Peony stepped up and took her turn at the target.

They all laughed as they packed up their guns and headed off to lunch. Francine had agreed to eat lunch in the mess hall Firstdays and Fifthdays. After homecoming, she and Matt talked about spending more time together, and this was part of the solution. He had wanted her to eat lunch with him every day, but Francine felt like that was more about keeping tabs on her and less about spending time with her since he would just be hanging out with Pork and Beans anyway.

She recommended a real date once a week. With no pork and beans. Which there was no getting out of at that point. Francine even had something to invite him to,

Beans elbowed Francine first and then slid his unusually long arm across the table to elbow pork, laughing as he shoveled food into his maw. Pork dropped his fork, hand mangled under Beans’ bony elbow. Beans was a long 6 and a half feet, stretching his approximately 160lbs out, giving him a bony, angular appearance. Compared with Pork’s stout, husky physique, they made a visually balanced pair, if nothing else.

Francine threw her arms around Matt and kissed him, relieved that the minor crisis had been averted. They decided to go Wednesday after school, as they had the least going on that day, and it would give them time if they couldn’t find anything to go back out.

Ginny was sitting after her class, The Law of War, finishing notes on her digital notepad while trying to come up with some plan that would either stop Amalie from talking about her behind her back or, barring that, at least get her back for all the lies, and personal information she kept spreading around school about her.

At that moment, Tabulain walked past the door, the same determined look he always wore plastered on his face, quickly striding headlong down the hallway. He was one of the brightest and most well-placed law students from the previous year. He was expected to be accepted to a law firm right out of school, on the partner track. That wasn’t what made all the Abionne Academy girls swoon, though. That would be his long, silky black hair, which he kept braided or tied back with an elegant ribbon. His glass-cut jawline and surprisingly well-proportioned physique for a law student.

That could work. The class had already ended, and Ginny was just finishing recording her notes, so she scooped up her things and zipped out the door after him.

He didn’t stop walking, which was annoying, but Ginny jogged on undaunted.

Tabulain stopped, almost causing a collision, turned with a quizzical look on his face, and tilted his head to one side. Thinking, he placed one finger on his full lips and smiled, one eye narrowing slightly. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again, carefully considering his answer once more, and finally spoke.

Tabulain walked off, waving a finger at no one in particular.

Francine had a renewed vigor when returning to dance classes that week. She wasn’t suddenly planning to run away and become a stage dancer, but she had a new appreciation for it. Instead of coasting by on her natural talent, she started putting in more effort. Developing the skills they were teaching her.

All of the training she was doing was starting to pay off, too. Francine could feel herself getting stronger. She’d always been so frail and fragile that a passing breeze could practically blow her over. She hadn’t passed out in weeks. Even the last time they went in the painting, she was a little woozy but otherwise okay. Francine would never be a behemoth of a woman like Lara or Peony, but maybe she could become quick and decisive with a commanding presence like Azure.

Her days were filling up. There was little free time left. She was always in some class or at practice, sitting as a model or running across campus to get something to eat. She and Abbie hadn’t even had time to gossip like before. There was more work to do in their classes. History was filling up all the extra space in her brain. The war to start the Megantani dynasty was interesting enough, but Frannie felt like it was pointless in the grand scheme of things, and she hated wasting time and brain space on such pointless endeavors.

When they all met up for breakfast on Thirdday and Abbie complained that Usher was so boring she was considering breaking up with him already, Francine was a little shocked.

Amalie stomped in, late for breakfast; before Abbie could answer, purple with rage, she interjected.

Amalie was prone to histrionics, but this was probably her most dramatic entrance yet. Abbie rolled her eyes with a sigh; Francine was more willing to consider what she had to say.

Francine turned to Abbie and shielded her face, mouthing who?

Amalie was clapping madly, accentuating each phrase with a clap of her hands.

Most of the students there at Steeped in Tradition were now a part of the conversation. Francine tried to apologetically smile and wave so people would go back to their previous conversations, but it only worked so well. Abbie, ever the diplomat

Amalie looked like a spell had just taken out the functioning of her brain. She just turned and walked out dead-eyed and crying. She headed towards the apartments. Francine and Abbie headed off to Dance, assuming Amalie forgot something she needed at home, but she didn’t return, skipping school the rest of the day.

After school, Matt met Francine outside her apartment. Mrs. Franctwill wouldn’t let him inside, but Frannie was expecting him, so it didn’t take her long to come down. They were only going on a short ride around Shadowmirre, but she hadn’t ever gone around with him unchaperoned, and it was somewhat thrilling. Stealing a few quick kisses in the carriage between shops, holding hands as they strolled. It was delightful.

Francine was holding up a copper corkscrew when she saw a beautiful Cigar cutter. The space between the lever and the cutting mechanism had a slice of blue agate set in it. It screamed Azure. Francine didn’t have enough money to buy it, but it was actually kind of expensive. Francine had a habit of picking out the most expensive item on a shelf.

She clung to him as they walked from the store back to the carriage. Matt was aglow, having accomplished their goal and gotten a great gift for Azure’s birthday.

Fourthday at breakfast started off more tense than usual

Her eyes turned into boiling pots of water overflowing and streaming down her face.

Ginny turned away, hung her head, and cried bitterly. The tears freely flowing out, Harlane came to her. When he put his hands on her shoulders, she flinched but didn’t pull away.

For the first time, she let it come rushing back. The weight crushed her, and she collapsed into a sobbing pit of despair. Harlane felt guilty he had unleashed this burden on her. All he could do was pick her up and hold her tight until the storm passed.

CH12~ Best Laid Plans

An Imperial Education

“What do you think? I still say Matt overreacted, but Argento insists on backing him up. They say Rolf is a dangerous element. It’s actually quite vexing, to be honest.”    *Bang*Bang*Bang*    “Your aim is improving Francine. I’m not sure. I’ve never met him, but it sounds like he’s harmless. Matt’s probably just realizing what a catch you are and that he will have to work a little harder to keep you on the line. As for Argento, he’s just protective of you. It’s literally his job now. ”



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CH12~ Best Laid Plans

An Imperial Education

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CH12~ Best Laid Plans

An Imperial Education

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