Third Person POV
The cozy library was filled with the soft rustle of parchment and the occasional crackle of the fireplace. Aurelia sat with her legs crossed, her posture relaxed but her focus sharp as she jotted notes from the ancient tome spread before her. The firelight danced on her lavender hair, casting flickering shadows on the spines of countless books lining the shelves.
Beside her sat Alaric, reading.
Or at least, trying to.
Even a fool could tell that Alaric's eyes hadn't stayed on a single line of text for longer than a heartbeat. He was glancing at her—constantly, awkwardly, and very obviously. And while Alaric might not have been aware of how blatant it was, Aurelia most certainly was.
She had noticed it ages ago, in fact. And now, she was simply waiting for the perfect moment to strike—a moment when her prey would be too startled to deny her claim.
It didn't take long.
Their eyes met just as Alaric tried another quick glance in her direction, and Aurelia's lips curled into a mischievous smile. She pounced.
"Alaric," she said sweetly, her voice laced with feigned innocence, "you're staring."
Alaric nearly dropped his book, fumbling to steady it as a faint pink bloomed on his cheeks. "I am not!" he blurted, far too quickly to be convincing.
"Oh?" Aurelia tilted her head, her lavender locks swaying gracefully with the motion. The firelight seemed to highlight her features deliberately—an effect Alaric found deeply unfair. She leaned in slightly, her expression amused and far too charming. "You weren't? Hmm, strange… it felt like I was the book you were reading. But I suppose I must be imagining things?"
Her teasing tone hung in the air as her half-closed eyes glimmered with mischief.
"I—You're imagining it!" Alaric stammered, leaning back as if that single inch of distance would shield him from her scrutiny.
"I see…" Aurelia hummed, as though accepting his denial. She straightened up and made a show of returning to her book, her hair falling like a curtain to hide her smirk.
But just as Alaric thought he was safe, Aurelia's hand shot out, bracing against the table as she leaned even closer. Her proximity was disarming, her playful smile sharp enough to make Alaric's heart race.
"Then you must be reading very attentively," she said, her voice dropping into a teasing lilt. "Why don't you tell me what you've read in the last fifteen minutes?"
Alaric froze, gulping audibly as he stared into her violet eyes. They sparkled with the kind of triumph that only came from trapping someone so thoroughly there was no escape.
He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. Aurelia waited patiently, clearly enjoying every second of his flustered silence.
The standoff might have lasted forever if not for the heavy creak of the oak doors breaking the tension.
Eirlys slipped into the library, her snow-white hair bouncing lightly with her steps. She carried a box tied with a bright red ribbon, the cheerful color an amusing contrast to the frost in her ice-blue eyes as she surveyed the scene.
Her gaze flicked between Alaric, who looked like a cornered animal, and Aurelia, whose expression screamed mischief. After a long beat, she broke the silence.
"Am I interrupting something?" Eirlys asked, her tone flat, though the slight raise of her brow betrayed her curiosity.
"Not at all!"
"Yes, you are!"
The two answers rang out simultaneously—Alaric practically yelling with a flustered expression, while Aurelia's deadpan reply dripped with disinterest.
Eirlys's stare flattened further as she looked between the two. "Young master, were you being bullied again?" she asked dryly.
"Yeah. You saved him," Aurelia answered casually, flipping her hair as if dismissing the entire situation and returning to her book.
Eirlys sighed and walked to the table where the two sat, placing the box in her hand between them. "Good thing I brought reinforcements. Sweets, anyone?"
Alaric's eyes lit up the moment he recognized the familiar ribbon-tied box. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her waist, beaming. "You're the best, Eirlys!"
"Sure, sure," Eirlys replied, pretending not to notice the compliment, though the faintest smile crept onto her typically stoic face.
She untied the ribbon with a practiced ease and opened the box, revealing an assortment of treats.
