Adrian wasn't used to being ignored.
Especially not in his own kingdom.
The campus had always been his stage—every laugh, every whisper, every lingering stare belonged to him. But now, when he walked through the courtyard, eyes shifted elsewhere.
To her.
To Liora.
She sat under the shade of a tree, her notebook open, her hair catching the sunlight. And beside her sat Ethan, leaning in just close enough to make Adrian's jaw tighten.
They were laughing.
At what, Adrian didn't care. What mattered was that she was smiling—smiling at him.
Something twisted in his chest. Irritation, he told himself. Just irritation.
He strode past a group of girls who called out his name, not even glancing at them. His focus was already locked on the two by the tree.
"Having fun?" His voice cut through the air like a blade.
Liora froze. Ethan looked up calmly, though a flicker of unease crossed his face.
Adrian smirked, shoving his hands in his pockets as he loomed over them. "What's this? A study date? How adorable."
Liora's jaw tightened. "It's just class notes."
"Of course," Adrian said smoothly, though his eyes never left Ethan. "And I'm sure your little… companion here is very good at teaching."
Ethan's voice was steady. "Better than being good at mocking people."
The smirk slipped from Adrian's lips for just a second. His gaze sharpened. "Careful, boy. You don't want to bite off more than you can chew."
Ethan met his stare, unflinching. "Funny. I was about to say the same to you."
Liora's heart thudded, caught between them. She wanted to disappear, but Adrian wasn't letting her go that easily.
He leaned down, his hand braced on the tree behind her. His presence was suffocating, his smirk infuriating. "Tell me, Liora," he murmured, his voice low enough that only she could hear, "is this your type? Cheap jackets and soft smiles?"
Her breath caught. His nearness made her pulse race—not with desire, but with anger.
She forced herself to meet his eyes. "At least he treats me like a human. That's more than you've ever done."
The words hit harder than she expected. For a second, Adrian's gaze flickered—confusion, irritation, something else he didn't want to name.
He straightened, his smirk sharp again. "Enjoy your little charity project, Liora. Just remember—nothing here belongs to you. Not friends. Not respect. And certainly not freedom."
He walked away, his long strides quick, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles whitened.
The laughter behind him burned in his ears.
Why did it bother him?
He had girls lining up for a chance to sit at his table. He had the respect of every student, the power to crush anyone who dared defy him.
So why did one stubborn girl's smile—directed at another man—sting like betrayal?
Adrian shoved the thought away, but it lingered, gnawing at him in the quiet corners of his mind.
Liora wasn't supposed to matter.
And yet… she did.