EPISODE 4 THE ICE PRINCE'S BROTHER

Lucien woke up to eighty-three unread messages.

"..."

He stared at his phone.

Then at the ceiling.

Then back at his phone.

Most of the messages came from one person.

Adrian Ashford.

Lucien wasn't surprised.

What surprised him was the fact that Adrian apparently never slept.

With a sigh, Lucien got out of bed and prepared for his first official day of classes.

By the time he arrived at campus, the university was already crowded.

Students hurried between buildings.

Professors carried stacks of documents.

Coffee seemed to be the only thing keeping half the campus alive.

Lucien quietly made his way toward his classroom.

Fortunately...

He didn't get lost.

This time.

The classroom was already half full when he entered.

Several students chatted with friends.

Others sat alone.

Lucien naturally chose a seat near the window.

It was peaceful.

Comfortable.

Exactly how he liked it.

A few minutes later—

The classroom door burst open.

"GOOD MORNING!"

Lucien closed his eyes.

Adrian.

Only Adrian could make an entrance like that.

Behind him walked Leo and Noah.

As if it were the most natural thing in the world, Adrian dropped into the empty seat beside Lucien.

Leo sat behind them.

Noah sat quietly nearby.

"Morning."

Adrian grinned.

Lucien nodded.

"Morning."

The class slowly filled.

Then another student entered.

A girl with long dark hair.

Confident smile.

Sharp eyes.

She immediately spotted Adrian.

"Oh."

"You again."

Adrian looked offended.

"What do you mean by that?"

The girl rolled her eyes.

"What do you think I mean?"

She sat down nearby.

Lucien blinked.

"Who is she?"

"Luna Blackwood."

Adrian looked dramatic.

"My lifelong enemy."

Luna looked disgusted.

"We met twice."

"Exactly."

"That's not how enemies work."

"It is for me."

Lucien was beginning to notice a pattern.

The people around him were strange.

A few minutes later, two more students arrived.

One was a boy with glasses.

The other was a cheerful-looking boy carrying three cups of coffee.

Jace Holloway.

Mason Knight.

The final members of the freshman friend group.

By the time introductions were finished, Lucien found himself surrounded.

Completely surrounded.

How had this happened?

Three days ago he knew nobody.

Now he somehow belonged to a group.

Life was strange.

Very strange.

The lecture eventually began.

For nearly two hours the classroom remained quiet.

At least until the professor asked a question.

The room fell silent.

Nobody answered.

The professor sighed.

"Anyone?"

A hand slowly rose.

Lucien.

The answer came calmly and correctly.

The professor smiled.

"Excellent."

Several students looked surprised.

Even Adrian looked impressed.

"Smart."

Lucien looked away.

"It wasn't difficult."

Leo looked personally offended.

"It was very difficult."

Noah nodded.

"It was."

By lunchtime, the entire group headed toward the cafeteria.

Unfortunately...

Every seat was occupied.

Except one table.

A large table.

A table nobody wanted.

A table occupied by three familiar figures.

The cafeteria instantly became quieter.

Students avoided looking in that direction.

Aurelian Ashford sat reading documents.

Cassian Sterling ate in silence.

Orion Everhart drank coffee.

The Three Kings.

Adrian looked toward the table.

Then toward the crowded cafeteria.

Then back toward the table.

A terrible idea appeared in his head.

"No."

Lucien immediately said.

Adrian blinked.

"I didn't say anything."

"You were thinking something."

"..."

"I can tell."

Leo laughed so hard he nearly dropped his tray.

Unfortunately, Adrian ignored them.

And began walking.

Straight toward the table.

Lucien felt dread.

Pure dread.

The freshmen stopped beside the seniors.

Aurelian looked up.

Cassian glanced over.

Orion remained expressionless.

"Brother."

Adrian smiled brightly.

"We need seats."

"No."

The answer came immediately.

Adrian looked devastated.

"Brother."

"No."

"Brother."

"No."

"Brother."

Aurelian didn't even look at him.

Lucien almost admired the patience.

Almost.

Then something unexpected happened.

Orion looked toward Noah.

Then toward the crowded cafeteria.

A brief pause followed.

"Sit."

The entire freshman group froze.

Including Noah.

Including Cassian.

Even Aurelian looked up.

Orion had spoken.

Voluntarily.

For people.

A miracle.

Noah blinked.

"You sure?"

Orion nodded once.

And just like that—

The freshmen occupied the table.

Lucien quietly sat at the far end.

As far from attention as possible.

Unfortunately...

Life hated him.

Five minutes later, Adrian knocked over his juice.

Directly toward Lucien.

The cafeteria gasped.

Lucien prepared for disaster.

Before the drink could spill onto him—

A hand caught the cup.

Perfectly.

Not a single drop escaped.

The movement was so fast nobody saw it clearly.

Silence followed.

Lucien looked up.

Orion still held the cup.

Expression unchanged.

As if catching flying objects was completely normal.

"...Thank you."

Orion placed the cup back on the table.

"Be careful."

The words were simple.

Yet everyone at the table froze.

Including Orion himself.

Because he had spoken directly to someone.

Again.

Noah slowly looked at his brother.

Then at Lucien.

Then back at his brother.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Meanwhile, Lucien simply thought:

The Ice Prince wasn't as scary as everyone claimed.

A misunderstanding that would cause him many problems in the future.

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