Collateral damage

The door behind him creaked open, pulling him out of his thoughts. Elijah straightened, turning to see Kieran step out, his hands stuffed into his pockets.

"Thought I'd find you out here," Kieran said casually, leaning against the wall beside him.

Elijah glanced at him but said nothing, his shoulders tense.

Kieran smirked. "Man, you really went off in there, huh? Didn't know you had it in you."

Elijah groaned, rubbing his temples. "Don't remind me. I'm still trying to figure out if I just signed my death warrant."

"Nah, I don't think she'll have you executed." Kieran paused. "Maybe just exiled."

Elijah shot him a glare, but Kieran's grin only widened.

"Relax," Kieran said, nudging him with his elbow. "Honestly? You said what everyone was thinking. Adelaide needed to hear it."

Elijah sighed, leaning his head back against the wall. "I just… I couldn't sit there and listen to her talk like that. Like she knows everything."

Kieran nodded, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "Yeah, I get it. Sometimes people need a reality check. And you gave her one, big time."

Elijah chuckled dryly. "I doubt she'll see it that way."

"Maybe not," Kieran admitted. "But you did the right thing. Even if it was reckless and probably stupid."

Elijah snorted, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"Anytime, buddy," Kieran said, clapping him on the back. "Now, come on. Let's get back inside before Visconti starts a debate about something ridiculous."

Elijah hesitated for a moment before nodding. As they walked back toward the cafeteria, he felt a small weight lift off his chest.

Maybe he'd face consequences for what he said. Maybe Adelaide would hold it against him.

Elijah followed Kieran back into the cafeteria, the hum of chatter immediately filling his ears.

The smell of food lingered, and cadets were still scattered across the room, eating, laughing, or debating animatedly over their new roles.

As they approached their table, Elijah's steps slowed.

Adelaide was still sitting there, her regal posture making her stand out even among the lively crowd. She didn't spare him a glance, her focus on her plate as if nothing had happened.

Visconti noticed them first, waving them over. "Took you long enough. What were you doing, plotting your apology?"

"Ha, ha," Elijah muttered, sliding into his seat.

"Very funny."

"You know," Enu said, leaning forward with a grin, "You're officially my hero now. Never thought I'd see someone talk back to a royal and live to tell the tale."

Adelaide's fork paused mid-air, but she didn't look up.

"Live for now," Elijah said dryly. "I'm still half-expecting her to send someone after me when I'm sleeping."

Kieran snorted. "I'll keep watch. If a ninja shows up, I'll throw a pillow at them."

Laurent rolled her eyes. "You guys are ridiculous."

"It's not ridiculous," Enu argued. "Do you have any idea how strict the Acalusia family is? They could totally send a spy. Or poison his food."

"Great," Elijah muttered. "Thanks for that. Now I'll be paranoid every time I eat."

Visconti smirked. "Wouldn't blame you. Royals aren't exactly known for forgiving and forgetting."

Adelaide finally spoke, her tone cold and clipped. "If you're all done speculating about how I might take revenge, I'd prefer it if you stopped involving me in your childish banter."

The table fell silent, her words like ice water thrown over them.

But then Kieran, ever the instigator, leaned forward with a grin. "So, you're not planning to poison Elijah? Good to know."

Elijah groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Why are you like this?"

Adelaide's lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn't respond. Instead, she stood, her movements calm and deliberate. Without a word, she picked up her tray and walked away.

"Nice going, Kieran," Laurent said, shaking her head.

"What?" Kieran shrugged. "I was just asking the important questions."

"She's gonna hate us now," Enu said with a sigh.

"Correction," Visconti said, pointing his fork at Elijah. "She's gonna hate him. The rest of us are just collateral damage."

Elijah sighed, leaning back in his chair. 0I don't care if she hates me. I just—" He stopped, the words catching in his throat. He didn't even know what he wanted to say.

"Relax, man," Kieran said, clapping him on the shoulder. "She's just another cadet. Royal or not, she doesn't get to look down on people like that."

Elijah nodded slowly. Maybe Kieran was right. Maybe he had nothing to apologize for.

Back in their dorm room, the atmosphere was far more relaxed than it had been in the cafeteria.

Visconti had sprawled out on the couch, his usual smug grin plastered across his face, while Kieran rummaged through the fridge looking for snacks.

Elijah, wearing a plain shirt and sweatpants, sat cross-legged on his bed, staring at his phone in silent contemplation.

"So…" Visconti started, breaking the silence. "Are we gonna talk about what happened with Adelaide or just pretend it didn't happen?"

Kieran popped open a bag of chips and joined them, plopping down on the other end of the couch. "Oh, we're definitely talking about it. That was legendary."

Elijah groaned, throwing his head back. "Can we not?"

"Absolutely not," Kieran said, tossing a chip into his mouth. "You stood up to a royal. A freaking Acalusia. Who does that? No one. That's who."

"I wasn't thinking," Elijah admitted, rubbing his temples.

"Clearly,0 Visconti quipped. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But seriously, Elijah. What were you thinking? She could've destroyed you right then and there."

"I wasn't gonna sit there and let her call someone a coward when she doesn't even know what they're going through," Elijah said, his voice firm. "It's not right."

Kieran leaned forward, smirking. "Aw, look at you, our very own knight in shining armor. Should we start calling you Sir Elijah?"

"Don't push it." Elijah glared at him, but there was no real heat behind it.

Visconti chuckled. "It's funny, though. For someone who hates attention, you've been doing a great job of getting it lately."

Elijah sighed. "Don't remind me. First the whispers during patrol, and now this. I swear, I'm cursed."

"Nah, you're just interesting," Kieran said, grinning. "People love interesting."

"Or they love watching a train wreck," Visconti added.

Elijah rolled his eyes, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at him. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

Visconti caught the pillow, laughing. "Anytime."

"So," Kieran said, leaning back and tossing another chip into his mouth. "What's your plan? You gonna apologize to her?"

Elijah hesitated. He hadn't thought that far ahead. "I don't know. Do you think I should?"

"No," Visconti said immediately. "She's the one who was out of line. Don't apologize for having a backbone."

Kieran nodded in agreement. "Yeah, don't let her walk all over you. Royals or not, she's still just a cadet like the rest of us."

"Thanks, guys," Elijah said, managing a small smile.

"Don't mention it," Kieran said, leaning back with a satisfied grin. "Seriously, though. If she comes for your head, let me know. I'll guard your door with my life."

Visconti snorted. "Right. You'd probably fall asleep halfway through."

"Hey!" Kieran protested. "I take my job as Elijah's personal bodyguard very seriously."

"Sure you do," Elijah said, laughing despite himself.