CHAPTER 190: THE WEEK-LONG BREAK [9]

Hmmm~ Hmm~ Hmm~

Elina hummed softly, sitting at her desk.

One leg tucked beneath her on the chair. The other swinging slightly, toes barely brushing the floor.

Moonlight spilled through the window. Silver and cool. Painted half the room in pale luminescence.

Curtains swayed gently with the night breeze drifting in.

Carrying the scent of the gardens.

Crinkle.

Her hand dipped into a ceramic jar beside her. Pulled out a candied orange peel dusted with sugar crystals.

She popped it into her mouth. The sweet-tart flavor burst across her tongue.

But her eyes stayed fixed on the pages before her. A book lay open.

Munch! Munch!

She chewed absently.

Turned a page.

Her expression shifted.

Eyes widened. Leaned forward slightly.

"No way..."

She whispered and began reading faster, fingers tracing along the lines.

Then her hand flew to her mouth.

"Oh no. Oh no no no."

Her brows furrowed. Drew together in distress.

Another page turned.

Her shoulders relaxed. She slumped back in her chair.

Phew!

Relief washed across her features. A small smile tugged at her lips.

She reached for another candied peel. Barely looked away from the book.

Three more pages.

Her smile widened. Grew genuine and warm.

"Finally," she breathed.

She tucked a strand of scarlet hair behind her ear. Kept reading.

Flip!

Another page.

Her cheeks flushed.

Pink crept across her face.

"They didn’t—" Her eyes scanned faster.

"They did..."

The pink deepened to red.

She pressed the book closer to her face. Like that would somehow contain the heat spreading through her cheeks.

Flip! Flip!

More pages turned in rapid succession.

Then her expression darkened.

The blush vanished.

Her jaw clenched.

Eyes narrowed into slits.

"That absolute piece of—" She bit off the word. "How dare he say that to her after..."

She smacked the book with her palm. Not hard enough to damage it. Just enough to express her frustration.

Thwap!

Another page turned.

The anger melted away like snow in sunlight.

Her eyes softened. Grew distant. Dreamy.

"Oh..."

A genuine smile bloomed across her face. She hugged the book to her chest for a moment. Sighed contentedly.

Hmmm~

The humming resumed. Happier now. More energetic.

She set the book back down. Continued reading.

The moonlight shifted slightly as clouds drifted past. Cast moving shadows across her features.

The curtains continued their gentle dance.

And Elina remained lost in her story. Expression changing with every turn of the page.

Completely absorbed in a world that wasn’t this one.

Where the politics and pressures didn’t exist.

Just adventure and romance and happy endings.

At least for tonight.

Flip!

She turned the final page.

Her eyes scanned the last few lines. Slower now. Savoring them.

Then—

Thump!

She closed the book.

Sigh!

She leaned back in her chair. Let her head tilt against the backrest.

Her arms crossed over her chest. The book still held loosely in one hand.

"She’s so dumb."

She stared at the ceiling and shook her head slightly.

"Even after everything the prince did for her..." Her eyes narrowed.

"All those sacrifices. The way he protected her. Stood by her side through everything."

Her fingers drummed against the book’s cover.

Tap! Tap!

"And she still chose that merchant’s son."

She lifted the book. Looked at the cover with a mix of fondness and frustration.

"He barely showed up half the time and didn’t even believe her when it mattered most."

"Hmph!"

She set the book down on the desk with more force than necessary.

"Completely an idiot."

Her eyes drifted to the window. To the gardens below bathed in silver light.

"At least the prince got a better ending in the sequel," she murmured.

She closed her eyes. Let the smile soften into something dreamier.

She sighed again, letting her mind drift as she conjured images of noble princes and grand gestures.

"I want a prince like that too..."

The words came out barely above a whisper.

Her fingers absently played with a strand of scarlet hair. Twirled it around one finger.

"Someone who’d actually care. Who’d put me first. Who’d stand by me no matter what. Who’d be reliable. Honest. Devoted."

Her smile widened slightly. Lost in the fantasy.

"Who’d be gentle and understanding and—"

Her eyes snapped open.

The dreamy expression vanished.

Replaced by a scowl.

"Unlike certain someone who... Ugh!"

She sat up straighter. "Who’s a complete pain in the ass."

Her arms crossed again.

"Who can’t go five minutes without being insufferable. Who deliberately pushes every button just to get a reaction."

Her golden eyes narrowed at nothing. Imagining Alaric’s smug face.

"Always smirking. Always saying things just to get under my skin."

She grabbed another candied peel. And bit into it more aggressively than necessary.

"Acting like he’s so clever when he’s just—just infuriating. Always flirting with every girl who crosses his path."

Then she waved her hand dismissively at the air.

"And he’s even engaged. Has a fiancée waiting for him." Her voice rose slightly. Resentful now.

"But does that stop him from getting near those bitches? No. Of course not."

She thought back at the academy, him flaunting with group of girls.

"Completely unfaithful. Running around acting like some romantic lead when he’s just a philandering—"

She cut herself off.

And groaned, covering her face with both hands.

"Why am I even thinking about him?"

Her voice came muffled through her palms.

She dragged her hands down. Stared at the now-empty jar of candied peels.

Her good mood was completely evaporated.

"He ruined my whole evening without even being here."

Huff!

She crossed her arms.

"Idiot."

The word came out sharp.

Yawn!

She lifted her arms. Stretched them high over her head. Her spine arched.

"Mmmn."

The joints released tension.

"Time for rest."

Her hands lowered. She pushed against the desk to stand.

Started to rise—

But then paused.

Her entire body went rigid, eyes widened.

As she felt it.

The raw, heavy pressure. Right behind her back.

Not physical. Not a touch.

But presence. Undeniable. Oppressive.

Like standing too close to a furnace. But cold instead of hot.

Her breath caught in her throat.