Lucien laughed, the sound light and carefree as he rose to his feet, stretching his arms high above his head until his joints gave a satisfying pop.
"I’m up for it, but we should probably grab sothing to eat," he said with a smirk, rolling his shoulders as he looked back toward the reassessnts still taking place across the courtyard. "Can’t waste this free ti, after all."
Off in the distance, Laurent stood like a stone pillar in the evaluation zone, arms crossed and expression unreadable as he continued testing students with chanical precision. He looked more bored than anything else, as if this was all just a dull routine.
Victoria let out a quiet sigh of defeat, her enthusiasm clearly drained. She carefully slid her book back into her handbag and placed her hands on her waist, her lips pursing.
Victoria [Affection: Fond 22] (-2)
Marcus glanced at the system screen and winced.
Did I say sothing wrong? Maybe ntioning food right after her excitent dropped the mood...
"Sounds good," she said, tilting her head slightly. "But let’s head to 1-A. Got to have you introduced to your new classroom after all."
Marcus nodded, stepping out of the gazebo and back into the courtyard’s dappled shade. Sunlight peeked through the treetops in fragnted beams, scattering across the path like falling gold dust.
"Sounds like a plan," he replied, his voice calm, but his gaze thoughtful.
It didn’t take them long to reach Class 1-A—but of course, their journey wasn’t without a bit of tension. Subtle glances followed them through the halls, whispers curling through corridors like smoke.
After all, Victoria was still technically engaged to Leon.
It wasn’t an unbreakable vow—just a formal agreent between two of the kingdom’s most influential families. A promise that could be dissolved if either party wished. Yet despite its looseness, the weight of it hung over her like a velvet chain—soft in appearance, but undeniably binding.
Victoria paused only briefly before placing her hand on the door and pushing it open.
The room beyond was almost identical to Class 4-D—rows of neat desks, polished floors, soft natural light pouring in from wide windows—but the aura was different. A plaque with the 1-A emblem hung proudly at the front, a subtle reminder of the status tied to this room.
"Victoria..." a voice called from within, laced with composed restraint. It was Leon, seated at the front of the class in his usual spot, now dressed in a pristine new uniform. He sat upright, shoulders squared, with Maria standing beside him, holding out a towel like a loyal retainer.
"I... apologize for my earlier actions," Leon said, rising to his feet as he t her gaze directly. There was no fire in his tone this ti, only asured sincerity.
Victoria blinked, then waved the apology off with a shrug and a flick of her fingers.
"Just don’t do it again," she replied evenly. "But what’s with the sudden change of heart?"
Her brow arched, skeptical but curious.
Leon let out a breath—not quite a sigh—then glanced toward Maria. A rare softness touched his expression, catching the girl beside him off guard. Her cheeks flushed instantly.
"Well... Maria here gave so advice on how girls think," he said, almost sheepishly.
Maria stamred, clearly flustered, and raised the towel to half-hide her face. "It was nothing... haha."
And then, with the kind of timing only fate or a particularly bored person could orchestrate, Marcus coughed loudly from the doorway. He leaned against the fra, arms crossed and a sly grin on his face.
"As dense as a neutron star..." he muttered with a chuckle, eyes gleaming.
Leon turned to him slowly, his gaze no longer as cold as before. It carried sothing new now—calm, if guarded.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about," he said coolly. " and Maria are rely friends."
Victoria let out a slightly strained laugh. Even she couldn’t quite defend that statent. A silent glance passed between her and Marcus, an unspoken agreent: He really is that dense.
Leon let out a slow, deliberate breath and took the towel from Maria’s hands. As it left her grip, it shimred—glowing faintly—before vanishing into thin air, likely a storage spell woven into the fabric.
"Look," Leon began, voice steadier now, "we didn’t exactly have the best first impression of each other. But Maria here is a lot kinder than I am..." He gave a half-smile. "She convinced to give you a second chance."
He extended a hand, open and honest.
Marcus blinked, caught off guard. For a mont, he just stared at the gesture—then his grin widened, his amusent shifting to sothing more genuine.
"I never expected that," Marcus said, stepping away from the doorfra. He walked forward and clasped Leon’s hand in a firm shake. "And you know what?"
He leaned in slightly, a glint in his eye. "I accept. But under one condition."
Leon tilted his head, curiosity flashing.
"And what’s that?"
Marcus’s dark eyes sharpened, the pupils subtly contracting. For a heartbeat, the soft white spark nestled in the center of each iris flickered—briefly pulsing to life like a dormant ember catching wind.
"You have to do a simple favor for ."
Leon’s smile faltered. "...What kind of favor?"
Marcus’s grin didn’t waver. "Don’t worry. You’ll like it."
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