23. Lily Arden

Both Magic academy and Knight academy follows basically same rules which are decided by the King of this country, since these academies are not private institutions.

Both had 5 year course and each year had 5 separate sections of classes ranking from S to D. During first year, students are assigned a section based on their performance in entrance exam, and later on sections can be changed based on student's performance in academy exams and competitions.

Each section has a different number of vacancies for each year:

S section: 20 seats

A section: 50 seats

B section: 200 seats

C section: 1000 seats

D section: 2500 seats

Naturally better the section, better resources and teacher the academy provide for them. Being in the same section doesn't mean student will have the same classes or specialisation. It is just a ranking system to determine the worth of a student and amount of resources to invest into them.

25 years ago, both Thomas and Freya were in the B section of knight academy in their 2nd year. Both actually admired each other but never talked. Freya was too shy to initiate a conversation with a boy whereas Thomas was too prideful and unruly. Although Freya had countless pursuers, but she wasn't interested in anyone else.

During the competition in their 2nd year, Thomas challenged a senior from 3rd year section B and defeated him in a tough battle. Then out of nowhere without getting any rest he challenged Freya from within the same class and defeated her as well. It was the most glorious moment for him in his entire life. Freya always had a soft spot for Thomas, so she went easy on him during that battle, which he still doesn't know about.

After defeating Freya, Thomas helped her get up then got down on his knee and proposed to her in the battle arena itself, which she accepted.

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Next year there was a joint competition among the students of magic and knight academy. Joint Competition was to be held in knight academy that year.

Everyone was talking about a single student who got admitted to magic academy S section 1st year.

"Did you hear Miss Lily Arden is coming to our knight's academy for this competition?!"

"Of course I heard, everyone knows about it, I am not deaf!"

"She is the most beautiful and most powerful mage in our generation! I wonder if she will notice me!"

"Idiot watch what you say! She belongs to our crown prince and is our future queen!"

"She never accepted crown prince's marriage proposal though"

"If you have a death wish don't drag others down with you! Stay away and never talk to me again!"

...

2 hour before the start of competition, all seats already got filled up. Every single male student was present in the arena just to see Lily Arden.

Thomas and Freya also made their way to the arena, as they were also participating in it.

Throughout the regular scheduled matches Lily defeated every single one of her opponent from 1st and 2nd year in a single move.

Thomas' heart was beating wildly as he looked at Lily's graceful figure without blinking. Freya who was standing close to him noticed this and angrily said

"Why are you looking at her like that! Hmph!"

She thought he would apologise to her, but instead he went up the stage and challenged Lily.

"I am Thomas Wright 3rd year student at knight academy. Miss Lily if I defeat you I will take you as my first wife"

Hearing this Freya bit her lips and tears started flowing down her cheeks.

"Aren't you ashamed challenging someone 2 years younger than you!" criticised other magic academy student.

"Its fine, I accept" said Lily with absolute confidence.

And as expected Thomas lost in just 1 move. When he came back, Freya was already gone.

Once the competition ended, Lily remained undefeated. Even 2nd year S section students of Knight academy could not last a single move from her.

======================

Freya didn't talk to Thomas for months after this incident, one day he swore an oath that he will not take any other wife or concubine and will only have Freya as his wife.

Freya's anger subsided a bit after hearing that and they got back together. But she hated that Lily Arden ever since.

======================

After a few years news came that the top beauty of this country Lily Arden married a commoner and was pregnant with his child. This actually made Freya even more angry that she rejected her husband to marry a commoner.

Arden family was second in command in the country at that time, only after the royal family and they were also the right hand of the royal family.

Royal family got extremely enraged when they heard this news, especially since crown prince already tried to pursue her countless times, but she never accepted his proposal. Now she married a commoner and was pregnant with his child, what joke was that.

Arden family's head, Lily's father immediately announced that Lily was no longer part of their family and destroyed her meridians to appease the anger of royal family. They also did everything they could to hide this news from general public.

Lily and her husband left the capital city after that and settled in a small city nearby where Lily's husband's family lived.

Even after doing all that, Arden's family decline started, especially after the crown price took the crown and became the king.

...

After sometime when Thomas was anointed Baron, Freya asked him to apply for the same city in which Lily was settled. And ever since then she made Lily's life more miserable and convinced her children to bully them as well.

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'Please master forgive me *sob sob*, I did it because of my jealousy and anger towards your mother, please don't hate me *sob sob*' apologised Freya

'Haah, I never though my mother was actually a noble, that too the strongest mage in her generation. No wonder basically no one knows about it since Arden family hid this news pretty well. By the way did you had anything to do with my father's death?'

'No master, absolutely not! I swear on my children's life!'

'Then everything is fine, I forgive you. But next time we meet be prepared for a punishment you can't even imagine in your dreams!'

'*Gulp* yes master, thank you, I will be waiting~'

Andy then ended their communication and went outside to have lunch.