Nova stood frozen at the Colosseum's exit, watching as Nolan Anderson disappeared alongside his family from view. His heart clenched, a sharp pang of longing gnawing at him, and he couldn't tear his eyes away from Nolan's retreating figure. The entire night felt surreal—the electrifying energy of the festival, the banquet, the stares from nobles, and, most of all, the brief moment when his eyes met Nolan's. That moment was seared into his mind, and it replayed over and over as his family gathered to leave the Colosseum.
His grandfather's voice broke through his thoughts, calling him back to reality. Nova blinked, quickly following his family back to the grand carriage that would take them home. It moved on autopilot, his heart still stuck in that fleeting moment, his mind consumed by the image of Nolan's innocent, slightly blushing face, those eyes looking at him, enchanting him further deeper into the whirlpool.
As they arrived at the Bright family's mansion, the mood was more serious than ever. Unlike the Anderson family, which allowed for some leniency and warmth between members, the Bright family adhered strictly to formality. Everyone followed a rigid hierarchy, and though Grand Duke Bright was known for his open-mindedness, the rest of the family operated as though they were still under the iron discipline of the late Grand Duchess, Nova's grandmother. Even after her passing, her influence cast a long shadow over their household, with memories of her strict military-style discipline still fresh in everyone's minds.
In the living area, Grand Duke Bright sat on the large leather sofa, the family filing in behind him. His children took their seats according to rank and order, while the younger generation stood behind their parents, waiting for the debrief to begin. As always, the meeting proceeded like a military report, each member of the family recounting the night's events, discussing details and strategies as though they were reviewing a military operation.
But Nova's mind wandered.
He stood behind his father, only half-listening as his family spoke of alliances, security details, and political maneuvering. His thoughts kept drifting back to Nolan. That smooth, pale skin, the pinkish lips, the innocent doe eyes that had briefly looked up at him—everything about Nolan was etched into his mind. It was impossible to shake the image. He felt a warmth bloom in his chest every time he thought of the younger Anderson. And though he tried to focus on the conversation, his mind kept pulling him back to that moment in the Colosseum, leaving him dazed and absentminded.
A sudden nudge from his mother's elbow brought him crashing back to reality. He blinked, realizing that everyone in the room was staring at him, waiting for a response. His heart raced as he turned to face his grandfather.
"Nova," Grand Duke Bright repeated patiently, though there was a glint of amusement in his eyes. "I asked if you'd like to visit the Duchy of Andrew next month. We need to discuss some security protocols for the empire's transport system. The Anderson family's recent developments in magic formations could be crucial for our negotiations. Since you seemed to hit it off with their kids, I thought you'd be the perfect candidate to represent our family. It would be a bit rushed but complete your course work and assignments for this semester at university and I will get your leave approved for a week."
Nova blinked, struggling to process his grandfather's words. Visit the Duchy of Andrew? His heart skipped a beat at the thought of seeing Nolan again so soon. He felt a rush of exhilaration but forced himself to remain calm on the surface.
"Yes, Grandfather," Nova replied smoothly. "That sounds like a good idea. I'll make sure I complete my coursework in time."
His grandfather smiled, clearly pleased with the response. "Good. You'll leave at the end of the month and be back in time for my birthday celebration. Make sure to prepare thoroughly. This deal is important."
Nova nodded, but his mind was already far ahead of the conversation. He couldn't believe his luck. In just a month, he'd be heading to the Duchy of Andrew. He'd see Nolan again—speak to him, maybe even spend time with him. His heart raced at the thought, and as the family meeting wrapped up, he excused himself, eager to retreat to his room and revel in the excitement building inside him.
That night, Nova lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling as thoughts of Nolan swirled in his mind. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Nolan's soft smile, the delicate curve of his cheeks, the innocence in his eyes, like a dazed chipmunk, hahaha, he chuckled at his own wondering thoughts. It was driving him insane—this overwhelming desire to see him again. He hadn't felt this way about anyone before, and the intensity of it all left him restless and a bit scared like he's got ensnared.
