Chapter 39 Moment inside the pool.

Chapter 39: Chapter 39 Moment inside the pool.

Noah, for once, thought he was the only unlucky one to end up inside the pool. He had completely forgotten that Marcus had landed in with him too.

As he desperately tried to keep himself afloat, strong arms suddenly wrapped around his waist.

His whole body stiffened.

Immediately, he panicked and tried to pry those arms away, twisting sideways in an attempt to escape. Instead of getting free, he accidentally pressed himself even closer against Marcus’ chest.

Marcus couldn’t have looked any happier.

"Finally able to feel you." His lips curved into a satisfied grin. "I can’t believe I had to fall into a pool just to feel your warmth."

Noah stared at him, searching his face for... something.

Unfortunately, there was absolutely nothing there besides shameless happiness.

Around them, the younger students were already giggling while taking pictures of the two.

"Wait... they’re taking pictures?" Noah looked around in disbelief. "I didn’t even know there were phones in this school."

Marcus laughed so hard his shoulders shook.

"Why shouldn’t there be phones?" he teased. "What do you think we are? Cave men?"

Noah blinked.

...Right.

This academy was filled with wealthy nobles and influential families. Of course they would own phones and other communication devices.

That had honestly been a stupid question.

He decided to pretend he never asked.

"You know you’re not supposed to be touching me like this, right?" Noah pointed out. "Aren’t I a guy? Won’t your people complain that you’re getting this close to another man?"

The moment those words left his mouth, Marcus burst into another fit of laughter.

Noah frowned.

What exactly had he said that was so funny?

Judging from Marcus’ expression, it almost looked like he was the clueless one around here.

That was honestly infuriating.

"Oh, dear." Marcus wiped the corner of his eye. "I have two fathers, and I live in a kingdom where homosexuality is completely normal. Why would anyone complain?"

Noah froze.

...What?

That...

Actually made sense.

But then another thought suddenly struck him.

If that was true...

Why had Marcus been chasing Slyvia in the novel?

Almost as if he could read Noah’s thoughts, Marcus smiled helplessly.

"I know what you’re thinking."

He rubbed the back of his neck.

"But I don’t like her."

Noah blinked.

"The one who might actually be interested in her is Eugene. As for me..." He shook his head. "Nothing like that."

He glanced at Noah’s trembling body.

"Aren’t you cold? Let’s get out of the water."

His smile brightened.

"Maybe this evening, during your birthday party, you can swim again. My lodge has a much better pool."

Marcus climbed out first before stretching a hand toward Noah.

With the way he was explaining everything, it almost seemed like he genuinely cared about what Noah thought of him.

Like he was trying his hardest to clear up every misunderstanding.

"Come on," Marcus urged. "You’ll catch a cold."

His hand remained stretched out.

Instead of taking it, Noah looked around until he spotted Lamia.

His eyes immediately lit up.

"Hey! Lamia!"

The silver-haired boy turned around before walking over with a confused expression.

"What is it?"

The moment he got close enough, Noah smiled brightly.

"There."

He pointed at Marcus.

"He asked me first, so I’m taking your hand instead."

Lamia looked between the two boys.

One was standing outside the pool with an outstretched hand.

The other was half-drowned and shivering inside the water.

"...I don’t understand."

He frowned.

"When exactly did I say that?"

Noah slapped a hand against his forehead.

Fuck.

He was supposed to cooperate.

Marcus would leave if Lamia helped him out.

There was absolutely no way he could let Marcus see why he couldn’t climb out on his own.

For someone Noah thought was intelligent...

Lamia could really be unbelievably dense.

"Lamia," Noah said through gritted teeth, "don’t you remember where you’re supposed to take me?"

He desperately threw several meaningful glances toward Lamia’s hands.

Please.

Just stretch them out.

Take the hint.

Instead, Lamia suddenly gasped.

"Oh!"

His eyes widened.

"You’re trying to tell me something! I just don’t know what it is."

Noah stared at him.

...

Hopeless.

Absolutely hopeless.

No longer interested in dragging this any further, Noah sighed before accepting Marcus’ hand instead.

One hand stayed pressed against his own body as he tried to cover himself while shivering.

Marcus gently pulled him out before drawing him a little closer.

"You see?" Marcus smiled softly. "This is why you shouldn’t be stubborn."

He brushed some wet hair away from Noah’s forehead.

"And... I’m sorry for pulling you into the pool."

The apology reminded Noah of something.

His eyes widened dramatically.

His first kiss.

It was gone.

"Marcus!"

He pointed an accusing finger at him.

"You planned this, didn’t you?"

Marcus blinked.

"How dare you steal my first kiss!"

He had become so shocked that he completely forgot he was supposed to be freezing.

