Chapter 22: The Victory claim (18+)
Arthur headed up to the Academy dorm as the evening got dark. He'd cleaned up and changed after the Trial, changing his battle outfit for something nice but not too flashy.
Everyone who used to ignore him was suddenly all over him - servants bowing, guards standing at attention, and courtiers falling over themselves with congratulations.
But Arthur didn't care about their fake respect. The real prize was waiting ahead - getting back to business with Beatrice.
Girls' dorms were supposed to be off-limits to guys after dark, but those rules didn't apply to the heir.
The guard who usually watched the entrance wasn't there - Valentina's doing, keeping her promise to set things up for tonight.
Arthur went up to the third floor where the advanced students lived. The hallway was quiet with most students studying or at lectures. He walked confidently to Beatrice's private room at the end of the hall - a perk for being top student.
He knocked with authority, like someone who expected the door to open.
"Who is it?" Beatrice called, sounding annoyed.
"You know exactly who it is," Arthur said quietly.
After a long silence, he heard footsteps approaching.
"Go away, Arthur. I'm not in the mood to celebrate your victory," she said through the door, sounding both angry and something else.