Orientation Day

Rowan woke up to sunlight attacking his face.

Apparently, Blackthorn's windows had been designed by people who hated sleep.

He groaned.

Rolled over.

And immediately remembered where he was.

University.

New room.

New life.

New roommate.

Unfortunately.

Across the room, Cassian was already awake.

Reading.

Rowan was beginning to suspect he slept with books.

"What time is it?"

Cassian turned a page.

"Late."

Rowan sat upright.

"That's not a time."

"It is when you're supposed to be somewhere."

"I dislike you."

"You've mentioned that."

The dining hall looked like a battlefield.

Hundreds of students filled long tables.

Voices echoed endlessly.

Someone was already crying.

Classes hadn't even started.

Neither had the orientation of first-years.

Blackthorn seemed healthy.

Rowan grabbed a tray.

Then another pastry.

Then another.

Cassian watched.

"Preparing for a famine?"

"I skipped breakfast yesterday."

"So naturally you've chosen revenge."

Before Rowan could answer—

The entire hall suddenly changed.

Conversations stopped.

Students straightened.

Several professors looked toward the entrance.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Cassian looked up.

Rowan followed everyone's gaze.

Then saw him.

Prince Tristan Auroria.

The future king of Auroria.

The pride of his kingdom.

The darling of the nobility.

The reason half the girls in the hall suddenly forgot how breathing worked.

Tristan entered as though the building belonged to him.

Perhaps he assumed it did.

People moved aside automatically.

Students whispered.

Professors smiled.

Staff bowed slightly.

The attention followed him effortlessly.

Like sunlight.

Or a plague.

"Impressive," Rowan muttered.

Cassian looked unimpressed.

"Looks exhausting."

The prince smiled at students.

Nodded politely.

Accepted greetings.

Answered questions.

The perfect royal.

The perfect future king.

The perfect public image.

Across the hall, Tristan accepted praise gracefully.

Internally—

He was already annoyed.

The attention was predictable.

The conversations were predictable.

The compliments were predictable.

Everything was predictable.

Blackthorn was supposed to be interesting.

Instead everyone kept introducing themselves.

One noble student practically tripped over his own feet trying to impress him.

Pathetic.

Another immediately started praising Auroria.

Boring.

A third attempted to discuss politics.

Worse.

Then Tristan noticed something unusual.

A student near the middle tables.

Dark hair.

Average clothes.

Entirely unremarkable.

And completely ignoring him.

Interesting.

The prince narrowed his eyes slightly.

Most people stared.

This one continued eating.

The student beside him didn't even look up from his book.

What was a first year even reading?

Annoying

Very annoying

Orientation took place shortly afterward.

The Great Assembly Hall overflowed with students.

Tristan sat near the front.

Naturally.

The seat had practically been reserved for him before he'd arrived.

Sometimes privilege was efficient.

The headmaster welcomed everyone.

Spoke about excellence.

Discipline.

Tradition.

Honor.

Students immediately stopped listening.

Professors yawned.

Backbenches started murmuring.

Everything an interesting speech has.

That's why it's called PAY attention.

Tristan included.

Then his attention drifted.

Toward the middle rows.

The same student from breakfast.

Still ignoring everything.

Still sitting beside the same, gray-eyed roommate.

Strange.

Something about him felt familiar.

Not recognizable.

Just familiar.

Like a word sitting at the edge of memory.

Tristan hated unfinished thoughts.

After orientation ended, students flooded into the courtyards.

Groups formed immediately.

Friendships.

Alliances.

Future disasters.

The usual.

Tristan walked through the crowd surrounded by several noble students.

They practically followed him like ducklings.

One was discussing economics.

Another was discussing politics.

A third was discussing Tristan.

Tristan hated that one most.

Then—

There he was again.

The familiar student.

Walking across the courtyard.

Alone.

Tristan changed direction immediately.

The ducklings followed.

Unfortunately.

"Your Highness?"

"Not now."

The group exchanged confused looks.

Tristan ignored them.

He approached.

The student noticed him immediately.

Then did something unexpected.

He turned around.

And walked faster.

Tristan stopped.

Did he just—

No.

Surely not.

People usually approached him.

Not the reverse.

The prince smiled slowly.

Interesting.

Rowan immediately regretted looking back.

The prince was following him.

Why?

He had no idea.

Maybe rich people got bored easily.

Probably.

He increased his pace.

The prince increased his.

Wonderful.

Exactly what he needed.

A royal problem.

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