Ment
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Remaining vigilant, Varya dozed off in the corridor, leaning against the wall in a heron-like pose. Ianira, the soldiers, Levisia, and even Futaba had already left, each going their own way, and Varya saw her roommate get into a carriage in the courtyard and drive off towards the estate. Well, perhaps that was the right thing to do in the current situation, rather than risk her life in the forest... Although, personally, Varya would have been willing to risk it for her friends and Futaba if necessary. Right now, in her alert half-sleep, the refitter hoped to be the first to hear the messengers returning to the academy with news, good or bad... But it would be better if it were good. Some of the fugitives had clearly already experienced enough bad news in their lives.
And the news arrived. At first, Varvara was quite nervous about the king's personal visit, but seeing the nine missing people, including Yukka and Stella, and the monarch's smiling, satisfied face, she sighed with relief. At least for now, the storm had passed.
The hastily organized evening event with the sleepy students gathered in the courtyard looked strange, although safe. It seemed that the king had finally decided to take some responsibility for his past misdeeds, and, as he himself said, he was in a good mood right now. But a villain remains a villain, even if he is now doing good deeds, and he is clearly doing so with the help of the one who is awkwardly clinging to his lap, as if on a playful improvised throne. Yes, what would they do without Futaba's sacrifice... It remained to be hoped that she would be able to keep her husband's mood in check for as long as possible.
The students' requests looked... Interesting. From the extremely strange and inappropriate, like those of Miho or Shera, to... Well, there were few good requests so far, except that Cassia could be understood; otherwise, it almost entirely looked like some kind of childish whims (although, of course, they are not children here...). Meanwhile, Varya was most concerned about Yukka's condition, lest such abrupt confessions cause her former roommate's head to hurt again (a glance in the appropriate direction, and at the same time in the direction of Jin and Stella, as unobtrusively as possible).
But a particular trial for Varya, cutting deep and hard, was Ikсора's request – and the ease and lack of hesitation with which it was granted. The refitter didn't immediately understand what was happening, and what was the meaning of all these words: bodyguard? Roommate? Varya didn't remember the redhead ever supporting Futaba, either in words or deeds, in the past, when the latter was just a downtrodden, lonely child, sleeping (or not sleeping) on the next bed, enduring her nightly painful moans... Not that there was any support after the ill-fated ceremony: even now, Varya remembered the scene of silent, disapproving silence at the first meeting of the disciplinary committee, in which Ikсора also participated... Only Futaba's explanations and, perhaps, herd instinct forced the red-haired automaton to accept the position, judging from the outside.
But now, when it came to real status and respect, Ikсора was the first to ask for favors, and she immediately received them. An incomprehensible annoyance and jealousy struck Varya's chest like a knife, because she was already almost certain that her and Futaba's destinies were connected. Did the refitter hope for the position of bodyguard? Well, she didn't think of it as some kind of immutable, fundamental goal, but rather as a future possible reward for all her efforts, a reward that she would earn not out of arrogance or greed, but rather because, well, who else could be entrusted with such a task? That's bad enough, but in addition, she was being kicked out of the room, without even bothering to look at her or ask her, like a naughty puppy (was it because she didn't arrive in time to help during the attack? Well, sorry...).
Never mind, maybe it's easier for her... She won't have to tie her future life to Sakuramoria, with all its problems, with all its crazy and overly aggressive rulers and princes, bloodthirsty, dull-witted warlords, eccentric wizards, and teachers who don't care about anyone... All roads are open to her, what is there to regret?
And the news arrived. At first, Varvara was quite nervous about the king's personal visit, but seeing the nine missing people, including Yukka and Stella, and the monarch's smiling, satisfied face, she sighed with relief. At least for now, the storm had passed.
The hastily organized evening event with the sleepy students gathered in the courtyard looked strange, although safe. It seemed that the king had finally decided to take some responsibility for his past misdeeds, and, as he himself said, he was in a good mood right now. But a villain remains a villain, even if he is now doing good deeds, and he is clearly doing so with the help of the one who is awkwardly clinging to his lap, as if on a playful improvised throne. Yes, what would they do without Futaba's sacrifice... It remained to be hoped that she would be able to keep her husband's mood in check for as long as possible.
The students' requests looked... Interesting. From the extremely strange and inappropriate, like those of Miho or Shera, to... Well, there were few good requests so far, except that Cassia could be understood; otherwise, it almost entirely looked like some kind of childish whims (although, of course, they are not children here...). Meanwhile, Varya was most concerned about Yukka's condition, lest such abrupt confessions cause her former roommate's head to hurt again (a glance in the appropriate direction, and at the same time in the direction of Jin and Stella, as unobtrusively as possible).
But a particular trial for Varya, cutting deep and hard, was Ikсора's request – and the ease and lack of hesitation with which it was granted. The refitter didn't immediately understand what was happening, and what was the meaning of all these words: bodyguard? Roommate? Varya didn't remember the redhead ever supporting Futaba, either in words or deeds, in the past, when the latter was just a downtrodden, lonely child, sleeping (or not sleeping) on the next bed, enduring her nightly painful moans... Not that there was any support after the ill-fated ceremony: even now, Varya remembered the scene of silent, disapproving silence at the first meeting of the disciplinary committee, in which Ikсора also participated... Only Futaba's explanations and, perhaps, herd instinct forced the red-haired automaton to accept the position, judging from the outside.
But now, when it came to real status and respect, Ikсора was the first to ask for favors, and she immediately received them. An incomprehensible annoyance and jealousy struck Varya's chest like a knife, because she was already almost certain that her and Futaba's destinies were connected. Did the refitter hope for the position of bodyguard? Well, she didn't think of it as some kind of immutable, fundamental goal, but rather as a future possible reward for all her efforts, a reward that she would earn not out of arrogance or greed, but rather because, well, who else could be entrusted with such a task? That's bad enough, but in addition, she was being kicked out of the room, without even bothering to look at her or ask her, like a naughty puppy (was it because she didn't arrive in time to help during the attack? Well, sorry...).
Never mind, maybe it's easier for her... She won't have to tie her future life to Sakuramoria, with all its problems, with all its crazy and overly aggressive rulers and princes, bloodthirsty, dull-witted warlords, eccentric wizards, and teachers who don't care about anyone... All roads are open to her, what is there to regret?