The Return After Break
1463 Words
The academy looked different after a break.
Not physically.
The tall stone buildings still stood proudly against the morning sky, the royal crest carved above the entrance, polished walkways lined with trimmed hedges, fountains sparkling in the early light.
But the energy was different.
Alive again.
Students filled the courtyard in clusters, their voices blending into excited chatter after weeks apart.
Some laughed loudly as they reunited.
Others compared stories from their break.
Noble daughters hugged dramatically.
Young lords exchanged jokes and gossip.
Servants moved quietly in the background, carrying books, bags, and trays for students too privileged to carry their own things.
And among them—
Dahlia walked with her head lowered.
As always.
Her uniform was neat but old compared to the richer fabrics around her. Her dark hair was tied back simply, and the freckles scattered across her cheeks stood out against her pale skin in the morning light.
She adjusted the books in her arms and tried not to notice the stares.
Because there were always stares.
Not because she was important.
Because she wasn’t.
She was the adviser’s daughter in name only where Agnes was concerned, but in reality—
She was the girl people whispered about.
The girl who knew her place.
The girl who stayed quiet.
Dahlia exhaled slowly.
Break was over.
Which meant school was starting again.
Which meant Agnes was back.
That thought alone made her stomach tighten.
---
“Look who finally came back.”
Dahlia froze.
She knew that voice.
Of course she did.
Agnes Wonton stood with two of her usual friends near the academy steps, dressed perfectly as always, blonde hair styled elegantly, posture flawless, smile cruel.
Her eyes landed on Dahlia like a knife finding familiar skin.
“I was wondering if you’d decide to stay hidden forever,” Agnes said sweetly.
Her friends giggled.
Dahlia lowered her gaze.
“I have class,” she said quietly.
Agnes stepped forward.
“Oh, of course you do.”
She looked Dahlia over slowly.
Mockingly.
“Still wearing that?”
More laughter.
Dahlia said nothing.
Agnes leaned closer.
“I hope you didn’t spend break imagining your life somehow changed.”
That sentence made Dahlia stiffen.
Because Agnes always spoke like she knew things she shouldn’t.
And maybe she did.
Agnes smiled wider.
“You’re still exactly who you were before.”
Dahlia tightened her grip on her books.
Before she could answer—
A sudden shift rippled through the courtyard.
Whispers started.
Students straightened.
Heads turned.
The royal carriages had arrived.
---
Florian stepped out first.
Crown Prince Florian looked exactly like someone who belonged to power.
Tall.
Controlled.
Sharp in posture and presence.
His academy uniform fit him with effortless precision, dark and regal against the morning light.
Beside him, Basil stepped out with far less seriousness, already glancing around like he expected entertainment.
Students bowed.
Whispers erupted instantly.
“The Crown Prince is back…”
“Prince Basil too…”
“They look even better after break…”
“Oh my God…”
Florian barely reacted.
He was used to this.
He hated none of it and enjoyed none of it.
It simply existed.
Basil leaned slightly toward him.
“Back to suffering.”
Florian didn’t look at him.
“You call education suffering because you refuse to think.”
Basil grinned.
“And you call breathing a strategic activity.”
Florian ignored him.
Then—
His gaze shifted.
Across the courtyard.
And landed on her.
Dahlia.
Standing frozen near the steps.
Books in her arms.
Head lowered.
Freckles catching the sunlight.
Pink lips pressed together nervously.
And Agnes standing far too close.
Florian’s expression did not change.
But something in his gaze sharpened immediately.
Basil noticed.
Followed his brother’s line of sight.
Then smirked.
“Oh.”
Florian looked at him.
Basil’s grin widened.
“So we’re staring now?”
“I am observing.”
Basil laughed.
“You are absolutely staring.”
Florian ignored him and continued walking.
But his attention remained where it should not have.
On her.
---
Dahlia felt it before she looked.
That strange awareness.
Like the air itself had shifted.
Her heart betrayed her instantly.
No.
No, don’t look.
She looked anyway.
And there he was.
Florian.
Walking across the courtyard with that same quiet authority that somehow made everyone move around him without being told.
Even from a distance—
He looked untouchable.
A prince.
A future king.
