Zuri’s gaze hovered over the empty space at the table, her tray held steadily, though her fingers gripped it with a care that drew Adrian’s attention. His fork rested idly in his hand as the charged silence lingered. He tracked the subtle shift in her expression, her lips curving into a small, almost hesitant smile.

  “Excuse me,” she said, her voice gentler than Adrian expected. Her focus landed squarely on Alisha, and for the first time, there was warmth in her tone. “Princess Alisha of Luvandell, is it? It’s an honor to finally meet you.”

  Alisha blinked, her surprise evident in the slight pause before she answered. “Oh, uh, yes, that’s me,” she said as she straightened in her seat. “And you must be Princess Zuri of Nyssalor. It’s nice to meet you, too.”

  Zuri’s shoulders eased as she stepped closer to the table. “I’ve read so much about you. Your accomplishments, your family’s influence… especially your efforts in diplomacy. They’re truly inspiring. I’ve admired you for a long time.”

  Adrian’s fork hovered mid-air as he glanced at Alisha, one brow arching in disbelief. Of all the surprises so far, Alisha getting a royal fan might top the list.

  Alisha tilted her head slightly, her cheeks gaining a faint flush of pink. “That’s… very kind of you to say. But honestly, it’s not that impressive. I just follow my father’s orders and try not to mess things up.”

  Zuri shook her head. “No, it’s much more than that. Your speeches on unity among the kingdoms resonated even in Nyssalor. They gave me hope that things could change for the better. You’re one of the reasons I thought attending this academy was worth it.”

  Kael let out a low whistle, leaning back in his chair with a wide grin. “Well, well, Alisha. Look at you, inspiring princesses and changing lives.”

  Alisha threw him a playful glare, though the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her amusement. “Alright, that’s enough. Let’s not inflate my ego any more than necessary.” She gestured toward the empty seat beside her. “Sit down, Zuri. You’re making the rest of us look bad by standing there showering me with compliments.”

  Zuri hesitated briefly, her violet eyes scanning the table one last time before she nodded. Her movements were measured and deliberate as she placed her tray on the table and slid gracefully into the chair.

  Adrian leaned back in his chair, his arms resting loosely at his sides. His gaze settled on Zuri as he asked, “So, what brings a princess like you to Mistral Royal Academy? Nyssalor isn’t exactly next door.”

  Zuri straightened, folding her hands neatly in her lap. “A lot has changed in my homeland recently. There’s a push to engage more with the outside world. My coming here is… part of that effort. It’s a test, in a way. To see if I can adapt and represent our people in a new way.”

  Adrian studied her for a moment. Her words were carefully chosen, but he caught the faint tension in her voice, the weight of unspoken expectations. A lot riding on her shoulders, huh?

  Kael leaned forward, his head directed vaguely in Zuri’s direction. “So, basically, they’re tossing you into the deep end to see if you sink or swim?”

  Zuri blinked at him, caught off guard by his bluntness. “That’s… one way of putting it, I suppose.”

  “It sounds like a big responsibility. But… it’s also an opportunity, isn’t it? To show them what you can do.” Xenon suddenly said.

  “Exactly. I hope to make the most of it. And I'm sorry, but I don't think I caught your name yet?"

  "It's um… just call me Xenon."

  Zuri nodded, her smile lingering. “Thank you, Xenon.” Her gaze then swept across the rest of the group, settling first on Kael. “And you? What’s your name?”

  Kael grinned, leaning back in his chair. “Kael. Just Kael. No fancy titles, no last names."

  Alisha groaned audibly, though a smile tugged at her lips. “Don’t let the blindfold fool you, Zuri, he's more perceptive than most."

  “That’s what keeps things interesting,” Kael said with a wink.

  Zuri let out a soft chuckle, her attention shifting to Adrian. “And you?”

  “Adrian,” he replied simply, meeting her gaze. “No titles, just Adrian.”

  Her eyes lingered on him for a moment longer, assessing, before she turned her attention back to Alisha. “So, Princess Alisha, what do you see in Adrian?”

  The table fell silent. Alisha’s eyes widened, her composure slipping as her cheeks flushed a deep pink. “What do you mean?”

  Zuri’s lips curled into a small, knowing smile, but her tone remained polite, almost curious. “It’s not common for princesses to sit beside someone who isn’t their immediate bodyguard or attendant,” she said, glancing briefly at Xenon. “It’s clear to me that Xenon is here as your guard, but Adrian… He doesn’t strike me as someone filling that role. So why sit with him?”

  Adrian raised an eyebrow. He then glanced at Alisha, whose flustered expression was only deepening.

  “Adrian is my friend,” Alisha said. She folded her arms, tilting her chin upward slightly. “I don’t need an official reason to sit with him.”

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  “Friendship. That’s an admirable answer.” Zuri glanced between the two again, her smile softening. “I just find it interesting. Back home, friendships and relationships are rarely so… unguarded.”

  Alisha relaxed slightly, though her cheeks were still tinged pink. “Well, things might work differently here. I don’t care about status or formalities when it comes to the people I trust.”

  Adrian’s lips twitched upward in a faint smirk. “Is that so strange to you?”

  “Not strange. Just… refreshing,” Zuri said as she eased into the seat at the table. The tension that had once surrounded her was replaced by a quiet curiosity. Her tray sat untouched for a moment as she folded her hands neatly in her lap. “Perhaps it’s something I can learn from during my time here.”

  Adrian watched her closely. She seems genuine enough, surprising, but I'm not complaining.

