"Are you free after classes? Want to go somewhere?"
"…"
It was Tuesday.
Soren was seated in the cafeteria, tray pushed slightly aside, elbow resting on the table as he leaned forward expectantly.
Across from him sat Felix, who was chewing with his usual lack of decorum, and beside Soren, close enough that their shoulders brushed if he shifted even slightly, was Amelia.
She did not respond.
Her posture was rigid, eyes forward, expression flat enough that it bordered on disinterest.
To anyone unfamiliar with her, it might have looked like indifference.
To Soren, who had spent the last few weeks being followed, observed, and silently guarded by her, it felt worse.
Something was off.
Felix glanced between them, his eyes narrowing with exaggerated suspicion before he smirked.
"Did you do something to the big bad wolf, little hedgehog?"
Soren ignored him.
His attention remained fixed on Amelia's profile, the faintly twitching ear, the barely perceptible tension in her shoulders.
She hadn't even turned her head when he spoke.
Not a flicker of acknowledgement.
That alone told him everything.
For the past week, the distance between them had grown noticeably wider.
Not physically, Amelia still sat close, still shadowed him through halls and between buildings, but something else had shifted.
The silence had changed.
It was heavier now, less comfortable.
And Soren knew exactly why.
— I'm sorry, but Miss Rose has something she wants to talk about with me.
— Sorry, but I need to have lunch with Lilly today. We can eat together tomorrow.
Excuses.
Repeated ones.
Ever since he had agreed to give Lilliana some of his blood every few days, his schedule had quietly, steadily shifted.
It wasn't intentional, at least, not at first, but the result was the same.
Amelia's invitations had been declined more often than accepted.
It was his fault.
Of course, Amelia already knew about Lilliana's race.
As a member of the Einhardt royal family, she had been informed early on about matters involving vampires and such.
That wasn't the issue.
The problem was that Lilliana had refused to let Amelia be present.
— It's embarrassing, I don't want to be watched.
Soren hadn't pushed the matter.
At first, Amelia had reacted… poorly.
She had almost completely stopped shadowing him, keeping her distance to an unusual degree.
The sudden absence of her presence had been more unsettling than he expected.
Then, after she learned about the nighttime attack, the one that had nearly caused him to be assaulted, her behaviour had shifted again.
Now, she followed him constantly.
But she barely spoke.
That left Soren stuck in his current predicament: Amelia was always there when he wasn't with Lilliana, her presence solid and unwavering, yet she kept an emotional distance that made every shared moment feel strained.
It was unbearable.
Soren exhaled slowly, then leaned closer.
"Pretty please?"
"…"
Still nothing.
Felix snorted.
"Isn't she just going to follow you anyway? Is there any reason to ask?"
Amelia's head tilted a fraction in agreement, a subtle movement that nonetheless confirmed Felix's point.
Soren groaned softly.
"Sigh. That's not the point. I'm asking if she wants to do something together for once."
That did it.
Amelia's ears perked up, sharply, unmistakably, and though her face remained neutral, Soren caught the faint shift in her posture.
She was listening now.
Felix grinned.
"Well, she looks interested, doesn't she? Isn't that a good enough answer?"
Amelia still didn't speak, but she didn't deny it either.
Her expression remained bored, aloof, but Soren could see past it.
The slight tension in her shoulders had eased.
The tip of her tail swayed once behind her chair.
She liked the idea.
'Is it pride?' Soren wondered.
That seemed to be the only explanation.
Amelia wasn't the type to voice her wants easily, especially when she felt slighted, even unintentionally.
'Whatever,' he decided. 'Felix is right. She'll follow me either way.'
But he still wanted her to choose it.
••✦ ♡ ✦•••
After classes ended, students poured out of the academy building in clusters, chatter filling the open courtyard.
Soren stepped outside and immediately spotted Amelia standing just off to the side of the doorway, arms relaxed at her sides, gaze fixed straight ahead.
Waiting.
The sight made something warm settle in his chest.
He approached quietly and tapped her shoulder.
