Chapter Text
"Oh wow— is that really her?"
"Yup! She's Lord Sullivan's daughter!"
"Doesn't she have a kid who goes here? Iruma, right?"
"Yeah, he's one of the Misfit Class kids."
"Oh wow, really?"
"Mmhmm."
You could feel a slight twitch in your eye, and try as you might, you weren't able to block the hushed conversation happening in the next aisle over. They were giggling quietly, and they weren't doing any harm, but still, you didn't want the attention on you in the slightest. Unfortunately for you, Sullivan had given a grand speech when introducing you to the other staff, and word had gotten around to the students that not only was Lord Sullivan's grandson a student here, but his daughter now worked here as well.
You'd wring his neck if you could reach it.
"She doesn't seem scary at all."
"I know, right? You'd think being the daughter of one of the Thirteen Crowns and part of the Three Greats, she'd be… I don't know, more intimidating?"
They were creeping closer, trying not to be obvious— though they were failing— to peek at you. You continued shelving books, trying to ignore the weight of their eyes on your back as you moved. Thankfully, the Netherworld used a similar system in their libraries, so it wasn't hard for you to pick up on where things went.
"She was at the Walter Park when the incident happened over break, right?"
"Yeah! Apparently, it was Iruma who had—"
"Ladies," You didn't bother turning around, trying to keep your tone firm but not cold, and you heard them suck in breaths, "If you're not here for academic reasons, I'm going to have to ask you to return to your classes."
They stepped out, heads hung low and sheepish expressions on their faces. You didn't recognize them; they weren't friends with Iruma, but considering everything that had gone down, it made sense that they knew him. One girl stepped forward, head bowed lower than the others, "We're sorry, ma'am!"
You just raised an eyebrow, pushing another book back with a bit too much force, "Thank you, but I mean it. If you're not in the library for library reasons, go where you're supposed to be."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Without another word, the three scampered off, their tails tucked down as they rushed off. A few students, who were actually studying, looked up, casting them half-hearted glares before going back to their books. Hands now empty, you couldn't help but cross them over your chest, trying to level yourself with some form of comfort. The kids weren't bad, not in the way you would have thought demon children were, but by Devi, they were nosy. You'd had to shoo off several groups already who were doing nothing but staring at you, and every passing minute made you grow more annoyed.
A few demons had gotten brave enough to awkwardly walk up to you, asking you questions that ranged from curious to too personal. You'd made the mistake of answering the first few kids, but now it seemed everyone had their attention on you. In the solitude of the aisle you were in, you turned, sighing as you leaned your head against the shelves, eyes shutting.
What the hell was your life?
"Are you alright?" You jumped, not registering the voice as you turned, expecting to see another student creeping in with questions galore, but instead were met with the sight of Balam and Kalego looking at you.
"Oh," You blinked at the pair, straightening up, "I'm fine."
Kalego let out a sound, somewhere between a hum and a huff, and Balam just chuckled quietly. "How's your first official day going?"
You shrugged at the question, trying to find a way to summarize it. Annoying? Boring? You weren't sure how to summarize wanting to be back in the manor, curled up in your bed, and that didn't seem the most appropriate of responses, so instead you settled on, "It's been fine, I guess."
"You guess?" Kalego raised a brow, arms crossed over his chest.
"Students are just… nosy," You explained, sighing quietly, "Everyone wants to see the elusive daughter of Lord Sullivan. Especially considering this morning." At that, the other two winced at the memory.
"We really don't have to do this," The words left your lips like a hiss, and your grip on Sullivan's sleeve was tight; demon or not, he was struggling to remove your fingers.
"Nonsense," He grinned at you, patting your head with his free hand, "I'm excited to be able to show off my lovely daughter!"
"Your lovely daughter doesn't want to be shown off." But your words fell upon deaf ears as the last of the staff seemed to enter the room, dragging Sullivan's attention from you and towards the murmuring adults.
