Her lover thoughts (My safe place)

Chapter 15: Dinner & private

Evening settled quietly over Walton’s Prestige Academy.

Most students had already returned to their dorms or left campus for the weekend, leaving the enormous academy hallways calmer than usual.

Meanwhile,

Inside one of the academy’s private training buildings, Alexzra had just finished her evening judo session.

The training room still carried traces of sweat and cold air while instructors respectfully bowed goodbye as she exited. After showering and changing into fresh clothes, Alexzra walked calmly through the quiet building corridors with one hand tucked into her coat pocket.

Her expression remained unreadable as always.

But internally, her thoughts wandered again.

Laura.

Annoying.

Alexzra frowned slightly at herself.

Why does she keep appearing in my head?

At the same time across campus—

Laura finally stepped out from the massive academy library carrying several books against her chest. She had completely lost track of time while studying.

Again.

The quiet nighttime atmosphere wrapped softly around the hallways while warm golden lights reflected across polished floors.

Laura walked absentmindedly around the corner—

And immediately bumped into someone.

Again.

The books nearly slipped from her arms.

“Oh!”

Strong hands instinctively steadied her before she fully lost balance.

Laura froze instantly the moment familiar expensive perfume reached her senses.

No way.

Slowly looking up—

She met cold grey eyes.

Alexzra stared down at her calmly.

For one brief second, silence lingered between them.

Then, “You need to stop making this a hobby.”

Laura almost choked from embarrassment.

“I swear I’m not doing this on purpose!”

A faint trace of amusement flickered deep inside Alexzra’s eyes despite her cold expression.

The hallway around them remained mostly empty now except for a few distant students walking back toward dormitories.

Laura awkwardly adjusted the books in her arms while trying not to stare too obviously again.

Unfortunately, standing this close to Alexzra made functioning normally impossible.

Her dark hair looked slightly damp from training.

The black coat over fitted clothes only made her look even more attractive somehow.

And that expensive scent again, Laura’s heartbeat immediately became dangerous.

Meanwhile Alexzra quietly noticed Laura staring for the second time tonight already.

Cute.

Again, that thought appeared naturally.

Before either of them could speak further—

A sudden soft growling sound echoed between them.

Silence.

Laura froze completely.

Oh no.

No no no no.

Her stomach had just betrayed her.

Directly in front of Alexzra.

Laura wanted to disappear from existence instantly.

Her face turned bright red while she quickly hugged the books tighter against herself.

“I—”

Alexzra looked down at her silently.

Laura looked seconds away from dying from embarrassment.

“I forgot to eat dinner…” she admitted weakly.

The library had distracted her too long.

Alexzra stared at her flushed face for another quiet moment.

Then calmly asked,

“When was the last time you ate properly?”

Laura blinked slightly.

“…Lunch?”

Alexzra’s cold gaze narrowed almost invisibly.

“It’s nearly night.”

Laura looked away guiltily.

Meanwhile Alexzra internally sighed.

This girl was genuinely terrible at taking care of herself.

Without another word, Alexzra took several of the heavy books from Laura’s arms naturally.

Laura blinked in shock.

“Huh?”

“Come with me.”

Laura stared at her.

“…Where?”

Alexzra looked down at her calmly.

“To eat.”

Laura’s heart nearly exploded again.

Laura walked quietly beside Alexzra through the massive academy corridors, still trying to calm her wildly beating heart.

The hallways grew noticeably quieter the farther they walked.

More private.

More luxurious.

Eventually they reached an entirely different section of the dining building guarded by elegant dark wooden doors and academy staff standing professionally outside.

The moment Alexzra approached—

The staff immediately lowered their heads respectfully.

“Good evening, Your Highness.”

Laura blinked again hearing the title.

Your Highness…?

Before she could think deeper, the doors were already opened for them.

Alexzra entered calmly.

Laura hesitated before following behind her slowly.

And immediately froze.

This wasn’t the normal student dining hall.

