"According to Valeriana, Celeste Academy is in hell-because of the demons-but it is worse than the hell it is in itself."

♣

Chapter Fifty ♣ Proposal

Valeriana didn't see Chavi around for History class and so she got worried. The girl came around during their lunch break though and apologized, saying she woke up late.

"Seriously? I thought you were sick or something. I was going to the dormitories to visit you." The girl sat down in front of one the vacant tables and sighed, setting the tray of her food down to the surface.

"I'm fine." Chavi waved her hand dismissively. "You're only going to make a commotion in the dormitories if you go there. Being one of the Twelve, you already attract too much attention." She referred to the current number of eyes trained to their direction at the moment.

She glanced around and saw her point. "Attracting attention or not, you're still my friend, remember? Of course, I'll worry."

Chavi shook her head and breathed out heavily. "You really are too kind for your own good, Valeriana," she said. "You have to be careful or people will take advantage of that. You may not look like it, but you're quite the naïve person."

Valeriana bit into a sandwich as she raised a brow at her friend. "Wah da ya mwean?" She mumbled through the food in her mouth.

Chavi shook it off. "Nothing."

The human girl continued to happily munch away on her food, stuffing her mouth and letting her worries disappear. Eating seemed to always offer some comfort to Valeriana.

"By the way," Chavi started. "I don't see you around the Twelve during lunch break. Why aren't you with them?"

"Why? I can't be with you?" Valeriana teasingly winked at her.

They giggled at each other and continued eating until a voice interrupted. The whole room was swept with silence.

"Have you anticipated my return?"

Valeriana froze, but grabbed the water beside her and chugged it down before turning to face Courtney, who stood behind her.

Valeriana smiled at her sheepishly. "Welcome back?"

Chavi and Valeriana saw Julian hanging around behind Courtney. He had a smug look on his face. He was a follower of the former fifth? No wonder the attitude.

Chavi gave him a death glare.

The former fifth raised a brow at Valeriana, not actually expecting her reply. "Thanks," she answered, walking towards the girl with confident strides. "I have heard of your achievements as fifth-ranker during my absence." She paused, eyeing the girl up and down. "And that you genuinely defeated Zion. I must say I am quite impressed. You did a fairly good job keeping up the name of fifth-ranker-for a human."

"Courtney's going to-" Julian began, but Courtney shut him up.

"Quiet, Julian," she said.

"Sorry."

Valeriana looked questioningly at the both of them. "Thank you, I guess?"

"Don't doubt," she told her. "It's a compliment."

"I . . . see."

"Now, I do not want you to unnecessarily see me as a spiteful villain trying to ruin your life here in the academy-which I am sure you've viewed me as so many times with how the things went during our last fight."

Damn right.

"I will tell you now and I will continue to tell you as many times as it takes," she paused, placing a hand on her hip. "My intentions may be misunderstood but they strive of a greater purpose far beyond your understanding."

"You're making me sound like I'm stupid." Valeriana gave her a look of ridicule, angered by her tone. She didn't know if this girl was actually making peace with her or trying to push her to her limits.

Courtney quirked a brow. "I have heard of your . . . dim-wit tendencies, although I acknowledge your fast-learning qualities regarding swordsmanship and other things."

She huffed, her lower lip slightly protruding forward in a pout. "I do admit that I can be dense sometimes," she said that in an almost whispering voice that no one else was able to hear. "But I'm not dim-witted."

"Anyhow, I am willing to give you what you asked for." Courtney's tone was smug and came with unwavering confidence. A smile tugged on the corners of her mouth and graced her deceivingly angelic face. "I, too, desire to live my life in peace, so if this settles the conflict between us, so be it."

Valeriana felt her brows rising against her will as she gazed at the former fifth in confusion. "What?"

"Valeriana Kerrigan, what do you say about another duel?" Her smile turned sweet that the girl forced herself to stay calm and not vomit.

She hated sweets. It brought nothing but bad things to her life.

"Another one?" she asked, her eyes wide.

"Courtney is going to beat you into a pulp-"

"Julian," Courtney reprimanded.

He quieted.

"I am going to apologize for his rude behavior while I was gone." She cocked her hips to the side as she folded her arms. "Punching him was not enough to compensate for his disrespectfulness. So, I humbly ask for your pardon. Anything he does reflects on me as I accepted him as my aide."

"B-but, Lady C-Courtney . . ." Julian stammered.

She ignored him. "Do you not want to solve this issue once and for all? I did tell you that I will be back to take what is mine, but if you manage to keep it, then I will leave you in peace-if you agree to duel with me on a regular basis."

"So you basically won't stop until you have it back?" She started chewing on her bottom lip.

She was already starting to think that Courtney was somehow not that evil like she thought she was, but all of that was starting to change once again. Seriously, why in the world did she have to go through this?

"I'm just doing what you always do," she said-as though it was the most obvious thing ever. "Didn't you say so yourself? I will never give up?"

Valeriana suppressed a groan.

"Think about it," the girl said. "Give me your answer by the end of the day. I'll give you the peace you need for now," Courtney said. She turned away from Valeriana and started walking away.

Valeriana gazed at Courtney's back as she disappeared.

Should she accept?

If she was ever going to agree, she had a few proposals in mind as well.

She had to include not being bothered during her meals in the list too. Courtney seemed to have a bad habit of coming around during her precious lunch break.