Chapter 10

Adrelo had spent most of the day successfully avoiding the major players, sticking to quiet corners and blending into crowds. When classes finally ended, he made his way to the academy library, a vast, labyrinthine space with towering bookshelves and the soft rustle of pages filling the air.

Adrelo had chosen the library as his sanctuary-a quiet corner where he could avoid the looming threat of troublesome nobles, overachieving students, or anyone remotely tied to the novel.

He exhaled in relief, convinced he'd managed to stay under the radar for another day.

"Just an hour of reading, and then I'm back to my dorm," he muttered to himself, selecting a corner table hidden behind an ancient shelf of spellcraft theory.

He had spent the last hour flipping through a dense tome on enchantment theory, trying to blend into the sea of students hunched over their studies. For once, he felt safe.

Flipping open a heavy tome on elemental convergence, Adrelo leaned forward, immersing himself in the text. The library was his sanctuary, a place where nobody important would think to look for him.

Or so he thought.

A shadow fell across his book, and Adrelo's stomach sank. He glanced up reluctantly, already prepared to apologize for existing-

-and froze.

It was him.

The blonde boy from earlier stood before him, golden eyes gleaming with quiet amusement. Up close, he was even more unnervingly beautiful, like a porcelain doll come to life. His white uniform was pristine, and his movements exuded an effortless grace.

"Mind if I sit here?" boy asked, his voice smooth and melodic. He didn't wait for a reply, sliding into the seat opposite Adrelo with an elegant ease.

Adrelo glanced up, and his stomach twisted into a knot.

"Uh... sure," Adrelo stammered, trying not to panic as the boy gracefully slid into the seat opposite him.

The boy smiled, a faint curve of his lips that felt both polite and predatory. "Thank you," he said, resting his chin lightly on his hand.

Adrelo focused on his book, pretending to read. Act normal. Just act normal. He's probably nobody important... just someone passing through.

"Interesting choice of reading," the boy remarked casually, tilting his head toward Adrelo's book.

"Oh, uh, yeah," Adrelo said, glancing at the title. He barely registered the words.

"Just, you know... studying."

The boy chuckled softly.

"You don't strike me as the scholarly type."

Adrelo bristled, but before he could reply, a loud thud echoed from a nearby shelf as two students dropped their books. Adrelo instinctively glanced over, recognizing Gareth and Milo arguing about something trivial.

The boy, however, didn't seem to notice-or care. His gaze remained fixed on Adrelo, golden eyes gleaming with interest.

"So, what's your name?" the boy asked, his tone casual but laced with something that sent shivers down Adrelo's spine.

"Adrelo," he answered reluctantly.

Dennielle leaned back, his smile unwavering.

"Adrelo... a fitting name for someone so delicate-looking."

Adrelo's face flushed. "I'm not delicate!"

"Of course not," Dennielle replied smoothly, though his tone suggested otherwise.

Adrelo scowled, but before he could retort, Dennielle changed the subject.

"You've been here for a while, haven't you? Mystevorne must be quite the adjustment."

Adrelo frowned, thrown off by the sudden shift in conversation.

"Yeah, I guess. It's... big."

Dennielle chuckled. "An understatement, but fair. Still, you don't strike me as the type to blend into the background. You have an air of... uniqueness about you."

Adrelo bristled. Was that a compliment or an insult?

"I'm just a normal student," he said quickly.

Dennielle's smile widened, his golden eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "If you say so."

Adrelo blinked with his remarks,

"And you are...?"

The boy leaned back slightly, crossing his arms with an air of casual confidence. "Dennielle," he said simply.

Adrelo blinked. The name struck a chord of familiarity, but it wasn't until Gareth and Milo hurried over, wide-eyed and frantic, that everything clicked.

"Adrelo!" Milo hissed, barely keeping his voice down.

"Do you even know who that is?"

Adrelo glanced between them and Dennielle, who raised a curious brow.

"...A student?" he guessed weakly.

"No!" Milo smacked his forehead.

"That's His Highness Dennielle Azekian Luxein Geovri. The fourth prince of the Breneille Empire!"

Adrelo's blood turned to ice.

