VIVIAN
Vincent stepped between Vivian and the guards. His expression was colder than usual. "She is my student."
His voice echoed through the room.
"She is under my care. There is no way you can cancel her admission."
Emelianna turned sharply. "And who exactly are you to speak to me like that?"
Her eyes narrowed. "I am a Royal. I can have you fired right now."
Vincent smiled. "I am Vincent Hale."
Emelianna froze. "Which Hale?"
Vincent’s smirk deepened. "The Hale , you know. The Hale that currently has 2 SS Royal princesses."
Silence filled the room.
Emelianna’s expression changed. she didn’t have a reply. The Hale family is powerful. They have 4 princesses out of that family, 2 princess lost their lives in a mission. Vincent’s mother must be one of the Late princesses, she was 3S rank. (Women with SS and SSS were given princess rank. A female from such a family gets the princess title like Vivian.)
Vivian looked between them.
What the hell is going on?
She glanced at Vincent.
This is the same man who practically wanted to throw me out of the academy yesterday.
Why is he defending me now?
Nearby, Colonel Damson had his eyes tightly shut. He clearly didn’t want to witness whatever was happening.
Vincent pointed at him.
"And you!"
Damson slowly opened his eyes half way..
Vincent’s expression hardened. "How dare you bring your royal guard attitude into the Federation Military?"
His voice rose. "This is the military!"
"Not your palace backyard."
He stepped forward.
"I earned this blue uniform on battlefields. I didn’t earn it by following royals around like a dog."
(Uniform rank for Military: Official color for Recruits is White. Yellow, Red, Black and Blue are for the soldiers. Each color represent their rank. The highest rank is Purple.)
Damson’s face turned red.
Vincent snorted. "Remember where you are."
Elena immediately stepped forward. "Vivian!"
Her voice sounded hurt.
"You brought outsiders here to gang up against Mother?"
Vivian stared at her.
Outsiders?
Before she could answer, Emelianna raised her chin.
"This is a family matter."
She looked directly at Vincent.
"You cannot interfere in family affairs."
Her voice became colder. "I will legally sue you for confining my daughter against her will."
Vincent opened his mouth. Then stopped. He knew she was right.
As an instructor, he couldn’t interfere in a family dispute without legal grounds.
Vivian stepped forward.
"But..."
Isaac suddenly reached out and stopped her.
"Don’t."
Vivian looked at him. Her father stepped forward.
Then he bowed politely.
Vivian sighed. He’s still so polite to her. Dad have a backbone please.
Isaac’s voice was calm. "My greetings, Your Highness."
He straightened. "I am Isaac Lilian. I’m sure you don’t remember me."
Vivian nearly groaned. "Dad, just speak."
Isaac glanced at her before turning back to Emelianna.
"We’ve already ended our marriage partnership."
He kept his voice respectful. "Can we simply separate peacefully?"
"You can make your demands. Money or anything."
"I’ll do my best to fulfill them."
Emelianna’s eyes narrowed. "I have no demands."
She pointed toward Vivian. "I only want my daughter back."
Isaac’s expression changed. He reached out and gently patted Vivian’s hair. "If you insist on taking her back..."
He paused. "...then I’ll have to reopen the case from fifteen years ago."
Emelianna’s face immediately went pale.
Isaac continued. "And perhaps several other cases involving the Astronova family."
His voice remained calm. "You know my methods."
Vivian’s eyes brightened.
Now you’re talking, Dad.
Emelianna quickly recovered. "Don’t think you can frighten me, Isaac."
Her voice hardened. "You are still only an A-Rank Black-Uniform soldier. Just a commander."
"I have ways to bring you down."
She grabbed her bag.
"And I never gave you permission to make decisions concerning my daughter. And changing her surname I never signed for it."
"I can sue you for taking my child."
Isaac didn’t respond. Emelianna turned toward Elena. "Let’s go."
