Chapter 1
“Help! Someone’s stealing!” A woman’s frantic cries echoed down Market Street. Passersby halted, glancing over in alarm, but in the chaos, Lady Giselle’s attention was suddenly diverted when a stranger rushed past, bumping into her. By the time she regained her focus, the thief was long gone. “Help! Somebody stop the thief!” A figure in pursuit of the culprit showed no signs of giving up, clearly intent on retrieving something very valuable. “Isabella, we've shopped enough for today. Let’s head back!” Lady Giselle said cheerfully, balancing bags in either hand, satisfaction evident on her face as she turned to her friend. “Okay!” Sister Isabella replied, sharing her contentment, grateful that this time, Lady Giselle had decided to include her in the shopping spree. The panicked screams continued from behind them, causing Lady Giselle to whip around. “What on earth…?” She caught sight of a man holding a bag in one hand and brandishing a knife in the other; he was swiftly closing the distance. “Get out of my way!” he growled, pushing past onlookers who scrambled for safety. Only Lady Giselle and Sister Isabella stood their ground. “Giselle!” Sister Isabella gasped, trembling at the sight of the knife. But Lady Giselle remained calm and collected. “You’re making a big mistake,” she said, stepping fiercely against the approaching threat. As the man charged toward them, the foolish bravado began to falter in his eyes when he noticed they weren't retreating. Just as he lunged with the knife aimed at Lady Giselle, the crowd instinctively shielded their eyes, unable to bear witness to what they feared was about to happen. Bang! A sharp sound stunned the crowd into silence. The aggressive thief crumpled to the ground, unconscious. “Wow, Giselle, that was so cool!” Sister Isabella exclaimed, awe sparkling in her eyes as she gazed up at Lady Giselle, who had skillfully subdued the assailant. “Alright, let's get out of here,” Lady Giselle said, her expression shifting back to its usual calm. But as they turned to leave, the thief surprisingly stirred and made another reckless attempt to attack. Lady Giselle wasted no time, landing a swift punch that sent him sprawling once more. The fluidity of her movements was captivating, authoritative. The onlookers could hardly breathe, unsure of how to react to this unexpected turn of events. “Thank you so much!” a frail woman approached, relief washing over her as she checked her purse. “Not at all. Let’s go, Isabella,” Lady Giselle replied, waving off the gratitude. She recalled all the other errands they had to finish. “Mom? What are you doing here?” Sir Cedric, a young man with a friendly demeanor, looked astonished when he spotted his mother, Lady Agatha, among the onlookers. “I nearly lost my handbag to that thug! Thank heavens for that girl,” she exclaimed, her tone both grateful and scolding. “Now we can’t lose any more of your father’s things!” Lady Agatha pointed towards Lady Giselle, who was walking away confidently with Sister Isabella. Cedric turned his gaze to follow her hand, and his eyes widened when he recognized the heroine’s silhouette. “Mom, we can buy another handbag. Dad would have a heart attack if he knew you were out here,” he chided gently, exasperated. “This handbag is irreplaceable! Your grandmother gave it to me, and I planned to pass it down!” Sir Cedric rubbed his temples, resigned to his mother's stubbornness. He couldn't argue with her sentimentality, so he reluctantly accompanied her as she began to file a report, making sure they got everything sorted out.