The fourth prince. The one obsessed with beautiful things. The one who played with people he found interesting. The one who had taken an interest in the female lead in the novel and caused chaos for anyone who crossed his path.

And the original Adrelo? He'd narrowly avoided the prince's notice, a fact he'd been eternally grateful for.

Adrelo's mind raced. If the prince found out about the original Adrelo's past harassment of the female lead... no, he couldn't think about that. Right now, he needed to survive.

Adrelo turned to Dennielle, his face pale. "Y-Your Highness," he stammered, bowing his head quickly.

"I-I didn't realize-"

Dennielle tilted his head, a faint smile still playing on his lips.

"No need for formalities," he said lightly. "I find them tiresome."

Adrelo straightened slowly, his heart hammering in his chest. He couldn't tell if the prince was being genuine or toying with him.

Dennielle's golden eyes lingered on him, uncomfortably focused.

"You seem nervous," he remarked.

"Nervous? Me? No!" Adrelo forced a laugh, his voice high-pitched.

"Why would I be nervous?"

Dennielle chuckled, and the sound sent chills down Adrelo's spine. "You're quite amusing," he said.

Adrelo forced a tight smile, praying this conversation would end soon. But the prince wasn't done.

"You know," Dennielle mused, leaning forward slightly,

"I have a habit of collecting beautiful things."

Adrelo froze.

Dennielle's gaze swept over him, as if appraising a fine piece of art. "And you..." He smiled, his expression both intrigued and predatory.

"You're rather fascinating."

Adrelo's stomach dropped. "F-Fascinating?" he echoed, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Indeed," Dennielle said, his tone silky.

"You're like a rare gem hidden in the rough. It makes me curious... what secrets you're hiding."

Adrelo's heart pounded in his ears. Stay calm. Don't panic. Don't give him a reason to dig deeper.

"I'm just an ordinary student," Adrelo said quickly, his voice trembling.

Dennielle's smile widened. "If you say so."

Before Adrelo could respond, Dennielle rose gracefully from his seat. "This has been... enlightening," he said, his golden eyes lingering on Adrelo for a moment longer.

"I look forward to seeing you again, Adrelo."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Adrelo frozen in his seat.

As soon as the prince was out of earshot, Adrelo turned to Gareth and Milo, panic written all over his face.

"What do I do?" he whispered frantically.

"He's the fourth prince! He's going to ruin my life!"

Gareth asked "what are you talking about, he just met you"

Milo sighed. "Well, at least he doesn't seem to hate you... yet."

"Yeah," Gareth added, grinning.

"He actually seemed pretty interested in you."

Adrelo groaned, slumping forward onto the table.

"I'm doomed," he muttered.

****

Adrelo paced frantically in the safety of his dorm room, his thoughts a tangled mess. The sheer absurdity of his situation left him teetering on the brink of hysteria.

"The fourth prince," he muttered, running his fingers through his snowy hair.

"The fourth prince. Of all people, why does he have to notice me?!"

He clenched his fists, forcing himself to breathe. He had to stay calm, or at least appear calm. But his mind kept flashing back to the revelation: the elegant blonde boy he had inadvertently crossed paths with was none other than Dennielle Azekian Geovri Breneille, the infamous fourth prince of the Breneille Empire.

Adrelo sank into his chair, burying his face in his hands.

"Why didn't I recognize him sooner? He's only been mentioned in every other chapter of the novel! Obsessive, unpredictable, loves beautiful things..." He groaned.

"I'm so doomed. I look like the type of 'beautiful thing' he'd love to mess with!"

He shot up from his chair, pacing again.

"Okay, okay. Calm down. Avoid him. That's all I have to do. He can't mess with me if I'm invisible."

But the problem wasn't just Dennielle.

"Three more princes," Adrelo whispered, horror dawning on him.

"There are three more princes in this godforsaken academy! And all of them are obsessed with the female lead!"

He grabbed a piece of parchment and scrawled their names, circling each in bold, jagged strokes.

1. Azekeian Luxein Geovri Breneille

The Crown Prince. The ideal male lead, with power, status, and charm that made him practically untouchable. He wasn't cruel, but Adrelo had no doubt he would crush anyone who posed even a minor inconvenience.