Someone from a world so far above hers it should not have mattered that he was looking in her direction.
But he was.
Dahlia immediately lowered her gaze.
Too fast.
Too obvious.
Her cheeks burned.
Agnes noticed.
And Agnes missed nothing.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
---
Florian passed them without stopping.
As expected.
As proper.
But in that brief moment—
His eyes flicked toward Agnes.
Just once.
Cold.
Sharp.
Not enough for anyone else to notice.
Enough for Agnes to feel it.
Her smile faltered.
Only for a second.
Florian continued walking as if nothing had happened.
Basil followed, still fighting a grin.
“You really do have a problem,” Basil muttered.
Florian kept his gaze ahead.
“I don’t.”
Basil snorted.
“Sure.”
---
Inside the academy halls, students filled corridors with noise and excitement.
Schedules were exchanged.
Teachers barked instructions.
Lockers opened and shut.
Everything felt chaotic in that familiar school way.
Dahlia moved quietly through it all.
Invisible again.
At least she tried to be.
But her mind wouldn’t settle.
Because she had seen him.
And worse—
He had seen her.
Again.
That made something in her chest flutter in a way she deeply hated.
Because she did not understand it.
And what she didn’t understand scared her.
---
First class passed in a blur.
Second class too.
By lunch break, the academy gardens and dining hall buzzed with conversation.
Dahlia sat alone near the edge of a quieter courtyard with a small tray in front of her.
She preferred it here.
Far from Agnes.
Far from whispers.
Far from everyone.
At least—
That was the plan.
---
Florian sat in the royal section of the dining hall.
Students naturally kept distance.
Not by rule.
By instinct.
Basil ate with more enthusiasm than dignity.
Florian barely touched his food.
His gaze drifted.
Again.
Toward the outer courtyard windows.
Toward a familiar figure sitting alone.
Basil followed his gaze and laughed softly.
“This is becoming embarrassing.”
Florian looked at him.
“It is not.”
Basil leaned back.
“You know what’s embarrassing?”
Florian said nothing.
“When the Crown Prince pretends he’s not watching the same girl every five minutes.”
Florian’s expression remained flat.
“You speak too much.”
Basil grinned.
“And you feel too much.”
Florian gave him a look that should have ended the conversation.
It didn’t.
Basil just laughed harder.
---
Outside, Dahlia sat quietly under the shade of a tree, eating slowly.
Peaceful.
For about three minutes.
Then—
Agnes appeared.
Of course she did.
Dahlia stiffened immediately.
Agnes stood in front of her, arms folded elegantly.
Her friends behind her like decorative cruelty.
“I heard something interesting,” Agnes said sweetly.
Dahlia looked up slowly.
Agnes leaned slightly closer.
“They say the Crown Prince looked in our direction this morning.”
Dahlia’s stomach dropped.
No.
Agnes smiled.
“You wouldn’t happen to know why, would you?”
Dahlia said nothing.
Agnes crouched slightly.
Face-to-face now.
“You should be careful.”
Her voice dropped.
“Girls like you survive by knowing your place.”
Dahlia’s fingers tightened around her tray.
Agnes’ smile widened.
“Don’t start imagining impossible things.”
Then—
A shadow fell over them.
Agnes turned.
And froze.
Florian stood there.
Silent.
Unreadable.
Dangerously calm.
Basil behind him, suddenly not smiling anymore.
No one in the courtyard moved.
Agnes stood quickly.
“Your Highness,” she said, instantly graceful.
Florian’s gaze moved past her.
Straight to Dahlia.
Just for a second.
Long enough to make Dahlia forget how to breathe.
Then he looked at Agnes.
His voice was calm.
Sharp enough to cut.
“You are blocking the walkway.”
Agnes blinked.
The statement was simple.
But everyone heard what it really meant.
Move.
Now.
Agnes smiled too quickly.
“Of course, Your Highness.”
She stepped aside immediately.
Her friends scrambled with her.
Florian said nothing else.
He simply walked past.
Basil gave Agnes a look that was almost pity before following.
And Dahlia sat frozen beneath the tree, heart pounding so hard she thought everyone around her must hear it.
Because for the second time—
The Crown Prince had stepped into her world.
And nothing about that felt safe anymore.
- Writer
