Unraveling Eris

There are three main criteria signify a highly sought-after bachelor: status, looks, and wealth. At least for the ladies in Areta. And there are only three men who tick all the boxes. Cassian Hildegarde. William Leonard. Crown Prince Theodore. How lucky it is to have all three group together and be the best of friends since childhood. It was almost unfair—three of the most powerful, handsome, and well-bred men in the kingdom, bound by years of camaraderie and shared privilege. They were the standard by which all other bachelors were measured. The unattainable ideal. The untouchable elite. And every young lady at the academy, herself included, had entered this institution with the unspoken understanding that securing the favor of one of them was the highest achievement one could hope for. After all, birds of a feather flock together. If one was remarkable, then surely the others must be as well. A man's company spoke volumes about his character, and these three had surrounded themselves with none but the best. If you won the heart of one, you gained access to a world of power and prestige that few could ever dream of. At least, that was what she had naively believed. Eris Elena Elhan has set her sights on Cassian first—an obvious choice. As the heir to House Hildegarde, his reputation was impeccable. He was poised, well-spoken, and impossibly graceful in everything he did. He danced like a prince from a fairy tale and wielded a sword as effortlessly as he wielded words. He was the kind of man who made people believe in noble ideals. But ideals didn't always align with reality. Cassian had announced his engagement to a foreign princess before she even had the chance to entertain the possibility of anything more. A political match, arranged with careful precision. Practical. Honorable. And utterly devoid of sentiment. William had been next on her list—a knight of noble birth, kind-hearted and steady, a man whose future promised both glory and security. He had been everything she imagined a perfect gentleman should be—kind, noble, effortlessly charming. He treated everyone with a quiet, unwavering respect, not because he had to, but because it was simply who he was. She had seen it in the way he remembered people's names, even those who held no importance to him. In the way he tipped the academy's staff extra when he thought no one was looking. She had convinced herself that this was what love was supposed to look like. Practical, strategic, and devoid of naïve sentiments. Love, in Eris' mind, was not meant to be a reckless affair of the heart but a carefully chosen alliance—one that would grant her and her future descendants security, power, and a place among nobility. As the daughter of the renowned and celebrated scholar Edwyn Elhan, Eris lacked nothing in intelligence, skill, or wit. She had spent her life surrounded by academic discussions, philosophical debates, and intricate theories. While others swooned over romantic gestures, she sharpened her mind, ensuring she could navigate the complexities of high society with ease. Marrying well was not just a desire—it was a necessity. A logical step forward in a world that favored lineage over merit. She had assessed her options, weighing Cassian's status and William's charm, believing one of them would be her best chance. She hadn't seen it coming—not because she was blind to their chemistry, but because she had been so certain of her own calculations. William had always been easygoing, effortlessly charming, the type who made people feel at ease in his presence. He had been a suitable match on paper, someone with the right connections and a temperament she could tolerate. Yet, fate had other plans. William had fallen for Georgiana instead. Eris' best friend, the one person she trusted most, had captured William's heart without even trying and Eris couldn't even be upset about it. Because when she saw them together—saw the way William looked at Georgiana, the way his usual carefree manner softened into something more genuine—she realized she had never truly had his attention to begin with. Whatever fleeting thoughts she had entertained of their future had been nothing more than an illusion of convenience. Georgiana, was neutral in the beginning. Feigning ignorance and refusing to join the social hunt for husbands like the rest of them. She claimed she had no interest in marriage, no desire to compete in the intricate games of courtship that defined Areta's noble circles. While others obsessed over securing advantageous matches, Lady Georgiana Dillon laughed, dismissing it all as a tiresome spectacle. She was content to observe from the sidelines, or so Eris thought. A charming spectator, untouched by the desperation that drove the rest of them. She had always been beautiful, of course—ethereal in a way that made people turn their heads. But she carried herself with an effortless ease, a quiet confidence that made it seem as though she truly didn't care for the attention. Perhaps that was what caught William's eye first. Which left only one. Crown Prince Theodore. The one she had never even considered. She had kept her distance from him, knowing he was beyond her reach in every conceivable way. The son of the King, the future ruler of Areta—what business did she have associating with him? He was not just a noble; he was the royal, he was the Crown. To chase after a prince was to court madness, and she had no desire to be another foolish girl deluding herself with impossible dreams. Eris sighed as she stare outside the classroom window—mulling over when the bell rang, signaling the end of the lecture. Students began shuffling out of the classroom, their chatter a background hum as she gathered her things. She noticed the new lovebirds had already left the room—Georgiana and William, walking side by side, effortlessly slipping into each other's worlds as if they had always belonged together. It's only the first week they announced courtship and yet, they moved as though they had spent a lifetime in each other's orbit. There was no hesitation, no awkwardness—just an easy understanding that made it painfully clear they were meant to be. Eris should have been happy for them. Georgiana was her dearest friend, and William was, by all accounts, a decent man. But as she watched them disappear down the corridor, their quiet laughter trailing behind them, she couldn't shake the strange hollowness settling in her chest. Perhaps it was envy—not of Georgiana herself, but of the certainty they had found in each other. She decided to slip away unnoticed, in case Georgiana insisted Eris join them for lunch. The last thing she wanted was to be the third wheel, trailing after them like some forgotten afterthought. She tightened her grip on her books and made a swift turn down the corridor, heading in the opposite direction of the dining hall. Maybe she'd eat later. Or not at all. Before she could even make a dash for it, a familiar voice called out her name. "Eris!"