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“Fine.”
She shoves a paper at me. “Don’t lose the pageant schedule. You need to be at all the practices—every single one. Do I make myself clear?”
I hold back an eye roll. “Crystal.”
“I’m serious. You can’t make the family look bad. Not with this, and not at the sparring competition. You have to win both.” She stares me down.
“You can’t be serious!”
“Deadly.”
My mouth falls open. “I’m new to Valora! Spent most of my life breathing air on land. I’m in remedial magic class and barely making progress with my trident. Can’t you throw all this at me next year? Or even when I’m a fourth-year? So far, I haven’t seen a single first-year student at any of this stuff.”
“And you won’t, because most first-years aren’t ready.”
“I’m even less ready!” I stop and glare at her. “Why are you doing this to me? Just to get more time with my dad?”
She shakes her head. “That isn't necessary anymore. I can see him whenever I want now.” Her expression clouds over for a moment before snapping her attention back to me. “The crown needs you to win both because we need some kind of popularity. Your father isn’t doing us any favors in that department. I told him he needs to start with some new regulations the people will like. But you know how he is—he does what he wants.”
“Don’t I know it.”
“And that is precisely why we need you pumping up the Ayers name. If the people warm up to you, that will transfer to the king. Especially if we can get him to pass a popular regulation.”
I study her, trying to figure her out. Maybe she actually does want what’s best for my dad. “Have you talked to him today?”
“Of course. Why do you ask?”
I chew on my lower lip, conflicted. Finally, I just spit it out. “Last night at the city library, I overheard some mermen talking about staging a protest at the castle. Something to really capture Dad’s attention. Did he mention that to you?”
Her eyes widen. “No.”
I clench my jaw. “That means the driver didn’t pass on my message to him.”
She puts her hand on my shoulder and stares into my eyes. “I will. Don’t worry about any of this. Just focus on the pageant and the competition. If you need passes to miss your courses, just say the word. You can have whatever extension you need. Work through the break to get it all done.”
“Awesome.”
“Hurry to the dining hall and find Earwyn.”
“Earwyn?” I give her a double-take.
“Yes. She’s your big sister for the pageant. You two will be doing everything together.”
And now my life is complete.
“Go! Hurry!” Mrs. Middlebrooks scurries off in the other direction.
Why does she keep pairing me with Earwyn? Does she expect us to become best friends? That will never happen. Doesn’t matter. I’m stuck with her for now. Maybe whoever’s in charge of the pageant will be able to change the pairing. Earwyn can’t be happy about it any more than I am.
I hurry down to the hall, where all the students are gathered listening to a teacher I’ve never seen. She glances at me but doesn’t stop talking. I sit at the perimeter of all the upper-years, most of whom glare at me—whether for arriving late or just for being me, I don’t know. I haven’t won many popularity contests here at the academy, and I don’t have any expectations for this literal popularity contest. My goal is to get through this and the sparring competition unscathed. To move on and relax during the break between semesters.
Earwyn nudges me. “Pay attention!”
I want to ask her why she cares, but I don’t bother. I just look up at the teacher, who looks like she’s most likely a past pageant winner with her long black hair, big eyes, perfect skin, and sweet smile.
“… and that’s how you want to practice grinning.”
I have to practice smiling? Now I really want to gag. But at least it beats sparring with the upper-years. Downtime is all I want.
