The girl stood, arms crossed in a commanding stance. The buttons on her coat caught the light as she tilted her head, her golden eyes locked on Lucien.
"I believe there's no need for pleasantries. As you can see, I'm quite busy," Lucien said, his voice calm but edged with disinterest.
At his words, the girl let out a soft scoff, tossing her long brown hair over her shoulder with a deliberate flick. Her piercing eyes slid past him, settling on the smaller figure behind him.
"You must be the cousin," she stated, her voice cool and deliberate as her sharp gaze assessed the boy.
Noah stiffened at the sudden attention, his crimson eyes darting nervously between her and Lucien. "Um… H-Hello, my name is Noah," he stammered.
"Right…" she drawled, her voice carrying a faint hint of amusement. Her gaze swept over him again before she extended a gloved hand toward him. "I'm Rosie. Rosie Kelynce."
Hesitantly, Noah reached out and shook her hand, his grip timid compared to hers. His crimson eyes darted up to meet her golden ones before quickly averting under the weight of her stare.
Noah couldn't help but notice something unsettlingly familiar about her. It wasn't just her striking eyes or her cool demeanor; it was the unyielding air of superiority, the way she studied him as though weighing every detail with quiet scrutiny.
"Well," Rosie said, withdrawing her hand and turning her attention back to Lucien. "I'll excuse myself now." Her lips curled into a faint smirk as she added, "Goodbye, Lucien. Let's meet again soon."
Lucien didn't bother to respond, his expression stoic as he watched her retreating figure disappear down the hall.
Noah cast a nervous glance toward him, unsure whether to speak or stay quiet. The heavy silence between them was broken only when Lucien let out a soft sigh, his golden eyes narrowing faintly.
The sound startled Noah, and he quickly averted his gaze, pretending to focus on the polished floor beneath his feet.
"Well, this concludes our tour of the campus," Lucien said, his voice cool and detached as his gaze flicked toward the boy. "Why don't I take you back to your dorm?"
There was a faint chill to his tone that made Noah's chest tighten slightly. Before he could even utter a word of agreement, Lucien had already turned on his heel, his long strides carrying him down the hall.
Noah hurried after him, his smaller steps struggling to keep up. He waddled slightly, almost like a baby penguin, his figure dwarfed by Lucien's taller, commanding presence.
The soft sound of their footsteps filled the corridor, growing fainter with each step until silence reclaimed the space once more.
As they walked along the pathway outside, the sound of gravel crunched softly beneath their feet.
Noah's eyes lingered on Lucien's back. The silver strands of his hair shimmered faintly under the soft afternoon light, catching the occasional breeze as they swayed gently, gleaming like molten moonlight.
He moved with effortless grace, as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders yet never slowed him down.
'He seems… very far away…,' Noah thought, his chest tightening slightly at the sight of Lucien's solitary figure.
Lucien's steps slowed to a halt, and he turned to face the boy. "We're here."
Noah blinked and looked around, realizing they were already at the entrance of his dormitory. A polished sign stood tall at the front, the words "Blackwood Academy" engraved in elegant lettering. Beneath the name, in smaller script, read: Dorm E.
"Oh," Noah murmured, glancing between the sign and the wide entrance of the building.
"Why don't you go in?" Lucien said calmly.
"Um… okay," Noah replied politely as he bowed out of habit. Then, as though suddenly remembering something, he glanced down at the bag in his hands. "Ah… Brother," he called softly, looking up at Lucien. "Would you like to have some pastries? There are… um, many flavors here."
Lucien studied the boy for a moment, noting the way his fingers nervously played with the ribbon tied around the bag. "I don't eat sweets," he replied flatly. "You can share them with your roommates."
"Oh… okay." Noah's gaze dropped momentarily, his feet wiggling against the cobblestone.
After a beat, as if determined to shake off the awkwardness, he straightened and looked up with a soft smile. "Thank you, Brother. Have a nice day." He bowed politely once more and turned to the entrance, his small frame almost swallowed by its large, looming presence.
