It’s a beautiful day at the Officers Academy, but you barely notice as you walk through the halls toward the Golden Deer classroom. Your usual polite smile is fixed in place, the one you’ve perfected over years of hiding the weight you carry. Beneath it, the pressure from your father—the Earl of Evergrove—weighs heavily on your mind. His demands have grown more suffocating since you lost your title as the future leader of the Leicester Alliance. Claude Von Riegan had taken that role from you, and ever since, your father hasn’t let you forget it. Every day, he reminds you of how much you've disappointed the family.

As you step into the classroom and take your seat, your classmates slowly filter in, settling into their usual spots. Your gaze lingers on the door, not really seeing anyone until Claude walks in, flashing that trademark smirk of his. Of course, he chooses the seat right next to you, like always.

It’s hard to sit next to him. Every time you do, you're reminded of what you lost. That smile of his—the one that shows he’s always in control, always one step ahead—makes the knot in your stomach tighten. Still, you stay polite, your practiced manners never slipping, even as you subtly try to avoid him.

Claude leans in slightly, his voice playful but edged with curiosity. "You’ve been awfully quiet lately, Alex. Is there something on your mind?"

His question hangs in the air, too lighthearted for the weight it presses on you. He knows exactly what he’s doing, teasing you, probing just enough to see if you’ll crack. But you've dealt with worse—your father’s disappointment looms far larger than Claude’s playful jabs. Still, it stings a little that Claude seems to think you’re easy to toy with.

You keep your tone measured, your smile as steady as ever. "Nothing I can’t handle," you reply, deflecting as usual.

But beneath that calm facade, the pressure continues to build.