Ariana and Livia sat in a quaint little sweet shop located in the heart of the Town Centre, the aroma of freshly baked shortcakes and biscuits filling the air.
The place was bustling with customers, but the cozy atmosphere around their small table made it feel like their own private corner.
Ariana sipped her tea delicately, nibbling on a shortcake with chocolate drizzle.
Livia, on the other hand, had already gone through a few biscuits and was lazily stirring her tea, clearly enjoying the relaxed mood.
"This place is so cute," Livia commented, looking around the shop.
"I can't believe we didn't come here sooner.
The cakes are divine."
Ariana nodded, her mouth full of shortcake, trying not to talk while eating.
"Yeah, it's really nice."
They continued chatting about random things—classes, upcoming exams, and a little gossip here and there.
The light-hearted conversation made Ariana forget about her usual nervousness.
Then, out of nowhere, Livia changed the topic.
"So... what's up with you and Noah?"
Livia's tone was playful, her eyes twinkling mischievously.
Ariana froze mid-sip.
She looked at Livia, wide-eyed, her cheeks flushing a deep pink.
"W-What?
Me and Noah?
There's nothing!"
She stammered, shaking her head, her voice squeaking slightly.
Livia smirked, clearly not buying it.
"Oh, come on, Ariana.
You've been talking about him non-stop since we sat down.
'Noah helped me with this,'
'Noah explained that to me,'
'Noah's so smart.'
It's kind of cute, really."
Ariana blushed even deeper, sinking into her chair.
"I-I didn't realize... I was just... he's been helping me study, that's all!"
"Sure, that's all," Livia teased.
"You're not blushing like that just because he helped you study, are you?"
Would it change everything between them?
Livia could see the worry in Ariana's eyes and softened her tone.
"I'm not trying to scare you.
I just want you to be sure about your feelings before you dive in.
You've never been in a relationship, right?"
Ariana nodded slowly.
"No, never..."
Livia smiled warmly.
"That's okay. Everyone's new at this at some point.
Just take your time to figure out what you want. There's no rush.
And if it turns out you really do like Noah, well, then that's something you'll have to deal with when the time comes."
Ariana's mind drifted back to her family, the House of Snow.
She remembered the time when her parents introduced her to a guy from another noble family, someone she was expected to marry after her studies at Ravenwood.
He had everything her family could want—a prestigious background, wealth, and status.
But Ariana had never liked him.
She had tried, for the sake of her family, to see if she could love him, but it never worked.
The guy was arrogant and shallow, always talking about himself and his family's accomplishments.
He barely cared about Ariana's interests or dreams.
To him, she was just a trophy, another step toward solidifying his power.
That wasn't what Ariana wanted.
The reason she had come to Ravenwood was to study magic and make a name for herself.
She wanted to graduate as one of the top students, someone who could stand on her own and make decisions for her future.
The only way she could reject the arranged marriage was if she became powerful enough to be independent of her family's influence.
Ariana dreamed of starting her own prestigious house one day, where she could marry someone she truly loved—someone she chose for herself.
Livia had finished her tea by now and was watching Ariana with a thoughtful expression.
She rested her chin on her hand, her gaze distant.
"Noah..." Livia said quietly, almost to herself.
Ariana snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Livia.
"What about Noah?"
Livia smiled softly but didn't answer right away.
Instead, she simply leaned back in her chair, lost in her own thoughts about the mysterious boy who had somehow managed to get under everyone's skin without even trying.