As usual, Catherine slept through half of Maximilian's lectures.
She had claimed the couch in the faculty office as if it were her rightful territory, curled on her side while he graded papers at his desk, red pen moving with ruthless precision.
Lately, exhaustion clung to her like a second skin. No matter how much she slept, it wasn't enough. Her body felt heavier these days. Slower. As though something inside her was quietly draining her strength. It was why she wanted to get back to work sooner. She didn't want to turn into a lazy bum.
When she stirred awake, blinking against the soft afternoon light, she realized Maximilian was no longer alone.
Someone else stood beside his desk.
"Sebastian," she greeted, pushing herself upright with a lazy stretch. "How's Bernice?"
He wasn't in one of his elaborate disguises today; Just Sebastian. Bright-eyed. Relaxed. Radiating a kind of happiness that softened his usually sharp presence.
He looked… victorious.
