Shit got a little angsty this time around...
Set Sometime after Finral joined the Black Bulls
Finesse Calmreich loved her parents but at the same time, resented them, especially as she got older. As a child, she remembered always being told what not to do and how "young ladies" should act. As a teenager, she resigned herself to being at the mercy of her parents. Finesse was regularly ill as she had a poor constitution; she needed the care that only her parents were able to provide for her (doctors, caretakers, etc.).
Then she met Finral and Langris. Finral was the sweetest guy, but very unsure of himself as he was always beaten down by everyone comparing him to Langris. And Langris was in need of Finral doing better as an older brother, but hid himself behind sneers, arrogance and harsh words. She fell a little in love with Finral the day they met, but once again resigned herself to marrying Langris, even though she knew that she would only ever be able to see him as a "younger brother."
Of course, she heard that Finral had run off from the Vaude home and worried about him while she was busy with her studies at the University. As the grand-niece of the Clover King, if she was not to be a Magic Knight, she was to be educated at the University of Clover to be taught politics, decorum, history, law, and magical theory to help her future husband when he became a ruling noble-lord in charge of a city.
It was now that she was sitting in the library of the University, writing notes for her examination on the mana-based class system that was sure to get her in trouble with everyone, when she heard some of the other students talking. Of course, a lot of the students always spoke loudly in the library because they didn't actual care about learning, unlike Finesse who had nothing for her that was amazing except a due diligence to study.
"Did you hear about who that foreigner that the Wizard King likes so much picked up for his ragtag worst squad," said a young noble, mockingly.
Finesse frowned. One should talk, thought Finesse, a little meanly, since only the strongest and best got into the Magic Knights, meaning that the nobles here failed to get it.
"Oh yeah that disgraced Vaude kid, Finral. Heard he's a loser, in comparison to how strong his brother is. Langris is in the Golden Dawn, now that's cool squad. Captain Vangeance is so mysterious," said another young noble, this time a young woman. "The Black Bulls are a sham."
Finesse did not want to hear anymore. She shut the books and packed her things—she would borrow the books and go study in her room at the University. As she started to walk to the librarian (who was actually her grandmother, a long story for another time), she heard them say something else.
"Did you hear those that Finesse has to marry Langris, though? She's so lucky," cooed the young noble lady.
"No way, Langris is lucky. Finesse is beautiful, like a doll. She'll be a good wife, even if she gets sick all the time," said the young noble lord.
Finesse clenched her jaw, and felt the tears, build up in her eyes. Why do men describe her like that? She wasn't a doll. She was a woman, a person with feelings.
She gathered herself so her grandmother wouldn't notice she was upset.
(A hidden memory of her drunk mother whispering to her that she was a little pretty ornament only good for marrying off).
As she walked the desk of her grandmother, the Librarian of the University, Finesse told herself one thing…
She was not going to be defined by her looks and fragile body—she was going to work towards standing up for herself.