Air Magic Is Kinda OP

At the moment, I'm serving Ophelia her afternoon tea and lunch as she stares me down. I had managed to avoid her questions from earlier by running away like my life depended on it. There was only so long I could avoid the person I served on daily, however.

Standing behind Ophelia and trembling a little is me, watching as she takes a slow sip out of her teacup before slowly setting it down in its saucer. "So, Ava. Do you have anything you'd like to tell me?"

"..... I hope you're having a wonderful time on your first day."

It was silent between us two before Ophelia slammed her hand down on the table, causing me to jump back. "Ava. That wasn't the answer I wanted." Her voice was cold as she slowly stood up from her seat and turned to look at me. I cowered away a bit, stepping back from her. I could tell without fail that Ophelia was mad at me.

"What I said wasn't a lie..."

"But it wasn't what needed to be said."

"I missed preparing you for your first day. Of course it was necessary."

"Ava."

As our back and fourth continued, I was backing away from Ophelia while she was approaching me. Honestly, second most terrifying experience I've ever had. I would not tell Ophelia of what happened earlier without a fight. While I knew she wouldn't fly into a jealous rage or anything due to what happened, I didn't want her to go searching out Carole or Floyd for an explanation either. Sure, neither of those things could happen if I told but I'd like to reduce all chances of her being executed, thank you very much.

"I honestly have no idea what you want me to say."

"You know exactly what I want you to tell me."

"And pray tell what that might be?"

"Oh, I don't know. Why you ran away from me so suddenly when I asked you a simple question?"

"I did that? Lil ol me?"

Before I knew it, I had back tracked right into a tree trunk. The worst possible place to stop while outside for lunch with a mistress who used nature magic was hunting for answers. Before I could move off of it, the tree had bent down its branches and wrapped around me tight, practically preventing all movement of mine. Crap.

Ophelia stood before me with a sickly sweet smile that caused shivers to run down my spine. I'd never seen her so upset. Did this really matter to her so much?!

"You know I hate it when you keep secrets from me."

Oh. That's what this was about. Ophelia did always want to know what I was doing ever since that incident from so many years ago. Perhaps she was afraid I'd betray her. That made her anger a bit more understandable.

"Would you hate it so much if it was for your own good?"

"Especially if it was for my own good."

At this point, Ophelia stood right before me, only a couple centimeters and the tree branches that held me captive keeping us apart. Instead of rage, now she seemed to be upset. I felt myself quickly caving in as tears seemed to well up in her eyes. She's really learned how to play my heart strings like a fiddle

"Ophie, I didn't tell you because I thought you'd get upset but... CaroleandFloydendedupmeetingandIthinkthatshefellinlovewithhim."

"..... Ava I didn't understand a word you said. Slower please."

I took a deep breath. "I said that Carole and Floyd ended up meeting and I think she fell in love with him."

What happened next was... Unexpected. Ophelia blinked at me for a little and then this shine appeared in her eyes. Not one of rage or obsession but of... Of joy. Strange.

"Really?"

I nodded and the branches around me loosened and returned to their original hanging positions with the tree.

"That's what you were so worried about?"

"Yes."

Ophelia started laughing and patronizingly gave my head a pet. I felt like the roles we once had were reversed at that moment. I noticed that Ophelia who once stood so many inches below me, once at my knees, now stood a good couple inches above me. Even without low heels she'd be taller. That type of realization is really view changing. Ophelia may have still been a child, but she was growing faster and faster into a woman. I couldn't help but feel a bit blue. I frowned for a short while but quickly turned it into a pout when Ophelia had her laugh.

"It's not that funny. I was just worried you'd be jealous..."

"What do I have to be jealous of? An Earl's daughter taking my place to take Queen Training? I'll wish them the best if that's the case!"

I couldn't help but mull over that for awhile. Since Carole had taken Ophelia's place as Princess Consort in the canon novel, didn't she have to go through Queen Training? It was supposed to be a grueling and practically torturous full year of ettiquette both foriegn and local, diplomacy, and anything else in the book to make one queenly enough to rule beside the future king. Ophelia had long learned all of these things of her own volition, but definitely not Carole. She had literally been brought back into the aristocracy last year, how would she have the ability to even be half prepared for such a thing? They'd have to start from square one.

Carole taking Opehlia's place was getting more appealing by the second.

"However, Ava, you still ran away from me. That qualifies for a punishment."