"Goodmorning everybody! I hope you all are excited for our second semester. I know I am!" He managed to pry your fingers off his sleeve, stepping forward, his voice loud and booming as he addressed everyone, gathering attention. "I have some very exciting news!"
There were too many eyes on you as Sullivan extended his arm in your direction. At the very least, you recognized Balam and Kalego, both of whom looked somewhat sympathetic at your predicament. You hadn't met anyone else from the school, and their gazes were nothing but curious and confused. Before Sullivan could go further, however, one of them spoke up. He was a bit shorter, and his looks somewhat reminded you of Clara, considering how green he was.
"Oh! Lord Sullivan! Is this your daughter?" He was cheerful as he spoke, hand raised like he was a student, "I heard about her being at Walter Park during the break!"
Sullivan snapped a finger, pointing at the teacher, "Right you are, Robin! This is my dearest daughter," He introduced you, practically singing your name as he did so, "Isn't she just lovely?"
"Stop it," You whispered, trying to keep your voice low as he ushered you to step forward, "You're overdoing it."
He ignored you, addressing the teachers once more, "She will be working here starting today, assisting in our library! She'll likely be a bit asset to our library battler, too! I hope you all treat her kindly and take care of her well!"
If… that was it, then while embarrassing to have everyone's attention, it wasn't the worst he could have done. Honestly, you felt slightly dramatic for expecting more—
"Also," Sullivan's voice dropped, turning more serious and, oh no, there it was, "If anyone gets the idea in their head they wish to court my precious daughter, you will not only have to ask for permission from me, but I expect you to be able to hold your own in a battle for my daughter's hand against me, as well as my lovely grandson—"
"Okay!" You yelped, shooting forward with your hands extended, trying to quiet him down however you could, as you couldn't reach his mouth to cover it, "That's enough, dad!"
He had then gone on to explain that only the strongest of demons or demonesses had the right to take you on a date, let alone properly court you. It had been your own fault for assuming he wasn't going to do something like that, and by the time he had finished speaking, you were certain the entire staff would avoid you like the plague. You weren't looking to date, necessarily, but making a friend or two didn't sound as horrible as it would have when you first arrived.
"It seems that you lack your father's flair for dramatics," Kalego spoke, voice dry, and you couldn't help but laugh quietly.
"I guess you could say that," You absentmindedly picked at your sleeve, "I'm not one for a lot of attention."
"And that seems all you've had today, huh?" Balam asked, voice sympathetic.
You couldn't help but sigh loudly, but winced after some of the students looked up from their studies, "Yeah. I can't blame the kids, really. Lord Sullivan comes out of nowhere and introduces his grandson and daughter in the span of a few months. It would make anyone curious."
At your words, you saw a slight twitch on Kalego's face. Right, he was probably still curious himself. Balam, of course, knew everything regarding you and Iruma, but to the rest of the staff— and Netherworld, really— one day Sullivan was only ever seen with Opera, and all of a sudden, he had a daughter and a grandson. As much as Opera and Balam had told you, your detailed backstory made sense, you still felt uneasy. Luckily, you hadn't yet had the need to tell anyone. Perks of your "father" being who he was, you suppose.
"Regardless, it has nothing to do with them," Kalego spoke, huffing quietly, "If any of them push too far, let me know, I have no issues doling out punishments for demons who can't keep their nose where it belongs."
You smiled at him, and though it was small, it was genuine. The kids could say what they wanted, but Kalego was nice underneath all his grumpiness. "Thank you, I will definately keep that in mind."
There was a beat of silence, and you couldn't help but notice the way your words seemed to make Kalego tense slightly, his shoulders higher than they were before. It was a bit of a confusing reaction; you had only said you'd keep his words in mind. Balam spoke before you could think too far.
"Has Iruma come to see you today?"
You shook your head, "Not yet, but I figured he'd be busy. If I'm being stared at as much as I am, I imagine he's got it worse than I do today."
Balam nodded, "Yes, it seems he and his class are the center of everyone's conversations. Some of the students seem to be enjoying it."
"Enjoying it a bit too much," Kalego grumbled.
