Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 135

He strode back and forth across the stage, each step echoing his agitation. His cloak was still absent—safeguarded in my room, of course—leaving him only in tailored suit trousers and his customary long robe-like jacket. The sight of him was almost disheveled; strands of hair had escaped from their bun, frizzing wildly around his face, giving him a look of both authority and distress. The dark circles that shadowed his gleaming gold eyes were like warning signals, broadcasting the turmoil brewing within him.

“What has transpired this semester,” Valentin began, his voice resonating with a mix of frustration and disappointment, “started as mere petulance and has spiraled into a behavior that I have never witnessed in my two decades of service at this esteemed institution.”

A frown creased my brow. Twenty years? How old could Valentin possibly be? It was a thought that lingered, making me wonder about the history he must have witnessed within these walls.

“Fights erupting in places where decorum should reign,” he continued, his tone rising slightly. “Parties that have devolved into ludicrous displays of intoxication. Assaults on fellow students. This is nothing short of deplorable behavior.”

A wave of murmurs rippled through the audience, and I caught snippets of my name being whispered, causing me to shrink further into my seat as if I could melt into the fabric. Maximus, sensing my discomfort, reached out to grip my leg in a gesture meant to reassure, but it only intensified my anxiety.

“Lunaton Alpha Academy stands as the pinnacle of excellence among wolves,” Valentin declared, his voice firm and unwavering. “Founded by our revered Queen, the valiant liberator of our kind, she has entrusted some of her most formidable warriors to educate you. Their mission is to cultivate the next generation of warriors.” He paused, scanning the crowd with narrowed eyes, his expression a mixture of disappointment and stern resolve. “Wolves who elevate themselves above others lack the essence of a true warrior. A great warrior embodies selflessness. A great warrior exemplifies kindness. The actions witnessed this semester reflect neither selflessness nor kindness.”

The murmurs grew louder, a collective reaction to his words. Suddenly, a hand shot up from the audience. Before Valentin could acknowledge it, a voice erupted, filled with indignation. I recognized it as the guy who had been seated with the girls and Kairos when I had confronted him earlier that day.

“Great warriors are also not weak!” he shouted defiantly. A few voices in the crowd cheered in agreement. “Weakness must be eradicated!” He punctuated his statement by slamming his fist into his palm, prompting even more cheers from the audience.

Another murmur rose, the names ringing a bell in my mind. They were the girls who had taken those photos of me, and a pang of guilt washed over me. But that feeling was quickly overshadowed by Mona’s voice in my head.

“It’s what they deserve,” she whispered softly, breaking her silence for the first time since that morning. I nodded to myself, feeling a strange sense of agreement.

“This session is dismissed,” Valentin announced from the stage, his voice resolute. “I will not be convening another.”

As the entire auditorium began to rise, a wave of bodies surged toward the exits. I remained rooted to my seat until Maximus pulled me up, helping me stand. It felt as though each day at Alpha Academy was flipping the world I knew upside down, and I couldn’t help but wonder what chaos awaited us next.