"What kind of punishment? What I did wasn't that serious-"

"Attend the Introductory Ball with me on Sunday."

............... Ophie why you do me like this?

I gaped at Ophelia for a good second before collecting myself. "I don't think that'll be appropriate-"

"Neither was you running away from your mistress and avoiding the problem."

"I thought I taught you to not abuse your power."

"It's not abusing it if I'm technically in the right."

I pouted as Ophelia grinned. Looks like I'm going to the Introductory Ball this weekend. I'm not going to even ask about a dress as I can tell she'd been planning this since forever ago. Damn her scheming villainess mind.

And so, lunch time passed by peacefully.

--------

"Why are you in my room, Goose?"

"My name is Alexander!"

"Answer the question, Goose."

As of current, I'm standing in my small shared room, having been preparing to go to bed when the damn male side character appeared in my room. On MY bed. In human form. I'm this close to murdering his feathered bitch ass.

Like the book described, Alexander was an attractive man. Pink hair with pale pink eyes (how'd I forget he had pink eyes?) and freckles dotting across his nose. He was honestly a cute guy, if you'd only have his looks and not his personality. Little cocky son of a bitch.

"I got bored waiting for you out there."

"Out where?"

"Outside the building."

I must be making a scary face because Alexander cowered into the far corner of my bed. For such a prideful guy, he can be easily terrified by a girl like me. I must either be a demon with an angry face or he's just a pussy. I'm betting on both.

"Did anyone see you?"

"A brown haired girl tried to talk to me a bunch. She was blushing up a storm. Annoying."

"..... Braids?"

"Yes. And blue eyes."

Looks like I fucked up the meeting between Carole and Alexander. Instead of happening in the forest that surrounds the school, it happened in front of the servant's quarters. Wait, why was Carole at the servant's quarters. I got an itch that told me something was up. She'd never done that in the books, which meant something else made her come. What was it? Rachael? Wanting to go back to her 'roots'? Or was it something more sinister? Looks like I'll have something to put my superior senses to use for.

"How long was that girl here?"

"About as long as me. Two hours maybe. Why do you care?"

"No reason. Just curious."

Alexander gave me a strange look before shrugging and laying back on my bed. I stared at him blankly while he rambled on about something I was half listening to.

"I came to give you a gift, for being so unconsumed by greed and all. I think I deserve a little praise for being so virtuous. What kind of gift do you want? Charm? Rare plants? Clothes? Just say the word and you've- AAAAAAAH!"

"I wish for you to be off my bed."

I had grabbed Alexander by the legs and yanked him off of my bed and onto the stone floors of my bedroom. The scream he let out was honestly a bit satisfying. The thump he made on the floor was too. I grinned while Alexander yelled at me.

"What the hell?! You could've just asked me to get up!"

"Less effective and efficient than this."

"Like hell! You just wanted to hurt me!"

"Yup."

Alexander stared at me in shock st how blunt I was being. I didn't have anything to hide from a pretentious goose, not even my mild distaste for him. He'd know what he needed to know about me and a little more. The pink-haired guy ended up just shaking his head at me.

"Insane bitch."

"The fuck you say?"

"Nothing! Nothing, ma'am."

I dragged him out the door by his legs and threw him out the still broken window with practiced ease. He screamed again and I went back inside of my room to get ready for bed. That should keep him out of my way for the rest of the night.

Was what I was thinking before a grumpy pink goose was in my room again.

---------

Geese are vengeful little shits. I learned that a couple nights ago as I patted at my covered up cheek scratch. The damn thing had caused Ophelia to go mad, practically having a meltdown about how it had gotten there and if it hurt. She'd even tried to call the school doctor. That girl worries way too much.

Anyway, the last couple of days I've been observing Carole and her movements. She's still late to class and pretty, but that lateness is despised by her teachers and joked about by her peers. The peers part was quite different from the original canon, but Carole did pick a fight with Ophelia for no reason. Of course it'd be different.

Watching Carole was also a pain because of how much she and Floyd were constantly flirting. It was like seeing sappy couples on Valentine's Day and being single and bitter. They were all sparkles and roses about them and it disgusted me. Floyd you dirtbag. I hope your rule is cursed and so is your bloodline. Curse your family to the two-hundredth generation. It was obvious who he was going to be escorting to the Introductory Ball instead of his fiancè. Their romance was moving a lot faster than in the book and Floyd... Floyd smelled weird. As in, like he was wearing lady's perfume but not. It smelled like a potion. Was Carole really so desperate as to drug the Crown Prince? It reminded me of Lianne way too much.

