꧁Rowen's pov꧂
The Next Day
The royal black car purred quietly as it sped down the smooth road toward the academy. Soft classical music played from hidden speakers, and the scent of fresh leather and flowered perfume filled the air.
Evelynne slouched back in her seat, yawning. Her school bag, sitting beside her, was slightly open. I sat across from her, already in uniform, collar perfectly pressed, reading a book.
Halfway through the ride, she suddenly gasped.
"Oh no!!"
I glanced up. "What's wrong?"
"I forgot to do the history homework!" she cried, rummaging through her bag in a frenzy. "The queen gave me a whole lecture last night about responsibility, and I still forgot. This is all your fault!"
I blinked, confused. "My fault? What did I do?"
"You distracted me!" she huffed, pointing at me. "You sent me that dumb cat video, and then we ended up watching, like, twenty more."
"You're the one who said, 'just one more'—seven times," I said, folding my arms.
She groaned and flopped back in her seat dramatically. "Ugh, I'm going to get scolded. They already think I'm spoiled because I'm a princess. Now they'll think I'm lazy and spoiled."
The driver peeked at us through the rearview mirror but wisely said nothing.
I shifted in my seat and looked out the window. "I already did it for you," I said quietly.
She froze. "Wait, what?"
"I did the homework. Yours too," I muttered, still not looking at her. "I figured you might forget, so... I copied your handwriting and everything."
She sat up slowly, eyes wide. "Wait—you did?"
"I said I did," I repeated.
There was a long pause. Her expression softened, guilt creeping into her voice.
"Oh," she said. "That was... really nice of you. I didn't mean to yell."
"It's fine," I said, my voice tight. "You were stressed. And I'm just the friend who distracts you and does your homework, right?"
That hit her harder than I meant it to.
She looked down at her lap, then quietly reached across and tugged on my blazer sleeve.
"I didn't mean that," she whispered. "You're more than that. I just panicked."
I didn't answer for a second. Then I sighed, my shoulders relaxing.
"I know."
We drove in silence for a while. The car turned onto the final road toward the school gates.
"...Thanks for doing it," she whispered.
"You owe me," I said, finally cracking a small smile.
She smiled back. "Fine. I'll let you borrow my lunch."
"I already was going to."
She narrowed her eyes. "You're impossible, Rowy!!"
During Class
The classroom buzzed softly with pages turning and pencils scratching. The teacher's voice droned on about ancient treaties and long-forgotten kings.
I sat near the window, half-listening, half-doodling in the margins of my notebook. I glanced at Evelynne.
She sat one row ahead, diagonally from me. Her back was straight, hair falling neatly down her back. She was chewing on her pen, her brow slightly furrowed in fake concentration. She was pretending to understand the lesson. I knew she'd ask me about it later.
A smile tugged at the corner of my lips.
She tucked her hair behind her ear, flipped the page, then glanced at her notes with quiet determination. Something in my chest tightened—not in a bad way. Just warm. Strange. New.
There was something different about how she said my name now. How she always waited for me before walking into a room. How she only ever smiled like that when she was with me.
And suddenly, I knew.
I liked her.
Really liked her.
Not just because we'd grown up together. Not because she was funny or bossy in a way that made me laugh. Not even because she was a princess.
I liked her because she was Evelynne.
My Evelynne.
I quickly looked down, scribbling something random to hide the heat rising on my cheeks.
The bell rang.
She turned around, grinning. "Lunch?"
I nodded quickly, heart thudding. "Yeah," I said, standing a little too fast. "Let's go."
Lunch Break
The sun was warm, and the school courtyard buzzed with chatter. Students sat in clusters, laughing and tossing crumpled paper balls like mini champions.
Evelynne was already waiting for me on the stone bench beneath the old elm tree, munching on her sandwich.
Then Rye—one of the boys in our class with floppy dark hair and a smug smile—strode over, hands in his pockets.
"Hey, Princess," he grinned. "Mind if I sit?"
She blinked. "Um... sure."
Rye plopped down beside her without waiting.
"So, do you ever get bored of royal stuff? Must be wild, living in a palace."
She laughed softly. "Sometimes. It's not all ballroom dancing and unicorns... but I do have fun. Especially with Rowen."
She smiled at my name.
That's when I walked over.
"Hey," I said, brows furrowed, jaw tight. I didn't even glance at Evelynne. My eyes locked on Rye.
"What's up?" Rye asked, playing it cool.
I crossed my arms. "Didn't know we were doing interviews today."
Evelynne blinked. "Rowy..."
"Just curious why you're suddenly interested in her," I said, voice sharp. "You've never talked to her before."
Rye stood. "What's your problem, Rowen? It's just a conversation."
"Exactly," I snapped. "So go have it somewhere else."
Evelynne stood quickly, flustered. "Guys, please. This is silly—"
Rye shrugged, the corner of his mouth twitching like he was enjoying this.
"Didn't mean to cause royal drama."
He walked off.
Evelynne turned to me, eyes wide. "What was that?"
"I didn't like the way he was talking to you," I muttered, eyes on the ground.
She sighed. "He was just being friendly."
I scuffed my shoe. "Still. I didn't like it."
There was a quiet pause between us, awkward but strangely warm.
"You know you don't have to guard me like a knight, right?" she teased.
I peeked up. "Maybe I want to."
She blinked. My heart skipped.
"Well," she said, chewing the last bite of her sandwich, "next time, maybe try not to act like you're about to start a duel."
I laughed. "Not my fault he was acting weird."
"You were the one acting weird," she said, bumping my shoulder.
We both smiled.
"Just admit you were jealous," she teased.
"I was not."
"You totally were."
"I totally wasn't."
She raised a brow. "You didn't even look at me once when you came over."
"I didn't want to look mad and jealous at the same time," I muttered.
"Ohhh, so you admit it!" She giggled.
I turned red. "I—I didn't say that."
She tugged playfully at the sleeve of my blazer.
"Well, I'm glad you care," she said softly. "Even if you act like a grumpy guard dog."
I looked at her—really looked at her—and nodded. "I always will."
We stood there for a second, just two fourteen-year-olds figuring out feelings we didn't have names for yet, while the world around us stayed buzzing and bright.
Then she grabbed my sandwich.
"Now come on! Before someone else thinks I'm available."
I rolled my eyes and followed.
"As if I'd let them."