Page 42 of The Princess's Pet

A lecturer I did not know entered the class and dropped stacks of work booklets on our table.

“Today you will read over the dining etiquette that chef Ahamed instructed you on, then you will answer the questions in the back,” the man informed us. Immediately the class fell into conversation, and he did not seem to care.

“Who is that?” I asked the others.

“That’s Nick, he’s a TA while he studies for his doctorate. Doesn’t like the teaching side of things, so just hands out reading materials and leaves us to it,” Harris answered.

“Yeah, Nick is cool, he’s Viridis like us, knows all this etiquette stuff is shit. Like, chew with your mouth closed. That’s it done. It’s not the end of the fucking world if someone turns a glass upside down,” Dylan said completely ignoring his booklet.

“Edward said that Viridis is not an ally of Borealis. What did he mean?” I asked, I was curious, more than a few times Dylan had been very vocal about his opinions not matching what they taught at the academy, but apart from being loud and obnoxious Dylan didn’t seem that radical to me. I didn’t particularly disagree with any opinion he had shared so far. He seemed in a talkative mood, and I needed a distraction from my feelings and dining etiquette would surely just upset me more.

“Edward doesn’t know what he talks about. Viridis isn’t against anyone. We simply don’t look down on anyone,” he answered.

“Yeah, but Borealis are all about history and keeping tradition. They probably still teach their loyal ogres like Edward, that we’re the enemy. Like it was over two centuries ago. Move on,” Harris added.

“What was over two centuries ago?” I questioned.

“When Viridis sided with Auster,” Ana answered joining the conversation.

“Do they not teach you anything in public education?” Dylan asked and I flushed in embarrassment at my lack of knowledge.

“We don’t learn much about history other than Borealis defeated Auster in the war,” I explained.

“That sounds about right, they don’t want normal people to understand what happened, might encourage unrest,” Dylan replied and it reminded me of how the Princess had told me that people weren’t encouraged to ask questions.

“If Viridis isn’t an enemy anymore, why do I pick up on so much hostility?” I asked.

“Because we lost, we were forced to bend the knee, to live within Borealis rule. But that doesn’t mean that we stopped believing in equality regardless of heritage or bloodline. We’re notabout all those titles and status,” Harris explained. “Dylan here is Lord Viridis, but you’d never know it.”

“What?!” Ana and I both asked simultaneously, in disbelief and shock.

“Yip, Lord Viridis, like my grandfather,” Dylan said. “But we don’t use the titles within our house. They’re what Borealis forced upon us, structure, and hierarchy, so we took the titles and then completely fucked them over by allowing anyone of Viridis blood to inherit a title regardless of if they are pureblood or not,” Dylan explained.

“But your title isn’t respected by any of the other houses,” Harris told Dylan. “So, what does it matter what we do when everyone else ignores us?”

“It matters, because they only pretend to ignore us and we’re setting an example of how things should be and that it works,” Dylan answered.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever you want to believe. Two centuries, I don’t think we’re just playing along anymore. We’re as much a part of the current system as any other house now,” Harris continued.

“Systems can always change Harris. Just need the right people to make it happen,” Dylan said looking at me.

“Wait, can we back up? Dylan. We’re talking about Dylan, right? I mean him?” Ana said pointing accusingly at Dylan. “He’s a Lord, kind of, only in house Viridis?” She clarified, eyes a little wide and hand still pointing accusingly.

“Yes,” Harris answered. Ana slowly lowered her arm and mumbled something unintelligible.

“Basically, Viridis believes what my father taught me?” I got the gist of it. “We’re all equal and purebloods aren’t inherently better than the rest of us?”

“Exactly!” Dylan answered smiling his boyish grin. “Who’s your family other than Flores?” He asked curiously leaning past Harris to look at me.

“My father is beast shifter of Maria clan and vampire of Auster,” I answered.

“You’re Auster?” He asked his mouth falling open.

“A tiny little bit, why?” I asked on guard from his reaction and the way his smile became a grin.

“Auster aren’t allowed at the Academy and here you are. I don’t even think a pureblood Auster still exists, all assassinated. The last pureblood was Prince Nikolas Auster he was killed with his son, half shifter, about 15/16 years ago or something. Was big news at the time, I was just a boy. He was viewed as the last remaining threat to Borealis rule.”

I felt sick. Dylan couldn’t have known he was talking about my grandfather and great-grandfather. He couldn’t have known he was telling me something about my own family that apparently everyone else knew but I didn’t. Father had told me it was an accident that had killed them.

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