It had been an unusual week back at Ashwood Academy for Sebastian. His first day back had ended with an impulsive move, something outside his careful nature. Ever since that day, the fleeting moment with Elena Sinclair, he found it harder to approach her. She was elusive, always just out of reach, but it didn’t stop him from watching her from a distance. 

As he lay on his bed, the question of whether Elena would be at the bookstore today gnawed at him. He didn’t know why he cared so much, but there was something about her that unsettled him—more than just the fact that she was new. 

His mind flickered back to that brief moment they shared at Ashwood Academy and their silent interactions at the bookstore. There had been a spark of something—curiosity, maybe, or even desire—that unsettled him more than it should have. For a fleeting second, he wondered what it would be like to act on it, to let himself feel something other than duty.  

Then, a knock at his door that now disrupted his thoughts. A maid had come to fetch him for breakfast. 

On weekends, breakfast was a family affair. Madeline, insisted on it. Occasionally, that meant the presence of his grandmother, Grand Duchess Anna Carlisle von Edmonton. 

Anna had married the former Duke in an arranged marriage, journeying from her homeland to the Edmonton duchy to meet her husband for the first time on their wedding day.  

Though decades had passed, and she’d spent most of her life in Ashwood, she still missed the familiar sounds and sights of her youth. Her mother tongue, once so natural, had become something distant—almost foreign—on her lips, yet the memories of her homeland had never fully faded. 

Since her husband's passing, Anna had withdrawn from much of the family’s day-to-day life, retreating to the annex. There, she tended to her beloved flower garden, leaving the management of the estate to Jonas and Madeline. Though she rarely ventured into society anymore, she still made appearances at family breakfasts, if only to see her grandchildren. 

“Mother, you’re here,” Jonas said, walking briskly to kiss her on the cheek. He was the last to arrive, delayed by a last-minute document that required his urgent attention. 

Madeline nodded to the staff, who began serving with their usual, seamless precision. 

“How was your first week back at the Academy, Sebastian?” Anna asked, breaking the silence that had settled over the table. 

“As expected, Grandmother. It’s only been the first week,” Sebastian replied, his voice steady, though his eyes briefly flickered with something more. 

“I’m sure you’ll excel, as always,” Anna said, her gaze soft as she looked at him. She knew too well the weight he bore as the future heir of the family. “But don’t push yourself too hard, my dear. Remember to take time for yourself.” Her voice carried a note of pity, an understanding of the pressures he carried. 

Before Sebastian could respond, Henry chimed in eagerly, “Grandmother, can I visit Jerry today?” His eyes lit up at the thought of the dog, a companion Jonas had gotten for Anna to help her pass the time. 

“Henry,” Madeline scolded, her voice sharp. “Manners.” 

Anna raised her hand gently, signaling that it was alright. “Of course, Henry,” she said with a small laugh. “I’ll have treats ready, too.” Henry beamed with joy, much to his mother’s annoyance and his father’s quiet amusement. 

At the far end of the table, Lillian sat silently, engrossed in her meal, a book resting beside her. Though Lillian didn’t read at the table, her book beside her was a quiet form of rebellion.  

Madeline glanced at it but chose not to comment. She had learned to pick her battles with Lillian. As a baby, her daughter had been her perfect little doll, but as she grew, that closeness faded, leaving their relationship marked by distance and silent skirmishes. 

Jonas was the first to excuse himself, hurrying back to his work. Soon after, the Grand Duchess stood, retreating to her annex, her sanctuary away from the family’s affairs. 

“Sebastian,” Madeline’s voice was calm but probing as she delicately placed her teacup back on the saucer. “Do you have any plans today?” 

“I had arranged to go riding with Benjamin at his estate. I still have time before I leave.” 

“Then meet me in the sitting room after breakfast,” she replied. It had been a week since classes resumed, and not knowing tormented her. Though it seemed unlikely, she wondered if Sebastian had encountered Catherine Sinclair’s daughter. 

Sebastian stepped into the opulent sitting room, the soft light filtering through the large arched windows casting a warm glow on the furniture. As he sat on the sofa, he found his mother standing by the window, her gaze distant, clearly deep in thought.  

