Chapter 22: Following me

Ruelle sat at the Groundlings’ table in the dining hall, where some students had already finished their dinner and left. Candles flickered inside the lanterns, the room filled with a low hum of conversations from the Elites’ and the Groundlings’ tables, except for the Halflings, whose chatter was slightly louder than the others.

“I can’t believe you are finally done with the scarf; it has turned out so intricate,” Hailey, who sat beside her, said as she admired the scarf, taking it in her hands to observe it closely.

“It feels like you’ve been working on it forever,” Kevin said with a small, thoughtful smile. “But now that it’s almost done, it feels like something we’ve all been part of, like we’ve gone through the process of making together. You made it look easy.”

Ruelle smiled softly as she replied, “It is not that hard once you get the hang of it.” She felt a sense of pride and satisfaction with the way the scarf had turned out. She decided to look for the potential buyer tomorrow, hoping the scarf would be well-taken care of by its new owner. “I should be able to get access to the library books tomorrow. What about you two?” she asked them.

“I wish I could say the same,” Kevin said wryly, sitting opposite her. “Even though I stayed behind for the weekend, I am still a shilling short and need to cover it today or sooner, at least before the tests are set.” He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“Don’t worry. You’ll get there,” Hailey encouraged him. “Besides, I’m in the same boat and am six shillings short.”

“If I make a profit from the scarf, I will be more than happy to cover the fees for both of you,” Ruelle said, her eyes filled with quiet reassurance.

“It does ease my mind,” Hailey confessed, and then said, “But it would be right for us to accept that. You worked hard—”

“You are my friends. Shouldn’t we have each other’s backs?” Ruelle smiled, and Hailey suddenly hugged her tightly, only causing Ruelle’s smile to broaden.

“Thank you, Ruelle,” Hailey murmured with heartfelt gratitude. Kevin, however, looked conflicted for a moment before he said carefully,

“I really appreciate the offer, but I’ll manage. You should keep that money for something you might need later on,” Kevin replied, not wanting to take money from her but to be able to provide instead.

As her friends continued to talk to each other, Ruelle felt someone looking in their direction, and upon turning to look, she caught June glancing her way, before her roommate readjusted her focus somewhere else.

Ruelle continued to scan the room almost unconsciously, until her eyes landed on Lucian, seated with his usual group of friends. In the flickering candlelight, his features looked both alluring and intimidating. Her mind wandered back to two hours ago, when she had unexpectedly found herself in his carriage. It was hard to believe she could have felt any more awkward than she had in that moment. She pursed her lips at the memory.

She wondered if she should… thank him—but then, would he even care?

But the thought of approaching Lucian filled her with a gnawing unease. He was nothing like his carefree friend, and she didn’t want to see him glare at her with the eyes that seemed to hate her—let alone hear him belittle her.

Kevin noticed her momentary distraction and leaned forward slightly. “Everything alright?” he asked, concerned.

Ruelle blinked, pulling her thoughts away from Lucian. She offered a small smile. “Yes, I’m fine. I was just thinking about the test.”

After a few minutes, Ruelle noticed Lucian get up from his seat and leave the room alone while his friends continued to chat. Biting her lip, she impulsively stood up when he made his way out of the dining room. She quickly said to her friends,

“I will see you two tomorrow morning. Goodnight!”

“Huh? Is she sleepy?” Hailey asked, watching Ruelle slip away.

“She must be tired from the wedding and needs some rest,” Kevin answered.

The moment Ruelle stepped into the corridor, she caught sight of him disappearing around the corner, and she quickened her footsteps. She simply wanted to thank him, because it was a matter of decency and manners. Nothing more.

Lucian was far ahead, and Ruelle avoided running as it would only draw attention to her from others. Should she call his name? She feared receiving his icy glare and it made her second-guess if she should perhaps turn around and leave. But before she could make up her mind, she found herself outside the building, where the air was noticeably chillier.

For a moment, she believed he was heading to the training yard. But instead, he took another path, which led to the woods, a place humans like her had never neared. He turned again, and the moment she took the turn herself, he was gone.

Her footsteps came to an abrupt halt, her breath a visible fog in the cold air as her eyes darted around in confusion. Where did he disappear to? Trees surrounded her, with stray leaves rustling in the night wind. She took a hesitant step backward, her heart hammering in her chest.

“Going somewhere?” Lucian’s voice cut through the silence, low and mocking. His tone was like velvet against the night, but underneath, there was an edge that sent a shiver down her spine.

Ruelle spun around, startled, her words stuck in her throat.

Lucian stood in front of her, his tall figure cloaked in shadow, his red eyes radiant under the pale light of the moon. The darkness clung to him like a second skin, and the faint flicker of wry amusement on his face made her feel small—like a rabbit caught in the gaze of a predator.

“You follow me, yet you stand there now like a prey in the forest once again,” Lucian murmured, his voice lowering to a near whisper. “Keep wandering into the woods like a lost lamb and someone might just decide to hunt you down.”

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