The rest of the afternoon passed as though nothing had happened.
That was what unsettled Aura the most.
She kept looking around for Vincent. Although she refused to believe Ethan liked her, they just met.
Francis was laughing beside her, leaning back in his chair, casually telling Jeremy about a ridiculous misunderstanding during a council meeting.
Tina giggled. Even Avery, seated two rows ahead, glanced back briefly.
Everything looked normal.
Too normal.
Aura nodded at the right moments, smiling when needed, responding when spoken to. But her awareness kept drifting. Not to Francis. Not to the class.
To Ethan.
He was quiet.
Not unusually so. He had always been composed, observant, reserved. But now… there was distance. A deliberate distance.
He spoke to Francis.
He spoke to Jeremy.
He answered Stephanie.
But when Aura spoke, he only acknowledged her briefly, then looked away.
'I'm overthinking. We only just got to know each other today, why would he have a problem with me?'
She lowered her gaze to her notebook.
'It's just because of what happened at lunch. Maybe it's awkward, or he doesn't want to be seen spending much time or having much conversation with a friend's girl '
Still, the unease remained.
After class, Francis stretched lazily. "I'm starving again. How does that even happen?"
"You just ate," Tina said.
"I grow fast."
"You stopped growing two years ago," Jeremy replied.
Francis grinned. "Emotionally."
Aura laughed.
Ethan watched quietly.
For a brief moment, his eyes softened. He stared at her. Then he looked away again.
They left the classroom together. As usual, Francis walked between them, speaking animatedly, switching topics every few seconds. He was warm, effortless, easy to follow.
Aura responded comfortably.
Ethan listened.
Occasionally, he answered.
The three of them moved naturally, like they had done it for years.
But the balance felt fragile. What was going on?
Avery watched from behind.
Her gaze rested on Francis as he spoke, hands moving as he explained something dramatically. He leaned closer to Aura when she laughed, then nudged Ethan jokingly.
Warm.
Always warm.
She remembered that warmth clearly.
Her expression remained cool, but her thoughts shifted.
'Should I ask father?'
The idea formed slowly.
Their families had spoken before. It wouldn't be unexpected. It would be… practical.
And yet, her chest tightened slightly. Just knowing that it would be forced made her feel like a thief.
She looked away.
Ahead, Vincent leaned against the hallway window, watching the three approach. His eyes moved carefully between them. The distance. The silence. The glances.
He didn't smile.
Not yet.
But the confirmation settled in.
'Interesting.'
* The next day*
Aura slowed slightly as they reached the staircase. Francis had gone ahead, calling to someone downstairs. Ethan paused near the railing, checking something on his phone.
This was her chance.
"Prince Ethan—"
He looked up immediately.
"Yes?"
His voice was calm. Neutral.
She paused.
She didn't know what she planned to say. She only knew she wanted to clear the strange tension. He was avoiding her and she didn't like it, if he did like her she couldn't see it.
"I just…" she began.
Footsteps.
Francis appeared beside them. "Are you two coming or planning a secret meeting without me?"
Aura blinked.
The moment slipped.
"Nothing," she said quickly.
Ethan gave a small nod and stepped forward.
They descended the stairs together.
But the silence between them lingered.
Later, in the schools courtyard, Francis continued talking while waiting for the car. Aura stood beside him, listening, but her gaze drifted again.
Ethan was watching the fountain.
Calm.
Distant.
As if nothing had changed. His emotions now weren't as open as when they first met, it was suffocating, especially since she wanted to know him more.
'If something really is wrong…'
Her fingers tightened slightly around her bag.
'Should I talk to him directly?'
She glanced at Francis, who was still speaking happily about something trivial.
Her chest tightened faintly.
'Or would that make things worse?'
The car arrived.
Francis opened the door for her with exaggerated politeness. "My lady."
She smiled faintly and entered.
Ethan followed.
The ride was quiet.
Francis filled most of it with conversation. Aura responded. Ethan answered when spoken to. The balance held.
But beneath it, something invisible had shifted.
As they arrived at her estate and parted ways, Aura watched the two friends walking ahead of her. Francis said something that made Ethan almost smile.
They looked… the same.
Untouched.
Unbreakable.
Except for her relations with the Prince everything else was okay.
Her unease deepened.
'If something happens…'
She exhaled slowly.
'Will they still be like this?'