Madeline was contemplating how to broach the subject of Elena Sinclair without raising unnecessary suspicion. Was she overreacting about Catherine? Should she offer her help to atone for the childish wrongs of the past? Would Catherine even accept it, or would an anonymous gesture be better? Her thoughts swirled, unsettled. 

“How have you been this week, Sebastian? I’ve been so busy, I haven’t had time to speak with you,” Madeline said, turning from the window and taking a seat across from him. 

“Nothing unusual,” Sebastian replied with a casual shrug. “Everything’s been the same at the academy. I have it under control.” 

Madeline hesitated, then asked, “Has there been anything—or anyone—interesting at the academy?” 

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, genuinely unsure of what his mother was hinting at. “Interesting? Not really.” 

“I just mean, with so many new students this year… some of them are new to the capital,” she said, offering a tight smile, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of her teacup. “I was just wondering if you’d noticed.” 

Elena. Sebastian’s mind immediately went to her. She had been the only thing out of the ordinary this week, but it wasn’t something he would ever share with his mother. He wasn’t sure what she knew, but this conversation had piqued his interest. 

“I hadn’t noticed,” he replied coolly, as a knock sounded at the door. 

Geoff entered and handed Sebastian his riding gloves. 

“Is everything ready?” Sebastian asked, and Geoff gave a respectful nod. 

Sebastian turned back to Madeline. “Are we done here, Mother? I should get going.” 

Madeline gave a small sigh and nodded. “Of course. Be safe.” 

As Sebastian left the room, Madeline remained seated, staring at the empty doorway. The conversation had not gone as she’d hoped, and the festering unease in her chest remained unresolved. What should I do? Should I reach out to Catherine again? 

As Sebastian walked out of the sitting room, his thoughts began to spiral. What was Mother hinting at? Could it really have been about Elena, or was it some other new student?  

The idea of his mother having any connection to Elena only fueled his curiosity further. With each step he took, his mind raced faster. He’d been wondering about Elena ever since that day, but in the world he lived in, curiosity was all he could afford. Still, the unanswered questions troubled him. 

“Geoff,” Sebastian called, his tone low and serious as Geoff fell in step beside him. “Find out what you can about Elena Sinclair. Discreetly.” 

Geoff nodded, his face impassive as always. “Of course, sir.” 

“And Geoff—” Sebastian added, stopping for a moment, his eyes narrowing. “I don’t want any word of this getting back to my mother.” 

Geoff gave a small bow. Understanding fully Sebastian’s words. 

Without another word, Sebastian stepped into the back of the motorized carriage as Geoff took his place behind the wheel. The hum of the engine filled the silence as they pulled away from the estate, but Sebastian’s thoughts remained loud, swirling with questions as Geoff drove them away from the estate. 

"Geoff," Sebastian said abruptly, breaking the silence. "Let’s make a quick detour—head to the bookstore first." 

The familiar ding of the bell signaled Sebastian’s entrance. Professor Frowde, with his characteristic calm, greeted him warmly. 

“Ah, Sebastian. Always a pleasant surprise,” the professor said, already reaching for the teapot out of habit. 

“Hello, professor. I won’t be staying long,” Sebastian replied, noticing the gesture. His eyes discreetly scanned the room. She is not here. 

“You may have to help yourself today,” Professor Frowde added with a hint of teasing in his tone. “Elena isn’t in this week.” 

“I have been coming here longer than she has. I think I can manage,” Sebastian retorted with a small, polite smile. 

“How was the young lady’s first week at the academy? Did you speak with her?” 

“I didn’t,” Sebastian said abruptly, leaving a momentary pause in the air. “Wouldn’t that be troublesome, professor? It would only make things harder for her.” 

Professor Frowde’s expression softened, his voice taking on a thoughtful note. “It would, yes. She has already been through a lot.” 

The professor waited for some kind of reaction, but none came. Sebastian, seemingly unfazed, scanned the shelves. He wasn’t looking for anything specific, but eventually, his fingers settled on a familiar spine. 

