The World Breaker

Chapter 5: Woe

            There were countless whispers, and no one spoke to me, not even the teachers. I was not introduced to my classes because the whole school knew who I was and how I was to be treated. No one was going to argue with the granddaughter of the school's chairman because it would be like dancing on their own grave. Instead, I was granted with nothing more than a school full of felines and I was the only dog.

'This day was turning out to be real peachy.'

Not to mention that every time I passed Thalia Gulding, she would pretend to be utterly busy. Other times she would blatantly show off her left hand; adorning my engagement ring, to her endless throng of followers. The surprise from my ring on her finger filled the hallway with feline noise. I continued passed them all and headed into the dining hall.

            I quickly found my assigned table and I was in the center of the room. I was absolutely sure I would be today's form of entertainment. Everyone flooded into the dining hall taking their assigned seat before sliding their chair around to face me, the entertainment. The last to enter the room was the new queen and her pawns; they sat in the front row, but as soon as she sat down she snapped her fingers twice then a butler came with a silver lidded tray. "Feed the dog first." It seems I wasn't the only one who was aware of my status amongst the felines.

The butler then moved toward me not bothering to switch the tray because he already had it and was just waiting for the order to serve its contents. He sat the tray in front of me and lifted the lid. "For your lunch menu today; Ms. Veile, stewed chitterlings with a side of surströmming. For your dessert, you'll have wheat biscuits." I looked down at my plate and almost gagged. I have eaten chitterlings before since I did live in South Africa and the latter, but these were obviously ill-prepared on purpose.

The surströmming was still in its can creating a stench that made one want to hurl on contact. Somehow my stomach still held its contents as I turned to the butler. "You wouldn't happen to have something else more edible? Perhaps a regular slice of pizza with anchovies? If I am to eat anything at all? I think I could take at least that and still be laughed at." The butler's lips twitched as if he were going to grin but quickly fixed his face.

"Are you being ungrateful? Are you aware of how many orphans starve each day outside these Sceptors?! Look at you, being picky about what food we give you! I am so sorry it is not to your liking, your highness." The cafeteria filled with snickers and I took it as the opportune time to challenge the wannabe queen.

"I don't mean to be rude princess, but it is obvious your catering stinks. Quite literally so." I scrunched my nose at the vile odor making its way from my plate. "Also may I ask why I'm pairing surströmming with chitterlings? What kind of pair is that? Don't you think that this is even too harsh for a dog." I let the smallest grin make its way on my face and stared her dead in her eyes, challenging her further.

"Oh yes that is right; you are a feline, I guess your delicacy of rotten fish is quite normal around here. It is of no surprise that a lot of things around here smell like used litter. Since I am a dog I shall tell you what we dogs prefer." Her face was starting to twist into the most unsightly death glare as if daring me to say another word. I scoffed in spite.

'Word.'

"I prefer steak thicker than my palm, and I could also go for a side of corn, and potatoes. Though I doubt I can find anything of that calibre in this house of cats, which is why I'd rather settle for some good ole pizza and anchovies." The corners of her mouth lifted as if she were about to smile.

"Also, as for being an orphan. Yes, my parents are dead, but I do understand that you've gotten my title very wrong Ms. Gulding. You see, I have never really been parent-less according to paper, in fact, as soon as my blood died I became legally married to Fabian Vector. Meaning I couldn't possibly say I am an orphan, but more of a daughter-in-law. I have parents, they are my mother- and father-in-law. So sorry to disappoint your thinking of me as a lonely creature with nobody left. Of course, there are also all my uncles and grandparents but I'll hold on them." She was paling and the smile left.