The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0679

Silence rings out in the room behind me but I keep my eyes firmly on the Captains.

He straightens up, again looking at me with surprise.

If I'm honest, I think he expected a meltdown - expected me to protest, and to yell, and to demand reconsideration. In short, I think - quite frankly - that he expected me to act like a spoiled little girl.

But that's not what I am. At least, not anymore.

"I've been spending quite a lot of time considering my identity over the past couple of months." My voice is quiet, though not a single person here has any trouble hearing me, as I'm pretty sure that most of them are holding their breath. "And honestly, sir, I'm not entirely sure who I am anymore. I'm certainly not Princess Ariel, who was willing to completely negate her happiness and sell herself into a loveless marriage for the sake of a treaty."

The Captain blinks at me, taken aback. I don't give him a chance to protest and instead move forward with what I have to say.

"I became Ari Clark in September," I say, quite calm. "But I'm not him either - not really. He was frightened, and just wanted to be with his friends, and had no real purpose. No, I'm someone else now."

if they're aware of the full transformation that I've gone through in the past few months. And with the way that some of their mouths turn up at the corners - Jesse, Rafe, and Jacks in particular - I know

I say, turning my attention back to the silent Captain, "there are some things I do know for sure. And one of that is the

let my own teeth show a bit, even as I stand proud and

in the case of the horrible occurrence of Rafe's death?" I nod over my shoulder towards my brother, though I don't look at him. "Because should Rafe be tragically taken from

brother Mark."

take one step towards the

this nation is me. A fact which I sometimes forget, and which I

for a moment as

tilt my head back to do it. "Now, I'm not

I

mark Jackson and Rafe as worthy of command

head to the

ovel