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A few hours before the students of Diasomnia would be laid to rest—though some were already in their beds—four students took over the main lounge.
The green fire on the candlesticks danced smoothly, but even they flickered under the faint pressure of the nearby dragon prince.
Silver got a head start that very night, already slumbering on the couch with his dorm uniform still on. A book laid open and half-fallen over his chest, a lone hand keeping it secure.
Sebek sat on the other couch with a sword in his hands, polishing it with a rather fiery focus. But, his attention, too, dwelled elsewhere.
Malleus stood by the window, gazing out into the skies of black, green, and violet. His gaze was distant, dark brows softly furrowed and eyes intense. Whatever he was thinking of, Malleus seemed to want to wish it into his line of sight.
It was a habit that had persisted for days now.
“There he goes,” Lilia hummed mischievously, floating by from under the doorway with a cup of steaming tea. The aroma of chamomile trailed after his coat. “Staring at the skies like they hold the secrets of the world. Or should I say . . . of your heart?”
Malleus does not turn, but his lips quirked a miniscule amount. "I am simply enjoying the view."
"Ramshackle is right beyond the mirror chamber if you so wished to see it, Malleus." Lilia smiled and draped himself over the back of the couch where Silver slept still.
Sebek stiffened. "THE RAMSHACKLE DORM IS HARDLY A VIEW TO BE ENJOYED, LORD MALLEUS. I—"
"Oh, not the building." Lilia cut in, red eyes glimmering. “Come now, Sebek. Don’t you think the Ramshackle prefect is rather charming?”
The half-fae bristled. His sword glinted under the cloth. "The human is respectable and dutiful, yes, BUT—"
“Admirable!” Lilia added and sipped his tea. “Adorable! Polite. Well-groomed. Rises like the sun and sinks like a pearl. And look at our dear Housewarden, speechless as usual~"
For a moment, the candles seemed to burn brighter. Silver snapped awake, the book on his chest tumbling to the floor. He eyed Sebek, Lilia, then finally Malleus.
Malleus, meanwhile, stood as still as a gargoyle while the skies seemed to growl a different sort of emotion. He glanced over his shoulder, eyes electric green and cheeks . . . pink?
“You’re misinterpreting my admiration." Malleus said, though his voice sounded odd. "The Prefect is something to behold. But that does not mean I am—”
“—Hopelessly, endlessly, irrevocably in love?” Lilia supplied with a cheeky grin.
Immediately, Malleus's mouth clamped shut. His pupils contracted very faintly.
Sebek, who was debating whether he should truly get himself involved, turned swiftly, his polishing cloth flinging off his blade like a comet. "L—Love?! Our Lord . . . IS IN LOVE?!"
"Good evening, Sebek," Lilia chirped, his tea sloshing. "Yes. Our great, almighty, and terrible prince is smitten. He stares at the doodles the Prefect drew of him—don't ask how I know. He visits Ramshackle Dorm more often, outside of the night! He trails after the Prefect like a shadow! Oh, Seven! It seems that he might've neglected even the gargoyles!"
Malleus glared.
Silver grunted, having recovered from his drowsiness and sat up. "I thought that was odd . . . "
Lilia stuck his tongue out. "He has a very special gem in his quarters as of the moment."
Sebek’s jaw dropped in horror. “HAVE YOU CONFESSED, LORD MALLEUS?!”
“No,” Malleus said, very stiffly.
Silver raised a curious brow. "Why not?"
"Because!" Malleus snapped. His coat billowed. The candles soared with his voice, thunder snapped outside, but then it wavered. "The Prefect is brilliant, and listens well, and . . . And I—I would not risk breaking that.”
The lounge rang into silence.
Silver blinked. Sebek remained frozen. The candles simmered and the clouds subsided.
"Crikey!" Lilia tilted his head back and finished his tea.
After a moment, Sebek gasped. “My master is truly in love . . .”
He dropped to his knees and his blade clanged beside him.
"MY MASTER IS BESOTTED!" Sebek lamented. "WITH A HUMAN!"
Silver straightened. "Not just any human, Sebek."
He rose to his feet and turned to his prince. "Lord Malleus, I think if you told the Prefect all this, they'd be flattered."
"I do not doubt their emotions, Silver." Malleus said, finally.
"Do you?" Lilia raised a brow.
Malleus stared at him, but did not answer. He seemed to be thinking about it himself. Regaining his furrowed brows and pressed lips, Malleus turned back to the window.
With a sigh, Lilia placed his teacup on the table with a soft clink. He rose and floated gently to the fae's side, face softening. "You already shine in their eyes, Malleus. I see it all the time. They look at you as if they have met the prettiest and greatest thing in all of Twisted Wonderland. Like the sun watching their moon. They glow because you glow."
Malleus remained still with his gaze to the horizon, but Lilia could see the former's gaze slowly melt into a somber look. Lilia swore he could almost see something similar within Malleus in himself.
Lilia scoffed and crossed his arms above the window ledge. "Do not be so timorous. I'm sure that if the Prefect didn't want you, they wouldn't be so insistent in asking about your gargoyles or laughing at your terrible jokes."
Malleus stiffened. "My jokes are terrible?"
"Well, yes. We can work on that, but that's not the point!" Lilia patted his shoulder. "I'm sure they already like you. Very much. And if I am wrong, strike me down with your thunder."
A chuckle pulled out of Malleus's lips and his eyes lightened. His fists uncoiled and his shoulders loosened. He took a deep breath, facing the three with a prouder smile. "I . . . I will see to it that the Prefect knows that I feel the same way."
"Attaboy."
"SPLENDID, LORD MALLEUS!" Sebek cheered, arms planted to his sides. "THE HUMAN WILL NOT RESIST YOUR CHARM!"
"They already don't, Sebek." Silver said.
"QUIET, SILVER!"
.
.
.
As Malleus retired to his room, Lilia had Silver and Sebek stay for a few final words.
"Well, gentlemen!" Lilia stood tall. "I have longed to see the day that our prince finally be humbled by the matters of the heart. We are watching history unfold live here in Twisted Wonderland™!"
"You are enjoying this far too much." Sebek frowned.
Silver's gaze lowered. "Do you truly believe that Malleus has what it takes, Father?"
Sebek snapped his head towards the sophomore. "YOU DARE DOUBT OUR MAGNIFICENT LIEGE?!"
"Regardless," Lilia mused, eyes panning towards the window. "Who wouldn't love Malleus?"