Lucien lingered for a moment, watching as the boy stepped inside. His eyes narrowed ever so slightly before he turned on his heel and walked away, the faint sound of his footsteps fading into the distance.
Inside the dormitory, the air was warm and lively, filled with the faint hum of voices and the occasional sound of doors opening and closing. Noah walked down the corridor, his small hands swaying with each step, the bag bouncing lightly against his side.
The other students turned their heads as he passed, their hushed conversations halting momentarily. By now, it was common knowledge that a boy from the prestigious Marcellus family was staying in Dorm E. Though they tried to conceal their curiosity, Noah could feel the weight of their stares pressing down on him like an invisible force.
He quickened his pace, his steps growing lighter as he reached his room. Swinging the door open with a single motion, he was greeted by the lively chaos within.
"You're back!" Dorian exclaimed from across the room, a large kettle balanced precariously in his hands. His short hair was slightly disheveled, and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. "We were just about to make tea."
Noah smiled warmly as he stepped inside. "I brought some pastries for everyone."
"Woah!" Silas exclaimed, abandoning the notebook he had been scribbling in. He strode over with eager steps, his eyes fixed on the pastel bag in Noah's hands. "Where did you get that?!"
"Oh…a… brother gave it to me," Noah replied while closing the door behind him.
"Brother? You mean Lucien?" Silas asked, his eyes still stuck on the pretty pastel.
"No, not Brother Lucien. It was Brother Theodore," Noah clarified, placing the bag on the table.
"Theodore?! You mean Theodore Magnus?!" Silas's jaw dropped, and he froze mid-motion, his fingers hovering over the bag.
Noah simply nodded in confusion.
Dorian set the kettle down with a loud clunk, his jaw practically on the floor. "You know him too? I mean… what am I even saying? Of course, you'd know him," Dorian muttered, correcting himself with a nervous laugh.
"Woah… Noah, I'm so envious. You get to casually hang out with them." Silas clutched the bag close to his chest, sighing dramatically.
"Why envy him?" Jude, who had been lying quietly on his bed, spoke up, his tone calm and measured. He shifted slightly, propping himself up with one arm as his dark eyes rested steadily on Silas. "We should just be glad we get to interact with Noah."
Silas, perched against the edge of the table, scoffed lightly and waved a dismissive hand. "Of course, that's a given," he replied sarcastically.
"There you go with your attitude again," Jude said dryly, leaning back against the headboard.
Silas blinked, tilting his head in confusion as he gestured to himself. "What? Are you talking about me?" His exaggerated expression was a mix of mock innocence and playful defiance.
Jude didn't miss a beat, arching an eyebrow as he replied bluntly, "Who else?"
"You—"
"Everyone," Noah interrupted gently, his soft smile breaking through their chatter. "Why don't we eat? There's more than enough for everyone."
Noah seems to have succeeded in diverting the attention.
The room fell into a comfortable rhythm as they gathered around the small table in the center of the room. Each boy dragged a chair from their desks, the scraping sound echoing faintly in the cozy space.
Noah untied the ribbon on the bag with careful hands, revealing a colorful assortment of pastries inside, each one neatly wrapped in delicate paper.
The sweet aroma wafted through the room, a mix of buttery dough and sweet fillings, making everyone's mouths water.
"Woah…" Silas's eyes sparkled as his fingers twitched with excitement. "These look amazing."
"I'll take the one with almonds," Dorian said, leaning forward eagerly.
"And I call the chocolate one!" Silas declared, reaching out before anyone else could claim it.
Jude sat back in his chair, quietly selecting a small pastry with jam filling. "This is good," he said after taking a bite, his tone nonchalant but approving.
As the boys ate, their chatter filled the room, blending with the sound of clinking plates and occasional laughter. For a moment, the world outside seemed to fade away, leaving behind only the warmth of shared company.
Noah smiled as he nibbled on his pastry, savoring the sweetness as a warm feeling spread through his chest. The day had been calm and peaceful, and as he glanced around at his roommates, he found himself wishing for moments like this to last forever.