Chapter 2
“Did you see how cool Giselle was just now?” Back at the Student Quarters, Sister Isabella couldn’t stop gushing about Lady Giselle’s daring feats earlier. “Picture this: that devious aunt swung her knife right at Giselle. Without even blinking, Giselle shot her a cold glance, and with a swift kick, she sent the woman sprawling to the ground.” Sister Isabella’s eyes sparkled as she animatedly retold the story. In contrast to Sister Isabella's animated storytelling, Lady Giselle, the subject of the adoration, sat quietly, engrossed in her book. On the sidelines, Miss Clarissa, ever the calm observer, seemed less affected by the drama, while Lady Seraphina could hardly contain herself. “Oh my gosh, Giselle! I’m starting to worship you. I have to write about your heroic deeds in my journal!” Lady Seraphina gazed up at Lady Giselle with admiration, truly embodying the spirit of the Justice Keeper among the Student Quarters. “Please, spare me those over-the-top looks of admiration. I can’t handle that kind of pressure,” Lady Giselle replied, finally lowering her book at the intensity of Lady Seraphina’s gaze. “Come on! That’s not just admiration; it’s respect,” Lady Seraphina protested, her tone mock-injured as she shot a hopeful glance at Lady Giselle, who simply rolled her eyes. The Student Quarters comprised an eclectic mix of personalities. Sister Isabella, the sweetheart of the group, appeared gentle and mild-mannered, a surprising contrast to her recent exuberance. Lady Seraphina, equally charming yet unashamedly smitten, had a reputation that made some of her peers wary. Miss Clarissa, the aloof one, was well-known as Mistress Aurelia’s star pupil. She was the type of person who easily faded into the background yet was undoubtedly revered by everyone in their quarters. And then there was Lady Giselle herself—unassuming yet fierce. She may have looked like your average college student, but her prowess in martial arts was unmatched. Recently, she even took up boxing, making her the fiercely protective guardian of the Student Quarters. This seemingly harmonious squad of four formed the deepest bonds of sisterhood—friends, confidantes, and dorm mates wrapped into one tight-knit group. “Hey, Clarissa, are you working part-time today?” Seeing Miss Clarissa unusually quiet as they returned to the Student Quarters, Lady Giselle couldn’t help but ask. Nobody really knew much about Miss Clarissa's home life, but her frequent part-time jobs hinted at a more challenging existence than anyone else in the group. Understanding this, they all made a little extra effort to look out for her. However, Lady Seraphina was the only one privy to the fact that Miss Clarissa came from a rather affluent background. “Yeah, Professor Miller wants to see me later,” Miss Clarissa replied casually, her tone betraying no hint of the seriousness of her commitment. It was clear that whatever held her interest paled in significance compared to Mistress Aurelia’s admiration for her. “Are you leaving?” Noticing Lady Giselle packing her bag, Miss Clarissa raised an eyebrow. After all, she and Sister Isabella had only just walked in. “Yup, Roland asked me to drop by the Grand Hall.” Lady Giselle had a close friendship with Roland, who ran the Grand Hall. She frequently visited him to practice, and her dedication to martial arts was unwavering—it was a commitment she maintained even amidst her university life. “Stay safe on your way!” Though well aware of Lady Giselle’s skills, Miss Clarissa still made it a point to remind her with each outing. “Don’t worry! I’ll come back with snacks,” Lady Giselle called back as she stepped out the door. And with that, she was off.
Chapter 3
“Giselle, you made it!” Aunt Beatrice greeted warmly with a beaming smile upon seeing Lady Giselle. “Where’s Roland?” Giselle asked, her tone brightening as she mentioned her beloved cousin. Aunt Beatrice, the spirited aunt to Giselle and the loving wife of Roland, had a cherished place in the entire family hierarchy. Roland was her cousin, and it was Giselle’s deep affection for him that had brought her to Lancaster Academy. It offered her a chance to pursue her studies while allowing her faraway father to rest easy knowing she was nearby. In fact, at home, Giselle was an only child. To Aunt Beatrice, who had always adored children, Giselle was like a daughter to her—perhaps even more so than her own son. “Roland is over there, entertaining guests. Look, that’s one of his star students!” Aunt Beatrice pointed to a pair talking across the room. Indeed, following her aunt’s gesture, Giselle spotted a masked young man conversing effortlessly with Roland, whose face was animated with joy. “Here, dear, this is a treat I just baked for you. Tell me what you think!” Aunt Beatrice declared, excitement sparkling in her eyes. Every time she whipped up something sweet, Giselle was always the first recipient on her mind. Their bond was strong—like a platonic mother-daughter connection, and Giselle felt entirely comfortable with her. As they stepped further into the house, the air was thick with the scent of baked goods. “Hey, Auntie! Why did you mess with this? I set it aside for Giselle!” a voice piped up from behind them. Aunt Beatrice turned, anger flaring playfully at her son, Lord Leopold, who stood accusingly at her. “Leopold! I’m your mother. Surely a treat for your cousin doesn’t come close to my affection for you,” she replied, narrowing her eyes. He protested dramatically, “Am I not your own flesh and blood?” Leopold pouted, wounded as he glanced disapprovingly at both Aunt Beatrice and the dessert she had clearly prioritized. There was an amusing irony—despite