Chapter 76: A Mark

"Sit."

Leon’s eyes widened when his gaze met the Prince’s. He began to rise, but Caelus’s voice reached him before he could get out of his chair. The command was almost casual, yet there was something in Caelus’s gaze that made Leon hesitate. He looked between him and the First Prince, then slowly settled back into his seat.

Caelus, meanwhile, had not taken his eyes off Adrian.

He had hated this man long before they had ever met.

Among all the characters he had created, Adrian Draconis was one of the few who had genuinely irritated him. The prince had an extraordinary talent for finding ways to make other people’s lives miserable, particularly when they happened to be talented women.

Whenever a woman displayed enough potential to interest him, Adrian saw an opportunity to strengthen the imperial bloodline. Her own ambitions, her family’s wishes, and even an existing engagement meant very little to him. If he wanted her, he would find a way to make her his.

Engagements were broken, families pressured, and promises turned into obligations until refusing the prince became a choice few could afford to make.

Elysia Sylvaris had been one of his intended prizes.

In the original story, Adrian’s interference had been among the reasons she eventually became a villainess. He had helped turn her life into a succession of humiliations and unwanted compromises, each one pushing her further toward the person she would become.

Caelus had once written those events as part of a story. He had never imagined he would have to watch them unfold in front of him.

And he had no intention of allowing Adrian to repeat them.

Beside him, Elysia seemed less than pleased by the prince’s arrival. Her expression had grown noticeably colder, although the faint amusement in her eyes suggested that she was enjoying the fact that Caelus had chosen to stand in Adrian’s way.

The prince, for his part, seemed entirely untroubled.

He looked at Leon, then at Caelus, wearing the same pleasant smile he had worn when he first approached their table.

"What is the meaning of this, Vespera? Have you decided that the First Prince’s instructions are beneath your consideration?"

Caelus returned his smile, though his eyes remained cold.

"Instructions?"

He glanced briefly at Leon before turning back to Adrian.

"As far as I know, we’re inside the Academy. Here, a student’s rank determines their standing among their peers. It doesn’t grant them the authority to command everyone else."

A few conversations nearby began to fade. Adrian’s presence had already attracted attention, but a direct challenge to his authority was another matter entirely. Even those who had been pretending not to listen found themselves watching the exchange.

Adrian’s smile did not falter.

"Are you suggesting that my position carries no weight within these walls?"

"I’m suggesting that the Academy has its own rules." Caelus rested an arm on the back of his chair. "Unless the Headmaster has appointed you to enforce them, I don’t see why Leon should have to obey you."

The prince regarded him with an expression of mild interest, as though Caelus had just offered an unexpectedly entertaining answer.

Leon, however, was finding little entertainment in the situation. The weight of Adrian’s attention was difficult to ignore, and even with Caelus seated beside him, he could feel the instinctive urge to stand and apologize. His fingers tightened around his glass.

He knew what happened to people who offended the imperial family. More importantly, he knew that the First Prince was not someone who easily forgot an insult.

Yet Caelus had told him to sit.

So Leon stayed where he was.

Adrian noticed. His gaze lingered on the young man for a moment before returning to Caelus.

"I had heard that the third son of House Vespera was a rather quiet fellow. It seems the examination has done wonders for your confidence."

"Perhaps people simply have more reason to listen to me now."

A quiet laugh escaped the prince.

"An understandable conclusion, considering your recent achievements. First place in the examination, several unfamiliar spells, and a performance that has apparently left quite a few people reconsidering what they thought they knew about you."

His eyes settled on Caelus with renewed interest.

"Though I must admit, your progress has been rather extraordinary. Not long ago, you were known primarily for your swordsmanship. Now you seem to have acquired a considerable talent for magic as well."

Caelus said nothing.

The prince continued regardless.

"Your spells were particularly interesting. Their construction was unlike anything I had seen from you before, and you managed to develop several of them in an astonishingly short time. I imagine your instructors must be delighted."

"I’m sure they are."

"Were you taught by someone in particular?"

"Books have been useful."

"Have they?" Adrian’s smile widened slightly. "Then I suppose I ought to congratulate you on finding such remarkable books. They must be quite difficult to obtain."

"Not especially."

"Really? I would have thought knowledge of that quality would be rather valuable."

"It depends."

For a moment, the prince simply studied him. His interest was still dressed in politeness, but Caelus could see the suspicion beneath it. Adrian wanted to know how a young man once considered unremarkable had suddenly become capable of feats that even experienced students struggled to explain.

And he was making certain Caelus understood that he had noticed.

"Of course," Adrian said at last. "Talent can reveal itself in unexpected ways. Though when someone improves so dramatically, people naturally begin to wonder what might have brought about the change."

"People are welcome to wonder."

"Indeed. But you must understand that the Empire takes an interest in unusual developments, particularly when they involve someone with your family name."

Caelus’s smile remained in place.

"Then I hope the Empire has enough time to satisfy its curiosity."

Adrian gave a soft chuckle, though his eyes had grown a little colder.

"You certainly have a way with words, Vespera. I wonder if that confidence comes from your achievements or from the protection your family name affords you."

"Would you like to find out?"

The question was delivered without a change in tone. That, more than any display of hostility, seemed to amuse Adrian.

He leaned back, regarding Caelus as though he were considering a particularly interesting piece on a chessboard.

"No. Not tonight."

His gaze shifted toward Elysia.

"Lady Elysia. It’s nice to see you again."

"Your Highness."

Her response was perfectly courteous, but the lack of warmth in it was difficult to miss.

Adrian seemed entirely content to overlook it. He offered her a gracious smile, then allowed his eyes to linger on her for a moment longer than necessary.

"I trust you have been well. I had hoped we might have an opportunity to speak tonight, but I see you already have company."

Elysia’s expression remained unchanged.

"I’m afraid I haven’t been waiting for an opportunity to speak with you."

The answer was polite enough to pass as ordinary conversation, but the meaning was unmistakable.

Adrian’s smile tightened for the briefest moment. Then he turned back to Caelus.

"First place suits you."

His eyes held Caelus’s, the pleasant expression on his face doing little to conceal the challenge behind his words.

"Let’s see how long you keep it."

With that, the prince turned and walked away, leaving the tension he had brought with him to linger long after he was gone.