Once again, I was pushing the lunch trolly for Ophelia down the walkways of the gardens, Ophelia's favorite place to eat. I think she sat explicitly in the section of where the roses were for me, as they were my favorite. The stone walkways of the garden were smooth rolling for the cart thankfully. As I neared my destination, I had a sudden feeling of Carole and Rachael approaching I began to move faster. It was too bad that they were approaching me directly.

"Excuse me, could you stop for a moment?" Carole yelled out to me. Son of a bitch.

"Can I help you, Miss?" I turned to face her calmly, face blank and hands on the trolly's handles. I refused to bow to her, but Carole probably didn't notice. She actually let out a soft gasp when she saw my face fully. Isn't that nice.

"Wow, Miss Ophelia's maid is prettier than I heard."

"... If that's all you have to say, I must be on my way."

I began to walk away once again, leaving a shocked Carole and terrified Rachael for barely a couple of seconds before they began to speed walk next to me. That was kinda funny because my strides were longer than her's. Then again, I probably had more practice walking in heels than she did.

"Are you delivering this trolly to Miss Ophelia?"

"Indeed, Miss Millstone."

"You're not much of a talker, are you?"

I stopped suddenly and turned to face Carole with a slight frown. She looked back at me while Rachael was nervously looking around. "Miss Millstone, while I understand your sentiments, unless it's strictly business please refrain from talking to me. Along with that, please don't refer to my mistress as if you were familiar. It's impolite and shows disrespect, especially with your station. You should call her Miss Dubannes, like everyone else."

Carole gaped at me all over again, her face flushing with either embarrassment or anger as Rachael gestured for me to stop talking. Good for her, I'd already said all I wished to say. I turned back to the trolly and began to walk briskly to where Ophelia would be waiting. Dammit. The food would be cold already because of the damn protagonist. Without warning as I passed by one of the many fountains of the garden, the trolly was overturned by something and everything upon it was sent crashing to the ground. Including Ophelia's favorite lemon madeleine cookies I'd spent hours preparing by hand. .......... Heh.

"Even a fucking maid is looking down on me... What do you mean by my station?!"

Looks like that emotion from her flush was rage.

"If you're trying to imply I'm insulting your upbringing as a commoner, that is not the case. I was speaking as your placement as an Earl's daughter. Earls are two positions below Dukes, making my mistress your senior. Yet you just destroyed her lunch. I wonder how much stupider you can get."

Carole grit her teeth while Rachael got down on her knees all of a sudden and began to beg.

"Young Miss, Miss Simmonds didn't mean any of what she said. Please calm down-"

"Shut up, Rachael!" When Carole screamed, the water from the fountain curled up like a snake and seemed to bubble for a second before it was headed straight for Rachael. I could tell that water was probably scalding. I ended up summoning my own magic to dissipate the water. After all, water has oxygen in it. Oxygen is air, therefore meaning I can control it and take it away. Air magic is pretty OP when you think about it scientifically, even in a magic world. What does fire need to keep burning? Oxygen. Oxygen is air. What do plants need to make food? Carbon dioxide which contains oxygen atoms. Insane shit.

"I never believed Miss Millstone to be so hateful. It seems I misjudged." While Carole was still in shock at her magic being so easily defended against, her anger forgotten, I grabbed Rachael and ran with her out of the gardens. If Ophelia was to be mad at my lateness, that'd be fine. But leaving Rachael alone with an angered protagonist was not something I believe I could do in my right mind. At least I had a bit of an idea where Rachael's timid nature came from.

I originally only hated Carole for ruining Ophelia's life. Now that I knew she was abusive towards those who couldn't fight back, I despised her.

[ Carole's losing it guys. I also want to mention seriously in this chapter, abuse is not fictional and should never be romanticized. It causes lifetimes worth of damage to people both mentally and emotionally. It's extremely serious. I just wanted to say this. Next chapter will be the Introductory Ball and Ophie might go a bit crazy herself. Before that, I'll be including a chapter of reference pictures for the characters. This'll also help me because I can't remember how some of my characters look. I'm a failure 😌. Anyway, remember to vote and leave a comment. Thanks for reading. ]