Stirring the Pot...
As Ash sat at the table with the group of girls, he could feel their eyes on him, each gaze brimming with curiosity and amusement. They all seemed to know him, and one girl—her auburn hair cascading in waves and her mischievous grin lighting up her face—broke the silence first.
"Oh, Kiara, you brought the Prince of Love here," she teased, her voice laced with playful sarcasm.
The other girls burst into giggles, some covering their mouths with their hands while others openly laughed, their eyes sparkling with mirth. Ash's eyebrow twitched at the ridiculous title.
Prince of Love? Seriously?
But instead of getting flustered, Ash plastered a charming smile on his face and replied smoothly, "Oh, thank you for bestowing me with such a lovely title. Prince of Love, huh? Tell me, have you fallen for me already?"
His bold response silenced the table for a moment. The girls froze, their wide eyes betraying their surprise. Even Kiara, who was casually sipping water, nearly choked at his words.
"What's gotten into you, Ash?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him in disbelief. "Since when did you start flirting with others?"
Before Ash could reply, another girl with short, fiery red hair and an impish grin chimed in, "Yeah, how can he flirt with others when—"
She was interrupted by another girl with blonde curls, her bright green eyes glinting with mischief. "—when he's so loyally following Celeste for so long!"
A chorus of agreement followed, and yet another girl spoke up, her voice soft but teasing. "Their 'childhood romance' is practically legendary. I bet everyone at the Academy knows about it."
This sparked a flurry of voices, each girl trying to outdo the other in adding to the story:
"Two guys chasing one girl. A childhood friend and a prince—so dramatic!"
"Oh, I remember the betting pool! 'Who will win her love?' Childhood friend versus Royal Prince. Even I placed a bet!"
"Haha, yeah, and you bet on the prince, didn't you?"
"Honestly, I prefer Lord Ash. At least he doesn't flirt with every girl he meets. Unlike someone else."
The last comment drew a dreamy sigh from a girl with soft, wavy brown hair. "Ah, but Prince Austin's charm! He's just... irresistible. That smile of his could melt glaciers."
"Exactly!" another girl squealed, her cheeks pink. "He doesn't just love one person. He wants to spread his love to everyone! Ah, his smile... his eyes..."
As the girls continued their chatter, Ash kept a calm façade, but inside, he was seething. His eyebrows twitched slightly, but he maintained a serene expression, sipping water to hide his irritation.
Why did I even come here? he thought, rage simmering beneath the surface. I knew this would happen. A bunch of nosy girls turning me into the punchline of their jokes.
He glanced at the group, watching them giggle and whisper like a group of villainesses plotting their next move. Around them, the rest of the dining hall seemed enchanted by the sight of so many beautiful girls laughing together. The other patrons, mostly young men, stared wistfully, some looking like their hearts had been shattered while others seemed to find new crushes among the group. The entire scene was like something out of a fairytale, blooming with youthful energy and charm.
Ash sighed inwardly, calming the flames of frustration in his chest. What they're saying isn't entirely wrong, he admitted to himself. The real Ash… he was like a childhood hero losing to a royal prince. And with everything that happened to him, it's no wonder he was on the verge of breaking.
Kiara finally stepped in, her authoritative tone cutting through the laughter. "Alright, that's enough. Calm down, everyone." She turned to Ash and gestured to the seat beside her. "Here, sit with me."
The chair she indicated was already occupied, so she swapped seats with another girl, leaving a spot open for Ash. Reluctantly, he complied, settling into his new seat.
Just as he was about to take another bite of his meal, a voice interrupted him.
It was Liana, Kiara's best friend. With her long, silvery hair and calm demeanor, Liana was the quiet type—rarely speaking unless necessary. Her piercing gray eyes fixed on Ash with an intensity that made him shift slightly in his seat.
"You've changed," she said, her tone even and unbothered. "Why?"
Ash blinked, caught off guard by her directness. He hesitated, avoiding her gaze and instead focusing on the spoon in his hand. After a moment, he replied, "I'm the same as always. Just…"
"Just what?" Liana pressed, her expression unreadable.
Ash faltered, searching for the right words. He finally settled on a vague answer, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Just… I feel like I've been enlightened."
Liana tilted her head slightly, her expression still neutral but her curiosity evident. "What did you understand from this 'enlightenment'?"
Her unwavering gaze unnerved him. He wasn't sure why she seemed so interested in him today, but something about her calm, probing demeanor made it difficult to brush her off.
He took a deep breath, ready to reply, but the words caught in his throat. He glanced around the table, noting the expectant expressions of the other girls.
Kiara leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed, watching him with an amused smile. The girl who had teased him earlier had a playful smirk on her lips, while others seemed genuinely curious. Even the ones who had been gushing about Austin moments ago were now focused on him.
Ash's mind raced. How do I even answer that?