Of Thorns and Glamour

Punishment

I was summoned to the Dean's office the day before the mage's ball. Silvia stood in front of her desk, head downward along with the girls that accompanied her. Caleb also was present, as he greeted me in. "Lily. Please take a seat." I do, my face neutral. Although I and the Dean were the only ones sitting.

"We were informed by an undisclosed party of an incident that occurred between you and Silvia and a few of her classmates." I let her continue, "We have zero tolerance for bullying. You along with other classmates that will remain anonymous have experienced such from Silvia and her group. I wanted to bring you in to give your side of the story so I may make a thorough decision on how we will continue." I raise my brows, but unsurprised by her explanation as my faerie had told me something similar. Silvia had behaved this way to many other girls who she considered less than herself. "Caleb is here due to his explanation on the situation he had told me as well." Her eyes glance toward Silvia whose shoulders shake.

"If this was just a typical spat between girls whose affection for the same person, I could overlook it. That was not what I was informed happened. Lily?" She asks me kindly.

"There was only one single incident with her and myself. I was unaware that she had any affection for Caleb who asked me to the ball tomorrow." I touch my side tenderly as though the pain was still there and not completely healed. "This was the gift of her cruelty." I say, feigning sadness in my eyes. "Her and all of her friends held me down while they beat me due to Caleb's relationship with myself."

Silvia glares at me, "That's not true! She knew Caleb liked me and even told me to request."

The dean raises her hand to stop her, "Thank you Lily for telling us your side of the story. I think I've heard enough." She waves a hand towards Silvia and the girls. "All of you will be suspended for the next ten days until trial in front of the mage's counsel to consider your punishment. Meaning none of you may participate in the ball tomorrow." I look towards Caleb, whose eyes are that of a storm. But he glances down at me and smiles slightly. I hear the girls protest but soon they are all dismissed. "Lily, if you could stay a moment longer." I nod and stay in my seat. She comes over to me though and hugs me deeply. "You were so brave."

I am surprised by her affection, and Caleb looks at us awkwardly as his mother hugs me. She kneels down next to me and holds my hands in hers. "You know you never need to keep things like this a secret. We are here to protect you too." I nod silently, and she smiles at me and then looks over at her son with a frown. "You too, don't ever keep secrets like that from me. Even if Lily did not want to intervene."

Caleb scratches his chin, "That is why I was the one who put in the anonymous tip mother once I had more evidence." He fixes his glasses and sighs while taking a seat finally. "I will be more open about any bullying I see at the school. But you know her father will cause a major problem, let alone her fiancé." His mother stands up and moves over to her desk.

"Her fiancé has already heard of the news, since he will successor to the duke." Caleb raises his brows, "I do not believe she will be the next in line for the title of Duchess." She says as she sits down and begins to write a letter on her desk.

I look over to Caleb again, "I am sorry Caleb, I know you loved her dearly." I apologize to him, with the understanding that this will not grant him his wish. "I hope you find happiness in someone worthy of yourself." I stand up, "If I may take my leave."

His mother turns around to face me, "Oh of course, will you be still attending the ball tomorrow?" I nod my head, "Wonderful! I am so glad Caleb has finally moved on."

I raise my brows and about to protest, "Lily and I are going together since we are friends, nothing more." Caleb interjects before I do and I see his ears red but his face and voice collected. He comes over to me, "Can I talk to you?" And I nod and soon he guides me out of the Dean's office, his hand hovering over my arm.