Chapter 76 - 76: Female Lead II
When Emily met Geoffrey the first time, she was at the church playing the piano. She missed having one of her own, but her family could no longer afford it. She usually played for the orphans who she often visited because looking at them somehow made her feel better about the life she felt was burdensome and depressing enough.
At first, she was a little angry for he disrupted her time alone. However, looking at his obviously luxurious clothes, she realized that she can not afford to offend him too much, so she reigned her temper in.
She thought that that would be their one and only encounter, so she was surprised when the first letter came. It was signed anonymous, but she noticed the paper looked expensive and the man who delivered it did not look like a servant from a normal family. He also addressed his master as lord, so she thought that the boy must be from a noble family.
Thus, carefully, she wrote her first letter in response. What initially started as just a simple courtesy became a series of exchanged letters. Since Emily thought that he was handsome and looked like a man who was rich and noble enough, she wrote her letters in a way that was intended for him to like her.
On her part, she was also unguarded because he was the first qualified man to show her such attention and flattery. Emily had a lot of admirers, but she never gave them the time of her day. She knew that she will be attending the school for nobles and will be mingling with other nobility soon. So, she has set her eyes high from the very start.
However, it was hard for Emily not to fall in love, so she let herself. Anyway, what could be so bad about it? The man was a handsome noble who was rich enough to afford a servant to wait for her letters, and to top it off, he liked her. So why not?
On the day Emily entered school, she was amazed how beautiful everything was. She was assigned in a double room where she had to share her room with another girl, but that did not make her feel down. She was finally here. After settling in, she went out to meet Geo, the man she exchanged letter with for a year, who penned his name on his letter a few weeks ago. He told her that he will take her around and he was a second-year student in this school.
Emily was pleased with everything so far. The man was indeed a noble and he even can afford a carriage to take her to town. She felt like she was living a fairy tale, and all was perfect.
She was not pleased to meet her roommate, Jean Lorea though. She was a Count's daughter, and like her, was from Windsor. Jean was not very nice and somewhat looked down on her. Emily tried not to talk back and just ignored the girl. Deep inside her heart though, she felt hurt to not be accepted.
On the first day of school, there was the assembly. She wanted to see Geo as she missed him already. He was nice and gentle, and a part of her wanted to boast that he was hers. She knew it was silly, she has her dreams and aspirations, but she was a teenage girl too.
It came as a shocking revelation when he walked on the stage as the name Geoffrey William, the crown prince was called. At first there was elation. Was this for real? She managed to catch the eye of a prince. Then reality came crushing in. almost everyone knew that the prince was engaged to the daughter of Duke Maxwell. No matter how low her father's title was, he was still part of the house of the lords. Thus, this information was known to her.
At first, she was depressed and did not want to talk to him. What can she be in his life? A mistress? Although she wanted to climb up the social ladder, she did not want to be kept hidden in a corner. She wanted to shine and show to everyone that has ever scoffed at her that she can and have become more.
She tried to walk away, but he kept approaching. He was so near that she wanted to touch him and make him hers. She was also a bit lonely. She can't connect with her peers and they all just scoffed at her. The only one who didn't was Isabel, and she was a princess.
She thought, perhaps she was meant to interact with the royalties because they were the ones who can understand and appreciate her. Maybe, those other nobles could not see her worth because they were just plain stupid, their head filled with nothing but air.
And so, she forgave Geoffrey. Yet, a part of her still had some conscience. She was torn, should they continue down this path? The answer was decided for her when he was the one who tried to walk away. She could not let him. She loved him, and aside from that, he was the man holding the highest title and position in the whole school, and sooner or later, the whole empire.
In the few weeks she was here, she became aware that the title of her father she once was so proud of, was nothing in comparison to the other nobility attending their school. Here, she was the underdog and people look down on her. She never let it get to her, and to prove herself, she worked very hard on her studies. All she got in return where eye rolls. Well, if that was how these girls want to be, then she can return everything in kind. It's not her fault that they had brains smaller than a pig's.
Then there was Serena Maxwell. In all honesty, Emily thinks that she was a real beauty herself, but she still pales in comparison to Serena. However, she didn't seem that smart. She even looked air headed, her brain perhaps all went to her boobs.
Surprisingly though, she was really good at music. Singing a song she composed herself. Then in class, she was able to answer all the questions correctly, though she had to think for a long time first.
When the result for the preliminary exam came out, that was when she saw Serena negatively. Perhaps it was her position that made everyone like her better. Even the results of the exams must be rigged. The people who got first place were crown princes', and though she knew Geoffrey was smart, it can't be just coincidence.
Then everyone in class started to laugh at her. Ninth place for a girl was still a historical feat, but they made her achievement look like a joke.
That was when she realized that she wanted to prove something. She wanted to shove it to their faces, to everyone that have ever laughed at her that one day, she will stand above them all.
And the only way that that would become a reality is if she were to become the queen.
Call her ambitious, but this was reality. For her, it was all or nothing.
She has no personal grudge against Serena, but she does feel some envy. She knew she could do and achieve more if only she was given the same level playing field.
She planned to stick closer to Geoffrey. Only that it seemed to backfire. Suddenly, she was losing him. When they were at the church during the wedding, she saw how Geoffrey looked at Serena, and her heart was filled with jealousy.
That was why at the orphanage, when Serena voiced her opinion, finding the opportunity to admonish her, she lashed out. Only to be slapped on the face because Serena's idea was better than hers. She kept in her mind how Serena humiliated her that time.
Then she saw Geoffrey giving Serena that look. She was not numb; she already knew that she lost him. However, she was not easily giving up. Serena may be better than her now, but she knew that she could and will catch up. With a clear mind, she had a purpose. She wanted to become better than Serena.
Therefore, when Geoffrey chose to break-up with her, she was prepared. The pain and hurt she felt were all real. But she had to keep her emotions in check. From the start, she already decided to keep him close and let him see how she will become better. Maybe, she will be able to make him fall in love with her again no matter how stupid that sounded. She has nothing to lose. Besides, she was not doing this for him, but for herself.
Worse comes to worst, she would still gain a powerful ally. He would become king one day. Might as well use him for all he was worth.
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TBC