"YOUR GRACE, thank you for looking after Patricia," Mrs. Collins says, bowing to the Prince, as soon as they reach their flat.

"Don't mention it, ma'am. I just did what I had to do," Jaehyun answers, smiling.

"Would you like to come in, Your Grace? Our flat isn't as massive as your castle, but-" Mrs. Collins offers, but Traze cuts her off.

"Thank you... again, Your Highness. I'm afraid you already missed your class. I apologize for that," Traze says worriedly.

"It's alright, Patricia. I'm way ahead of my classes already."

"Your Majesty, we need to go," his butler suddenly butts in, so the Prince finally cuts his gaze from Traze.

"I'll see you soon, Patricia," Jaehyun finally says, but before turning his back, he speaks again. "I hope you'll accept my proposal, Patricia. I'll be waiting for your response."

Traze gulps down. She doesn't reckon he's serious when he said that. "I will, Your Highness. Take care on your way back to Eton."

After that, she closes the door behind her with a sigh. The butterflies clumping inside her stomach finally subsides, as she slumps down their couch. She still isn't feeling great, but somehow, seeing the Prince got her energized a bit.

"Patricia, dear, I'm not gonna ask you why the Prince drove you home. I just wanna ask, how did you two become close?" Mrs. Collins interrogates, sitting next to her.

"Mum, we're not close. He's just being polite and friendly and kind."

Mrs. Collins nods, moving next to her. "Alright, pumpkin. You better rest inside your room. I'll cook you something tasty."

"Thanks, mum." Traze hugs her, before heading inside her room. Just as she's about to lie on her bed, she hears her phone ringing. When she notices that it's an unknown number, she ignores it and finally dozes off.

♚♚♚

"YOU CAN always go with us during lunch break, Chelsie," Elexa offers, as they gather around the park, near their building at noon.

Renjun nods beside her, stealing a drink from Elexa's yogurt secretly. But the latter notices it so she smacks his arm lightly. "Hey! I was thirsty."

"What will I drink now then?" Elexa complains, arching a brow at him.

Renjun stands up from his seat. "What do you want? I'll buy anything."

Elexa smiles in victory. "Café Latte."

"No coffee. It's not good for your health," Renjun tells her off, shaking his head.

"Alright, alright. I'll just have another strawberry yogurt then, pops," Elexa teases.

Renjun turns to their new friend. "How about you, Chelsie? My welcoming treat."

Chelsie shakes her head. "I'm good. Thank you."

"Alright, then. Be right back." Renjun jogs back to the cafeteria, leaving the two girls behind.

Chelsie wanders around, looking at the field from afar. She suddenly misses her friends back at her school. It's really a different environment at Eton and she doesn't know if she'll even get used to it.

"Hey, are you alright?" Elexa asks, catching back her attention.

"Y-Ye... it's just really... overwhelming to be here," Chelsie answers, forcing a smile. "W-Where's Mark, by the way? Isn't he your friend?"

"Oh, Mark? He's probably studying at the library. He's a diligent student, you see. He and Prince Jeno are neck on neck when it comes to academic standings. Last semester, he fell at 2nd place since he's really busy at the Student Council."

Chelsie is surprised to hear this. She has no idea that Mark and even Prince Jeno are on the top of their class. "R-Really? That's... unexpected."

Elexa stifles a laugh. "They may not look like it, but they're quite serious in their studies. You are, as well, right? That's why you got accepted here as a scholar."

Chelsie nods timidly. "I am."

"That's awesome."

Renjun comes back a few minutes later, handing Elexa her yogurt. "I ran as fast as I could. Don't wanna make the princess wait," he says, still panting and winking at his bestfriend.

Elexa smiles. "And that's why I love you, Ren," she answers, causing Renjun to almost choke on his drink. "Hey, you alright?"

"Oh... uhm... ye... I just got tired from running," the lad answers back.

Chelsie stands up from her seat. "I'll just go to my locker."

"We'll come with," Elexa offers.

"It's alright. Excuse me," Chelsie says, heading back towards their building. As she walks through the empty hallway, she sees Mark walking from the distance while reading a book. She's about to go up to him, when a girl suddenly appears on his side, stopping him.

