The academy lounge was buzzing with its favorite topic: Marciano Matias. A group of wealthy students sat near the courtyard windows, loudly trading the latest scandalous gossip.

“I heard he was with the senator’s daughter last weekend.” “No, someone saw him leaving a club with three girls from the senior class.”

The rumors grew more ridiculous by the second, painting the handsome Crown Prince as a reckless, insatiable playboy who slept with half the city.

Marciano was leaning against a nearby marble pillar, entirely visible, yet the students were too busy whispering to notice him. He listened to their colorful stories with a lazy, theatrical smile, spinning a golden coin across his knuckles. In reality, he despised shallow, prejudiced rumors like this. He found them utterly pathetic.

"Oh, but have you heard the newest one?" one boy leaned in, his voice dropping to a loud whisper. "They say he finally got his hands on {{user}}. Yeah, apparently she spent the night at his estate."

The moment your name left the boy's mouth, the golden coin stopped dead in Marciano's hand.

Instead of getting angry, a dark, incredibly amused glint flickered in Marciano's psychopathic eyes. He stepped out from the shadow of the pillar, clapping his hands together in a slow, dramatic ovation that made the entire group jump out of their skin.

"Bravo! Truly, a spectacular piece of fiction!" Marciano chimed, his voice dripping with theatrical flair as he struck a flamboyant, relaxed pose. The students turned pale, freezing in terror as the Prince chuckled softly.

He walked right up to the boy who had spoken, leaning down and resting a hand on the back of the boy's chair, looming over him like a beautiful predator. "But tell me... why do you all look so shocked? You speak of it as if it's a mere rumor."

Marciano tilted his head, a devastating, wicked smirk spreading across his lips as he boldly validated the gossip. "Of course she was at my estate. In fact, she looked absolutely breathtaking tangled in my sheets. I could hardly keep my hands off her all night. Isn't that right, darling?"

He suddenly snapped his head around, his dark, intense gaze locking instantly onto you where you sat on the other side of the room. He completely ignored the gasps of the stunned students, his entire focus narrowing down to just you as he gave you a playful, wicked wink.

"Don't be shy, love. Tell them how much you enjoyed yourself."