Not even close.

The private room looked like an exclusive royal restaurant reserved for billionaires. Elegant chandeliers glowed softly above beautifully decorated dining tables while large windows overlooked illuminated academy gardens outside.

Several personal chefs worked behind an open luxury kitchen area preparing meals with professional precision.

Everything looked impossibly expensive.

Laura instinctively slowed her steps.

“Alexzra…” she whispered quietly.

Alexzra glanced toward her.

Laura lowered her voice further.

“Is… is this, okay?”

Alexzra calmly removed her gloves.

“What do you mean?”

Laura looked around nervously.

“I heard this room is only for very important people.”

One of her desk mates had once whispered about this area excitedly during class. Apparently ordinary students weren’t even allowed near here.

Yet now Laura was somehow standing inside it beside the most beautiful woman she had ever met.

Alexzra studied Laura’s uncertain expression quietly.

Then calmly answered,

“It is for important people.”

Laura immediately looked even more nervous.

“I-I should probably leave then—”

“You’re here with me.”

The answer came simple.

Direct.

Like that alone settled everything.

The staff nearby didn’t question Laura’s presence even once. Instead they respectfully prepared the private dining area immediately after Alexzra entered.

Laura slowly realized something terrifying.

Alexzra wasn’t just important.

She was important enough that rules changed around her naturally.

Meanwhile Alexzra calmly pulled out a chair for Laura.

“Sit.”

Laura obeyed automatically before her brain could process the fact that Alexzra Walton had just personally pulled a chair out for her.

Several chefs discreetly pretended not to notice.

Laura sat stiffly while staring at the elegant surroundings anxiously.

“This place feels more expensive than my existence.”

Alexzra almost smiled again.

Almost.

Instead, she calmly sat across from Laura.

“What do you want to eat?”

Laura immediately panicked.

“I don’t know how to read half these words.”

Alexzra glanced toward the menu once before closing it calmly.

“I’ll order.”

Laura somehow trusted her immediately.

While chefs prepared dinner nearby, silence settled softly between them.

Not awkward.

Just quiet.

Laura secretly looked toward Alexzra again beneath the warm dining lights.

Tonight she looked softer somehow compared to their earlier meetings.

Still cold.

Still powerful.

But less distant.

Laura quickly looked away before getting caught staring again.

Unfortunately, Alexzra already noticed.

Again.

After Alexzra finished ordering calmly without even looking properly at the menu, the chefs immediately moved professionally throughout the private kitchen area.

Laura sat quietly at the elegant table trying not to look overwhelmed by everything around her.

Even the plates probably cost more than her monthly salary from her old part-time job.

Not long afterward, one of the personal chefs approached their table carefully.

A warm bowl of creamy soup was gently placed in front of Laura.

Meanwhile a beautifully prepared turkey tomato roll was served beside Alexzra for light snacking while waiting for the main dinner.

“Please enjoy your meal, Your Highness.”

The chef bowed respectfully before leaving.

Laura stared at the food in confusion.

The soup looked simple yet expensive somehow.

Meanwhile Alexzra casually picked up her fork without explanation.

Laura frowned slightly.

“…Why soup first?”

Alexzra took a calm bite from the turkey roll before answering.

“Because you haven’t eaten properly.”

Laura blinked.

Alexzra calmly continued,

“You can’t suddenly eat heavy oily food immediately after starving yourself most of the day.”

Laura looked surprised.

How did she even notice that?

Alexzra finally looked up toward her while resting one arm lazily against the chair.

“Start with the soup first.”

Her voice remained cold.

Controlled.

Yet strangely gentle underneath.

Laura slowly picked up the spoon obediently.

The warm scent immediately relaxed her slightly.

She took a careful spoonful.

And honestly—

It tasted amazing.

Laura’s eyes widened slightly.

Alexzra quietly noticed the reaction and looked away before the corner of her lips could betray amusement again.

Laura swallowed slowly before whispering,

“…This is really good.”

