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“Enough!” Vera scolded, her tone sharp. “You’re being childish. Others might harp on your uncle’s past, but we’ve been covering for him all this time. Remember, he’s still the Civil Minister and his son-in-law is the king. So many people’s careers depend on him-don’t forget that!”
Jocelyn sniffled, pouting as she fell silent, not daring to speak ill of her elders again. “I just can’t stand General Farrell! He’s weak and cowardly. His wife had an affair with another man and caused a huge scandal, yet he doesn’t even say a word.”
“This is the queen’s decision,” Vera replied calmly, applying the medicine to her daughter’s wound. She took the opportunity to carefully explain the differences between marrying Hubert and Thomas.
Jocelyn had always admired Kylie, but she couldn’t agree with her mother on this matter. Kylie had mentioned Thomas out of the blue the other day, and Jocelyn had found it strange.
She couldn’t help but ask, “Did General Farrell speak to the king about this? Does the Farrell family really think they can marry into ours? They should know their place! I can’t stand those military men. They’re smelly, shabby, and rough!”
Vera understood her daughter’s stubbornness. Realizing she wouldn’t be able to convince Jocelyn, she let the matter drop. After all, the matter wasn’t settled yet, and they still had to get Victoria’s approval. They could talk again once that hurdle was cleared. However, Jocelyn was still furious. When she returned to Gracewood Women’s Academy, she ranted to Hailey and the others about how Thomas had the nerve to consider marrying her. She spared no effort in ridiculing him.
Seeing the humor in the situation, Hailey spread the story to the other students. Some laughed along, but others, who revered Thomas for his bravery in the war and his heroic status in Starhaven, believed such words were an insult to a man of his stature. They felt he shouldn’t be mocked or belittled in such a way.
The two sides quickly fell into an argument.
Of course, some of the other students were indifferent, simply enjoying the spectacle.
But the argument grew fiercer, and soon the young women began hurling books, paper, and quills at each other, turning the room into chaos.
By the time Athena stormed in with a ruler in hand, Jocelyn had already struck another young woman across the face.
The young woman who had been slapped was Courtney Prince, Zoey’s daughter. Thomas had once been her uncle by marriage.
Initially, Courtney had kept silent during the argument, as her mom had warned her repeatedly not to cause trouble at Gracewood Women’s Academy. As the insults grew sharper and more venomous, Courtney could no longer stay quiet. She stood up to defend her former uncle, saying that if Jocelyn disliked him, she could simply reject the proposal. There was no need for her to talk nonsense here.
What really set Jocelyn off, though, wasn’t just the comment but Courtney’s next words.
With a glance in her direction, Courtney added, “I haven’t heard anything about your families talking about an engagement. Maybe you’ve been spreading rumors yourself? How could General Farrell possibly have any interest in you?”
Jocelyn was furious at those words. In her mind, only she had the right to look down on that old man. But now, Courtney was implying that Thomas wouldn’t ever consider her as a marriage partner-that was a serious insult. Without thinking, Jocelyn slapped Courtney hard across the face with her uninjured hand.
When Athena entered, it was to this scene. She stormed in, grabbed Jocelyn’s hand firmly, and said elet sternly, “How dare you strike another student? Such behavior is disgraceful, not only to your family but also to Gracewood Women’s
Academy itself!”
Jocelyn, still stinging from the previous punishment, was afraid of Athena. But she also felt aggrieved, her eyes welling with tears. “She provoked me first! She started it! I didn’t do anything to her!” Athena turned to look at Courtney. Seeing the fresh scratch on her delicate, pale cheek where Jocelyn’s nails had caught her, Athena’s anger only deepened.
“Even if it’s just the servants in the house, there’s no reason to slap anyone like that. If her words offended you, you should have gone to a teacher. Gracewood Women’s Academy is a place of learning, not violence. This will be dealt with severely.”
The mention of “severe punishment” made Hailey and the others shrink back in fear. They stepped away, trying to put some distance between themselves and Jocelyn.
Jocelyn felt nothing but resentment, her emotions swirling in a mixture of frustration and injustice.
“I didn’t do it on purpose,” she sobbed, “but she brought it upon herself! Her aunt made such a fool of herself, yet she still stepped in to defend that old man, Thomas Farrell! Doesn’t she feel ashamed?”
Courtney, who hadn’t cried when slapped, now let her tears fall at Jocelyn’s words. She turned away and buried her face in a fellow student’s shoulder, crying openly.
