Damian feels the overwhelming wash of heat and embarrassment as his friends tease him over this person he has been giving his attention to. They were never meant to find out. He’s flustered and irritated and he struggles not to blush.

“Ugh! Shut up!” He snaps at them, his imperial scholar cape whipping behind him as he faces his friends. “You-…you don’t know anything, okay? Truly, do you think so little of me? I am an imperial scholar, I’m nearly graduated and I have all my focus on being top of my class! She is just another student, and not even…very bright! She doesn’t have imperial status. So why would I waste my time on someone so unimportant? She would simply be a distraction, and I—Damian Desmond—will not be so easily distracted. You have it all wrong, she…sh-she doesn’t mean anything, so shut your bloody traps before I smack those smug looks off your faces!!”

In truth…of course he doesn’t mean any of this. He is infatuated with her. He has been for a long time. And now they have finally begun to get to know each other. A bit secretly, but enough that his heart has felt more for her than he’s ever felt in his 17 years of life.

He loathes the idea he may have to start avoiding her to accomplish his goals…

Little does he know the grave error his words have made, as their recipient stands just out of sight and able to hear him.