One week after the duel.
The next morning, Aarav got up early, freshened up, and wore his academy uniform. Then he got into the carriage.
"Let's go."
The carriage slowly started moving toward the academy.
After getting down the carriage , Aarav walked to the training ground. There, two figures were clashing swords. It was Selena and Lucian.
"Miss Selena, use more strength. It feels like I'm fighting a twig."
Selena angrily swung her sword "Here, take this!".The force of Selena's strike made Lucian's sword wobble.
"Now that's what I'm talking about." Lucian tells while steadying himself.
"Guys, class is about to start. Come on." Aarav called out to them. They packed their things and walked toward him.
As they walked to class, Aarav asked Selena, "Looks like you're starting to like him i mean ...his skills now."
Selena replied,"Yeah. His swordsmanship is based on instinct rather than drills. I really like his style."
Aarav silently listened to Selena . He doesnot question her. "Nah... Selena wouldn't do something like that. What if she..." Aarav thinks to himself..when his thoughts were interrupted by a loud voice from a nearby corridor.
"You call that an apology?" Hugh Rockwell had a commoner boy pinned against the wall by his collar. It was Gary.
"I-I already said I was sorry..."Gary's voice trembled.
"Sorry doesn't change the fact that you disrespected a noble . Bow properly you stinky rat "
Hugh tightened his grip.
Before anything else could happen, Lucian stepped forward."Senior Rockwell, he already apologized for his mistake. Please let him go. He won't repeat it again."
Hugh turned toward Lucian angrily, but before he could react, his eyes fell upon the two people standing behind him.
Aarav Valden.
Selena Brightmore.
Seeing them there, Hugh chose not to respond to Lucian and let Gary go.
"Oi, commoner. Don't act cocky just because you have those two behind you, okay?"
He shoved Gary to the ground before walking away..
Before going he bows to Aarav "sorry for this pathetic sight , young master Valden"
Gary got up before Lucian or the others could help him "Thanks... but you really shouldn't have gotten involved. Now he is going to target you. ."
Lucian frowns. "What ??!Why??"
Gary gives a helpless smile " That guy hates commaners for some reason. He always targets them and bullies them to drop out . so be careful. ." Gary adds . "Also there are rumours that he has connections with some dark guilds"
Lucian panic internally but he reassures Gary "it is okay Gray you dont need to worry about me"
Gray pats lucian's shoulder
"But thanks for the help. See you guys in class "
He quickly left grabbing his books.
Selena scoffed.
"That Rockwell guy seriously needs to learn some manners."
Aarav replied,"Selena, he's older than us. You shouldn't disrespect him."
Selena grunted. "Come on. Be a little braver, like Lucian. You're the Duke's son, okay? You don't need to be scared of him."
Saying that, she walked ahead with Lucian.
Aarav looked at their backs for a moment before quietly following them.
____________________________________
The bell rang, announcing the lunch break.
Selena placed her books in her bag.
"Hey, Selena. Come on, let's go have lunch."
As Aarav waited for her, Selena turned toward Lucian.
"You too, Lucian. Come eat with us."
Aarav showed a hint of discomfort but chose to hide it.
"Sure, Lucian. Come with us."
As they walked toward the cafeteria, Aarav asked hesitantly,"Selena... if you're free, let's play chess today."
"No, Aarav. I need to train with Lucian today."
Aarav pouted slightly, looking disappointed.
Seeing his expression, Selena smiled apologetically "Sorry, Aarav... I can't today. But next Sunday, I'll definitely come and play."
Aarav's face lit up instantly "Promise?"
Selena smiled and extended her little finger.
"Pinky promise."
Aarav hooked his little finger around hers.
______________________________________
The long-awaited Sunday finally arrived.
Aarav waited eagerly. He had already prepared his favourate chessboard along with all of Selena's favorite food and drinks.
That chessboard was a gift from Elara who taught him to play chess on it .
"Bring the strawberry milk too. Selena likes it."
Just then, Cassian came to inform him.
"Young Master Aarav, the Brightmore carriage has arrived."
Aarav hurried downstairs to receive Selena.
However.. Along with Selena came an unexpected guest.
"...Lucian."
Aarav looked at him, shocked. He had invited only Selena.He hadn't expected Lucian to come.
Feeling slightly possessive, Aarav subtly nudged Lucian aside with his shoulder before extending his hand toward Selena.
"Selena, welcome."
Selena smiled and took his hand as she stepped down from the carriage.
"Cassian, this is Lucian... my friend." Aarav introduces Lucian to Cassian .
Cassian politely greeted Lucian before leading all three of them toward Aarav's room.
"Selena... you didn't tell me Lucian was coming."
Selena answered casually,"Well, Aarav, we were training together, and when I asked him if he had anything important to do afterward, he said he was free. So I invited him along."
Speechless, Aarav simply smiled at Lucian.
The three entered his room. A neatly arranged chessboard sat waiting on the table.
Aarav sat down first."Selena, I'm going to beat you again today like always."
Selena scoffed."We'll see who wins."
Although Aarav was weak in magic and physical strength, he was surprisingly good at chess and other board games.
After one game...
"I win again, Selena." Aarav laughed proudly.
Selena pouted. "Come on. I know you're good at chess, but can't you lose just once for your fiancée?"
Aarav playfully shook his head. "Nope. This is the one thing I'm actually good at."
Selena turned toward Lucian."Wanna play?"
Lucian, who had been quietly sipping his juice on the couch, scratched his head awkwardly.
"But Miss Selena... I don't know how to play."
