Villainess From the Stars

46. Target on Her Back

At first, it seemed Vienna had been wrong, but it was the little things that started. The way at first when Adeena's squad would come to say their customary snide greetings at lunch, or at dinner where Ravven had started joining them when he wasn't with his fellow knights in the same year as him; that Vienna noticed they would completely ignore Zia as if she didn't even exist.

Then it went beyond those little annoying greetings. Vienna noticed even certain teachers ignoring Zia when she'd try to participate, or giving her short clipped responses when she would engage with them.

It came to a point when a certain teacher in economics gave Zia a failing grade because her assignment wasn't 'refined to his standards.'

Zia who had been either ignoring or oblivious to the previous actions or inactions done to her, actually teared up after that. Vienna knew how well she'd done on that assignment because she'd seen her work.

It was when her emotions became very noticeable through the sharing of the sprouts that Professor Zephyr Soren asked her what was wrong.

"You haven't been yourself lately. The sprouts seem to have been deflated lately as well."

"I'm sorry it's just..." Vienna decided to choose her words carefully after all she didn't want it to sound as if she were complaining about another teacher. "I have a friend who is being bullied, and it's extended to even teachers treating her unjustly. I'm not sure what I can do to fix it, without possibly aggravating things further." She'd noticed the pride that certain teachers in the secular subjects held was vast and if she injured it she was worried about the repercussions it would have upon her friend.

"You can report it to the board of trustees." He offered but immediately saw how her shoulders slumped.

"I have no solid evidence. The sort of bullying is ignoring her existence. The students that aren't close to us have all started to do it and certain teachers give her short answers. Or fail her on the littlest things, that seem almost fabricated."

Vienna's hand ran over the sprouts and felt a surge of reassurance, and knew her father was near one of the Myndælfêt plants.

"That is difficult. Which student is it?"

Vienna looked at him, "You won't..."

"I won't say anything to anyone unless I believe they can help."

Vienna ran her hands over her apron, fidgeting with its edges. "Her name is Zia and the professors who I've noticed have been treating her differently are Agler and Etzel." She opened her mouth, closed it, and then decided to say her thoughts aloud, "I believe the origin of all of this is Adeena Nesrin. She saw Zia dancing with the prince at Harvest Day."

"Yes, Agler and Etzel are both from previous noble factions, connected to the Nesrin family." Soren looked down at her and spoke softly, "Would you allow me to speak to just a few of the teachers who are more neutral in politics perhaps they could have some ideas on how to approach this matter delicately."

To cheer up Zia who had been down for the last couple of days. The girls snuck out of the dormitory one night and crept down to the hearth where one of Vienna's Okren teachers, Jirina Dallen, waited for them to supervise.

Zia looked from the teacher to her friends, "What this?"

Vienna smiled, "I've found on a bad day, homemade biscuits and tea can do wonders."

Zia, Rhosyn, Leora, and Vienna all lined up at the hearth workspace and began to put together their batch of biscuits, kneading the dough, then forming balls to place on the large platter that was then placed into the oven's fire.

Flour dusting their noses and hair they watched as the smell of fresh bread began to waft from the oven as it cooked the bread.

"Something about that smell is so relaxing," Vienna spoke up.

Zia let out a long sigh, "Why are they doing this to me?"

Vienna and Rhosyn made eye contact knowing they had to tread carefully.

"Lady Nesrin is possessive of things that don't belong to her," Vienna spoke carefully.

While Rhosyn went straight for it, "She has not made it a secret that she desires the crown princess position."

Leora looked confused, "But why Zia? The prince is Vienna's friend."

Vienna let out a wry chuckle, "Oh she hates me too, but because she saw Zia dancing with the prince on Harvest Day she has been on the warpath against her."

Leora raised a flour-dusted hand, "But I danced with him too. A lot of girls did."

Vienna and Rhosyn sighed looking at each other.

"Yes, but he danced with Zia several times in a row."

A near snort came from the doorway where Vienna's teacher stood, "Silly little girl. She doesn't even have the people's support and yet she thinks she'll be queen."

Zia whispered, "He danced with me more?"

Vienna smiled seeing what Zia focused on during the whole conversation.

"You both looked happy dancing together." Vienna took Zia's hands in hers, "And whether you are just friends with Ravven or not, it shouldn't matter to anyone else except the two of you."

"So what do I do?"

Vienna pursed her lips, "I've already spoken to a teacher I trust regarding the situation. He believes the main culprits are those who have the same political leanings as the Nesrin family. He's going to speak to a couple of teachers who are neutral to see if there's a way to do this without ruffling too many feathers and making things more difficult for you."

The teacher who was keeping watch spoke, "Who, Miss Vienna?"

"Professor Soren."

Mrs. Dallen looked a little surprised, "He's always been a bit cold, I'm surprised you were able to go to him for advice."

Vienna just nodded not sure what to say without betraying a confidence.

Mrs Dallen spoke up, "I'll see what my husband and I can do on our end as well."

"Thank you!" Zia smiled brightly and Vienna watched as Mrs Dallen looked stunned for a couple of seconds before nodding and smiling herself.

The smell of baked bread distracted them all as they realized their late-night treat was ready to be served with jam and tea.