Chapter 141: ¹⁴¹: breaking protocols.

Chapter 141: 1?1: breaking protocols.

"What does that even mean?!" I asked, my eyes widening as I tried to process his ridiculous words. "I have to get up. Do you want me to be called out for disrespecting the Gamma of this empire?!"

I turned my head back before waiting for whatever Louis was about to say, my attention immediately shifting toward the entrance of the auditorium. I wanted to make sure whether Gamma Derek had entered yet or not.

Unfortunately, the sight in front of me made the uncomfortable feeling in my stomach grow even stronger.

Gamma Derek had already entered the auditorium. Our new principal was walking just a few steps ahead of him, pointing out the path toward the stage while Gamma Derek followed with an easy, composed stride.

The moment I saw him, I silently prayed that he would choose another aisle to walk through. Of course, knowing my luck, that was probably the one thing that was never going to happen.

My fingers unknowingly tightened around the edge of my seat as I watched him approach. Please, just take another path. I repeated for the tenth time inside my head but Gamma Derek walked directly toward the aisle beside us.

His face was turned slightly forward as he walked, his attention seemingly focused on the stage ahead. Then, just as he reached the section near our seats, his head turned.

His eyes locked directly onto where we were sitting. My heartbeat dropped. I immediately shot my head forward again, suddenly far more conscious of the fact that I was still sitting while practically everyone around us had already gotten up.

This was bad, very bad. I couldn’t even imagine what the students around me were thinking. I had only recently started feeling the stares towards me lessening, and now, because of Louis, I was sitting down while everyone else was standing to greet one of the highest-ranking officials of the empire.

I was going to look like some arrogant girl who thought she was above the rules. Or worse, a clout-chasing girl trying to get attention by sitting beside the heir.

I had absolutely no desire for either impression. I quickly tried to pull Louis’s hand away from my lap, my movements becoming more urgent as Gamma Derek came closer.

"Louis, leave my hand!" I whispered again, my voice strained with panic. I moved my other hand toward his, attempting to pry his fingers away from mine so I could finally free my hand and stand. But Louis’s grip didn’t move even an inch.

I tried again, this time giving his hand a small tug...Nothing happened, not even a budge. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, disbelief building inside me. Was he seriously going to make me deal with this right now?

"I told you, you don’t have to get up. No one will say anything to you, don’t worry!" Louis whispered back, sounding completely calm despite the fact that I was practically fighting his hand that was pinning my hand onto my thigh making it impossible to move my legs.

His expression was annoyingly relaxed. How could he be so calm?

"Gamma Derek greets the heir!" Gamma Derek’s voice sounded from nearby. My entire body stiffened, he was already here and I was still sitting, breaking the academy’s rules. Possibly breaking the empire’s formal protocols too.

For a second, I didn’t even know what to do. I forced myself to look up, hoping, almost desperately that Gamma Derek’s attention would be completely focused on Louis and that he wouldn’t even notice me.

But the moment I raised my eyes, I found his gaze falling directly on me. My stomach twisted involuntary there went my last hope of remaining unnoticed.

After this, it wasn’t only the students of our class who might think I was some girl trying to gain attention by sitting beside Louis. Even the new principal could easily misunderstand the situation. ⅇ𝒃𝚗ℴ

I could already imagine the whispers. Who does she think she is? Why didn’t she stand? Does she think being beside the heir gives her special privileges?

I mentally groaned. All I wanted was to sit through one peaceful assembly. Was that really too much to ask?

Without even realizing it, I gave Gamma Derek an awkward little nod, my lips pressing into a nervous smile that probably looked far less natural than I intended.

To my surprise, however, he reciprocated. His expression softened, and there was an unusually friendly light in his eyes as he looked at me. Then, instead of questioning why I was still sitting, he simply turned his attention toward the students behind us and gave them a small nod, silently signaling that they could sit down.

I blinked, that was...unexpected. For a moment, I simply stared at him before quickly lowering my gaze again.

"You don’t have to greet me, Gamma Derek." Louis’s voice beside me pulled me out of my thoughts.

I turned my head reluctantly. Louis was now looking up at Gamma Derek with a slight smile on his face, completely at ease as if he hadn’t just caused me several minutes of unnecessary panic. "There is no need for formalities between us," he added casually.

"Oh, this isn’t for the formalities, my Heir," Gamma Derek said, a warm smile forming on his lips. "I remember you used to be so little, always wandering around Alpha Kael for his attention. And now look at you. You’re all grown up, the heir of our Empire, finally having an identity of your own and no longer being known merely as Alpha Kael’s little brother. It honestly makes me proud of you."

My brows furrowed slightly as I listened to Gamma Derek. There was something about the way he spoke to Louis that made me pause. His words sounded genuine enough, and his expression was perfectly pleasant, yet some small instinct inside me refused to completely relax.

Was there something off about him? Or was I simply projecting my own trust issues onto him? After everything I had experienced, perhaps I had started looking for hidden intentions even where there were none.

I lifted my gaze to get another proper look at Gamma Derek. Just as before, he was looking down at Louis with a polite, almost affectionate smile.

There was nothing suspicious in his expression, no strange movement or hesitation that could justify the uneasy feeling growing inside me. Maybe I really was making a strange assumption.

"Then I might have to disappoint you, Gamma Derek," Louis replied, a wider smile spreading across his face. "I am still exactly like my childhood self, wandering around Alpha Kael just to get his attention."

Gamma Derek immediately chuckled. The sound made a few nearby students glance toward them before quickly looking away again.

"Ha-ha! You still have your sense of humor, my heir," Gamma Derek said, his smile widening as he shook his head lightly.

I whipped my head toward Louis. Sense of humor? Him?

I stared at Louis for a second, almost tempted to laugh at the thought. Whatever else I could say about him, I had never once thought of him as someone particularly humorous. Annoying? Absolutely. Persistent? Without a doubt. But funny? That was debatable.

Louis seemed completely unaffected by my expression.

"We will talk after this, then," Gamma Derek said, gesturing toward the table near the stage.

Louis simply nodded. "Of course."

With that, Gamma Derek finally moved forward, following the principal toward the stage.

I watched them for a moment as they walked away, my eyes lingering on Gamma Derek’s back until they finally reached the front of the auditorium.

The principal stepped aside after properly introducing him, and the students around us began applauding.

I joined them automatically, my attention shifting toward the stage. But then I suddenly remembered something far more important.

My hand, my eyes dropped. My other hand was still trapped beneath Louis’s hand. I stared at our hands in disbelief. He had seriously not let go. Was he planning to keep holding my hand throughout the entire assembly?

I quickly tried to pull my hand away from his grip again, all while keeping my face directed toward the stage. I didn’t want anyone around us noticing what was happening.

"Leave my hand now!" I whisper-shouted, barely moving my lips.

Louis turned his head toward me. "What?" His voice sounded genuinely confused. I slowly turned my head toward him. He was looking at me as if he truly had no idea what I was talking about.

My frustration instantly flared i side me as I kept looking at his immensely annoying face infront of mine. How could he possibly be confused when his hand was literally keeping mine trapped?

I gave his hand another tug...Nothing, literally nothing. I tried again, this time with slightly more force, but he still didn’t move.

My eyes narrowed. "Louis Dreven, leave my hand!" I hissed, my eyes practically spitting fire as I now glared at him.