being the one who had tirelessly waited nine months for his arrival, Aunt Beatrice's affection seemed to evaporate whenever Giselle was around. With this in mind, the jealousy directed at Lady Giselle deepened in Leopold's eyes. In response to his resentment, Giselle could only offer a sheepish smile, saying, “All right, Aunt Beatrice, that’s enough for now. I wouldn’t want to fill up on all this decadent sweetness!” The truth was, Aunt Beatrice’s favoritism towards Giselle, a good-hearted relative, was so intense that it was almost comically over the top—beyond even Leopold's merit as her own child. “Here, taste this. It’s delicious,” Aunt Beatrice insisted, watching eagerly as she offered a piece to Giselle, a proud smile gracing her lips. Tasting it, Giselle exclaimed, “Even more proof of your culinary skills, Aunt Beatrice!” She held her thumb up in enthusiastic approval. “Good! Then have another piece. I made plenty! You must take some back to the Academy later—don’t want you starving!” Aunt Beatrice fussed, clearly overprotective. “I will, thanks!” Giselle smiled, relishing the extra layers of care from her aunt. Just then, Uncle Roland emerged from a conversation, spotting his son with a frown. “What’s wrong, Leop?” he asked, genuinely concerned. Leopold scowled in reply, “I can’t tell if I’m truly your son or if I’m just a placeholder!” The frustration ignited within him stemmed from the earlier incident; Aunt Beatrice had lightly punished him for merely tasting one of her desserts. Whenever Lady Giselle appeared, it seemed to reignite the flame of maternal affection towards her over him. “Is Giselle here again?” Uncle Roland figured, recalling more than a few incidents where his wife had been flustered in her presence. “Who else could it be?” Leopold replied, his expression darkening further. Uncle Roland chuckled lightly, acknowledging that indeed, Giselle seemed to bring out something different in Aunt Beatrice—a playful chaos surrounding their home. Aunt Beatrice casually dismissed Leopold's complaint, consumed with fussing over her adored niece.
Chapter 4
The conversation between Lord Leopold and Sir Cedric had drawn the attention of those nearby, prompting one of them to speak up curiously. “Is that the Apprentice of the Blacksmith?” Sir Cedric knew about Lady Giselle, referred to as ‘Amie’ by his master, having heard stories about her ever since he joined the smithing guild. Initially, Cedric thought she was the master's daughter, but soon realized she was actually the daughter of the renowned Blacksmith. “Yeah.” Uncle Roland, with a fondness evident in his eyes, nodded in agreement to Cedric's inquiry. The affection he held for Lady Giselle was as clear as it was for his wife. “First Mom goes overboard, and now Dad, too? I might as well just move out!” Lord Leopold, feeling betrayed by the expressions on his parents' faces, stomped off in a fit of anger. “Isn’t it a problem to let him go off like that?” Cedric, watching Lord Leopold leave in a huff, couldn’t help but express his concern. “Don’t worry about it. From Aunt Beatrice to the kids at the guild, they all know how often Leopold has talked about running away because of his crush on Amie, but he’s never gone through with it. You have to see how jealous he gets, but the person he cares about most is still Lady Giselle.” Uncle Roland understood his son’s feelings well and gave the situation little thought. “By the way, since you’re here today, you should see Amie!” Uncle Roland was eager to introduce Lady Giselle to his favorite apprentice. “Maybe later. I still need to pick up my mom from work.” Sir Cedric could easily sense Uncle Roland’s intentions and wasn’t fooling himself; he just wasn’t quite up for it. The truth was, he had a natural charm and allure which resulted in a long queue of admirers who could never get enough of him. “Alright, no pressure!” Consequently, Sir Cedric took his leave. “Where’s Aunt Beatrice?” Aunt Beatrice, who had stepped out with Lady Giselle, looked around in confusion when she found only Uncle Roland there. “She had to take care of something; Amie is here now!” With a kind smile towards Lady Giselle, Uncle Roland’s eyes radiated warmth that could rival Aunt Beatrice’s. “Roland, I’m going to change into something more comfortable.” Having been caught up in the busy training schedule, she had taken some time to volunteer for a class, only to find it was well received by the students. Now, when she had time on her hands, she would pop over to teach a bit, but otherwise, she preferred practicing on her own. “Sure thing, go ahead!” After Lady Giselle left, Aunt Beatrice turned to Uncle Roland with a knowing expression. “I think you’re making a mistake.” Aunt Beatrice had seen Cedric grow up alongside Lady Giselle. She knew that Lady Giselle had grown up in the countryside and moved here solely for college. To her, Lady Giselle was like her own child, and she felt a protective instinct towards her potential partners. From her perspective, Cedric was the perfect match. “I know it might seem that way, but some things are meant to happen in their own time. When Aunt Beatrice has the chance, I’ll make sure they meet.” Uncle Roland maintained a laid-back demeanor. Sir Cedric was someone he had watched grow and understood well, knowing that once Cedric set his sights on something, it didn’t matter how much you insisted; he wouldn’t budge. “We haven’t even properly met yet, how can this be destiny? You should definitely invite Aunt Beatrice again next time. She won’t let him slip through her fingers again.” Aunt Beatrice’s face lit up with disappointment as she thought of Cedric leaving without a proper introduction.