The teachers were soon called in to handle the matter. Even Sophie was summoned.
The students who had been part of the argument were now nervous, worried that they also might face punishment. The tension that had once been thick between the two groups had evaporated, leaving behind no trace of hostility. Once the full story was known, Rosalind’s usually calm expression hardened with disapproval.
“She has caused trouble time and time again, and now she’s resorted to violence. It seems she’s not here to learn but to cause disruption. I suggest we expel her from the academy before she damages our reputation.”
Jocelyn had already been disinterested in staying at the academy, and she was now deeply insulted. To be expelled was far worse than simply leaving on her own terms. Besides, Kylie had specifically asked her to stay at the academy-she still had things to accomplish. How could she be thrown out now?
In a burst of frustration, she turned on Rosalind, the one who had first suggested her expulsion.
“I know why you want me gone. You once proposed to Thomas, and he rejected you. Now he’s interested in me, and you’re jealous and bitter. You want to drive me out for your own selfish reasons!”
Catherine frowned. “Is this how the Quintons are taught? To sling insults and resort to violence? Spreading rumors, causing trouble… You have no shame. I agree with the suggestion to expel her from the academy.”
After a moment’s pause, Catherine’s tone softened slightly.
“But I suggest you withdraw from your studies on your own, before word spreads and it jeopardizes your future marriage prospects.”
“I agree,” Athena added, her tone firm.
As the one responsible for maintaining order, Athena knew these young women weren’t here to study. They were here to stir trouble. She had already spared them once after their previous gossip and even disciplined them with the ruler for their mischief. But now, they had crossed the line by resorting to violence.
If word got out, wouldn’t it make Gracewood Women’s Academy seem like a lawless, disorderly place?
Kyle and Harriet both also agreed, which meant the decision to expel Jocelyn was unanimous.
Sophie nodded and turned to Jocelyn. “For the sake of your reputation, I suggest you withdraw from the academy on your own.”
Sophie respected Catherine’s opinion. Beyond that, being expelled would not only ruin Jocelyn’s future marriage prospects but also reflect poorly on the academy itself.
Jocelyn sobbed, “I won’t withdraw! You’re all picking on me! Isn’t she also to blame in this matter? She insulted me!”
Sophie knew trying to reason with her would be futile. “I will have both of your families brought in so this can be settled properly. As for whether the Earl of Silverstone’s family will pursue the matter of your assault, that depends on Mrs.
Prince’s decision.”
With that, Sophie ordered someone to fetch both families.
Seeing this, Jocelyn turned to Hailey and Cassidy. “You have to help me! Tell them it was her who insulted me first! She said General Farrell wouldn’t be interested in me-she was the one who slandered me first!” Hailey and Cassidy hesitated, unwilling to speak on her behalf, but they did plead for leniency.
“She knows she was wrong. Please, can you give her another chance, Headmistress?”
Their half-hearted plea was ignored by Sophie, who dismissed the students and directed Jocelyn and Courtney to be taken to the Elegance Grove courtyard, where they would wait for their parents to arrive.
Howard didn’t come. Instead, it was
Vera who arrived. Knowing that
Oliver was away from the capital, Howard expected the Earl of Silverstone’s family to send Zoey to handle the matter. Plus, since this involved the women’s academy, Howard ultimately sent his wife in his place.
Originally, Vera had hoped to bring Marjorie along. However, Marjorie had claimed to be unwell and was unable to leave the house. Though Vera felt frustration rise within her, she knew better than to press the matter. With no other choice, she set out alone with a maid in tow.
with a few comforting words. Then, without delay, she headed to Elegance Grove to express her gratitude to Catherine.
Zoey arrived with Jane in tow. When she heard her daughter had been struck, she rushed to check on her. Courtney’s face was swollen and there was a thin scratch across it. But seeing that Catherine had already treated the wound, Zoey quickly reassured her daughter The two mothers, Vera and Zoey, took their seats. Sophie spoke first, explaining the situation clearly. Once everything was laid out, she sent for Jocelyn and Courtney to join them, accompanied by several students as witnesses to make it easier for the two women to Vera’s face darkened. She was upset with Jocelyn for being so unwise and for bringing such a matter to the academy. But more so, she seethed at Courtney’s words-how could she say that Thomas had no interest in her daughter? If word of it got out, such rumors could ruin her daughter’s reputation!