Chapter 80 - Seri The Night Owl

Early in the morning, a tug of war was happening between Lona and I.

"Seri!" Lona's stern voice warned me.

But I didn't care. I refuse to get up before the sun rises! That's too cruel!

I just managed to fall asleep too.

I clung to the bedframe sleepily with my eyes still closed. Lona continued to pull on my legs in an attempt to drag me off the bed. She cursed Dante under her breath for helping me get stronger.

"Seri! Let go already! Queen Luna wants to eat breakfast today with you!"

I whined, "Tell her to wait until it's actually breakfast time!"

Lona groaned, "The Prince likes to be at school early! You're going to make him late. He will be upset."

"Good! I hope he cries too!"

Lona clicked her tongue and dropped my legs. I snuggled back into bed still clutching the bedframe as if my life depended on it. I fell asleep the instant I got comfortable, but I still held the frame in an iron grip.

Lona thought for a moment, "Very well. I will have to use my secret weapon."

She reached out and began to tickle me. I giggled and thrashed, letting go of the frame to grab my sides. She took this opportunity to drag me out of bed.

Lona won the tug of war.

I sincerely regret teaching her what tickling is.

As she got me ready, I fell back asleep.

Lona sighed, "How can you fall asleep so easily?"

After I was ready, I was dragged down the hall to the dining room. My eyes were closed as I was still half asleep. Not even crashing into statues and pillars woke me up.

Lona grabbed my hand and muttered angrily, "Why do you have to be so difficult? Do you want me to be fired due to incompetence?!"

I snored in response.

We arrived to the dining room where Dante, Luna, and William were already waiting.

Queen Luna smiled at me, "Good morning~ You look cute as ever."

My head slammed into the table and I snored peacefully. Lona's face looked on in horror.

She bowed quickly, "I-I'm terribly sorry! This humble maid can't apologize enough! My Young Miss isn't used to waking up this early!! Please forgive her rudeness!!!"

Queen Luna giggled and William looked at Seri in disbelief. Dante sat across from us snickering quietly.

Queen Luna smiled, "I had no idea she had such a hard time waking up in the morning."

Lona's face turned sour, "Yes... My Young Miss is not a morning person."

Queen Luna giggled, "Well then. Perhaps Prince William shall wake her up tomorrow morning."

William turned to her in embarrassment, "M-Mother! That would be improper!!"

"Hehe. What's improper about it? Any girl would love to wake up to a Princely face in the morning."

William glanced at Seri and knew right away that it wouldn't be the case with her. Something told him only Lona could get away with waking her up while not dying in the process.

He looked to Dante, "Why can't you make Dante do it??"

After all, Dante had a lower chance of dying.

Dante glanced away, not wanting to see or hear the response.

Queen Luna had a momentary look of disgust before forcing it into a smile, "If you don't it, then I will put bugs on your pillow while you're asleep."

His face paled, "M-Mother-"

She responded coldly, "Do you dare go against my order?"

He froze, "N-No."

She clasped her hands together, "Great then it's solved."

William decided he would still force Dante to help him in the morning. He refused to be in the direct line of her fury. Dante could be the perfect shield.

He turned to Lona, "Is she really that bad?"

Lona looked at him with a serious look, "Yes, Prince William. Ever since she had the luxury of being trained under Dante, she's grown much too strong. I can barely drag her out of bed now."

Lona didn't do much manual work after all. Her duties mostly included taking care of Seri. So it's not too surprising that she would struggle with Seri who was constantly working out.

However, Lona still did not like it. Seri was much too strong for comfort. She was nothing like a normal 8 year old girl, and that was a bit nerve-wracking. Due to this, Lona held slight resentment towards Dante for making her job harder.

This resentment was obvious to everyone in the room. She hadn't even tried to hide it.

William looked away awkwardly, "Why can't you have Bertram wake her up?"

Lona looked at Bertram with irritation. He looked away nervously.

