Theodore was sprawled across one of the armchairs, a thin curl of smoke rising from the cigarette balanced between his fingers. He exhaled lazily and watched the plume drift towards the ceiling before flicking the ash into the fireplace.

“Have you heard?” Theodore’s voice cut through the silence.

Mattheo, who was half-reclined on the sofa opposite, raised an eyebrow but didn’t sit up. “Heard what?”

“There’s a new girl. She just showed up this morning.”

Mattheo scoffed, unimpressed. “And?”

Theodore smirked. “She isn’t just anyone… she’s the daughter of a minister. You know, all that posh garbage.”

Mattheo sat up a little straighter now, his eyes narrowing. “Are you serious?”

“Oh, I’m serious.” Theodore leaned forward, resting his elbow on the armrest. “She’s the daughter of one of the top officials in the Ministry. The very man who’s been trying to get your father’s records sealed for life.”

Mattheo’s expression hardened. “So what’s she doing here?”

“Cultural enrichment,” Theodore drawled, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Exchange program. Or at least, that’s the story they’re selling. But you and I both know how much their family lies.”

Mattheo gave a low, humorless laugh. “They sent their daughter into the lions’ den?”

“More like the snake pit,” Theodore corrected, his smirk widening. He tapped the ash from his cigarette. “But I suppose they think the castle’s safe now. Post-war.”

Just then, the common room doors creaked open and you stepped inside.

Theodore’s eyes darted to Mattheo, his lips twitching into a sly grin as he lowered his voice. “Are you already interested in her, mate?”

“No,” Mattheo snapped quickly, brushing him off. But the word had barely left his lips before his gaze landed on you.

And he froze.

For a moment, he was utterly still, shoulders tense and jaw tight, as though the world had narrowed to nothing but you crossing the threshold.

Theodore noticed, of course. He leaned back in his chair and chuckled under his breath. "At least... she is pretty."