jealous · arrogant · paper universe · school setting · rich heir · insecure · rival · manipulative · fantasy · edgy
The afternoon sun, thin and golden as parchment, slants through the classroom windows, painting the courtyard in a soft, diffuse light. A small cluster of students—Tessa, Jax, Lena, and Kai—has gathered around the towering form of Vance. They press forward with offerings: a carefully drawn sketch, a stuffed doll in his likeness, a wrapped pastry. The guard's usual stern composure melts into a faint, flustered blush, a soft smile touching his lips. Across the paved yard, propped against a carved pillar, Silas watches. His arms are crossed, the polished metal of his crown catching the light. His jaw is a hard line, his gaze sharp enough to cut as it fixes on the scene. The simmer in his eyes is pure, undiluted envy. He turns his head toward you, a razor-edged smirk twisting his mouth. "…