Alexzra calmly took another bite of her snack.

“Of course it is.”

Laura stared at her for a second.

Then suddenly laughed softly for the first time that evening.

Alexzra’s movements paused almost invisibly.

Because Laura’s smile, especially when genuine.

Affected her far more dangerously than expected.

The warm dining lights reflected beautifully across Laura’s deep blue eyes while strands of soft hair framed her delicate face.

Beautiful.

Again, that word surfaced immediately inside Alexzra’s mind.

Annoying.

Meanwhile Laura carefully continued eating the soup while secretly observing Alexzra across the table.

Even the way she eats looks elegant…

Laura internally sighed.

This woman truly had no flaws.

After another few spoonfuls, warmth slowly spread through Laura’s body for the first time all day.

Alexzra quietly noticed her shoulders relaxing too.

Good.

A comfortable silence settled between them afterward.

Outside the large windows, academy lights glowed softly beneath the dark evening sky while distant fountains shimmered peacefully across the private grounds.

Meanwhile inside the private dining room,

Two people unknowingly continued changing each other’s lives little by little.

Not long after Laura finished most of her soup, the private dining room doors opened once again.

Several chefs entered smoothly carrying the main course with practiced elegance.

The rich aroma immediately filled the room.

Laura instinctively sat straighter watching the professional preparation unfold before her eyes.

A large perfectly cooked steak rested on an expensive serving platter while delicate side dishes surrounded it beautifully.

Everything looked like artwork instead of food.

One chef carefully approached their table and professionally sliced the steak with precise movements before placing portions neatly onto both Alexzra’s and Laura’s plates.

The atmosphere felt almost royal.

Laura honestly didn’t know where to look anymore.

After finishing the preparation, the chef stepped back respectfully and bowed.

“Please enjoy your meal, Your Highness… Miss Laura.”

Laura nearly dropped her fork.

Miss Laura?!

Nobody had ever addressed her so formally before.

Meanwhile Alexzra looked completely accustomed to this level of treatment.

The chefs quietly exited afterward, leaving the two alone again beneath the warm golden lights.

Laura stared at the beautifully prepared food in front of her.

“…I feel like I accidentally entered rich people heaven.”

Alexzra calmly picked up her knife and fork.

“You say strange things often.”

Laura laughed awkwardly.

“It’s true though.”

She glanced around the luxurious private room again before lowering her voice slightly.

“Back home I would’ve needed three jobs just to touch one plate here.”

Alexzra’s grey eyes quietly lifted toward her.

Something about hearing Laura casually mentions her old struggles tightened strangely inside Alexzra’s chest.

Laura, meanwhile, carefully tasted the steak.

The moment she did, her eyes widened again.

“Oh.”

Alexzra calmly cut another piece from her own plate.

“What.”

“This might be the best thing I’ve ever eaten.”

A faint silence followed.

Then, “…Good.”

Laura smiled softly afterward while continuing to eat.

The warmth in Laura’s expression looked painfully genuine.

Not fake.

Not calculated.

Just honest happiness over a good meal.

It felt strangely rare.

Meanwhile Laura slowly relaxed more throughout dinner, though occasional nervousness still slipped through whenever their eyes met across the table.

Especially because Alexzra looked unbelievably attractive beneath the dim elegant lighting.

The black coat.

Sharp jawline.

Cold eyes.

Elegant hands holding silver cutlery effortlessly.

Everything about her looked dangerous and beautiful at the same time.

Laura quickly drank water to distract herself.

Meanwhile Alexzra noticed immediately.

“…Why are you avoiding eye contact now?”

Laura almost choked.

“I’m not!”

“You are.”

Laura looked horrified at being caught again.

Alexzra quietly took another sip of water while the faintest trace of amusement lingered beneath her cold expression.

Watching Laura panic had become unexpectedly entertaining.

And honestly, Alexzra was beginning to realize she liked hearing Laura laugh more than she should.

