Being led to a private room in the hall, Eric and Yvonne sat down facing the smartly dressed man, Lord-Commander Thomas, whose name she learned later and shorten to Lord Thomas.
"You both knew what you did was disgraceful to the school," Lord Thomas began, his gaze sharp. "As seniors and long-time students here, you should know more than the basic rules—and yet, you just violated them!"
Violated?!
Yvonne groaned, rolling her eyes in frustration, ready to curse, but Eric spoke first. "Miss Olivia, Lord Thomas… none of the accusations you're making are true!"
"Oh? So you claim you've been wrongly accused?" Lord Thomas' lips curled in a mocking smirk.
"Yes!" Yvonne said firmly.
"Then explain."
Bitting her lips, Yvonne try to stop herself from cursing at his tone. Taking a deep breath, she began. "Lord Thomas, I sneaked out to get some fresh air and relax by the river behind the school garden. That's when I met Eric. And then… Miss Olivia came."
Shaking his head in disbelief, Lord Thomas' sneer deepened. "Alessandra. You claim you went out for fresh air just after the rain stopped, and somehow, coincidentally, that place was also where Eric happened to be, right?"
Yvonne froze, struggling to defend herself, but Lord Thomas cuts her off.
"So let's say you really went there for fresh air. How is it that Eric was there too?"
"I… I don't know. He wasn't there when I arrived," Yvonne answered truthfully, hoping to clear the misunderstanding.
Lord Thomas' mouth formed an exaggerated 'O' as he turned to Eric. "So, you two agreed to meet there?"
What the heck?! Both Eric and Yvonne cursed silently in there minds. Obviously, Lord Thomas didn't believe a word.
"No," Eric answered coldly. "I had no reason to agree on anything with her."
"Neither did I," Yvonne quickly supported him. But that only seemed to deepen Lord Thomas and Miss Olivia's suspicion.
"Alright, Alessandra. Then explain how Eric's shirt ended up on you?" Lord Thomas asked making Yvonne froze unsure what to say.
Miss Olivia even brought her gown as proof. "This is your gown, right?" she asked.
Oh goddess of Valeria! How was she supposed to explain this?
Yvonne looked at Eric, hoping he would say something, but the guy just pursed his lips with that a expression Yvonne considered infuriating.
Dammit! Can't he even help her out here?! But honestly, at this point, anything they said would seem defenseless.
Lord Thomas continued, "Alessandra, everyone knows how infatuated you are with Eric. And it's even surprising that Eric has started to respond to your pursue. I have to say, you really put in a good amount of efforts."
"But please, refrain from doing such shameless act in the school. Though am not against you meeting with her, but this is the school territory. You doing such thing here will affect the school reputation and your examplary image, Eric." Miss Olivia added.
And to say Yvonne was speechless would be an understatement.
Does she really resembled someone who would sneak out to meet a guy?
No.
But Alessandra?
Yes.
"Lord Thomas," Eric finally said, his voice cold and precise. "We were attacked by a ghoul."
"Ghoul?!" Both Miss Olivia and Lord Thomas exclaimed in shock. Lord Thomas even snickered, brushing it off. "Still trying to defend yourselves, huh?"
"This isn't about defending ourselves," Eric said, his tone sharp and intimidating. "This is about the school's safety."
"There's no way a ghoul can appear inside the school! You know the barrier prevents all dark creatures from entering," Miss Olivia frowned, clearly this two are making excuses.
"We are not lying," Eric said firmly. "There really is a ghoul inside the school."
Yvonne wanted to scream. Please! Someone believed us! Why couldn't they focus on the actual danger instead of obsessing over them?
"If you don't believe us, you can ask the guards. They saw us—thanks to my powers." Eric's words made both Miss Olivia and Lord Thomas frown in disbelief, but at least they seemed more convinced now.
"Fine. We'll check it out. You may leave—but do not speak of the ghoul to anyone, and refrain from any shameless acts on school premises," Lord Thomas said, his gaze lingering.
Reaching for the doorknob, Miss Olivia stopped Yvonne who turned, puzzled, and met her concerned gaze.
"Alessandra, do not attempt to sneak out through the window again. You don't have the power to protect yourself. And you were recently found at the bottom of the Listener's Cliff—if you're hurt trying to sneak out, it won't end well."
Wait… what? Did she just say… she don't have powers?!