Chelsie pauses momentarily, realizing that the girl looks familiar. That's when she remembers that she's the same girl who insulted her at the bash. Kiera. Looking at the way she naturally places her hand over Mark's shoulder, she reckons they must be closer than what she thought they'd be.

Just then, someone bumps into her from behind, breaking her gaze away from Mark. She turns around and sees a tall, brown-haired lad, wearing headphones. His uniform suggests that he's also a student, but probably a year older than her since they don't belong in the same class. The lad momentarily takes off the headphones from his ears and bows at her. "Sorry," he mutters, walking away.

Chelsie just nods and watches him walk away, casually placing back the headphones in his ears. She glances back at Mark and catches him staring back at her so she immediately proceeds to her locker, which is fortunately just a few steps away from where she's standing. She hopes he doesn't go up to her at that moment, but few minutes later, a voice startles her from behind. "Chels!"

"Oh, Mark!" Chelsie involuntarily slams her locker door shut and faces Mark awkwardly. "Hi!"

"Oh my God! What are you doing here?" Kiera exclaims, who apparently followed Mark.

"Kiera, she's a new student here," Mark says.

"Huh? Really? How did that happen? I didn't think Eton is accepting charity cases," Kiera remarks.

"Kiera, Chelsie came here to study," Mark continues to answer.

Kiera arches a brow. "Why are you always on her side, Mark? You don't even know her."

"I do know that she's qualified and deserving to be here in Eton," Mark says, grabbing Chelsie's hand. "Come on, Chels. I forgot to tour you around earlier." He leads the way towards the elevator and they both step inside. "I'm sorry about Kiera," he suddenly says, as the lift moves up.

Chelsie turns to him. "No, it alright. I... expected this to happen when I came here."

"She's a nice person. She just has some mood swings most of the time. Just please understand her," Mark blurts out, and Chelsie doesn't fail to notice how he's smiling while saying it, as if he knows everything about Kiera. And he probably does.

Chelsie just nods, as the elevator door opens and stops at the 4th floor. "Where are we going?"

"We'll start here since it's closer to our room," Mark explains, gesturing her to step out first. They walk side by side, passing by the rooms in the hallway. "This is the Visual Arts room or Workshop, as we like to call it. It's where most of the creative students usually hang out and build things."

"Wow! Really?" Chelsie remarks in awe. She has been fascinated and dedicated to art and craft ever since she was a kid so she can't help but be amazed by this. In her former school, there were no special rooms like this.

"Do you wanna go inside?" Mark asks, after seeing her instant enthusiasm.

Chelsie nods in delight. "Can we?"

Mark flashes a smile. "Of course," he says, opening the door for her. "After you..."

"Thank you," Chelsie says, and as soon as she gets in, she immediately sees the person she doesn't want to see. Prince Jeno.

The youngest prince drops the tools he's holding, upon seeing the two inside. "Mark... Chelsie..."

Chelsie bows, avoiding his gaze. "Your Highness..."

"Oh... mate, you're here. I was just giving Chelsie a tour," Mark answers.

Chelsie tries to focus her eyes on the pieces displayed on the shelves, which were probably made by the students. There are painted canvases, wooden pieces, electrical ones that light up and aircraft ones made of metal and plastic. But still, she can't help but feel awkward and uncomfortable, knowing that Prince Jeno is around. "It's... amazing. Everything's amazing here."

"Jeno is the President of the Visual Arts Society, UNICEF as well as the Honour Society. He's mostly busy but he can still manage to do well in class," Mark says, like a proud father.

"I see." Chelsie nods, fixing her eyes on the white and black mini airplane displayed on the center of the room, which is encased in glass panels. "This... is brilliant."

"Thank you," Jeno answers, startling her.

He made this? She wants to ask, but the bell suddenly rings, cueing their next class is about to start. Saved by the bell.

"Come on, Chelsie," Mark says, leading the way out.

Just then, Chelsie feels a hand, stopping her by the arm. When she turns her back, she sees Jeno with a serious look on his face. "Chelsie, can we talk?"

A/N: Hello mates! Updated again because I might not be able to update next week since it's Holy Week here already. Do you smell another ship here? haha XD Hope you liked this chap once again~ Ooh and congrats to 127 and Dream babies for winning at the Vchart awards in Macau. ^^

Thank you for always reading and waiting for my updates (if there are, which I hope so...) <3

~neoluv