Unraveling Eris

The Debate That Launched a Thousand Headaches

The realization didn’t strike all at once.

At first, it was just a moment—one sharp exchange of words, one debate where she refused to yield, one instance where she met his gaze without fear.

But after that, Theo found himself noticing her more. Not because she was the daughter of a renowned scholar. Not because she was the top student. Not because she was brilliant.

Because she challenged him.

The grand lecture hall of Areta's prestigious royal academy hummed with anticipation. Students and scholars alike filled the tiered seating, murmuring among themselves as they awaited the evening's intellectual spectacle.

The debate, an age-old tradition among the academic elite, promised lively discourse on a topic as contentious as it was enduring: "Is nobility inherently suited to rule?"

Eris had entered the debate hall with nothing but the intention of proving a point. She did not seek the approval of the nobility present, nor did she care if her argument offended the more delicate sensibilities in attendance. She was here for the pursuit of truth.

She had done this many times before—tearing through flawed arguments with surgical precision, making esteemed scholars stumble over their own words. But she had never debated Crown Prince Theodore before.

And if she had known he would be here, she might have reconsidered participating at all.

The moment she spotted him on the opposing side—lounging in his chair like this was all a game to him—she had a feeling this time would be different.

The debate had began predictably, with the noble students arguing in favor of their own station.

"The very nature of nobility," one pompous young lord proclaimed, "ensures that we are raised with the knowledge, refinement, and discipline required to govern." It is our birthright, and history itself has proven that societies thrive under noble rule."

A smattering of polite applause followed.

Eris, seated with her fellow debaters on the opposing side, fought the urge to roll her eyes.

Ah. The classic 'we were born to rule' argument. How original.

When it was her turn to speak, she stood gracefully, surveying the room with calm confidence.

"History, you say," she echoed smoothly. "Yes, history does show us that nobility has ruled for centuries. But history also shows us that the nobility has led wars over personal slights, imposed taxes that starved entire regions, and failed catastrophically in times of crisis. If nobility were inherently suited to rule, shouldn't our past be filled only with prosperity and stability?"

The nobleman spluttered, clearly unprepared for her direct attack.

Eris continued mercilessly. "If birth alone dictates competence, then why do kings need advisors? Why do noble families scheme, backstab, and fumble when placed under pressure? Tell me, if a noble child and a commoner child are raised under identical conditions, receiving the same education, would the noble child still be better suited to rule simply because of their bloodline?"

A murmur ran through the crowd.

Cassian smirked from where he sat among the audience, elbowing William. "Well, she certainly doesn't hold back."

William, watching the nobleman struggle to come up with a response, chuckled. "He wasn't ready for that."

Eris remained poised as she took her seat, satisfied with her opening. She expected a rebuttal, of course, but she had not expected the next voice to speak to be his.

"An excellent argument," Theo drawled.

Eris stiffened.

She turned her gaze toward the opposite side, where Theo was watching her with a slow, almost lazy amusement. He hadn't spoken until now, content to let his fellow nobles make their cases—only to step in once Eris had stolen the momentum of the debate.

"But tell me, Miss Elhan," he continued, tilting his head slightly. "You argue that nobility is not inherently superior. I agree with that premise—"

A ripple of surprise swept through the hall. The prince agrees?

"—but if we are not to rely on noble bloodlines, what, then, is the alternative?" He leaned forward, eyes locked onto hers. "Would you propose we hand governance to scholars? To merchants? To the people at large?"

Eris narrowed her eyes. She had assumed Theo would be like the others—arrogant and unwilling to question the status quo. Instead, he was challenging her from the same side of the argument.

"The alternative," she answered coolly, "is a system that prioritizes merit over birthright."

Theo's lips quirked in amusement. "A system that has never been successfully implemented?"

She didn't hesitate. "Not yet. But progress has always been resisted by those who fear change."

The room was utterly silent now, everyone watching the rapid exchange.

Theo exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "Idealistic. I appreciate the sentiment, but you underestimate how much power is dictated by perception. Rulers are not merely selected for their competence. They must be accepted by the people. Nobility's legitimacy, however flawed, comes from centuries of tradition. You think people will discard that so easily?"

Eris smiled, sharp and knowing. "Not easily. But inevitably."

Theo's eyes flickered with something unreadable.

Cassian and William exchanged glances.

"Oh, this is going to be a thing," William muttered.

Cassian nodded solemnly. "We're never going to hear the end of it."

For the next hour, Theo and Eris dominated the debate—not as opposing forces, but as two minds testing each other, pushing boundaries, refusing to yield.

The other participants barely got a word in. The moderator made several unsuccessful attempts to shift the discussion, but by then, everyone in the hall was too invested in the growing battle of wits between the scholar's daughter and the crown prince.

Theo challenged Eris not out of arrogance, but out of curiosity.

Eris countered Theo not out of defiance, but because she refused to let him win.

By the time the debate concluded, no one cared who had technically "won." The true event had been watching two brilliant minds clash.

As the audience applauded, Theo approached Eris as she gathered her notes.

"You argue well," he remarked. "It's a shame you're entirely impractical."

Eris lifted an unimpressed brow. "And you argue like a man who has never had to fight for anything."

Theo's smirk deepened. "Is that so?"

Before she could fire back, Cassian and William approached.

"Remind me never to get into an argument with you," William said cheerfully.

"Don't worry, it won't last long," Eris replied. "I'd win too quickly."

Cassian snorted. "You and Theo, on the other hand—"

"Are going to drive the rest of us mad," William finished.

Theo, rather than be annoyed by the comment, seemed amused.

"Come now," he mused, glancing at Eris. "We could get along."

Eris fixed him with a stare. "I highly doubt that."

Theo laughed.

And so it began—subtly.