By 4 a.m., after tossing and turning for hours, Nova gave up on sleep entirely. He got out of bed, wrote a quick note for Nolan, and grabbed a report he had been working on regarding the banquet's security protocols, that his grandfather asked for—an excuse to see the Anderson family before the month ended. He dressed quickly and slipped out of the mansion, heading for the port where the Anderson family's flying car was stationed.
Arriving at the port, the cool morning air helped clear his mind, though the excitement still buzzed beneath the surface. He stood there for hours, waiting, watching the horizon as the sun slowly rose. When the Anderson family finally arrived around 7 a.m., Nova's heart skipped a beat as he spotted Nolan among them.
Steeling himself, Nova approached Duke Anderson first, handing over the report with professional composure. As the Duke and the rest of the family reviewed the documents, Nova could feel Nolan's gaze on him, and he turned slightly, catching the younger boy's eye.
Without hesitation, Nova walked over to Nolan, pressing the small note into his hand. "This is for you," he said quietly, his voice betraying none of the nervous energy coursing through him.
Nolan looked up at him, surprised, but Nova didn't linger to explain. He nodded politely to the rest of the Anderson family before heading back to his own mansion. Finally, he felt like he could breathe again. The note was just a small gesture, a prelude to what he hoped would be a real conversation when he visited the Duchy of Andrew in a month's time.
The weeks that followed were a blur of activity for Nova. Between attending university classes, completing his coursework, and dodging his cousin, the gossip queen, Seraphina's constant barrage of questions about the Anderson family, he barely had time to think. But Nolan was never far from his mind. Each night, after exhausting days filled with lectures and assignments, he found himself staring at the ceiling, wondering what Nolan was doing, how he was feeling, and whether he had read the note.
Seraphina, ever the nosy cousin, had noticed his preoccupation and took every opportunity to tease him about it. She was relentless in her quest for gossip, but Nova wasn't about to give her any ammunition. He dodged her questions skillfully, knowing that if he let anything slip, the entire noble circle would know about it the next day. Seraphina thrived on spreading juicy tidbits, and Nova was determined not to become one of her stories.
As the end of the month drew closer, Nova threw himself into his studies, determined to finish all his work so he could leave for the Duchy of Andrew without any distractions. By the time he completed his last assignment, he was both exhausted and exhilarated. He had done it—he was free for the week, just in time for his trip.
The day before his departure, Nova sat down with his grandfather to go over the details of the negotiations with the Anderson family. They reviewed the security protocols, discussing the magic arrays that the Andersons had developed and how they could be implemented into the empire's transport system. Nova asked all the necessary questions, making sure he was fully prepared for the discussions. But in the back of his mind, he was only thinking of one thing—Nolan.
When the day finally arrived, Nova felt a rush of excitement as he climbed into his personal flying car. He had declined the offer of a driver, wanting to make the trip alone. The freedom of speeding through the skies, the wind whipping through his hair, felt exhilarating. His thoughts were entirely consumed by the anticipation of seeing Nolan again.
As he approached the Duchy of Andrew, the sight of the castle in the distance made his heart race. And there, standing at the entrance, was the Anderson family, waiting to greet him. His eyes immediately searched for Nolan, and when he finally spotted him, standing a little behind his siblings, Nova's breath caught in his throat.
Nolan looked as adorable as ever. The same soft, innocent expression, the same chubby cheeks and delicate features that had captivated him a month ago. Nova had to stop himself from rushing forward, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nerves. He wanted nothing more than to be close to Nolan, to speak with him, to finally have the conversation that had been weighing on his mind for weeks.
But first, there were formalities to observe.
Nova greeted the Duke and Duchess of Andrew with a respectful bow, exchanging pleasantries with the rest of the family. He kept his composure, but his eyes kept drifting back to Nolan, who stood quietly to the side, watching him with a curious expression.
As the introductions concluded, Nova found himself standing just a few feet away from Nolan. His heart raced, and for a moment, the world around them seemed to fade into the background.
This was it.
He was finally here, and he was finally going to have a talk with Nolan tonight.
The moment he had been waiting for had arrived.