  Before anyone could say anything else, the sound of polished boots clicking against the stone floor broke the moment. Adrian looked up just as a tall boy in a pristine uniform strode toward their table.

  His golden hair gleamed under the filtered sunlight streaming through the arched windows, catching the eye of more than a few students nearby. His jaw was set in a way that suggested he was no stranger to authority, or to wielding it.

  He halted at their table, chin lifted with an air of superiority that bordered on theatrical. Behind him, a cluster of similarly well-dressed students hovered, echoing his confidence. Adrian’s grip on his fork tightened slightly. Great. Another one of those types.

  “Well, well,” he said, voice dripping with disdain. “What have we here? Princess Zuri, and Princess Alisha, sitting with… these commoners?”

  Adrian’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t react outwardly. Here we go.

  The boy placed a hand on the back of Alisha’s chair, leaning in slightly. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Curties Davenforth Veylian, heir to the House of Veylian. A name I’m sure you’re familiar with.”

  Curties’ confident smirk widened as he leaned casually against Zuri's chair. “Surely, Princess Zuri, you understand the importance of aligning yourself with the right company. It’s unbecoming for someone of your stature to associate with…” His gaze swept disdainfully over Adrian, Kael, and Xenon. “...lesser individuals.”

  Zuri placed her fork down with deliberate precision, her violet eyes lifting to meet Curties’ gaze. The regal calm in her expression remained, but her tone sharpened. “I am perfectly happy where I am, thank you.”

  Curties blinked, caught off guard. “Princess, you must understand—”

  “I understand that you are out of line. You presume to dictate who I associate with? That is not your place, Lord Veylian.”

  Adrian caught the flicker of uncertainty on Curties’ face, though the noble quickly masked it. His followers exchanged uneasy glances, clearly unsure how to respond.

  “Lady Alisha,” Curties pivoted, attempting to salvage his dignity, “surely you agree it’s inappropriate—”

  “I don’t,” Alisha said bluntly, crossing her arms as she leaned back in her chair. “In fact, I think it’s funny you’re so worried about who I sit with. Are you that desperate for company?”

  Kael snickered audibly, and even Xenon’s lips twitched into a faint smile. Curties’ face reddened, his composure cracking.

  “I merely—” he began, but Alisha cut him off with a dismissive wave.

  “You’re embarrassing yourself, Curties, why don’t you and your entourage go enjoy lunch somewhere else?”

  Curties’ jaw tightened, but with no clever retort at hand, he straightened his posture and turned away. “Enjoy your little rebellion, then,” he muttered before stalking off, his followers trailing behind him with stiff, awkward steps.

  As the group disappeared into the crowd, the tension at the table lifted. Kael let out an exaggerated sigh of relief, throwing his hands up dramatically. “Ladies, you have my eternal gratitude. I was two seconds away from throwing my lunch at him.”

  Alisha chuckled, shaking her head. “Please don’t. I’d hate to be banned from the cafeteria because of you.”

  Zuri’s lips curved into a small smile. “It’s no big deal. I’m just… tired of people trying to tell me what to do. I came here to get away from that, not to find more of it.”

  “Th—ank you for standing up to him.” Xenon muttered.

  “You don’t have to thank me. Sometimes people like that just need to be put in their place.”

  Alisha leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “I think it’s important for friends to back each other up. Even if it’s just something small, it matters.”

  Adrian nodded. “Agreed.”

  “Well, at least we’re not like that poor sucker sitting all alone over there.” Kael said, gesturing toward a nearby table where a boy sat by himself, hunched over his tray. His blond hair fell into his eyes, and his stiff posture radiated discomfort.

  Adrian’s stomach twisted as he recognized the boy. Wait, that has to be Remus Blythe… not exactly excited to see him here, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Still, it doesn't look like he has anyone to talk to.

  “I’ll be back,” Adrian said, pushing himself up from his seat. His friends exchanged curious glances, but no one stopped him. He didn’t offer an explanation as he made his way toward Remus’ table.

  Adrian kept his posture relaxed, not wanting to provoke the boy. But as he neared the table, Remus’ head snapped up, his eyes narrowing with immediate suspicion.

  “What do you want?” Remus barked, like a cornered animal ready to lash out. His gaze darted toward Adrian as if expecting some hidden agenda.

  Adrian stopped a few feet away. “I thought you might want some company.”

  Remus scoffed, shoving his tray aside with a force that sent a piece of bread tumbling off the edge. “Save it, I don’t need your pity, and I don’t need you pretending to be better than me.”

  “I’m not pretending anything. But if you’re going to start throwing around insults, maybe remember that the Blythes aren’t exactly a noble family either.”

  The words struck like a whip. Remus’ face darkened, his hands balling into fists at his sides. He shot to his feet, his chair screeching loudly against the stone floor. “You don’t know anything!”

  Adrian didn’t flinch, but his jaw tightened. This isn’t going anywhere. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, Remus shoved past him, storming away with stiff, angry strides.

  The commotion had attracted a small group of onlookers, their whispers and snickers filling the space where Remus had just stood. Adrian turned slowly, his cold gaze locked onto the nearest cluster of students. “Something funny?”

  The laughter died instantly, and the students scattered like leaves in a gust of wind, their heads ducked as they avoided his piercing gaze. Yeah, that's what I thought.

  Adrian exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair as he let the tension drain from his shoulders. He turned and walked back to his table. Judging from how he responded, it's clear Remus still has a grudge against me. Likely because I embarrassed him once, and also there's the chance that he's learned what happened to Romulus… I should keep an eye out on that kid, just in case he tries anything stupid in the future.