Page 38 of Vicious Princess
“Today, I want to spend some time with each of you to assess your skill set,” Ezkai Cassandra says. “I have assigned a time slot to each of you today. Take a look at the schedule here.” She taps on the paper at her desk. “While you wait for your turn, you can either stay here and observe your fellow cadets in action, or you may choose to spend your time at the library across the corridor. Be mindful of your free time, cadets. I want you to use it to read more about emotional-manipulation tactics and practice them instead of lazing around just because I’m not standing over your shoulder with a whip.”
“I bet many dudes here would love that,” Roman whispers to me.
I snort a laugh. But he’s not wrong. After looking around the lecture hall, I can see that many cadets are drooling at the sight of our instructor. I’m not surprised that once she calls the first name on her list, not many cadets leave to go to the library.
I choose to stay and watch others get tested, too. Ezkai Cassandra pulls up two chairs at the front of the auditorium. A fae with forest-green hair and a clipped ear takes a seat on one chair. Ezkai Cassandra leaves the lecture hall.
After a few minutes, she returns with a fae child and an elderly fae woman.
The child takes the seat in front of the cadet, while the elderly fae stands farther back. The kid is a girl, no older than five years old. She nervously glances at the elderly fae, who could be her grandma.
The grandma offers the girl a soothing smile and a gentle nod.
“Children have a much harder time controlling their emotions because they’re only developing,” the instructor saysto the cadet in the chair. “That makes it harder for a Decarios to manage their emotions, too. It’s easy to make children feel an emotion you want them to feel. But much more energy is required to tame those emotions and soothe a child.”
Ezkai Cassandra approaches the girl and squats next to her chair. “A friendly fae right here will make you feel something now, okay? It might be uncomfortable at first, but don’t be scared. Your nanna is here with you.”
The girl nods. Ezkai Cassandra turns to the cadet and indicates for him to start. The green-haired fae focuses his gaze on the kid in front of him.
For some time, nothing happens.
But then the girl purses her lips and looks at Ezkai Cassandra with big purple eyes full of tears.
“I want my mommy,” she says, voice quivering just like her chin.
She’s about to burst out crying. Ezkai Cassandra offers the girl her hand and, when she takes it, gives it a little squeeze.
To the cadet, she says, “Now soothe her.”
The cadet narrows his eyes on the girl. A line wedges between his eyebrows, and his hands curl into fists on his thighs.
A fat tear escapes and rolls down the girl’s round cheek.
Suddenly, the girl blinks and her eyes widen. A joyful giggle escapes her, and she kicks her feet.
“Ice cream!” The girl squeals. “I’m ready for ice cream!”
Ezkai Cassandra smiles at the girl and then gestures for the elderly fae to approach.
“Well done,” the instructor says to the cadet. I’m surprised when the elderly fae picks up the girl and then sits on the chair with the child in her lap. “Adults and their emotions are a different matter. Because all the neural pathways in an adult brain are developed, they are much harder to influence than children. At least, typically. Simpler brains and nervous systemsare easier to work, but in many cases, you won’t know what sort of brain or nervous system you have on your hands until you attempt to manipulate it.”
Ezkai Cassandra walks over to her desk and leans a hip against it. She crosses her arms and jerks her chin.
“Adele right here is not a simple mind,” she says. “She’s a highly acclaimed painter who’s very in tune with her emotions, and she knows well how to master them and soothe herself. Not only is adult mind harder to influence, but it requires much more energy from a Decarios to keep up the emotional manipulation. Give it a go.”
The cadet adjusts himself in his seat, clears his throat, and focuses on Adele sitting across from him. The girl is comfortable in her lap, humming a tune under her breath.
I have to admit that fae children are much cuter than human children.
The cadet frowns and fists his hands. Sweat breaks over his brow, and I lean forwards in my seat.Huh. Interesting.
With a curse, the cadet throws up his arms. Adele just sits there, unbothered.
“It’s alright,” Ezkai Cassandra says with a smirk. “Adele’s not an easy one to crack. Thank you, Cadet Elrige. Please return to your seat.”
The instructor’s gaze sweeps over the list on her desk. Before I know it, her eyes snap to me. “Cadet Wildarrow. Let’s see if you can crack Adele.”
Roman gives me an assuring pat on the shoulder before I rise and make my way down the stairs to where Adele is. Many unfriendly eyes are on me, but I ignore them.