2. Luxecio Azekian Geovri Breneille

The Second Prince. Polite, thoughtful, and kind-on the surface. The type who could lull you into a false sense of security before subtly dismantling your entire life.

3. Geovra Azekian Luxein Dennior Breneille

The Third Prince. A maniac wrapped in a charming façade. If there was anyone more dangerous than the Crown Prince, it was Geovra, with his unpredictable moods and ruthless streak.

And now...

4. Dennielle Azekian Geovri Breneille

The Fourth Prince. Beautiful, charming, and terrifyingly unpredictable. A man who played with people as if they were his personal toys.

Adrelo circled Dennielle's name three times for good measure.

"And now I'm on his radar," he muttered.

He fell back onto his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"I can't let this happen. If he decides I'm entertaining, it's only a matter of time before the others notice me too. And if they find out I'm the same Adrelo who used to pester the female lead..."

His voice trailed off. He didn't need to finish the thought. The original Adrelo's harassment of the female lead was well-documented in the novel, as was the wrath it had earned him from her suitors. If the princes discovered his identity, his life in this world would be over.

"No," Adrelo said firmly, sitting up.

"I'm not going to be a side character who gets destroyed because of some stupid novel plot."

He grabbed a fresh piece of parchment and began scribbling.

Rule 1: Avoid all Breneille princes at all costs.

Rule 2: If avoidance is impossible, act dull and uninteresting.

Rule 3: Never speak of the female lead in their presence.

He tapped the quill against his chin, thinking. "What else? Oh!"

Rule 4: Stay far, far away from any tea parties, galas, or secluded areas.

Adrelo nodded, satisfied. He pinned the list to the wall above his desk for easy reference.

Now, all he had to do was figure out how to actually implement his plan.

****

The next morning, Adrelo slunk through the academy halls, sticking close to the walls and ducking into alcoves whenever he spotted a familiar flash of blonde or auburn hair. His heart raced every time he thought he saw one of the princes, but he managed to make it to his first class unscathed.

Unfortunately, his luck didn't last.

As he was leaving the lecture hall, he rounded a corner-and froze. Standing just a few feet away, deep in conversation with one of the professors, was Azekeian Luxein Geovri Breneille, the Crown Prince.

Adrelo's blood ran cold. He ducked back around the corner, flattening himself against the wall.

Okay, okay. Just wait for him to leave. Don't panic. You're fine.

But then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted another figure approaching from the opposite direction. Luxecio, the Second Prince.

"Nope," Adrelo whispered, spinning on his heel. He practically bolted in the other direction, his only thought to get as far away from the princes as possible.

He darted down a hallway, turned a corner-and nearly ran straight into Dennielle, who was leaning casually against a pillar as if he'd been waiting for him.

Adrelo skidded to a halt, his heart hammering in his chest.

"Why, hello there," Dennielle said, his melodic voice laced with amusement. His golden eyes sparkled with a dangerous mix of curiosity and mischief.

"In a hurry, are we?"

Adrelo opened his mouth, but no sound came out. His mind raced for an excuse, any excuse, but all he could think was: He's a prince. A prince who likes to play with beautiful things. A prince who could ruin me.

"Y-Your Highness," Adrelo finally stammered, bowing low.

"I-I didn't see you there. P-Please excuse me."

Dennielle chuckled, the sound light and almost musical. "You're quite skittish, aren't you?" He stepped closer, tilting his head to study Adrelo more closely.

"Tell me, why are you so eager to avoid me?"

Adrelo's panic only deepened. He couldn't afford to offend the prince, but he also couldn't let Dennielle take an interest in him.

"N-not at all, Your Highness," he said quickly. "I'm just... late for my next class!"

Dennielle raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Is that so?"

Adrelo nodded frantically.

"Yes, absolutely! If you'll excuse me, I must be going!"

Before Dennielle could respond, Adrelo turned and fled, his heart pounding in his chest.

As he disappeared around the corner, Dennielle watched him go, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Interesting," the prince murmured.

"Very interesting indeed."