“I’ll return this next week,” he said, holding up the book before heading toward the door. 

“Of course,” the professor replied, a quiet chuckle escaping him as he noticed the title. It was a book he’d already gifted to Sebastian once before. 

As Sebastian returned to his carriage, his mind began to clear. It was then that he noticed the book he had grabbed. Really... why did I come here? he thought, rubbing his temples. If she had been there, what would I have even done? 

Professor Frowde's words echoed in his mind. What did he mean—'she's been through a lot already'? 

The nagging questions tugged at him, his curiosity spiraling faster than he wanted to admit. 

“Geoff," Sebastian spoke, his voice steady but laced with a new intensity. "I’ll need that information in three days.” 

With his curiosity getting the better of him, they continued their journey toward Benjamin’s family estate. 

On the third day, Geoff had gathered enough information about the Sinclair's' family background to present to Sebastian. He hoped it would be enough to satisfy the young master. Geoff had spent late nights, employing untraceable methods to uncover the details, all while avoiding drawing any suspicion. 

As soon as Sebastian entered the carriage after his day at the academy, Geoff handed him the file. Without hesitation, Sebastian flipped through the documents, scanning for anything that might shed light on the mysterious connection between his mother’s probing questions and Elena Sinclair.  

He didn’t know what he hoped to find, but the need to understand more about Elena unsettled him. Deep down, he also hoped she had nothing to do with his mother’s strange, veiled interest. 

Viscount Hubert Sinclair's story was easy to trace. After inheriting a poorly managed estate from his father, the viscount had ventured into agriculture and trade with Valtara. Yet, his recent gamble on expanding his business, fueled by investor funds, had failed miserably. He had been forced to sell most of his assets to repay the debts, barely keeping his family’s dignity intact. 

But the real intrigue came when the dossier shifted focus to Viscountess Catherine Sinclair. Geoff had included a small, yet pivotal, section on her past—something no one in the capital seemed to discuss openly anymore. Her father, Baron Charles Davenporte, had worked for Sebastian’s maternal grandfather before leaving the capital abruptly. 

Sebastian’s stomach tightened as he read further. The reason for the Davenporte family's departure had been a scandal: Catherine, barely a teenager, had been accused of stealing. The victim? His mother. The person responsible for driving them out of the capital? His late maternal grandmother. 

The tension thickened in the carriage. Geoff occasionally glanced at Sebastian as they drove, taking the longer route back to the mansion. He wanted to ensure Sebastian had enough time to absorb what he had uncovered. 

The page trembled slightly in Sebastian’s hand as the memory of his grandmother—an elusive figure, whose stern influence was always palpable but rarely discussed. His mother never mentioned Catherine or her family, and his own memories of his grandmother were faint, blurred by her death in a carriage accident when he was five. 

But now, questions swirled. Why was his mother so curious about Elena Sinclair, the daughter of a woman she had once humiliated and cast out of the capital? Could this old grudge still simmer beneath her polished exterior? What did this mean for Elena? 

Sebastian clenched his jaw. He knew his mother’s ways too well—her ambition, her unyielding need for control. Behind her serene, aristocratic façade, she was relentless, and if she had some unfinished business with Catherine, Elena could be caught in the crossfire. 

As they turned into the mansion's grand driveway, Sebastian carefully folded the documents and tucked them into his coat. His thoughts churned, but one thing became clear. Whatever curiosity he had harbored about Elena would have to be buried deep.  

He ran his hand through his hair in frustration. His thoughts swirled, unable to settle. Elena’s face kept flashing in his mind, was her presence at the academy somehow tied to a past he barely understood. How much did she know? Did she even have a clue about what had happened between their families? 

The questions felt like a thousand tangled threads, impossible to unravel. It was more apparent, their worlds were not meant to converge—not with their families’ tangled past, and certainly not with the heavy weight of his own future as the next heir of the Edmonton Duchy. 

He exhaled sharply, he tried to push Elena from his mind as he entered the mansion. This was one entanglement he could not afford.  

Yet, the thought of letting go, of pushing her out of his mind entirely, left a hollow ache in his chest.