Marcus immediately raised both hands in surrender.

"You’re wrong."

He laughed.

"It was an accident."

Then his grin slowly became mischievous.

"...Though I have to admit."

"That kiss was pretty good."

He leaned closer.

"Don’t lie."

"You enjoyed it."

"And for one tiny moment..."

"You wanted more."

His inky black hair danced gently under the breeze while those ember-colored eyes sparkled with endless amusement.

Noah nearly exploded.

"As you can clearly see," he said stiffly, "that ’stuff’ made me freezing cold."

"I could start coughing any second."

Before Marcus could answer, one of the academy attendants hurried over carrying several coats.

Marcus waved him closer.

"Give me one."

The attendant immediately handed him a thick jacket.

Marcus draped it over Noah’s shoulders himself.

"Just wear this."

"Then come to my room."

"We’ll get you changed before you get sick."

Noah didn’t need anyone to tell him that entering Marcus’ room was practically walking straight into danger.

Before he could reject the offer, another voice interrupted them.

"In case you two are done smothering each other..."

Both boys turned.

"We have class."

"And Arcane Studies has been switched back to Battle Magic."

Noah’s smile instantly disappeared.

Battle Magic.

Mr. Warwold.

That creepy old man was back.

Marcus frowned.

"No."

He folded his arms.

"Today’s your birthday."

"You’re the school’s savior."

"We shouldn’t be having classes today."

Several nearby students immediately nodded in agreement.

"Exactly!"

"He’s right!"

"We deserve a break!"

Noah, however, didn’t agree.

Sure.

He would happily avoid Mr. Warwold if given the chance.

But skipping classes just because of an ordinary birthday?

That sounded ridiculous.

"I don’t think I count," Noah muttered.

"Maybe that’s something you rich people do."

"It isn’t that important."

Saying those words stung more than he expected.

Once upon a time...

He had been rich too.

Now he was trapped inside Ashton’s body.

There was nothing he could do about it.

"Actually..." Marcus smiled.

"Eugene is already talking to the dean."

"I think he’ll convince her."

"So we’re probably skipping Battle Magic."

He casually slung an arm around Noah’s shoulders.

"Come on."

"Let’s get you changed."

"Oh, and guess who’s making your birthday cake?"

Noah looked at him.

Wasn’t that supposed to be a surprise?

"Hmm..."

He shrugged.

"I don’t know."

"I don’t exactly read minds."

Marcus burst into laughter again.

Lamia, completely tired of standing around as the obvious third wheel, turned to leave.

"See you later, Ashton."

"I’ll get you a present."

He paused.

"Rose is helping me pick it."

"Oh..."

Noah suddenly remembered Rose.

He hadn’t even checked on her today.

Unfortunately, Lamia had already disappeared before he could ask.

Now he was left completely alone with Marcus.

Almost everyone else had already wandered off toward their own activities.

"Bad guess, Ash."

Marcus chuckled.

"It’s Killian."

"He’s the one baking your cake."

Noah nearly stopped walking.

Killian?

That couldn’t be right.

If he remembered the novel correctly...

Killian had once proudly declared that he had never cooked a single thing in his life.

So how exactly was he baking now?

"So..." Noah glanced sideways.

"You all suddenly started cooperating?"

He rubbed his wet hair dry with the towel Marcus had handed him.

As he did, his soft hair kept falling across his face before the breeze gently swept it aside again.

The sight almost looked unreal.

Like a beautiful painting that had somehow come to life.

Marcus found himself staring.

Completely forgetting whatever he had been saying.

"It’s..." Marcus finally forced himself to speak.

"It’s not something you’d understand."

He looked away.

"We’re not exactly enemies."

"We just have... different interests."

Noah nodded.

That was honestly good enough for him.

Sure, he wanted to figure out the truth behind the four male leads.

But that didn’t mean he wanted to get dragged into whatever complicated mess they had going on.

He barely had enough energy to survive this academy.

He certainly wasn’t interested in getting caught between four ridiculously powerful men.

"I’m feeling much better now."

Noah pulled the oversized jacket tighter around himself.

"I think this is enough."

"So I’m going straight to class."

"No need to visit your room."

Before Marcus could stop him, Noah turned around and hurried away.

Marcus instinctively reached out.

"Ash..."

But Noah was already gone.

Marcus lowered his hand before letting out a helpless sigh.

"I only wanted to spend some time with you."

His shoulders slumped.

"...Using your clothes as an excuse."

There was no one nearby to hear him.

He smiled bitterly before stuffing both hands into his pockets.

"I guess..."

"I’ll just have to find something else to keep myself busy."

With another quiet sigh, Marcus slowly started walking toward class as well.