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Chapter Three: Whispered Jealousies
The water in the shower ran hot and steady, steam curling around Amanda like a quiet embrace. The day had been a blur—class, insults, threats, and then that moment. Arthur Grayhound. Even thinking his name made her pulse skip, and yet she found herself humming softly, her lips moving in rhythm to her mother's favorite lullaby.
By the time she stepped out, wrapping herself in a soft towel, her mind had already wandered down dangerous paths. Thoughts of Arthur's calm, piercing gaze, the way his aura seemed to weigh over the entire classroom, and those impossibly precise movements—every step, every motion controlled, confident, perfect—made her stomach flutter in a way she didn't entirely understand.
She dried her body carefully, humming the same song, letting the soft melody soothe her racing thoughts. Dressing in her nightgown, she moved with the grace of someone who had learned to keep herself composed no matter the chaos. Yet chaos had a new shape now: Arthur.
Plopping onto the bed, Amanda tilted her head back, staring at the ceiling, lips curling into a faint smile. The arrogant fool, she muttered softly. Her hand idly brushed across the sheets, tracing the contours of the pillow as her mind wandered. What do those muscles feel like? How does he even—how does someone be that perfect?
Her hand lightly brushed her hair, tucking a stray strand behind her ear. She shook her head, biting her lip and exhaling softly. "Naughty… naughty… naughty," she scolded herself, a self-amused smile tugging at her lips. For all her composure, Amanda was not immune to the thoughts that came when no one was watching.
A knock at the door startled her, making her sit up sharply. Heart fluttering, she pulled her veil back over her face, slipping off the bed and moving to open it.
On the other side stood Sophia Grain, draped in her own nightgown, framed by the faint glow of the corridor. Her posture was impeccable, but her expression carried something softer than the public aura of perfection she always displayed.
"Hey, Amanda," Sophia greeted warmly, tilting her head slightly. "Mind if I come in for a bit?"
Amanda grinned mischievously, pretending to hesitate. "Hmm… I suppose I could allow it," she teased, opening the door wider. "But only because I'm feeling generous tonight."
Sophia stepped in, and the door clicked softly behind her. Amanda let out a small chuckle, then leaned against the bed, observing her guest. There was something oddly grounding about Sophia, a calm confidence, even if it was tinged with that typical prodigy aura.
Sophia didn't waste time. "I really want to apologize for my brother," she began, voice soft but firm. "Archidees… he's an idiot. Honestly, I'll deal with him when the situation allows, but you didn't deserve that. And to be blunt…" Her gaze flicked toward Amanda, then softened. "…Honestly, his brain capacity? Probably comparable to that of a dog."
Amanda raised an eyebrow, smirking. "A dog? You think a dog's smarter than your brother?"
Sophia's lips twitched. "Honestly? Yes."
Amanda laughed, a small, genuine sound, letting the tension of the day fade. "Fair enough. Then your dog's got nothing on me." The two girls shared a laugh, the camaraderie light and fleeting, like smoke in the quiet of the dorm room.
After a pause, Sophia tilted her head, expression curious. "So… I heard… you and Arthur? Betrothed? Sounds like one of those ridiculous rumors, right?"
Amanda's lips curled into a faint, controlled smile. Her mind raced, weighing what to say. A cool exterior was necessary—she couldn't let the whole dorm know she was already affected by him, not yet. She laughed softly, the sound almost teasing.
"Rumors, yes," she confirmed, letting the words drop lightly, almost dismissively. But her eyes lingered just a moment too long on Sophia's, watching carefully.
Something flickered across Sophia's face—a tiny flash of something Amanda recognized immediately: jealousy, envy, mingled with the careful mask of civility. Sophia bit her lip, then straightened and forced a smile. "Well… congratulations, then," she said, voice smooth, almost polite. But the subtle weight behind her words was unmistakable.
Amanda shrugged, leaning back against her pillows. "Thanks, I guess." She let the words linger in the air, teasing and elusive. It was a small, private victory—at least someone felt the weight of Arthur's presence the way she did.
Sophia shifted, clearing her throat. "I really am sorry about my brother, Amanda. Truly. I promise he won't bother you again… not if I can help it." Her tone softened, almost genuine now, though the undercurrent of jealousy remained.
Amanda simply nodded, giving a small, reassuring smile. "It's fine, really. He'll learn, eventually."
With that, Sophia stood. She gave Amanda a final, polite smile, but her steps toward the door were heavier than before, marked with subtle tension. Amanda watched her leave, noting the slight stiffening of her posture, the tiny curl of her lips that betrayed her feelings. Jealousy, Amanda realized with a small smirk, was an unkind companion—especially when it came to Arthur.
The door clicked shut behind Sophia, leaving Amanda in the quiet dorm room once more. She removed her veil slowly, placing it carefully on the bedside table, and sank onto her bed with a faint sigh. Her hand unconsciously clenched over her chest, resting just above her heart, as though seeking to contain the sudden thrum of emotion.
So even his rival… loves him? Amanda thought, calm but slightly perturbed. Her fingers flexed, curling slightly against the sheets. That tyrant… stealing hearts as easily as he wields his aura. How many have already been drawn to him? How many will be before I even properly meet him?
She let the thought linger, feeling a faint flush rise across her cheeks, tempered by a deep, grounding breath. This was the first of many challenges—more subtle, more psychological, more dangerous than Archidees' crude threats. Love, jealousy, reputation, and pride—they all combined into a battlefield just as treacherous as any she had faced on the ruins of Anirc.
Amanda shifted, lying back on her pillows, letting her hair fan out across the bedspread. The room was quiet now, a sanctuary from the day's chaos, from whispers and threats. And yet, even in this quiet, the thought of Arthur Grayhound remained, a constant, insistent echo in her mind.
I have to see him again… she thought. I have to understand what it is about him…
And as she drifted toward sleep, Amanda Scarlett—scarred, wary, clever, and resilient—knew one undeniable truth: this was only the beginning. The world of the Empiral Honour School was wide, dangerous, and unpredictable. But tonight, in the quiet of her room, she allowed herself a small, private victory. She had survived the day, she had survived Sophia's jealous tension, and for once… she could imagine herself standing on equal footing in this new, strange battlefield of hearts and power.
And, for better or worse, Arthur Grayhound had become a part of it.
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The end....