Chapter 3: Mask

“Uh? Havoc, where are we going?”

“Ouch!” I bumped into his back when he suddenly stopped. I glared up at him as he turned around. I was ready to fight him if I hadn’t remembered my plans.

Calm down, Soem.

I quickly changed my expression. I lowered my gaze and bowed to him. Shit!

“What did you call me?” he asked coldly.

I swallowed. Is he always like this? He’s scary! Damn.

“H-Havoc…” I whispered his name. It’s right, isn’t it? I’m not sure!

When I looked up at him, he didn’t say anything, just stared at me coldly before continuing to walk.

We were headed to the HM’s office, and it was a bit of a walk. What could they possibly need from me?

Could it be… My gosh! No, it can’t be! Do they know? It’s impossible.

I’m such a good actress, they couldn’t possibly have figured me out so quickly.

As we walked, I couldn’t help but stare and marvel at him. I have never seen a man this handsome before. He’s the next king of all of Caelum. He’s sure to marry one of the royalties to become queen of the whole world. I averted my gaze from him. For some reason, it felt like something was stuck in my chest.

When we reached HM Wendal’s office, Havoc opened the door and let me go in first; he followed. As soon as I entered the room, I felt the strange tension and the noise of people talking inside.

“It’s her, Your Majesty.”

I slowly noticed who was there. At a long table, the royalties, the king, and the queen were all together. Headmistress was in the middle of them.

Headmistress’s office is big and spacious, but now it felt cramped, like I couldn’t breathe properly. It feels like I’m suffocating. In front of me are the people who betrayed our kingdom. I don’t know how I feel.

I looked back at Havoc behind me, and he just gave me a cold look, as I expected. He sat down and joined the table.

What do they need from me? Do they know? Why did they call me here? What are they going to do?

How? It can’t be!

It’s impossible for them to figure me out just like that. It can’t be…

“Y-you called f-for me…” I couldn’t stop the tremor in my voice.

“Sit down,” Headmistress told me.

I could barely move my body from fear and nervousness. I slowly walked towards the long table and sat in the empty seat, next to a guy who I think is the same age as Havoc. Who is he?

“A-Astraea…” I turned to the woman who called my name. How dare she? I looked at her coldly, ignoring the nervousness I felt.

“H-how are y-you?” she asked, seemingly trying to hold back her emotions.

From her question, I confirmed that they haven’t figured me out yet. That’s a relief. Maybe they feel sorry for me because of my lies about being mistreated by the Cadieusians (which would never happen) and only escaping to come here.

“I’m fine,” I said coldly, avoiding the queen’s gaze.

Get it together, Astraea!

“Mother, why is Kuya here?” All of our attention went to Angel. Her mother, the queen, smiled at her and also turned to me.

“He’s coming back here,” a gruff voice said, which I think was Angel’s father, the king.

My heart felt like it was on fire from all the emotions overflowing.

What’s the reason they called me here?

My cold hands are getting even colder. The heat in my heart feels like a volcano that could erupt at any moment.

Why do I feel this way? There’s anger, but I feel something else too, for some reason I can’t explain.

Damn it, control yourself, Astra.

“Astraea?” Gideon’s voice boomed in my mind. Bastard. He used his power to enter other people’s minds again, and now of all times.

“Where are you?”

I closed my eyes to block his telepathy.

Block.

When I couldn’t hear or feel Gideon’s power anymore, I opened my eyes. Havoc’s serious face greeted me, he was across from me at the table. My face heated up.

What are you looking at?

I rolled my eyes at him and turned to the guy beside me who had been staring at me this whole time. If I’m not mistaken, he’s Angel’s brother.

He’s looking at me intently, like he’s trying to figure out my whole identity.

I smiled at him.

He was startled by what I did. Even I was surprised. What was that, Astra?!

“He’s Trevor Sataria, hija. He’s the prince of Sataria,” Headmistress said.

“If that’s the case, how did you escape from them, Astraea?” Angel asked again as we walked towards our first class for the day. She’s been asking and asking.

I stopped and turned to her coldly. Annoying.

“What are you implying?” Irritation flashed across my face. Thankfully, they can’t see it because of the mask I’m wearing. She seemed surprised by my reaction and lowered her head.

“Astraea…” Venus tried to stop me.

I ignored her and continued to glare at Angel.

“Are you doubting me?” I snapped.

Guilt was plastered on her face. She shook her head pitifully.

“N-no! I-I’m sorry, Astraea… You’re misunderstanding, I’m just curious…” she stuttered.

“Really? Didn’t I tell you everything? What else do you want to know, huh?” I raised my brows and crossed my arms around my chest.

“Gosh! Let’s go already, Angel!” Yvy called to her, but she didn’t move from where she was standing.

I smirked.

I know what you really want, bitch.

“Do you want me to take off this mask?”

She looked up, startled by what I said. Even the royalties with us fell silent at my words.

“I can’t take this mask off,” I said, which disappointed them.

“What?!” Yvy exclaimed with dismay, looking at my face.

“I can’t,” I said in a dramatic voice.

“Why, Astraea? Even with the mask on, we can still see how beautiful you are. If you take it off, you’ll definitely prove that you’re really beautiful,” Kreo said.

I fakely smiled at him.

“I don’t need to take off this mask just to prove my beauty.”