The University of Rome library was always quieter than the classrooms, yet somehow noisier in Elena's head. The moment she stepped through the heavy oak doors, she felt the weight of history pressing down on her shoulders the scent of old paper, faint ink stains on the wooden desks, and the occasional whisper of pages being turned.
Elena Moretti clutched two thick literature books to her chest. She always carried them close, almost like a shield. To her, books were safer than people; they never judged, never whispered rumors, never expected her to shine in ways she didn't know how.
"Hey, Elena!" Clara Jensen's voice broke the silence as much as it dared. The Danish girl leaned over a desk, waving her hand. Blonde hair bounced like it had a life of its own. "Over here!"
Elena sighed but smiled anyway, walking toward her best friend. "Clara, you're too loud for this place."
Clara grinned mischievously. "Oh, please. The librarians here are half asleep. Besides, I needed to get your attention before he does."
Elena blinked, confused. "He?"
Before Clara could answer, the door creaked open again. A group of students entered, but only one mattered at least, to the eyes that immediately followed him.
Leonardo Romano.
He didn't just walk into the library; he arrived. His presence stretched across the room like a shadow you couldn't ignore. Tall, with sharp features softened only by his dark brown eyes, he carried himself with the confidence of someone who knew everyone was watching and enjoyed it.
Elena felt her stomach twist. Of course Clara had been talking about him. Everyone on campus talked about him. The so-called Prince of Rome.
"See?" Clara whispered, leaning closer. "The campus prince himself, and he's coming this way."
Elena rolled her eyes, forcing herself to open one of her books. "He's not coming this way. He probably doesn't even know I exist."
But fate or maybe mischief had other plans.
Leo walked straight toward their table, scanning the room briefly before his gaze landed directly on Elena. Not Clara, not anyone else her.
"Excuse me," his deep, even voice broke the fragile silence. "Is this seat taken?"
Elena froze. Words clogged in her throat like they had no intention of leaving. She glanced at Clara, who raised her eyebrows and smirked.
"Uh n-no, it's not," Elena managed, pulling her books closer.
Leo nodded politely, sliding into the seat opposite her. The movement was casual, elegant, practiced. He pulled out a sleek laptop, setting it down with the confidence of someone who belonged everywhere.
Clara's eyes danced with suppressed laughter as she whispered, "Told you so."
Elena kicked her lightly under the table, cheeks burning.
Elena tried to focus on the lines of her book, but the words blurred into meaningless shapes. She could feel his presence across the table the faint sound of his laptop keys, the subtle rustle when he adjusted in his chair, even the faint whiff of expensive cologne that didn't belong in a dusty library.
Clara leaned toward Elena and whispered much too loudly, "You're turning red."
Elena shot her a look sharp enough to cut steel. "Clara," she hissed under her breath.
But Leo glanced up from his laptop, one brow arched. "Everything all right?"
Elena swallowed. "Y-yes. Perfectly fine."
Clara smirked. "She's just shy."
"Clara!" Elena's whisper turned into a strangled plea, and she shoved her friend's notebook back at her.
Leo chuckled softly, the sound low and unexpectedly warm. "It's fine. I didn't mean to disturb you. I just needed a quiet spot."
"You… you could sit anywhere," Elena said before she could stop herself. Her voice was softer than intended, but honest.
For a moment, Leo studied her. It wasn't the casual glance of someone used to attention it was sharper, more curious, as if he was trying to solve a puzzle. "Maybe I wanted to sit here."
The air thickened. Clara's eyes went wide like she'd just been handed the juiciest gossip of the year.
Elena forced herself to drop her gaze to her book again, but her hands betrayed her—her fingers trembled slightly as she turned the page.
Leo broke the silence again, his tone lighter. "You're Moretti, right? Elena Moretti? Literature major?"
Her head jerked up. "You… know my name?"
"Of course." He leaned back in his chair, casually confident. "You were the only one who quoted Dante during Professor Ricci's seminar last week. Not many people do that."
Clara gasped softly, covering her mouth. Elena wanted to melt into the floor. "I uh I just… it was relevant to the topic."
Leo's lips curved in the faintest smile. "Relevant and brave. Most students just nod and take notes."
Elena didn't know what to say. Compliments weren't her strong suit. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, mumbling, "I didn't think anyone noticed."
"I notice things," Leo replied simply, his eyes not leaving hers.
The words hung between them, heavy with implication.
Clara suddenly coughed loud and deliberate. "Well, I think I'll go… get another book. Or maybe coffee. Or something." She stood, clearly enjoying Elena's panicked expression. "Don't mind me."
"Clara" Elena tried to stop her, but her friend was already walking away, humming under her breath.
Now it was just the two of them.
Leo closed his laptop slightly, giving Elena his full attention. "She's a good friend, isn't she?"
