Chapter 806: Possible Problems
Chapter 806: Possible Problems
They reached her room without interruption.Sheila unlocked the door and stepped inside first, holding it open for him. Liam entered after her, and the room closed around them with a warmth and stillness that felt immediately different from the hallway.
Her room reflected her in a way Liam remembered.
It was neat, elegant, and organized without being excessive. The bed was made with pale bedding, the folds clean and precise. A writing desk stood near the window, arranged with stacked books, sealed letters, ink, and a small crystal lamp that gave off gentle light. A few items hinted at Crescent royalty without turning the room into a shrine to her status: a silver-framed crest placed discreetly on a shelf, a folded white-and-blue shawl draped over the back of a chair, and a small polished case that looked more ceremonial than practical.
Sheila removed her coat and hung it properly near the door. "You can sit."
Liam placed his books and assignment materials on one side of a small table near the window, then took the chair across from her desk rather than the bed. Sheila seemed to expect that choice and sat opposite him, folding her hands loosely in her lap.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The quiet made the room feel smaller.
"It has been a while since we properly talked," Sheila said eventually.
Liam looked at her. "We talk."
"In groups," she said. "Or about class. That is different."
"Is it?"
Sheila gave him a patient look.
Liam leaned back slightly in the chair. "I suppose."
Sheila breathed out softly, and for a moment, some of the formality around her eased. "You really do not make casual conversation easy."
"I answered."
"That is not always the same thing."
"So I’ve been told."
The faint smile returned to her face. "By Dylan?"
"Mostly."
"That sounds about right."
The brief exchange loosened the awkwardness enough for Sheila to continue. She glanced toward the books Liam had set down. "Were you studying?"
"Partly. I was working on a report."
"For Tactical Espionage?"
"Yes."
Sheila’s mouth tightened slightly in sympathy. "Lady Seraphina’s class, huh?"
"And Kaine."
"Then I will not ask if it is pleasant."
"It isn’t."
Sheila gave a small, knowing nod. "Theory exams are in a week. Practical exams the week after that. Everyone seems more tense already."
"They are."
"Are you worried?"
"No."
She gave him a look that said she should have expected that answer. "Not even about Core Myst?"
"I got help with the part that was unclear."
"Ariana?"
Liam glanced at her. "Yes."
Sheila’s expression softened with recognition. "She is very good at explaining things."