Unraveling Eris

A Battle Over Books and Pride

The university library was Eris' sanctuary—a quiet, sprawling maze of books where she could escape the relentless buzz of social obligations. It was late, and most students had long since retired to their dormitories, leaving the cavernous space nearly deserted.

Perfect.

She strode purposefully through the aisles, fingers brushing against leather-bound spines until she found the section she was looking for: historical power structures and governance.

Her eyes landed on a single copy of The Foundations of Rule: An Analysis of Sovereignty and Authority.

A rare text. Essential for her upcoming paper.

She reached for it.

So did someone else.

Their hands landed on the worn spine at the exact same moment.

Eris' fingers tightened instinctively.

A beat of silence.

Then—

"Let go," a familiar voice murmured, smooth and lazy.

Eris turned her head and immediately scowled.

Theo.

The bane of her academic existence.

The library's dim lighting did nothing to soften the smug amusement in his piercing blue eyes. He was dressed in his usual dark, impeccably tailored attire, somehow managing to look completely at ease despite having just waged war over a book.

Eris refused to let go.

"You let go," she shot back, narrowing her eyes.

Theo's lips curled into a smirk. "I saw it first."

"I reached for it first."

"That's debatable."

"We are not debating this," she hissed.

Theo exhaled a mock sigh, as if she were being unreasonable. "Alright, let's settle it fairly. Whoever needs it more should get it."

"Agreed," Eris said, not missing a beat. Then, without hesitation—"And that's me."

Theo raised a brow. "Oh? You have an important deadline?"

"Yes. And you?"

A pause. The slightest flicker of hesitation.

Eris smirked in victory.

But Theo recovered quickly. "You're awfully sure of yourself."

"Because I'm right. Now let go."

Instead, Theo's grip tightened.

"Oh, for—" Eris tugged the book toward her.

Theo held firm.

The resulting tug-of-war was far from dignified.

Somewhere in the distance, a librarian sighed audibly.

"Alright," Theo finally relented, though his fingers still gripped the book's spine. "Since neither of us is willing to surrender, there's only one solution."

Eris exhaled sharply. "And what's that?"

"We study together."

Eris stared.

Theo shrugged. "Otherwise, neither of us gets the book."

She considered the suggestion, searching his expression for some kind of trick.

"Fine," she relented, albeit grudgingly. "But only because I refuse to let you get ahead of me."

Theo's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Of course. Purely for academic purposes."

They claimed they were studying together to keep things fair.

In reality, they spent the next few hours arguing.

Eris sat rigidly at the table, books and notes spread before her like a battle plan. Theo, infuriatingly relaxed, leaned back in his chair, arms crossed as he listened with a smirk.

"This interpretation is flawed," Eris said, tapping the text with her pen. "The author contradicts himself in the later chapters."

Theo hummed. "Not if you consider the political climate at the time. The contradiction is deliberate."

"Or it's just bad writing."

"Or it's nuanced analysis that you're failing to grasp."

Eris narrowed her eyes. "I grasp plenty, thank you."

Theo's smirk deepened. "Then by all means, enlighten me."

She did.

With full force.

Flipping pages, launching counterarguments, annotating with a vengeance. Theo countered right back, his own notes scribbled in neat, precise handwriting.

What was meant to be an hour of studying stretched into three.

Then five.

Neither noticed how late it had become.

Neither realized when exhaustion began creeping in.

The first thing Eris registered was the faint golden glow of dawn filtering through the library's tall windows.

The second thing was the solid warmth beside her.

Her eyes snapped open.

She was leaning against Theo.

And—oh gods—so was he.

Eris froze.

Theo's head was tilted slightly toward hers, his breathing slow and even, lips slightly parted as he remained very much asleep.

No. No, no, no, no.

Eris jerked upright so suddenly that Theo stirred, blinking groggily. His blue eyes, still dazed with sleep, met hers.

For a moment, neither moved.

Then, at the exact same time—

"This is your fault," they accused simultaneously.

Theo ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "You kept talking. I was trapped."

Eris gaped. "I kept talking? You wouldn't stop arguing!"

"I wasn't going to let you win by default," Theo said, yawning.

Eris scoffed. "Win? We spent all night bickering."

Theo smirked. "Sounds like a draw to me."

Eris, still scandalized, grabbed her notes and stood. "Never again."

"Looking forward to our next session," Theo said far too smugly as she stormed off.

He did not miss the way her ears were slightly pink.

By the time Eris arrived at the dining hall, she was in a mood.

