Chapter 97

Last night, I intended to write another chapter, but a good friend suddenly visited, so I had to regretfully give up. If there's nothing today, I'll have another chapter before 12 o'clock.

I originally wanted to delete the ad, but I accidentally made it a featured post... I can't even delete it now, how silly...

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Since the bloody incident of the student riot at the Royal Central Academy, the entire school has been in indefinite suspension. Perhaps the events of that day left a severe psychological impact on most of the students. After the school announced the suspension, many people fled this place that once brought them infinite glory, waiting for the day the school would recover.

Therefore, the once bustling school now lies desolate and bleak.

Some people believe that the Royal Central Academy, after this incident, might never recover. However, they forget that those who died in the student riot were from the school's management, not the most important faculty.

The reason for the suspension of the Royal Central Academy is partly due to the aftermath and partly to reselect the school's management.

After that night, Raki invited Maggie to her home.

As for Avis, as one of the key figures in the riot, he has already been expelled from school during the investigation and settlement. If not for his father, he might now be suffering in the capital's prison. His current situation is no different from being in prison, as he is strictly forbidden from leaving home.

Raki is very troubled, and the source of all this is Avis.

After the verdict, Avis's father, to save his only son, was forced to give up his position as the deputy minister of the kingdom's treasury. Avis himself, due to this matter, has completely lost his political future.

It can be imagined that the future of the Avis family will soon fall into decline.

Although her family and the Avis family are old friends, and even have a marriage contract, for the sake of the family's interests, she and Avis might have to dissolve the engagement. They might even stop all contact.

It may seem cruel and heartless, but it is the reality of the noble class.

No one would blame them, as her family is just doing what is normal.

However, Avis's parents and relatives cannot accept this reality. If they were to marry, perhaps they could use Raki's family's power to have a chance to rise again. But if they cut off all ties, the family's decline is inevitable.

Therefore, these days, visits from Avis's parents and relatives have been endless.

Every time she sees their hypocritical, fawning faces, Raki can't help but feel disgusted. Often, she would take Maggie and run far away.

A manor outside the capital.

This is a property of Raki's family. To completely avoid the disputes in the capital, she and Maggie have been living here for a long time.

"Raki, are you really going to dissolve the engagement with Avis?"

Living in Raki's home, Maggie can't help but hear many things from the maids and attendants. Seeing Raki, who has become increasingly thin and haggard, Maggie can't help but ask with concern.

"I don't know, and some things are not up to me to decide."

On the quiet stone bench in the long corridor, Raki forced a smile and sighed.

"But if Raki strongly opposes it, perhaps you can change the family's decision?" Maggie said softly.

"Ah—" Raki sighed deeply, lowering her head with a troubled look, and said, "Maggie, if it were before, I would have strongly opposed it, but now? I don't know. I don't know if I still like Avis as much as before. He has disappointed me time and time again, and made me sad... I don't know if he still loves me. My mind is a mess, and I can't figure out my true feelings, so I can only choose to run away."

"Raki, it was me and my brother Xalan who caused the misunderstanding between you and Avis. I'm sorry..." Suddenly, Maggie's voice choked up.

Hearing Maggie say this, Raki looked up and saw her with tearful, guilty eyes. She quickly reached out and hugged her, saying, "No, it's not your fault. Even without you, perhaps I and Avis would have had a serious conflict sooner or later."

"Really?" Maggie bit her lip, looking pitiful.

"Don't overthink it." Raki stroked her fine hair and sighed, "I once told you that both Avis and I are very proud people. We would never back down from our beliefs... In the past, we would make concessions for each other, but now? He no longer wants to tolerate or make concessions, and neither do I. Since he is like this, I can't back down either, so we always end up arguing... You and your cousin just made our conflict happen sooner."

"Raki—"

Maggie broke free from Raki's embrace, looking at her with red, round eyes, and said, "I believe that the ten years of feelings between you and Avis won't break because of this. Even if there are conflicts, I believe you and he can resolve them in the future. Look, that night, although Avis was a bit impulsive, he did it because he loves you, so... don't argue with Avis anymore, okay?"

"This—" Raki hesitated for a moment, seeing Maggie's guilty expression, and could only nod, saying, "Okay, I'll try my best."

At this moment, a neatly dressed maid hurried over to them and said, "Miss, Mrs. Bortleam has come to visit."

Bortleam, this is Avis's family name.

How did they find this place? She didn't expect them to bypass her family and come directly to her.

Raki wanted to refuse, but her sleeve was suddenly tugged. She looked over and saw Maggie with a pleading look. Reluctantly, she consoled her, "Alright, I'll meet them. You go back to your room first."

After saying this, Raki resumed her usual noble lady's proud demeanor and looked at the maid, saying, "Take them to the reception hall. I'll be there in a moment."

...

"Raki, you are becoming more and more beautiful. Avis is truly fortunate to have you as his fiancée."

