Fated to kill you

Library and Croissants

Weeks passed in a blur. To Leah’s delight, she discovered that Liam was studying medicine too. Although he was a year ahead of her, it meant they often crossed paths in seminars and practical lessons. Every time she saw him, her heart betrayed her, beating faster than she could control. His smile—so effortless and genuine—always seemed to find her, lighting up her day.

But she knew better than to dream too much. The gap between them was immeasurable. A Shadow entering an Ivory household was frowned upon even as a servant. To imagine anything more than fleeting smiles from him was nothing short of a victory. Yet, every time he glanced her way, butterflies erupted in her stomach, defying all reason.

The loneliness of UL weighed heavily on her. Her timid nature and her clan’s low status made her invisible to most students. Isolated, she spent her days buried in books, convincing herself that her scholarship demanded nothing less than perfection. It was this thought that pushed her toward the library after another grueling day of classes.

The library was her sanctuary. Quiet and grand, with towering shelves that seemed to touch the sky, it was often empty, allowing her to work in peace. But today was different.

Her usual corner table wasn’t vacant.

Her breath caught as her eyes landed on Liam, sitting casually in her spot, the faint glow of the library’s light catching the golden strands of his hair. He looked up and smiled—his smile was so overwhelming. Leah felt her heart lurch, and before she could process her emotions, she found herself waving back hesitantly. She turned abruptly, moving toward the nearest bookshelf, her nerves firing in every direction.

Her fingers ran along the spines of the books, though she wasn’t reading the titles. She couldn’t focus. The silence of the library amplified the sound of approaching footsteps. Leah froze, her breath stopped.

She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

“Hey, Leah.” His voice, low and smooth, sent a shiver down her spine. “Would you mind quizzing me a bit? I’ve got an exam in a few hours.”

She turned slowly, and there he was—standing too close, his presence overwhelming. The faint light caught the sharp angles of his face, and his blue eyes gleamed with an intensity that made it impossible to meet his gaze for long.

“Uh, yeah, sure,” she muttered, her voice barely audible.

With a slight smile, Liam turned and began walking toward the table. Leah followed, drawn to him as if caught in an invisible pull she couldn’t resist. Every step closer to him felt like stepping further into a dream she wasn’t ready to wake from.

As they sat down, he slid his quiz notes across the table, his fingers brushing hers ever so slightly. Leah’s heart stuttered, but she kept her focus, asking the questions while Liam answered with ease. He was flawless—each response quick and precise, as expected of a prince. She could hardly process his brilliance; the entire time, she was hyper-aware of his closeness, his scent, and the way his eyes twinkled mischievously when they met hers.

“That was awesome. Thanks a lot,” Liam said, leaning back in his chair, his grin lighting up the dim library.

Leah forced a small smile, feeling as though her throat had closed up.

“You should hang out with us more,” he added, leaning slightly closer.

She shook her head, her gaze dropping to the table.

“You know,” he said softly, “at UL, you and I aren’t much different. There’s no favoritism here. I have to work just as hard to stay at the top, but no one believes it. Everyone thinks I’m only here because my parents are the King and Queen.”

Leah looked up at him then, her own hesitation melting away for a second. “I believe you,” she whispered.

Liam smiled, he reached across the table, his hand brushing against hers.

“Thank you. That means a lot,” he said, his voice low, almost a murmur.

Leah’s breath caught, her world narrowing to the warmth of his touch and the sincerity in his eyes. For a moment, everything else disappeared—the books, the library, the distance between their worlds.

Then, just as suddenly, he pulled his hand back, leaving her skin tingling from the contact.

“Hey,” he said, his tone lighter now, “do you mind quizzing me here every other day? I feel so much at peace in this library.”

“Yes, of course,” Leah blurted, her voice a little too eager.

‘Damn it, Leah. Say something more meaningful!’ she scolded herself silently. But her nerves had taken over, and all she could do was nod.

As she walked back to the cottage that evening, her mind swirled with thoughts of Liam. She barely noticed her surroundings, lost in the memory of his touch, his words, his smile.

The smell of freshly baked smell of bread greeted her as she opened the door. Surprised, she stepped inside to find Sath in the kitchen, preparing a meal.

“Smells good,” Leah said, smiling at him.

Sath looked up and gave her a small nod. “I made pasta and croissants for dinner. You’re welcome to join if you’d like.”

“Sure,” Leah said, setting her bag down. “I’ll grab the plates and set the table.”

The two worked in silence, a quiet rhythm settling between them. It was the first time they’d shared a meal together since moving in, and Leah found herself appreciating the simple warmth of his company.

Sath brought the hot pot of pasta and kept it on the table. He also brought out the croissants on the table as well.

Leah laughed a little bit. "Croissants for dinner?" She asked. "Why not?" Sath asked. "Yeah you're right... why not indeed" Leah replied. As they ate, Leah was pleasantly surprised. “Wow,” she said, savoring the food. “This is really good.”

Sath nodded, his expression calm as always. “I usually make dinner every night. You can join me if you’re free.”

Leah looked at him, surprised by the offer. Was this his way of trying to be friends? If so, she was more than willing to accept.

“Deal,” she said with a grin, “but only if you let me make breakfast!”

Sath paused for a moment, as if processing her words. Then, to her surprise, he smiled—a small, genuine smile that lit up his otherwise reserved face.

“Deal,” he said simply.

Leah’s heart swelled with happiness. For the first time, she felt like things were falling into place. Liam’s approach, Sath’s reach for friendship —it was as though the walls of loneliness were finally crumbling. She dared to hope that brighter days were ahead.