Adela stood completely still in the center of the walkway, the clamor of passing students fading into a muffled buzz.
’He’s holding her hand.’
Her breath hitched in her throat as she stared at Ares and Ciel. They weren’t just walking side by side, they looked comfortable. Natural. There was a relaxed, easy cadence to Ares’s posture a warmth she had rarely ever seen him display toward anyone.
A sudden, sharp impulse surged through her chest. ’I should walk up to them. I should ask what on earth he’s doing.’
She took a half step forward, but her boot froze on the stone pavement. The thought withered as fast as it had appeared.
’On what authority?’
Yes, he was assigned as her guard. Yes, she was the reason he was able to attend the academy. But that didn’t mean she owned his personal life. He was a free cadet in Class S, entitled to look at, talk to, or date whoever he pleased.
Yet, as she watched Ciel smile up at him, a hollow, crushing ache bloomed behind Adela’s ribs. It felt as though something heavy had settled on her chest, suffocating and sharp.
Unable to watch another second, Adela turned on her heel and walked away as fast as her legs could carry her, disappearing into the crowd before anyone could see the tightness in her eyes.
...
Down the central avenue, a flicker of movement at the edge of the courtyard caught Iver’s attention.
Adela was practically running down the lower path, head lowered, shoulders tense. Distress rolled off her even from a distance.
’What’s wrong with her?’ He narrowed his eyes.
Before he could follow the thought, Ciel squeezed his hand and tugged him back. "Keep your head up, partner," she murmured, holding a radiant smile for the onlookers. "People are watching. Don’t look distracted."
"Right," Iver said, letting out a faint breath.
’I’ll stop by her quarters tonight and ask what’s wrong. For now, I have a contract to fulfill.’
Around them, the whispers spread through the courtyard like wildfire. It took less than twenty minutes for the rumor to sweep through the residential grounds and reach the ears of House Vorne.
...
"He did what?!"
Gideon slammed his fist into the stone wall of the upper terrace. The cadet who had brought him the news flinched.
"Lies," Gideon hissed.
He didn’t believe a word of it. He stormed down the terrace steps, shoving past lower ranked cadets until he reached the edge of the main garden.
He stopped. His eyes narrowed to slits.
There they were. Ciel stood beside Ares, laughing softly at something the commoner had said. Ares looked completely unbothered, his hand comfortably wrapped around hers.
’That bastard. Again.’
Heat flushed through Gideon’s veins. First this nobody had stolen second rank right above the ducal houses. Now he was standing beside the woman Gideon had been pursuing for months.
The veins in his neck bulged as his hand dropped to the pommel of his sword. He stepped onto the path, ready to march down there and tear the commoner apart in front of the entire campus.
Then he stopped.
On the far side of the garden path, Prince Ansel leaned casually against a pillar, a subtle, knowing smirk on his face. His eyes slid to Gideon and held his gaze, a quiet, unmistakable warning.
Gideon gritted his teeth until his jaw ached. A scene in front of the Prince would wreck his standing with the faculty.
"Enjoy it while it lasts, commoner," he muttered, turning sharply. "I’ll deal with you when there’s no one around."
...
Ansel watched it all from the garden arches with genuine amusement.
When he’d first heard the surge of murmurs, he hadn’t believed them. ’Ares doesn’t strike me as the type to write love letters or chase girls.’ He tapped his chin. Then his eyes shifted to Ciel, and he recalled how persistently Gideon had been pressuring her for weeks, trying to maneuver her family into a political courtship.
The pieces clicked. A light chuckle escaped him.
’Ah. I see.’
He caught sight of Gideon retreating into the shadows of the upper corridor and smiled. ’Sharp move, Lady Ciel. But using Ares as a shield comes with its own risks.
I should warn him,’ he thought, turning toward the upper terrace. He might not realize what kind of board he just stepped onto.
’This is exhausting,’ Iver thought.
Walking around campus pretending to be head over heels felt like acting in a badly written play. Every ten paces brought another volley of stares, whispers, and stifled giggles. ’I can’t wait for this day to end.’
When nearly every major faction had seen them, they finally reached the entrance of Ciel’s residence block. A small crowd of girls lingered near the foyer, watching.
Ciel turned and took both his hands in hers. "Thank you for walking me back, Ares," she said smoothly, pitching her voice just loud enough for the onlookers.
"Of course," Iver said mildly.
Before he could pull away, she rose onto her tiptoes and planted a soft, lingering kiss on his cheek.
"Goodnight," she whispered near his ear, with a brilliant parting smile, and stepped back into the building.
The crowd erupted in hushed squeals. Iver wiped his cheek with the back of his hand, ignored every eye on him, and went back to his own residence.
At his door, he wasn’t surprised to find a figure leaning against the frame with his hands in his pockets.
Prince Ansel.
"Well, well." Ansel’s eyes sparkled with mischief. "Had a good time with your new girlfriend, Ares?"
"It was fine." Iver took out his key.
"I’m happy for you, truly. Though I didn’t expect you to dive into campus romance in the first week."
"The world is full of unexpected turns."
Ansel’s playful expression slowly turned serious. He leaned in and lowered his voice. "On a serious note, Ares, be careful with Lady Ciel. She’s smart. It’s very likely she’s using you to get Gideon and House Vorne off her back."
Iver paused and looked at him in mild surprise. ’He caught on that fast?’
"I’ll keep that in mind," he said, with a small nod. "Thanks for the warning."
"Anytime." Ansel waved and turned away. "Get some rest, Rank 2."
Iver stepped inside, shut the heavy door, and turned the key. He let out a long, quiet sigh into the empty room.