indeed.”

She froze at the second voice. Who was that? She was drawn out of her mind by the sound of rushing footsteps.

“They should really put a sign at that corner,” one voice complained.

“Oh my God are you okay?” A familiar unhurried voice caressed her ear, slightly furrowed brows entered her field of vision.

“You”, Báine choked out. “Oh wow”, she thought. There were specks of gold in his dark eyes. Or was it the light playing tricks on her?

The boy leaned away slightly, only a moment passed before recognition flashed in his dark eyes. “We meet again”, his lips quirked up slightly cracking his indifference. Báine wasn’t graced with a smile before the corners buckled under an invisible weight. “I am so sorry”, his eyes danced across her features, “this is the second time we’ve met and I could’ve sent you to the hospital. Were you hit?”

“No.”

“Can you stand?” His hand ghosted over her skin. The chilliness of it made Báine rub her arm. He retracted his hands.

“Uh”, she used the wall as her support. His hands went out again without touching her. When Báine was finally steady on her feet he pulled away.

“I didn’t know you attended here as well.”

“First day”, she rubbed her upper arm again. She already had a low body temperature, so for someone else to make her cold was saying a lot. He stared watched her blankly. “Yes?”

“Are you accident prone or just unlucky?” Báine felt like she’d been shot with an arrow. He tilted his head slightly, “do you know where your people are this time?”

“You like to get straight to the point, I see.”

“I’m not the one who got lost again.”

“Admin office”, she huffed.

“How’d you get all the way back here? Never mind you wouldn’t know.” he delivered monotonously. Báine felt like she could cough blood. He looked over his shoulder to the forgotten boy, “I’ll guide her back.”

“Alright I’ll pack up here”, his friend replied, “Orientation will start soon anyway.”

“Okay.” He turned back to Báine, “follow me...”

“Báine”, she answered belatedly, “Báine Edurne.”

His lip twitched up. “Nice to meet you again Báine. I’m Rohan Niceven.”