"Did you wait long?"
She shook her head.
"Wanna get something to eat?"
A single nod.
"Follow me then. I know a good place."
They walked side by side through the streets, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the stone path.
Neither of them spoke.
Normally, the silence would have been uncomfortable.
Today, it was… different.
Amelia's tail wagged steadily behind her, betraying her excitement far more clearly than her expression ever could.
The simple, unrestrained motion softened the atmosphere, easing the lingering awkwardness that had clung to them all week.
Soren found himself smiling.
Ding-a-ling—♪
He opened the restaurant door and held it for her. Amelia stepped inside without comment, her eyes immediately scanning the interior.
Soren followed and approached the counter.
"Table for two, please. Somewhere quiet."
"Of course, ma'am. This way, please."
Soren clicked his tongue instinctively, then paused.
Amelia's lips curved, just slightly.
The irritation evaporated.
They were seated near the back, away from the louder patrons.
As soon as they sat down, Soren picked up a menu and slid it toward Amelia.
Her eyes lit up.
He smirked.
'I knew it.'
Over time, Soren had learned that Amelia was a picky eater.
She tolerated cafeteria food, but enthusiasm was rare.
Because of that, he had chosen this place deliberately, a high-end restaurant specialising in meat dishes, one he had discovered while dining with Louise.
Expensive.
Refined.
Perfectly suited to high nobility.
Perfect for a meat-obsessed princess.
Once again, he silently thanked whatever force governed his peculiar skill.
Remembering minor details had become second nature to him, and moments like this made it worthwhile.
When the food arrived, Amelia froze.
Gulp.
The sound was unmistakable.
She stared at the plate, hands clenched in her lap, clearly struggling to restrain herself.
"You don't have to wait for me," Soren said. "Eat."
That was all the permission she needed.
She picked up her cutlery and cut into the meat with surprising precision, bringing the first bite to her mouth.
"!!!"
Her expression melted.
Pure bliss.
Her tail wagged rapidly as she chewed, eyes unfocused as if she were experiencing something transcendent.
Soren watched, amused.
She hadn't left the academy in months.
Three months of cafeteria food would wear on anyone, especially someone raised on royal cuisine.
As good as the academy chefs were, they couldn't compare to the Einhardt household.
That was exactly why he had brought her here.
Only after she had finished every last bite did Amelia finally look at him again.
Her expression had changed.
Her lips pressed into a thin line, her tail drooped slightly, and her gaze lowered.
Timid.
It was such an uncharacteristic sight that it caught Soren off guard.
Then she spoke.
"I'm sorry."
He blinked.
"What?"
"I'm sorry."
He had expected to apologise himself.
He had rehearsed it in his head.
This… wasn't how he thought it would go.
"Why are you apologising?"
"For being a nuisance."
"You weren't."
"I kept following you."
"I didn't mind."
"I was being petty."
"So what?"
"I was jealous…"
"Doesn't mat—Huh?"
Soren stared at her.
"Jealous? Of what?"
"You have others," she said quietly. "I only have you."
The words hit harder than he expected.
He froze.
They had known each other for barely three weeks.
It was already clear to him that Amelia didn't measure emotional distance the same way others did.
Physical closeness seemed to blur those boundaries for her.
But this…
This was heavier than he anticipated.
She had taken their friendship seriously, far more seriously than he had.
"I'm sorry," he said at last.
She shook her head.
"It's my fault."
"No," he said firmly. "It's not. I should've taken it more seriously."
He hesitated, then continued.
"Having you around is comforting. After the attack… I was anxious about leaving the academy. But when you're with me, that anxiety disappears."
He rolled his eyes slightly.
"And, well… no sane person would dislike having you follow them around."
She tilted her head.
"Why?"
He sighed.
"Because you're attractive."
"Oh."
A pause.
"You're attractive too. I like your face."
He stared.
"…Are we still friends?"
"If you want to be."
"Thanks."
Her tail wagged.
And just like that, the awkwardness was gone.
————「❤︎」————