Bertram could handle her strength easily, but that wasn't the problem. The problem was that he spoiled Seri too much. He couldn't stand waking her up because he knew she hated it.

Even now, they all could hear him thinking, 'Please don't drag me into this'.

Lona responded plainly, "That's because Bertram is too soft hearted."

The conversation ended there and everyone ate their meal in silence. Lona forced food into the mouth of the half awake Seri.

______

I woke up and rubbed my eyes.

Why am I suddenly in a moving carriage?

Sitting across from me was Dante and William. William was crossing his arms in irritation.

"I can't believe she actually woke up once the carriage started moving."

Lona answered him next to me, "Yes, Prince William. It seems to be the only sure way to wake her up."

I covered my mouth from a sudden sensation of nausea.

Of course I'd wake up! Although I really wish I could sleep through such a thing... Ah. Life is cruel.

We arrived at the school, and I stepped out groggily. I frowned at the sky. The sun was just starting to rise.

"Why the hell do we have to be here so early?!"

William stepped off behind me, "Because it's better to arrive early than late."

I clicked my tongue, "Whatever. I'm going to find a nice place to take a nap."

I went to walk away, but was pulled back by my collar. I looked at William defiantly.

He smiled coldly, "You think I'm stupid? I know you're going to hide so that way you can skip class."

"W-what?! No! How dare you think that! What kind of person do you take me for?!"

It was 100% true.

He chuckled, "A delinquent."

My mouth hung open, "Oi! That's a bit harsh! I'm not a delinquent! I need piercings and dyed hair to be one!"

He raised an eyebrow, "What?" He shook his head, "Nevermind. We are going to go study."

My face fell, "Study?"

He dragged me over to a shaded tree. He sat underneath it and pulled out his textbooks.

F*ck. This overachiever really intends to study.

Who the hell studies before school?!

Dante followed and started working out. I watched them both in disbelief.

Is this what they do in their free time?! God d*mn. They seriously need a life.

I sighed, "Why don't you both have hobbies?"

William looked at me and raised an eyebrow, "Why would we need a hobby? We are too busy to have one."

"Uh. You don't seem busy to me."

He rolled his eyes, "You should study too."

"Why should I study? I'm too smart for this bullsh*t."

His eyes narrowed, "Don't curse." He pointed out something in his textbook, "If you're so smart, answer this."

I sighed and poked my head over, "It's 24."

His eyes widened, "Wh- How?! How did you know? You must have cheated!!!"

I shook my head, "No. It was just easy."

Okay, it was easy for me because math was my best subject. And I'm also much older than him.

Although, it is a bit surprising to see them give a complicated problem to a child.

He kept pointing out questions and I answered them out of boredom. Dante stopped doing push ups and began to watch out of curiosity.

"What about this one?"

I sighed, "-17. Now would you please stop asking?"

His mouth dropped, "How do you know that?! Who taught you this?!"

I smiled smugly, "I'm self taught."

He frowned, "No way. I've never even seen you open a math book."

I meant I was self taught in my other world, but he doesn't need to know that.

"Then I'm a natural born genius."

"Hah! Yeah right. It's impossible for someone to understand math just by looking at it."

I frowned, "Then what do you suppose it is?"

He thought deeply for a moment and snapped his fingers, "You must have a tutor!"

"When would I have time for a tutor? Aren't I always at your house training with Dante?"

He frowned, "Oh... Oh! But you're always tired! They must come late at night."

My face twitched in irritation, "Do you really think my father would allow that?"

He leaned back, "It's the only thing that makes sense."

I chuckled, "Well, if you want to know the truth; it's because I'm from another world where I already studied this."

He frowned, "Don't bother making up some far fetched story."

I forced out laughter.

What an idiot.

He thought for a moment, "If you're so smart, why are you so bad at history and grammar?"

My face fell, "I'm not bad at it."

I'm terrible.