Spending an entire night arguing with Theo had left her with a headache, a bruised ego, and an embarrassing memory of waking up with her head against the Crown Prince's shoulder.

Which she would be erasing from existence.

The dining hall was already filled with the familiar hum of conversation as students gathered at their usual spots. Georgiana waved her over enthusiastically, and Eris barely had a chance to sit before William slid a tray of food in front of her.

"You look terrible," he greeted cheerfully. "Late night?"

"Don't start," Eris muttered, picking up her fork.

Cassian arched a brow. "Let me guess—him?"

Eris followed his gaze, already knowing who he meant before she even turned.

Theo.

Who was currently making his way toward them with the most insufferable smirk on his face.

Eris immediately tensed. "No."

Cassian, unimpressed, sipped his tea. "You hesitated."

Georgiana, far too perceptive for Eris' liking, grinned.

Eris scowled. "It is not interesting, Georgiana."

"Not interesting?" Georgiana said, resting her chin in her hand. "You two spend more time talking to each other than anyone else."

Eris pointedly stabbed at her food. "That's because we're arguing."

William, thoughtful, turned to Cassian. "And yet, she still seeks him out."

"Fascinating," Cassian murmured.

Georgiana nodded. "Absolutely fascinating."

Before Eris could murder them both, Theo reached their table, setting his tray down far too close to her own.

"She can't resist me," he declared smugly, as if the conversation absolutely required his input.

Eris, deadpan: "I genuinely cannot stand you."

Theo, unbothered, took a sip of his drink.

Eris turned to Georgiana. "Your boyfriend's friends are giving me a headache."

Cassian looked scandalised, clutching his chest as if she'd struck him. "Eris, what did I do to you?"

Georgiana, thoroughly enjoying herself, leaned closer. "Oh, darling. They're your friends too."

Eris opened her mouth to argue—

And promptly shut it.

Because, to her absolute horror, she realized Georgiana was right.

Georgiana tilted her head suddenly, looking at Eris with narrowed eyes. "Wait—where were you last night? I went to find you, but you weren't in your dorm."

Eris stiffened. "I was...studying."

Georgiana's brows furrowed. "All night?"

Before Eris could think of a good excuse, William turned to Theo, a slow grin forming.

"You know, you weren't in your dorm last night either."

Cassian looked between Theo and Eris, very interested. "Now that is interesting."

Eris shot Theo a murderous look, warning him to not make this worse.

Theo, of course, smirked. "What can I say? The company was too stimulating to leave."

Eris kicked him under the table and narrowed her eyes. "You kept me there."

Theo leaned back, unfazed. "Oh? Was I the one clinging to that book like a lifeline?"

"You refused to let go first," she shot back.

"You were ridiculous about it," Theo said, smirking. "What kind of person engages in a full-fledged academic tug-of-war over a book?"

"You did too!"

"Only because you wouldn't share."

Georgiana and William exchanged amused glances.

Cassian, who had clearly decided to instigate, asked, "So, let me get this straight—you two spent all night alone together in the library, fighting over a book?"

"Studying," Eris corrected immediately.

"Bickering," Theo countered at the exact same time.

William grinned. "So both, then."

Eris groaned, pressing her fingers to her temples. "You are all insufferable."

"That's funny," Theo mused, "since you seem to keep choosing our company."

She shot him a glare. "Unwillingly."

"Ah, yes," Theo said smoothly, "that's why you sat next to me in class, got kicked out with me, and now spend entire nights in my presence."

Eris gritted her teeth. "That was circumstantial."

Theo leaned in slightly, smirk deepening. "If you say so."

Georgiana sighed dramatically. "The tension is unbearable."

Cassian, looking far too entertained, nodded. "Truly, I don't know how much longer we can suffer through this."

William tilted his head. "We could always lock them in a room together and see what happens."

"No." Eris and Theo snapped at the same time.

Georgiana stifled a laugh behind her hand. "Oh, I like that they're finally agreeing on something."

Eris groaned, standing up abruptly. "I'm leaving."

Theo raised an eyebrow. "Running away already?"

She shot him a scathing look. "No, I just don't want my intelligence to deteriorate from prolonged exposure to you, Your Highness."

Theo placed a hand over his heart, feigning offense. "You wound me, Eris."

"Not nearly enough," she muttered, grabbing her tray.

Theo watched her go, shaking his head in amusement.

Cassian smirked. "Admit it, you enjoy this."

Theo exhaled, finishing his drink. "Let's just say the day Eris doesn't argue with me will be the day I start worrying."