In the reception hall, as Raki walked in wearing a luxurious dress, a middle-aged noblewoman stood up and smiled, flattering her.

"Mrs. Bortleam, you flatter me." Raki elegantly returned the courtesy and sat down in front of the middle-aged noblewoman, politely.

After the maid served the pastries and hot tea, Raki waved her hand, signaling the maid to leave.

Looking at the middle-aged noblewoman, Raki smiled bitterly in her heart. She is Avis's mother. It had been a long time since they met, and the once kind and beautiful lady now looked haggard and aged.

It seems that the recent days have been a torment for her.

"Raki, I am truly sorry to you. If we had educated Avis better, this would not have happened." The middle-aged noblewoman touched the tears at the corners of her eyes, looking sad and painful.

It's hard to tell if it's real or fake, as the nobility are skilled at deception.

But Raki still maintained a concerned tone, "Mrs. Bortleam, this is not your fault. Perhaps this will be a good lesson for Avis's future growth, so there's no need to blame yourself."

"Yes, Raki is the most well-mannered. Unlike my foolish son..." The middle-aged noblewoman sobbed, "I have watched you and Avis grow up together, but I never thought there would be such a big difference between the two of you."

Raki endured the inexplicable annoyance in her heart and said, "Mrs. Bortleam, let's put this matter aside for now. May I ask why you have come to visit today?"

The middle-aged noblewoman wiped away her tears and sighed, "Raki, Avis has been forbidden from leaving home. Why haven't you visited him these past few days? You know, Avis misses you the most right now..."

"Mrs. Bortleam, I'm sorry, it's not that I don't want to, but my family strongly opposes my visits."

If she wanted to see Avis, she could ignore her family's opposition, but she didn't go, which means she didn't want to see him. At this moment, she could only lie.

"Raki, so you do want to see Avis, right?" The middle-aged noblewoman suddenly showed a hint of joy.

"I guess so—" Raki ambiguously lowered her head.

"Then, to let you see my foolish son, I brought him here this time." The middle-aged noblewoman smiled broadly.

"What?" Raki was instantly stunned.

How is that possible? Didn't they say there were guards at Avis's home? How could he come out so easily?

"Ha ha—Raki, are you also happy and excited by this news?" The middle-aged noblewoman mistakenly thought.

"I'm just curious, how did Avis get out?" Raki suppressed her surprise and asked.

"Don't worry about those details. I secretly brought him in the carriage this time, but you need to talk quickly, or it won't be good if we return too late." The middle-aged noblewoman smiled.

"Alright—"

Soon, the middle-aged noblewoman hurriedly apologized and left the reception hall. After a while, Avis's familiar figure appeared before Raki, but his mother did not show up.

"Raki."

Hearing Avis's hoarse, low voice, Raki felt a slight flutter in her heart. She looked at him, his pale face, his thin and weary appearance—was he still the same vibrant person he used to be?

"Avis, you're here." Many words were buried in her heart, but when they came out, they were cold. She didn't know why, and she even began to regret saying it.

"I'm here." Avis seemed not to notice Raki's coldness. He walked to the opposite side and sat down, his eyes fixed on her, saying, "You've lost a lot of weight these past few days."

"You have too." Raki's voice trembled, trying to hold back the tears welling up in her eyes.

"I'm sorry." Suddenly, Avis looked very serious.

"No, I'm also at fault." Raki bit her lip.

"I heard your family is going to dissolve our engagement." After a moment of silence, Avis said softly.

"Yes." Raki's face was pale as she forced herself to say.

"What do you think?"

Avis's gaze was like a sharp blade, making Raki involuntarily avoid his eyes.

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"Yes, I don't know."

"Why don't you know? Don't you have any feelings for me anymore?" Avis's voice was filled with accusation and sharpness.

"Avis—" Raki calmed her emotions and bravely met his gaze, saying, "My heart is a mess right now. I don't know what's happened to our feelings. I don't know if we have a future together, so can you give me some time to be alone? Then I'll give you a real answer."

"No!" Avis suddenly became agitated, waving his hands wildly, as if venting his frustration, saying, "Raki, how can our ten years of feelings have no future? No one loves you more than I do, and you love me just as much!"

"Avis! Calm down." Seeing Avis lose control, Raki quickly said.

"Calm down! How can you calm down!"

Avis stood up and approached Raki, saying, "Our engagement might be dissolved! Do you know that? I don't want to see you in another man's arms! You can only be mine! Mine!"

"Is this what I wanted to see?" Feeling Avis's hysterical emotions, Raki stood up, not backing down, saying, "I tried to stop you the night before the riot. You were the one who acted on your own, who kept misunderstanding and acting impulsively! I wanted to go back to the way things were, but you didn't want to. Did you consider me? And now you regret it, but what's the point of saying this now?"

"No! I don't care! I won't dissolve the engagement!" Avis grabbed Raki's shoulders tightly and shouted.

"Avis, let go!