Dinner slowly became more comfortable afterward.

At first Laura still felt nervous sitting across from Alexzra inside such an expensive private dining room.

But somehow, Alexzra’s quiet presence made silence feel calm instead of awkward.

And once Laura relaxed slightly, she naturally began talking more.

Mostly because Alexzra listened.

Properly listened.

Not distracted.

Not pretending.

Her cold grey eyes stayed focused on Laura whenever she spoke, making Laura feel strangely important without understanding why.

“So basically,” Laura admitted softly while holding her glass, “I still get lost almost every day here.”

Alexzra calmly took another sip of coffee.

“I noticed.”

Laura groaned quietly.

“That was embarrassing.”

“You bump into people often.”

Laura immediately pointed at her accusingly.

“It only happened with you.”

Dangerous statement.

Laura herself didn’t realize how intimate that sounded.

Meanwhile Alexzra calmly looked away before her thoughts wandered somewhere inappropriate.

Laura continued talking afterward, mostly introducing herself little by little.

No deeply personal things.

Just simple pieces of her life.

What classes she liked.

How difficult the academy schedules were.

How shocked she felt seeing luxury everywhere inside Walton’s Prestige Academy.

“The food here is honestly unbelievable,” Laura admitted sincerely. “I think I gained happiness weight already.”

Alexzra almost smiled again.

Almost.

Laura became more animated while speaking too, her deep blue eyes brightening naturally whenever she got comfortable.

“The academy is huge,” she continued. “Like… ridiculously huge.”

“It is.”

“I thought my dorm building was the entire school at first.”

Alexzra quietly watched her.

Cute.

Laura leaned slightly forward afterward.

“Oh, and my desk mate told me there’s a private lake somewhere inside the academy?

“There is.”

Laura looked excited immediately.

“I haven’t seen it yet.”

Then she asked innocently,

“Have you ever gone there?”

Silence.

Several nearby staff members almost looked physically stressed hearing the question.

Because technically, Alexzra owned the lake.

And the academy.

And most likely half the land surrounding it.

Meanwhile Laura remained completely unaware.

She still hadn’t properly asked who Alexzra truly was.

Which honestly fascinated Alexzra more than anything.

Every person at this academy either feared her, respected her, or wanted something from her.

But Laura?

Laura simply treated her like… Alexzra.

Not a title.

Not power.

Not wealth.

Just a person.

Alexzra liked that far too much.

“Yes,” she finally answered calmly.

Laura immediately smiled.

“What’s it like?”

Quiet.

Alexzra rested her chin slightly against one hand while looking at Laura across the elegant dining table.

“Peaceful.”

Laura’s expression softened instantly.

“That sounds nice.”

Then she sighed dramatically.

“I should go there one day when my brain gets tired from studying.”

Alexzra’s grey eyes lingered quietly on her face.

“…I could take you.”

Laura blinked.

“Oh.”

Her heartbeat instantly betrayed her again.

Why does everything sound romantic when she says it?!

Meanwhile Alexzra internally questioned why she had offered that so naturally.

Laura’s face brightened almost instantly after hearing Alexzra’s offer.

“So, I really can go there?”

Alexzra watched the sudden excitement in her deep blue eyes quietly.

“…Yes.”

Laura smiled so warmly that Alexzra’s chest tightened unexpectedly again.

Then, before thinking too much, Laura asked hopefully,

“How about tomorrow? Since it’s the weekend?”

Tomorrow.

Spending time with Laura alone.

At the lake.

The thought itself felt strangely peaceful.

But before Alexzra could answer, Laura suddenly panicked on her own.

“Wait, no.”

She waved her hands quickly.

“You’re probably busy.”

Alexzra remained silent.

Laura awkwardly laughed afterward.

“You probably have important things to do. Sorry, forget I asked.”

Meanwhile inside Alexzra’s mind, every scheduled meeting for tomorrow was already being mentally erased without hesitation.

