Cosette expected it would shock everyone that she was out and about just three hours after she returned home. They weren't. They were used to it. Still, she informed Lucia that she would go to the academy to get something from her dorm.
Cosette had a room in the academy; although she rarely used it since she preferred going home. She only stayed in the dormitory if she needed to finish something and couldn't afford to waste a second on the road.
'Sister Cozie is so efficient and responsible that even though she's only sixteen, her authority in their household is solid,' she thought, walking through the wide and long driveway of the academy. She told the driver that she wanted to walk, so he only dropped her off at the gates.
Her lips curled down. "I underestimated how uselessly huge this academy is. I feel like before I reach the main building, it will be nighttime." Cosette grumbled, looking around at the area.
In the novel, the academy was only mentioned one time and with only one sentence:
A school of elites.
Who would have thought the school of elites the author was talking about was far bigger and more glamorous than anything she had seen? It actually stood to its name and the environment it emitted just by its aesthetic.
As she sauntered leisurely, she caught a glimpse of a greenhouse on the east wing of the academy.
There were a few more separate buildings, such as the girl's and boys' dormitory, that looked like mansions. It was truly a place that only the richest among the rich could attend.
"The people's wealth in this world doesn't make sense. But then again, this is the world of the novel. It doesn't need to make sense." She nodded in agreement.
"Now I am a little more conflicted," she continued in dismay. "Can I really meet them in such a vast and majestic place?"
Meeting Maxen wasn't all luck since compared to that public high school, it was far smaller than this academy. The girl's dormitory was even bigger than the entire Winter highschool. But even with that fact laid on the table, a heart of a devoted fan such as herself would never give up.
That was her one and only purpose at the moment, after all. A meet and greet with the characters of her favorite novel.
Cosette's eyes lit up as invisible flames exuded from her back. "I will meet him! Just you wait, Ash!"
*****
After the seemingly endless walk, Cosette asked around about the floor and which building was the juniors of the school were at. Since it was only stated in the novel that Asher and Cosette were schoolmates and he was two years ahead of her year, she didn't have an idea which class exactly Asher was in.
Right now, Cosette was in her second year of high school; meaning she still had to attend four years of high school. Asher, on the other hand, needed two more years before he graduate.
"The staff said this floor…" Cosette took the last step up and walked through the empty corridor. As she did, she kept glancing at the classrooms she would pass by. It didn't surprise her that each classroom only had several students inside.
Some only consisted of ten students and the max was around twenty. Although it wasn't surprising since this was the world of the novel, she couldn't help but be in awe. All students she had a glimpse of all looked wealthy.
"I didn't see anyone who matches the male lead's description." She frowned after passing by the last room and reaching the end of the corridor. "In the novel, the male lead was said to have jet black hair with eyes as dark as the void. The author said that even if he was in a large crowd, he would stand out."
Apparently, the students she had seen so far from inside the classrooms all stood out! They were all good-looking!
"Gosh…" she pinched the space between her brows, trying to think how she would find him. She deliberately didn't give away her reasons when she was asking around and avoided mentioning Asher's name at all costs. But it seemed she had no choice.
Was there really no way to find his whereabouts unless she became direct and bold? Should she try a different approach? But considering that even though Cosette and Asher shared the same circle of friends and business associates in the novel, their first meeting would be a few years later.
'Well, it's not like this is all real,' Cosette cocked her head at the sudden thought that crossed her mind. 'That's right. Even if I become a bit bold, it's not like I'm literally inside the novel.'
Cosette talked to herself for a good five minutes, telling herself that she could do whatever she wanted since nothing would go wrong. Even if there was, it was not like this was all real. Still, there was this lingering fear of 'what ifs' inside her heart.
"Gosh… I don't know!" she stomped her feet and turned around, only for her face to crash against something sturdy. "Ah!"
On instinct, Cosette grabbed the person's clothes to stop herself from staggering back. Fortunately, the towering student had a good foothold, so even when she grabbed him, he stood there like a wall.
"Gosh… am I running out of luck?" she murmured, rubbing her forehead before gazing up.
Dark eyes as dark as a void and as cold as ice hovered over her. His tousled jet black hair dangled down and its tip reached across his fleek and thick brows. For a moment, her world stopped and recalled all the words the author used to describe Asher.
Someone who would stand out even if he was put in a large crowd: dark eyes that seemed to suck one's soul, long pointy nose, thin red lips, and cold facial features as if he was suffering from facial paralysis.
This student… looked so similar to the author's description. There was no mistaking it. Deep down, even before her brain could confirm it, the heart of the die-hard fan already knew.
Asher Quinn.
"Your hand," came out a monotone voice, but still strangely sounded so pleasant in the ear.
"Wow…" she breathed out unconsciously. "… husband of the year."