Chapter 70: A Gentleman’s Guise

"Just look at that! Look at how he carried you like a princess," Elle gushed, shoving her phone into Starlight’s face and showing her one of the currently trending images from the training hall.

"Isn’t he such a gentleman? You two look so good together. I swear, I wish we could switch places right now."

Starlight scrunched up her face in pure disgust.

How was that annoying picture anything to be proud of?

Completely oblivious to Starlight’s horrified expression, Elle looked up at her dreamily.

"Seriously, Star, who did you save in your past life to deserve this?" Grabbing her arm, Elle shook her enthusiastically.

"Can I borrow some of your good karma? Please? I want my own gentle wolfie right now."

"Unhand me this instant, you shameless lunatic!" Starlight snapped, trying unsuccessfully to free herself. Ariel and Chloe really should have dragged this nuisance along when they left earlier. Saved someone in her past life?

More like who had she killed in her past life that was now tormenting her in the form of Elle MacPherson. Still trying to pry Elle’s fingers off her arm, she caught sight of Mikhail approaching from the corner of her eye.

Her eyebrows immediately drew together into a deep frown.

What was this oversized dog doing back here?

She thought he had already left for good and would never bother showing his face again.

"How are you feeling now, Miss Dawson?" Mikhail asked softly, stepping closer to the bed. "What did the doctor say?"

"It’s none of your damn business," Starlight snapped, rolling her eyes. "What are you even doing back here anyway?"

"Come on, Starlight, be nice!" Elle smacked her arm, earning an immediate glare.

Completely unfazed, she huffed and immediately sprang to her feet to face Mikhail, clasping her hands together dramatically as she flashed him a bright smile. "Your Highness, thank you so much for helping her earlier. Seriously, if you hadn’t caught her..." She pressed a hand to her chest.

"You are literally a lifesaver."

Starlight could only stare at Elle in complete disbelief. How could someone possibly be this embarrassing and utterly shameless?

"It was nothing," Mikhail replied with a polite smile. The stark contrast between Starlight Dawson and her friend was almost unbelievable.

Why couldn’t she just react the way most humans did around werewolves?

This entire situation would have been significantly easier. Instead, she treated him as though his mere existence irritated her.

I wonder what had happened to make her so aggressively defensive around us.

Whatever it was must have left scars far deeper than she was willing to admit.

And Mikhail had a strong suspicion that Otto Guzman was somehow connected to all of it.

"I was simply in the right place at the right time," he continued. "I’m glad she’s alright."

"Aww, and you’re humble too?" Elle practically swooned, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "Do they make all princes like this, or are you a special edition, your highness?"

Mikhail looked mildly amused by her enthusiasm, but his attention soon shifted back to Starlight.

"Now that I know you’re doing better, I should get going. Please take care of yourself, alright?"

"Ugh." Starlight visibly recoiled. "I don’t need you telling me to take care of myself. Just go already. Go." She waved her hand at him as though shooing away a particularly persistent insect.

"Starlight Dawson," Elle said sternly, planting her hands on her hips. "Will you stop being rude to our gentle, kind, handsome, and refined prince?"

Starlight stared at her as if she had completely lost her mind.

An amused smile flickered across Mikhail’s face as he maintained his soft tone. "Very well then. Please do have a lovely day." With that, he turned on his heel and walked out of the infirmary.

"Ew, oh my God. What is wrong with that guy?" Starlight rubbed her arms as a shudder ran through her body. "That gave me the creeps."

If Nikolai was an arrogant maniac, then Mikhail was suffocating. Who exactly was he trying to impress with that overly attentive gentleman act?

Gosh, I honestly wish both brothers would stay as far away from me as physically possible.

"Are you allergic to kindness or what?" Elle demanded. "His Highness has been nothing but nice to you, but you keep acting like he personally offended your entire bloodline." She sighed dreamily, staring off into space. "Oh, the things I would do to find a guy who would carry me to the infirmary and ask how I’m feeling."

"Elle, please snap out of it!" Starlight groaned as she grabbed the only pillow on the bed and threw it straight at her. "You’re driving me crazy."

Catching the pillow effortlessly, Elle turned to her with a goofy grin. "Can I have him if you don’t want him?"

"Be my guest," Starlight replied dryly.

Elle shook her head with a light sigh, sitting back beside her on the bed. "I swear, you don’t know what you have until you lose it. Sometimes I wonder why you even submitted your name for the Lunar Lottery in the first place."

Starlight’s lips pressed into a thin line.

If only you knew...

*****

Outside the infirmary, the smile vanished from Mikhail’s face the moment the door closed behind him.

He glanced back at the frosted glass doors, his eyes turning cold and calculating. If Starlight had seen the lethal edge in his expression right now, she would have probably screamed, I knew it.

His gaze lingered on the door for a few more seconds before he finally looked away.

It seemed the sympathetic good-guy approach wasn’t going to get him anywhere.

If kindness and patience weren’t enough to get through to her, then he would simply have to come up with another plan.

With that thought in mind, Mikhail turned and walked away.

As soon as he pushed open the door to the room he shared with his brother, he was greeted by a sight that immediately made his eye twitch.

Nikolai was sprawled comfortably on the edge of a velvet armchair, one leg thrown over the armrest while his hand tapped out a lazy, rhythmic beat against his knee. He was humming a low, pitch-perfect melody under his breath.

Even as Mikhail stepped inside and clicked the door shut behind him, Nikolai didn’t stop humming or bother to turn his head, completely absorbed in his own world.

Mikhail stared at him for several long seconds, his irritation steadily climbing.

"Where the hell have you been?"

Nikolai’s humming paused for exactly one second before continuing.

"It’s nice to see you too, brother."

Mikhail’s eye twitched again.

Every clan in the Empire had apparently mounted a hunt for Starlight Dawson overnight, and there was a very real possibility they could lose her if they weren’t careful. The girl already seemed to have a particular dislike for werewolves, and meanwhile his idiot brother was sitting here humming songs as if the world wasn’t actively trying to steal her away from them.

"NIKOLAI WOLFHART!"

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This Chapter is lacking something. I can feel it, and I know some of you might feel it too, or maybe it’s just me. The problem is, I don’t know what it is or how to fix it right now. Let’s just say I’m not in the right headspace at the moment.

I honestly feel like giving up. (๑´̥̥̥>ω<̥̥̥`๑) (๑´̥̥̥>ω<̥̥̥`๑)