Aarav smiled.
"Come here. We'll teach you."
Together, Aarav and Selena explained the rules.
"The bishop moves diagonally. The queen can move in any direction. The knight moves in an L-shape."
Lucian nodded after listening carefully. "Can I try one game?"
Selena smiled.b"Of course."
Aarav sat opposite Lucian and Selena sat beside him.
Throughout the match, Aarav couldn't focus.
All he could see was how much Selena seemed to enjoy Lucian's company. Throughout the game only one thing he could think was " Should i call selena to my side or am i overthinking. She might think i dont trust her..."
Eventually...Aarav could not focus and loses the game .
"Wow, Lucian! You're really talented! You actually defeated Aarav!" .She laughed before placing an arm around Lucian's shoulder. "Oi, Aarav. What happened? You actually lost?"
Aarav lowered his head.After a few moments, he quietly spoke. "Selena... it's getting late. Look outside."
Selena glanced through the window."Oh, you're right." She stood up. "Come on, Lucian. I'll drop you off at the dorm."
Cassian escorted Selena and Lucian outside.
Through the window, Aarav silently watched the Brightmore carriage disappear into the distance.
Suddenly ,He hurled the chessboard against the wall.Pieces scattered across the floor.
After standing there silently for a while...
He slowly bent down, picks up each and every chess piece,
Bishop
Pawn
Knight
When he notices the queen piece , it broke into 2 pieces .
Aarav just sighs and puts it in his box .
______________________________________
Aarav slowly began to feel frustrated and lonely. He sat alone in class. He ate alone in the cafeteria while Lucian and Selena had their lunch in the training hall after practice.
Aarav quietly entered the cafeteria alone.
"Young Master Valden! Over here."
A familiar voice called out. It was Hugh Rockwell. He waved Aarav over before clearing a seat beside him. "There you are. Come, sit."
Aarav hesitated for a moment. Then he eventually nodded. "Thank you, Senior."
"It's nothing."Hugh patted him on the shoulder."We nobles should look after one another. What do you say guys "
Everybody sitting near the table nods
Aarav collected his lunch and sat beside him
"So aarav,Since this is your first time eating with us, let me introduce everyone."hugh starts introducing them .
He pointed toward the girl sitting closest to him. "This loudmouth is Victoria Hawthorne, the eldest daughter of Count Hawthorne."
Victoria grinned and raised his hand.
" Hi ,Nice to meet you,"
Hugh then pointed toward the broad shouldered boy sitting opposite him ."And this is Ethan Ashford, son of Viscount Ashford."
Ethan gave a polite smile."It's a pleasure to meet you."
Finally, Hugh looked toward the last membet at the table. "And she's Evelyn Ashcroft, daughter of Viscount Ashcroft."
The girl looked up from her meal and gave a small nod.
"...Nice to meet you."
"Hi everyone . I am Aarav Valden but you can just call me Aarav."
Victoria suprised "Wait you are duke's son, wow!!!!! But wait i thought Valden's son name is Arin " .
Aarav looks doen uncomfortably "He is my younger brother . You know him because he is talented then me"
"Yeah i heard he awakened his flame magic at the age of 5 right wow!!!!"
Aarav continues to look down . He felt scared that even they are comparing him to his brother .
"We are sorry we did not recognise you , if we appeared rude before Lord Valden"
Aarav starts to fidgets uncomfortablly .
"Hey guys you are making him uncomfortable. " hugh patted his back chuckled.
"Calm down , it is alright okay. You are you and brother is your brother okay ."
For a while, the all of them simply ate in silence.
After taking another bite, Hugh glanced around the cafeteria.
"...Where's Miss Brightmore?"
Aarav answered without looking up."She's eating with Lucian after training."
Hugh clicked his tongue "So it's true."
Aarav looked at him." What do you mean?"
Hugh leaned back in his chair."That commoner. He's getting a little too close to the nobles."
Aarav stayed silent.
Hugh continued. "You know why noble families always keep commoners at a distance?"
Aarav shook his head.
"Because the moment you let them into your world...They slowly start taking your place."
"They take your attention, your trust.and before you realize it...They're standing where you used to stand."
All of them nodd agreeing to hugh .
Aarav unconsciously tightened his grip around his spoon. Hugh notices it but He simply continued eating.
Aarav was about to open his mouth to defend selena and lucian ."lucian is not .."
hugh cuts him off "I'm not saying Lucian is a bad person.But people become greedy.They always want more be it ,Status or Power or Recognition and if you keep giving ground..."
A silence
"They'll take everything."
Saying it hugh looks into space with a serious expression and then looks at Aarav.
Aarav quietly looked toward the training grounds outside the cafeteria window.
In the distance...
"...Maybe you are wrong or"vHe lowered his gaze ."Maybe you're ri..."
Hugh smiled faintly."I hope I'm wrong. But if I were you...I wouldn't keep waiting forever."
Aarav just continues to eat .
_____________________________________
One day, Aarav finally gathered the courage to confront Selena."Um... Selena... I've been meaning to ask you something."
Selena looked at him."What is it?"
"Is... is there anything between you and Lucian? Like... do you have any feelings for him?"
Selena laughed."What? No!"
"That guy is just talented, and I'm learning swordsmanship from him. He grew up in the countryside, so he has a lot of real combat experience."
"I'm just learning from him."
Aarav nodded."Okay..."
"Then... can you please come to my house this Sunday? Mom said she'll take us to the theatre."
Selena, only half paying attention, nodded.
"Sure."
Then she hurried toward the training grounds.