But she stopped and turned to Vivian. "Lucien has accepted your marriage partnership. The Marriage federation has signed it. You are currently. Merchant Lucien’s fiancée. You can’t fight it." Elena smirked.
Vivian said in a low tone. "You will have to marry him yourself."
Then Emelianna looked at Damson. "Isn’t this embarrassing enough?"
She frowned. "Stand up. We’re leaving."
Damson immediately got to his feet.
He followed them out without another word. The door slammed shut.
Silence filled the room. Issac heaved a sigh of relief.
Vivian looked at Isaac. "So..."
Vincent turned toward her. "You have been admitted to my team."
Vivian blinked.
"What?"
"Prepare yourself."
He walked toward the door.
"On Moonday, pack all your belongings."
He glanced back.
"From that day onward, you won’t be leaving the academy grounds without permission."
Vivian’s mouth dropped open."Thank you Sir."
He said. "This training was cut short because the (Insect Humans) Zerg Clan was detected in the abandoned forest.." he heaved a sigh of frustration. "Three students were put into illusions. We are trying to wake them up. Zerg clan stopped attacking us 40 years ago. We don’t know why they are back again."
He placed his hands on her shoulder. "Get better soon. We have a war ahead."
"What is Zerg Clan?" she asked, confused.
But Vincent was already walking away.
Isaac carried Vivian on his back as they left the academy. He said. "They are people like us but their beasts are insects."
She rested her chin on his shoulder.
His friend walked beside them, occasionally glancing at the two.
They reached the flying car.
Isaac opened the door and carefully placed Vivian inside.
He pressed a button. The seat expanded into a comfortable bed.
Vivian stared at him. "Wow."
Isaac ignored her and closed the door.
Once they were inside, Vivian suddenly remembered something.
"Father.."
"Hm?"
"What happened fifteen years ago?"
Isaac’s eyes flickered. "Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Just a petty case."
Vivian narrowed her eyes.
That wasn’t a normal reaction.
She leaned closer. "Did you plan to compensate Emelianna?"
"Your Mother not Emelianna."
"Whatever." She rolled her eyes.. "Answer me."
"Compensate what?"
"Money."
Isaac looked confused.
Vivian sighed. "Why not give me the money instead? I need money for my upkeep."
Isaac stared at her. "I don’t have money."
Vivian’s mouth fell open. "You’re a commander!"
She pointed at him. "Don’t tell me the government doesn’t pay soldiers here."
Isaac sighed. "All my salary goes directly to your mother’s account for your upkeep."
"What?!" Vivian nearly jumped off the bed. "What do you mean? For the past seven years, she stopped giving me my allowance because I fought with Elena!"
Isaac slowly turned his head. "What did you just say?" His voice suddenly became terrifyingly quiet.
Vivian swallowed. "My allowance..."
"I didn’t receive anything."
Isaac stood up. His expression darkened.
"My salary is one billion spirit stones every week."
He clenched his fist.
"I fight with my life every day."
"And you’re telling me you received nothing? Don’t tell me!! She used my money to feed that girl I don’t know which trash she picked...her."
Vivian shook her head. "Nothing, Father. That girl is her everything."
Isaac immediately pulled out his communicator.
"Check my transactions."
Vivian watched him pace around the cabin.
Then he suddenly stopped.
"Don’t lie to me."
"If your mother gave you nothing..." His eyes narrowed. "How did you afford those flying cars?"
"The expensive dresses?"
"The house you bought?"
"All those things?"
Vivian’s face stiffened.
"Uh..."
Isaac stared at her.
"Vivian."
She swallowed. "Yes, father?"
"Where did you get the money?"
Vivian looked away.
"Ehh..."
Her fingers nervously twisted together.
"My..."
Isaac waited.
"My part-time job."
Silence fell like a punch. Isaac slowly turned toward her. "Part-time job?"
Vivian nodded weakly.
"Yes."
Isaac’s eyes narrowed.
"What kind of part-time job earns enough to buy a house?"
Vivian’s smile froze.