Business review.

Private training.

Dinner arrangements.

Board discussions.

Cancelled.

None of it felt remotely important compared to the girl sitting across from her right now smiling nervously over dinner.

Normally she valued discipline and schedules almost obsessively.

Yet Laura casually disrupted both without effort.

Annoying.

Alexzra calmly reached for her glass before answering.

“I’m free tomorrow.”

Laura blinked in surprise.

“You are?”

“Yes.”

In reality, at least six people were about to suffer tomorrow because Alexzra Walton decided she suddenly had no schedule anymore.

Laura looked genuinely happy hearing the answer.

“Really?”

Alexzra nodded once.

“We’ll go tomorrow.”

Laura’s smile softened beautifully afterward.

Alexzra found herself unable to look away immediately.

The warm lights reflected gently across Laura’s face while happiness lit up her expression naturally.

Beautiful.

Laura looked down shyly for a moment before speaking softly,

“Thank you, Alexzra.”

Hearing her name spoken like that again affected Alexzra more than it should have.

Calm.

Gentle.

Sincere.

Nobody said her name that way anymore.

Most people sounded nervous around her.

Careful.

Calculated.

But Laura always sounded honest.

And Alexzra was beginning to crave that honesty dangerously fast.

Meanwhile Laura happily continued imagining tomorrow completely unaware that the woman sitting across from her had just casually rearranged an entire elite schedule solely because of her.

After dinner ended, Alexzra walked beside Laura through the quiet academy grounds toward the dormitory buildings.

Soft golden lights illuminated elegant pathways while fountains shimmered beneath the dark sky. In the distance, music from another academy building drifted faintly through the calm evening atmosphere.

Walton’s Prestige Academy looked even more beautiful at night.

Laura wasn’t focused on how expensive everything looked.

Instead, her attention kept drifting toward the woman walking beside her.

Alexzra remained calm and quiet as always, hands tucked inside her coat pockets while her dark hair moved slightly with the wind.

Even silence around her felt comfortable somehow.

Laura smiled softly to herself.

She had genuinely thought entering this academy would feel lonely.

Eventually they reached Laura’s dorm building entrance.

Several students nearby immediately straightened nervously after noticing Alexzra standing there personally.

Whispers spread almost instantly again.

But Laura barely noticed.

She turned happily toward Alexzra instead.

“Thank you for dinner.”

Alexzra looked down at her quietly.

“You’re welcome.”

Laura smiled warmly afterward.

“And tomorrow morning then?”

“…Tomorrow morning.”

Laura looked unexpectedly excited about something as simple as visiting a lake.

Laura slowly stepped backward toward the dorm entrance while clutching her books against her chest.

“Goodnight, Alexzra.”

For a brief second, Alexzra’s cold expression softened almost invisibly beneath the academy lights.

“Goodnight, Laura.”

Laura’s heart immediately skipped again hearing her name spoken like that.

Then she quickly turned around before embarrassing herself further and hurried inside the dorm building.

The moment she disappeared behind the doors—

Alexzra remained standing there longer than necessary.

Quietly staring toward the entrance.

One nearby student nearly fainted witnessing it.

Because Alexzra Walton waiting outside someone’s dorm after personally walking them home sounded completely unreal.

Eventually Alexzra finally turned and walked away calmly into the night again.

Meanwhile,

Inside her dorm room, Laura dropped onto her bed dramatically while hugging a pillow tightly against her face.

Her heart still beat ridiculously fast.

Everything tonight felt strangely unreal.

The dinner.

The private room

The lake invitation tomorrow.

And most importantly, Alexzra herself.

Laura rolled onto her back while staring at the ceiling dreamily.

“She’s actually really nice…”

Oh right.

Why does everyone call her “Your Highness”?

Laura blinked thoughtfully for about three seconds.

Because honestly?

Right now, she felt far more excited about something else entirely.

For the first time since losing her grandmother, Laura felt like she finally made a new friend.