Cain pushed open the door to his dorm room and stepped into a space that felt more like a noble's parlor than a student's quarters.
The room was large and well-appointed. The walls were dressed in deep navy and silver, the colors of House Sinthorne. Heavy curtains framed tall windows, and thick rugs softened the sound of footsteps across the polished stone floor. A hand-carved wooden table sat in the center of the lounge area, surrounded by plush armchairs and a long couch that looked barely used. A tall bookshelf stretched across one side of the wall, lined with untouched volumes. Even the desk in the corner, though covered in dust, was made of dark mahogany, polished to a shine.
Though Cain had been dismissed as an embarrassment, he had still been a prince. And princes were expected to live a certain way, even if the throne wanted nothing to do with them.
Anna stepped in behind him and took it all in with a single sweep of her eyes. She let out a low whistle and made her way straight to the couch, flopping onto it like it was her own. She kicked her boots off and stretched out, resting one arm across the backrest as she glanced toward the small refrigerator tucked between two cabinets.
"Get me something to drink," she said without even looking at him. "Preferably something cold. You owe me for the emotional trauma of thinking you were dead."
Cain turned toward her with a blank stare.
"I'm still basically naked," he said flatly. "I'm not getting you anything until I have pants on."
Anna waved a hand lazily. "Then hurry up. I'm parched."
Cain sighed and walked to the wardrobe in the far corner. He pulled the doors open by hand but couldn't help but stare at the wardrobe with mild irritation.
The uniforms hung perfectly in place, pressed and color-coded, not a single thread out of alignment. Casual shirts in muted tones rested beside folded slacks and vests, untouched since the day he moved in. It was all pristine, untouched by dust or time, but that didn't make it useful.
He pulled out a pair of trousers first and slipped them on. The fabric caught at his thighs almost immediately. He tugged harder, managing to get them up, but when he looked down, the hem hovered awkwardly above his ankles.
Cain frowned.
Next came the shirt. He chose the loosest one he could find, a simple button-up in soft grey. He had to work to get it on. The seams tugged tight around his chest, and the sleeves stopped just past his elbows. Every button felt like it was one breath away from popping loose.
Still, it was better than walking around in nothing.
He stepped out of the alcove and into the main room.
Anna looked up. Her eyebrows rose. She blinked once.
Then she burst out laughing.
"Oh gods, you look like you borrowed clothes from some tiny freshman," she said, pointing at him with her half-finished drink. "Is that shirt trying to strangle you?"
Cain rolled his eyes and tugged the collar with mild annoyance. "I need to go clothes shopping. Nothing is going to fit anymore…"
Anna looked like she might say something else, but then she just grinned and flopped back onto the couch again, arms sprawled wide across the cushions.
"Alright~! You're dressed now. Now you can go fetch a drink for your lovely Professor who came to check up on you the moment she heard you were alive again!"
Cain stared at her briefly in utter disbelief.
"Like I am going to fucking believe that. Odds are you stored your alcohol in my fridge again and was worried you may not be able to drink it anymore if I was dead. Lovely Professor my ass!"
Despite his cursing, he still walked over to his kitchenette and opened the fridge. Lo and behold, his entire fridge was filled with alcoholic beverages, leaving absolutely no room for any sort of groceries.
"Really?" He asked with a sour expression as he glanced over the opened fridge door.
Anna gave him a cheeky grin and shrugged from the couch, clearly unrepentant.
"You weren't using it," she said sweetly. "And someone had to make sure it didn't go to waste. It's a crime to let good liquor sit unloved."
Cain shut the fridge with a heavy thud and carried over two beers, placing one in front of her while using his teeth to open one for himself.
"Hey! Who said you could have one of those?! That's mine!" Anna immediately complained
Cain took a long drink right in front of her without breaking eye contact.
"You just said it's a crime to let good liquor sit unloved," he replied, voice dry. "I'm just being a good citizen."
Anna narrowed her eyes and grabbed her beer like it was a treasured heirloom he had threatened. "It's only a crime when I'm not the one drinking it."
Cain leaned back in the armchair opposite her and set his bottle down on the table with a soft clink. "Then maybe next time you should ask before turning my fridge into a damn tavern."
She smirked and raised her bottle toward him in mock salute. "What can I say? I've got excellent taste in storage space."
They sat in silence for a few beats, the mood slowly shifting. The early tension had faded, replaced by something more comfortable. Quieter. Cain nursed his drink with measured sips, the cool bitterness grounding him. He let his eyes wander the room, settling momentarily on the thick curtains, the spotless bookshelf, the immaculate desk.
Everything here had been arranged perfectly for a prince no one believed in.
Anna watched him over the rim of her bottle. "So," she said after a while, tone softer now. "Are you going to tell me what happened down there?"
Cain's jaw tightened as he looked Anna in the eye. What he saw was compassion, care….pity?
"I don't know what I can tell you. What I will tell you though is that Abel and Julia tried to kill me down there. Abel stabbed me in the back and Julia tried to finish me off…but by some miracle, I didn't die…"
Anna's expression grew darker as Cain talked about the Dungeon Exploration that had gone wrong. By the time that he had finished talking, Anna was torn between tears and rage.
"Abel! That Rat bastard! I will make sure that he fails every test going forward! He will regret his choices! Julia too! She can forget her scholarship!"
Cain gave a humorless chuckle, running a hand through his white hair.
"You're not exactly being subtle about your bias there, Professor Storm."
Anna's eyes flared. "Call it bias again and I'll flunk your ass so hard they'll make you retake entrance exams."
Cain raised his hands in mock surrender. He then lowered his hands slowly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Look, I'm grateful for you getting angry on my behalf. It's… nice to know someone actually cares." His eyes met hers, honest and steady. "But don't worry. I will be the one to take care of Abel. I have filed for a duel to the death already."
"What?! When?!"
"The duel will take place a week from today"
Anna shook her head slowly, a mix of frustration and worry softening her expression. "You're reckless, you know that? But I get it. You want to settle this yourself."
He gave a small, tight smile. "Someone has to. No one else can make sure it's done right."
She sighed and took a slow sip from her bottle. "Alright. Just promise me you'll be careful. And if you need help, you say the word."
Cain nodded, feeling the weight of her concern. "I will. Thanks, Anna."