"Yes," Elena admitted. "Too good sometimes."
He chuckled again. "I can see that."
Elena risked a glance at him. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes dark and steady were fixed on her in a way that made her feel exposed, like he could see past the walls she built around herself.
Trying to deflect, she asked, "Why literature though? I mean you're law. What are you doing quoting Dante?"
He tilted his head, a spark of amusement crossing his features. "Why not? A lawyer without literature is just a man who knows rules but not people."
Elena blinked, caught off guard. That wasn't the kind of answer she expected from the so-called campus prince.
"You don't have to look so surprised," he added with a smirk.
"I'm not" she started, then sighed. "Okay, maybe a little surprised."
This time, his laugh was louder though still soft enough not to earn a librarian's wrath. "Fair enough."
The silence that followed wasn't awkward anymore. It was… charged.
Elena shifted in her seat, heart beating faster. She told herself it was nothing just a conversation. But deep down, she knew something had shifted.
The library door creaked again. Elena almost jumped, the spell between her and Leo breaking like fragile glass.
A confident voice echoed softly through the quiet hall. "Leo, there you are. I've been looking everywhere."
Victoria Hayes walked in with the elegance of someone who had grown up knowing the world belonged to her. Tall, perfectly styled golden hair, designer blazer she didn't belong to the dusty library, but she owned the space the moment she stepped inside.
Elena's heart sank. Of course. Where Leonardo Romano went, Victoria Hayes was never far behind.
"Vicky," Leo greeted with a small nod, polite but distant.
She ignored Elena completely, leaning over the table so close Elena could smell the expensive perfume radiating off her. "Professor De Luca wants to see us about the moot court case. Come with me?"
Leo didn't move. He leaned back in his chair, gaze flicking briefly to Elena before returning to Vicky. "Later. I'm busy right now."
Vicky's perfect smile faltered. "Busy? With… this?" For the first time, her icy blue eyes turned to Elena, sharp and dismissive.
Elena's cheeks burned, but before she could speak, another voice cut through.
"Leo, there you are."
It was Damien Keller, tall and composed, with the quiet presence of someone who didn't need attention to command respect. He glanced at Elena, then at Vicky, then at Leo with a look that said he'd walked into the middle of a storm.
"What's going on?" Damien asked calmly.
"Nothing," Leo said smoothly, though his jaw tightened. "Just a study session."
Vicky laughed a sharp, tinkling sound. "Study session? Really, Leo? Don't tell me you've lowered yourself to"
"That's enough, Vicky." Leo's voice cut like a blade. It wasn't loud, but it carried weight.
Elena stared, wide-eyed. The Prince of Rome had actually defended her.
Vicky flushed, her smile stiff. "Fine. But don't forget Professor is waiting." With a swish of her hair, she turned and strode away, heels clicking against the marble floor.
The silence that followed was heavy.
Damien finally exhaled, muttering, "She's going to make you pay for that later."
Leo smirked faintly. "She always tries." Then he looked at Elena again, softer this time. "Sorry about her. She can be… intense."
"It's fine," Elena said quickly, though her pulse was still racing. "I'm used to being invisible. She probably didn't even notice me."
Leo frowned. "Invisible isn't the word I'd use for you."
The sincerity in his tone left Elena speechless.
Damien raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He gathered his notes and gave Leo a look that said we'll talk later before slipping away, leaving the two of them alone again.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Finally, Leo leaned forward, elbows resting on the table. His voice was low, almost conspiratorial. "Don't let people like Vicky decide your worth. You're… more than you think."
Elena's breath caught. She wanted to protest, to laugh it off but the way he looked at her made it impossible.
Instead, she whispered, "Why are you saying this to me?"
His lips curved in the faintest smile. "Because someone should."
The silence stretched again, but this time it was warm, not suffocating.
Across the room, Clara reappeared, carrying two coffees like she'd timed it perfectly. She froze mid-step, eyes darting between Elena's flushed face and Leo's intent gaze. A grin spread across her lips.
"Ohhh," she sang under her breath as she set the cup in front of Elena. "What did I miss?"
"Nothing," Elena snapped too quickly.
"Everything," Clara corrected with a smirk, sitting down beside her.
Leo chuckled softly, closing his laptop completely. He stood, gathering his things. "I'll see you around, Moretti."
Elena's heart jumped at the way he said her name, low and deliberate, like he was committing it to memory.
Then he walked away, leaving a trail of whispers behind him from the few students who had witnessed the scene.
Elena stared after him, pulse still racing, until Clara nudged her with a wicked grin.
"You're blushing like crazy," Clara teased. "Face it, Elena—Rome's prince just noticed you."
Elena groaned, burying her face in her hands. "This is a disaster."
But deep down, beneath the panic and disbelief, something fluttered in her chest—something dangerously close to hope.