Balam chuckled, patting Kalego's back softly, "They're just excited, no need to get worked up over it." He turned to you after, "Anyways, we wanted to check in with you and see how you were doing."
His words made your cheeks burn a bit, and you ducked your head, looking away as you scratched the back of your neck, "Thank you. I'm fine, really. It's just new, I guess? Gonna take some getting used to."
"Yes, well," The stiffness was back in Kalego's posture, and he coughed awkwardly, "Should you need something, let one of us know. Devi knows these students can be a handful."
"They're not bad," Balam tacked on, likely trying to ease the harsh image painting in your mind, "They're just… energetic?"
"So long as none of them set the library on fire," You motioned to the books around you, "I think we should be alright."
The two were silent, glancing at each other, before looking back at you. Their expressions made your face drop, "Have students set the library on fire before?"
"It only happened three times," Balam said quickly, as if trying to downplay it, "And we were able to put it out without too much damage."
"Let it be known that those students were punished. And no one was injured. Well," Kalego glanced away before back to you, "Seriously injured, at least."
You were silent for a moment before shaking your head, "Teenagers are crazy."
"I can promise you that we'll make sure that doesn't happen while you're here," Balam responded, hands pressed together like a prayer as he promised you, "You'll be perfectly fine working here!"
"Your sanity may not be, though," Kalego sighed, shaking his head slightly, "Honestly, these students…" He trailed off, letting his words hang in the air.
"Um, e-excuse me?" A timid voice interrupted the three of you, and both Balam and Kalego jumped slightly, moving to show a student looking at the three of you, eyes wide and slightly fearful as she looked from Balam to Kalego for a moment, before looking over to you, "Can- can you help me find a book?"
"Oh, yeah," You nodded, remembering suddenly that, right, you worked in a library now, your job was tidying up books and helping students find what they needed. You stepped forward, offering her a small smile to try and appease the growing terror on her face as she continued to stare at Balam and Kalego, "What were you looking for?"
She didn't respond, and while you felt the slightest bit annoyed, you felt a bit bad, too. Balam and Kalego on the outside were quite intimidating. Balam was a large demon, and he was very touchy-feely, but he was kind and protective, not that the students seemed to stick around long enough to learn. Kalego grumbled and scowled like he was born that way, but you knew he cared about the well being of the students he taught, and even those he didn't. This girl, however, didn't seem to know anything other than that two of the most terrifying teachers were standing before her, so you stepped into her line of sight, offering her the same practiced, gentle smile.
"What were you looking for, sweetie?"
She snapped out of her thoughts, adjusting the glasses on her face and looking down, "Oh, um, I need to find a book for my Bloodline Magic history paper, but I don't remember the book title, just the author."
You guided her away from the others, shooting them a quick smile and a wave of your hand, "Alright, tell me the author, and I'll be able to help."
The two watched quietly as you led the timid student away, a gentle hand on her shoulder and a smile on your face. Once out of earshot, Balam sighed, running a hand over his face and mask, "I can't believe Lord Sullivan got her a job here without even asking her."
Kalego gave him a look, eyebrow raised, "Really? Cause I think it seems just like him."
"Well, maybe," Balam conceded with a nod, "But still! After how shaken up she was after Walter Park, I feel like this was too soon."
"Maybe," Kalego shrugged, "But I suppose, in a way, it may be best for her."
Balam just hummed, though he still felt worried. He got why you had been so scared— you had only been in the Netherworld for but so long, and as he had learned, humans didn't face animals or magic beasts like the ones you had seen. To be thrown into their world so quickly with no magic or a way of protecting yourself, he didn't blame you for being afraid. Kalego had been concerned as well, though he saw it as proof that you were, in fact, a demoness of a weaker caliber. Robin, that morning, had come up to you after Lord Sullivan's introduction and asked all kinds of prying questions regarding your rank and your magic. You floundered, and Kalego was quick to swoop in, grabbing him by the back of the shirt and all but throwing him across the room.
Robin needed to learn to mind his own business, that was all.