Infirmary
~Euphoria~
“I did not dismiss you.”
His low voice almost growled.
The sound made the hair on my arms stand straight.
“Pardon?” I asked, my brows narrowing in confusion.
“I did not release you.” He repeated himself, his voice calm but firm.
I need a dismissal?
Before I could ask what that meant, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me away.
I turned back toward my friends.
All three of them were still sitting there, staring at me in complete shock.
What was going on in this school?
Were beasts all this crazy?
“Why are we going to the infirmary?” I asked as I hurried to keep up with his long strides.
“I was just smacked, is all.”
“You were hit.
Your cheek is swollen.
It should be checked and given some ice.
You mortals heal slower than us.”
“You don’t have to worry.
I’m okay.” I gave him a hesitant smile.
“You really don’t have to do all this for me.
I don’t want to be an inconvenience.”
“The healers here are good.
They should heal you instantly.”
He completely ignored my point.
“Oh.
That’s good.”
Was he planning to ask the healers to heal my swollen cheek?
I suppose that made sense.
We walked in heavy silence.
There were so many unspoken words hanging between us, clinging to the air like they were waiting for one of us to say something.
What those words could be?
I had no idea.
But I could feel them.
The halls of the school were long and beautiful, almost too beautiful to be real.
The windows were tall enough to tower over me, letting streams of sunlight spill across the marble floors.
Off-white walls were trimmed with gold, and blue crest flags hung in spaces that would have otherwise been empty.
Everything here looked expensive.
Everything looked like it belonged in another world.
Then again…
I was in another world.
Amos stopped in front of a large, solid oak door and swung it open with surprising ease.
The door looked incredibly heavy.
But he was a beast, so of course it was easy for him.
“Eleanor?” he called.
“Yes, my prince?”
A gorgeous woman with soft sky-blue hair walked toward us, drying her hands on a towel.
She wore a long blue dress that matched her hair, along with a white apron adorned with delicate lace.
Several pockets lined the front, with various tools sticking out of them.
“She needs healing.”
His voice sounded even more indifferent than before.
I wondered why.
“Her?”
Eleanor looked me over from head to toe.
There was no hostility in her eyes, only curiosity.
“A mortal girl.” Her brows lifted.
“How unusual of you to escort one of them here.”
“Her cheek.
She was slapped.”
“You brought her here for a slap?”
She blinked at him.
“My prince…
are you okay?”
“Just heal her.”
“Alright, alright.
Your word is my command.”
She gave him a little curtsy before turning her attention back to me.
Let’s get you all fixed up.”
“I’m fine, truly.
You don’t have to go through all this trouble just for me.”
“I’m not.” She smiled sweetly.
“I’m doing it for my prince.”
Well…
That was humbling.
She guided me over to a small cot and pulled the curtain closed around us.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
She sounded genuinely curious.
“Euphoria Ri-chan.
But my friends call me Ria.” I answered politely.
“It’s very nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
She was friendly.
Friendlier than any of the beasts I’d met so far.
“You have a very unusual name.”
“My mother gave it to me.” I smiled faintly.
“She used to say I brought her all the happiness in the world, and that a blessing like me should be named as such.”
I told her the story my mother had always told me.
But as soon as the words left my mouth, my mind drifted back to the moment I’d shared in the closet.
Aries.
Right?
Prince Aries.
I sighed.
“What’s on your mind?”
I looked back at Eleanor.
Her hand hovered over my cheek, and a glowing teal light began to emanate from her palm.
“Wow…”
My eyes widened.
“That’s incredible!”
I stared at the magic in awe as the light gently spread across my skin.
“You really are kind of cute.” She laughed softly.
I smiled awkwardly.
Then she tilted her head.
“You don’t look like the other mortals.”
“Oh?”
“Are you part beast?”
“What?”
“You don’t have a scent.”
She looked genuinely puzzled.
“That’s odd.”
Before I could respond, the teal glow faded and she pulled her hand away.
I touched my cheek.
There was no pain.
The swelling was completely gone.
“Thank you so much.
I truly appreciate it.”
I gave her a sweet smile.
“The prince is a good man.” She smiled knowingly.
“He seems interested in you.”
That couldn’t be right.
“That can’t be.”
I laughed nervously.
“He’s a prince.
I’m just an ordinary orphan girl.
Poor and alone in this world.”
I tried to keep my usual cheerful smile, but my own words hurt a little.
“It’s a pretty sad thing to say about yourself.”
“It’s a sad truth, I guess.”
I shrugged.
I’m used to it.
The truth is my everyday life.
There’s no escaping it.
Eleanor studied me for a moment before smiling.
“I can see how you’ve piqued my prince’s interest.”
She opened the curtain.
“I wish you the best, and I hope I see you around.”
She paused.
“But preferably not in my infirmary.”
That made me laugh. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
“I would like that too.”
I stood from the cot and smiled at her.
“You have a wonderful rest of your day, Eleanor.”
“You too, Ria.”
She waved goodbye and walked away, returning to whatever she had been doing before.
I stepped outside.
He was still waiting.
Sitting in a chair with one leg resting over his knee, his hands folded neatly in his lap.
He looked completely unbothered.
“Are you finished?”
I nodded.
“Mhmm.”
“Where is your dorm?
I’ll walk you back.”
“Thank you, but you don’t have to go through all that trouble.” I looked down.
“I don’t want to be a bother.”
My fingers began fidgeting nervously.
I felt guilty getting all this care.
I wasn’t used to it.
He didn’t answer.
Instead, he asked,
“What is your name?”
“Mine?”
I blinked.
“Oh.
Euphoria.
Euphoria Ri-chan.”
“Euphoria…”
He repeated my name quietly, almost like he was testing the sound of it.
“I never caught yours.”
I glanced up at him.
“Amos.”
He paused.
“Prince Amos Posideon.”
Another prince.
First it was that sly fox, Prince Aries.
Now Prince Amos.
This was going to be a very interesting year.
“Thank you again.” I smiled at him.
“You know…
for taking care of me even when you didn’t have to.”
He simply nodded.
He didn’t respond.
I followed beside him, my hands still fidgeting nervously in front of me.
“What floor are you on?”
“Oh, um…”
I thought about it.
“The second.
I think.”
I winced.
“I don’t know, to be honest.
I’m not very good with directions.”
I stared down at my feet awkwardly.
“You should work on that.”
“Mhmm.
Yes, you’re right.
I’ll do that.”
I agreed immediately.
I really didn’t want to get lost trying to find my own dorm.
When we made our way back, I discovered I had been right.
Second floor.
“Thank you so much for this.
I really appreciate it.”
“Mmm.”
He nodded.
“I’ll see you around.”
He stared at me for a moment longer than most people did.
Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.
I watched him disappear down the hallway before finally opening the dorm door.
The second I stepped inside, all three of them rushed toward me.
“Where the fuck have you been?!”