Chapter 5
"Still mad, huh?" After changing out of her ceremonial robes, Lady Giselle settled into a chair beside Lord Leopold, her son. She smiled knowingly, realizing that if she were in his shoes, she'd be equally upset. After all, the situation was painful, and he was her flesh and blood. "I'm not." Lord Leopold replied lazily, brushing off her concern. "Alright, I get your temperament. Here, this is for you." She reached into her backpack and pulled out a book on programming, handing it to him. "Compared to Uncle Roland's Grand Hall, you have a greater interest in programming," she noted. "Your goal is to become a game designer. Uncle Roland isn’t entirely against the idea; he just hopes you'll consider inheriting the family business." When Lord Leopold looked at the book, his expression shifted from irritation to veiled delight. His previously stormy mood evaporated. "How did you find this book? I've been searching everywhere for it." Feeling a rush of excitement, Lady Giselle said, "That's a secret." In truth, she had put in a lot of effort to locate that book for him. "This is an early birthday present," she added. This meant she would also save money on his birthday gift! "Sounds good," Lord Leopold nodded enthusiastically. "You're quite resourceful, aren't you, Aunt?” Uncle Roland gave Lady Giselle a flattering thumbs-up, recognizing that his son had calmed down solely because of her. Only Lady Giselle had the knack for pacifying his son so efficiently. "Of course, who do you think I am?" She accepted the compliment with a cheeky grin, which made Uncle Roland's smile broaden. --- What Lady Giselle didn't expect was the distressing news about Miss Clarissa—she had broken up with her boyfriend. The reason was ludicrous: he had only dated her due to a wager, and their split was simply the consequence of that wager's expiration. The thought of Miss Clarissa enduring such public humiliation stoked Lady Giselle's anger further. Surprisingly, Miss Clarissa, the one affected, wore a seemingly emotionless expression, almost as if the one being ashamed was someone else. "Aunt Giselle, don't worry. I won’t let that Lord Alaric get away with this.” Her voice was filled with simmering rage, and Lady Giselle imagined what she might do to Lord Alaric if he were here. Though she understood Lady Giselle's desire for revenge, Miss Clarissa found this breakup to be a much-needed liberation. “Giselle, let it go. There's no point in dwelling on this,” Miss Clarissa urged. For Miss Clarissa, wasting her anger and emotional energy on trivial matters like this was a luxury she simply couldn't afford. Lady Giselle couldn’t understand how Miss Clarissa could allude to letting go. "Miss Clarissa, there’s plenty of fish in the sea. You’ll find someone even better,” she encouraged, trying to lift her spirits. At Lady Giselle's attempt at consolation, Miss Clarissa felt a wave of frustration. Did she really seem like someone who had just lost someone dear? “Just remember, this should be the end of it. Don’t stir up any more trouble,” Miss Clarissa reminded firmly. Taking Miss Clarissa’s advice to heart, Lady Giselle finally relinquished her vengeful fantasies against Lord Alaric.
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