The garden was quiet except for the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze.
Maya Brenthall sat at a small wrought-iron table.
Her hands gracefully holding a teacup as she read from a book resting in her lap.
The golden light of the late afternoon cast a serene glow over the academy grounds.
And for a moment, Maya allowed herself to relax.
But peace was fleeting.
"Well, isn't this just perfect."
A sharp voice cut through the tranquility.
Maya's fingers froze on the page.
Maya slowly raised her head, her sharp purple eyes meeting Iris's crimson ones.
The dark-haired girl stood a few feet away, arms crossed, her gaze fiery and unrelenting.
It was no coincidence that Iris Star, childhood friend of Noah Ashbourne, had found her here.
"Iris..."
Maya greeted coolly, setting her teacup down with precision.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Iris took a step forward, her expression both accusatory and incredulous.
"Pleasure? You sit here sipping tea, enjoying your book as if the world isn't falling apart, while your fiancé—your betrothed, Noah—is missing."
Maya didn't flinch.
Instead, she closed her book, placing it delicately on the table.
"And what exactly would you like me to do, Iris?
Scour the ends of the world for him?
Shall I send out a search party at my expense?"
Her voice was calm, but there was an edge of arrogance that Maya couldn't entirely suppress.
"The engagement was political.
There's no love between us."
Iris's eyes widened in disbelief.
"That's all you have to say?
Political? No feelings?
Do you even realize what you're saying?"
Maya raised an eyebrow, unfazed.
"I'm stating the truth. It doesn't concern me much.
He and I—well, we're hardly the romantic pair people seem to imagine."
That did it.
Iris's hands slammed onto the table, rattling the teacup and startling a nearby bird.
"Are you serious, Maya?
You don't even care that he's missing?
You're engaged to him!"
"By arrangement, not by choice."
Maya replied, her tone clipped but still respectful.
She folded her hands in her lap, her composed demeanor unwavering.
"If Noah is as capable as he claims, I'm sure he can handle himself.
There's no need for me to play the role of a worried fiancée.
It's unbecoming."
Iris straightened, her fiery glare intensifying.
"Unbecoming?
Meanwhile, Ariana sat across from them, uncharacteristically silent.
Her hands folded neatly in her lap as her gaze seemed fixed on the table.
"Honestly..."
Clara said, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
"...this whole situation with Noah is hilarious.
I mean, they've got entire search parties combing the academy grounds for him.
They even hired professionals to search outside the academy.
Professionals, Eliza! And the best part?
He's literally right here in the academy."
Eliza chuckled, adjusting her glasses again.
"It's ridiculous.
They're bending over backward to keep this from his family and the other nobles.
You'd think they were trying to hide a state secret."
Clara snorted.
"Can you imagine the uproar if his family found out?
The House of Ashbourne wouldn't just demand answers—they'd probably tear the academy apart stone by stone."
Eliza laughed at the exaggeration, shaking her head.
"True. But you know how students are. Secrets don't stay hidden for long, not in a place like this.
It's only a matter of time before someone blabs, and the entire world knows."
Clara leaned forward, her elbows on the table.
"Honestly, I'm tempted to spill the beans myself.
It's the right thing to do, isn't it?
Let the academy know that he's safe and sound."
Eliza nodded thoughtfully.
"It would be the responsible thing to do, I suppose.
But then again..."
She trailed off, glancing at Ariana.
"What do you think, Ari?
Should we tell someone?"
Ariana's fingers tightened slightly around the fabric of her skirt.
She looked up at her friends, her expression soft yet conflicted.
Her voice, when it came, was quiet but steady.
"I... I think Noah probably has his reasons for faking his death or pretending to be missing."
Clara and Eliza blinked, startled by the unexpected weight in her tone.
Ariana continued, her words coming hesitantly but sincerely.
"Everyone, even us, has problems they're dealing with.
But unlike us... Noah doesn't have anyone to talk to.
He's distant, cold...
And even when things must be eating away at him, he doesn't share it with anyone.
He's all alone."
Her hands clutched her skirt more tightly as she looked at them, her voice dropping to a near whisper.
"Maybe it's not much, but... we can at least do this one thing for him.
Keep his secret.
Even though he acts prideful and tough... I think, deep down, Noah appreciates these small acts.
He just... doesn't know how to show it."