Aurelia wasted no time, plucking a piece and popping it into her mouth with a satisfied hum. Meanwhile, Eirlys glanced at Alaric and frowned when she noticed his hands conspicuously idle. Instead of grabbing a piece, he sat there, legs dangling, looking up at her with wide, expectant eyes.
"Feed me?" he asked, batting his eyelashes with a grin. "My hands will get dirty… I'm trying to read. Please~."
Eirlys stared at him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, with a soft sigh of defeat, she relented.
"Of course, young master Alaric," she said, giving him a mock curtsy. "Your devoted maid lives to serve."
"Oh, come on," Alaric groaned, though a smile tugged at his lips as he leaned forward, mouth wide open, waiting for her to feed him.
"Shall I pour you some tea? Massage your shoulders, perhaps?" Eirlys quipped, her tone sharp with sarcasm.
"Stop it," Alaric said, but his grin only grew wider as he shamelessly opened his mouth for another piece.
The playful bickering between Alaric and Eirlys carried on, their words effortlessly bouncing back and forth like a well-practiced routine. Aurelia watched them from the corner of her eye, a small, knowing smile tugging at her lips.
It was amusing—comforting, even—to see them like this. But eventually, she let their voices fade into background noise and returned her focus to the intricate lines of the magic circle she was sketching.
Soon enough, the sweets were gone, and with their distraction no longer available, both Alaric and Eirlys finally turned their attention toward Aurelia.
Curiosity flickered in Eirlys's eyes as she leaned closer, tilting her head slightly. "What are you working on so intently, Aurelia?"
She barely had time to glance at the pages before realization dawned.
"…Magic circles?" Eirlys raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were more into spells."
Aurelia's quill paused mid-stroke. She looked up at Eirlys, then back down at her half-drawn diagram. "I try to study both," she admitted. "But spells take too long to master. Magic circles… they're more efficient." Her voice softened as she traced a line with her fingertip. "I'm trying to create something."
Eirlys blinked. "Create? You mean a new kind of magic circle?"
"More or less."
Eirlys studied her for a moment, gaze flicking between the open books and the focused expression on Aurelia's face. Then, with a small nod, she straightened up. "I see, my presence must have distracted you then. Good luck with that."
She turned to leave, but not before shooting a pointed look at Alaric. "And you—don't come demanding more sweets at night."
Alaric smirked, completely unbothered. "You still didn't say that you won't give it to me if I demand it, though."
Eirlys huffed, unimpressed, and without another word, exited the library.
With her gone, Alaric turned his gaze back to Aurelia—only to find her already engrossed in her work again.
"What?" Aurelia asked, not even bothering to look up, though she had clearly caught him staring again and this time he wasn't even trying to hide it.
A slow grin spread across Alaric's face. "Hehe~" He chuckled inwardly, resting his chin on his palm. "Last time someone caught you scribbling, you got so flustered that I wondered if you would throw the book out of the arbor and pretend to do nothing."
Aurelia froze.
"Alaric…" She finally turned to him, narrowing her eyes. "Are you trying to tease me?"
"Nope."
Her brow arched.
"…Maybe," he admitted.
Aurelia sighed, rolling her eyes, but before she could retaliate, he spoke again—this time, his tone lighter, more genuine.
"I'm still happy, though."
Aurelia blinked, caught off guard.
"You're getting more confident in yourself," Alaric continued, his smile turning softer. "And in the things you're doing. That's some improvement, I'd say."
For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
The way he looked at her—grinning like some saintly figure with that toothy, boyish smile—felt unfairly endearing. She was supposed to be the one having fun teasing, not the other way around.
"H-Huh?" Aurelia stammered before quickly clearing her throat. "Whatever you're saying—it's not like I was ever afraid of others finding out!" She crossed her arms, huffing slightly. "And while we're on the topic of being flustered, don't you get flustered at almost everything I do?" She smirked. "What does that say about your confidence?"
Alaric blinked, his grin fading as he nonchalantly flipped to the next page of his book.
Then, without even looking up, he replied—
"It's simply because I like you."