He smiled smugly, "The told me you barely pass those subjects. The teacher said you only excel at math and science."

"Oi. You can't be good at everything."

He laughed arrogantly, "I am. I have near perfect marks in all of my classes."

I smacked him on the head.

He held it, "Oi! What was that for?!"

After our "study" session, William and Dante politely escorted me to class.

By dragging me.

After school we returned home, where me and Dante continued to train. Millie and William sat under a tree helping each other study and do homework.

Dante knocked me over and I landed on my back with a thud. I scowled at the crushing defeat. I looked over and saw William flinching whenever Millie looked at him.

"Hey. Stand up."

I looked at Dante who reached his hand out.

Ugh. This tyrant.

I grabbed his hand and pulled him down. He crashed on the ground next to me.

He glared at me, "What was that for?"

I rolled over on my stomach and pointed at Millie and William. "Don't you think they make a good couple?"

"... What?"

"Look at them! They look so cute together."

"... Why do you think that?"

I looked at him mischievously, "Well, I know a secret. Millie has a crush on William."

Dante blinked in disbelief, "Did she tell you that?"

I looked away guiltily, "Ah.. Well, no. But she didn't need to! As her best friend, I can easily understand her actions. I mean look at her! It's so obvious. She's always looking at him with such a soft smile. She's clearly smitten."

Dante covered his mouth and started shaking.

I continued talking completely oblivious, "And William must finally be noticing her too! He looks so nervous around her. Oh! Perhaps he has a crush on her too??? Oh!!! That would be great. Maybe I should help out their relationship more."

Dante broke into loud laughter unable to contain himself.

I looked at him with a scowl, "Oi. What's so funny?"

He got control of himself, "You're way off."

I looked back at them in confusion. They were both looking over at us in curiosity.

Hmm. I wonder what he means by being way off.

Ah! I bet he means that I'm wrong about William liking her.

Yes, that has to be it.

Tsk. What a shame. Here I thought she made progress.

Oh well, I guess I will just have to help her out more.

William frowned, "Oi! What's so funny?"

Dante and I strolled over to them.

Dante shrugged, "She's just so oblivious. I find it funny."

I looked at him defensively, "What?! I'm not oblivious!"

Millie smiled, "Oh! Do you mean the new set of rumors?"

I frowned, "There's a new set?"

William sighed in exasperation, "She's totally clueless."

Millie frowned, "It's Ilene. She's making up some nasty rumors. She said that you give free kisses to boys as long as they give you cake."

I tapped my chin, "Oh... So that's why I've been getting more cake lately."

William frowned, "Did you forget that you punched a boy who tried to kiss you?"

I scratched my head apathetically, "Did I?"

Millie continued, "There's also one that says you're a witch who stole William's hair to make him fall in love with you."

I frowned, "That's disgusting. Why would I want William's hair?"

William frowned, "Oi."

"There's also a rumor that you've turned Dante against William with your feminine charms."

I smiled dreamily at this, "I have feminine charms? Ah~ I feel so accomplished. It's good to know I turned Dante against William."

"You didn't." Dante's cold voice answered me. I pouted in disappointment.

William crossed his arms angrily, "I can't believe she has the courage to make up such outrageous claims. Just because I broke off our engagement, doesn't mean that she should attack my friends."

I gave him a light smile, "Please. I'm not at all concerned about these rumors. They're completely harmless."

Millie looked at me concerned, "But aren't you worried someone might get the wrong idea about you? I mean, those boys did try to kiss you."

William muttered, "Though they have stopped trying after she punched them."

I chuckled at their concerned faces. I waved them off, "Please. This is a walk in the park for me. Trust me, I've been through much worse."

William frowned, "Why do you always say that? When have you been through worse?"

"In my other life."

He rolled his eyes, "Yeah right."

Well, it's good to know that if I say anything about my other world, they'll just assume I'm playing a prank on them.