After some time, Elena awoke, as she stretched, her eyes fluttered open to the sight of rippling water glinting under the afternoon sun. Almost immediately she noticed the blanket draped over her. Did Elly or George bring this? she wondered. 

Realizing she had slept longer than she intended, she gathered her things and made her way toward the front of the Lakehouse. 

“Thank you so much for the blanket, George,” Elena said as she rounded the corner and spotted him. 

George smiled pleasantly, neither taking credit for the blanket nor revealing that it had been Sebastian. 

As they exchanged their final goodbyes, Elena felt a renewed sense of calm. The unease she had carried, thinking about Sebastian’s birthday banquet, had lifted. Refreshed and content, she pedaled home, blissfully unaware of what had transpired while she slept. 

The next morning began like any other day, but as the hours passed, Elena couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted. As she walked the halls with Lorianne, Gretchen, and Michelle, an odd tension hung in the air. There were awkward stares and hushed whispers as they passed by. 

"Did something happen?" Michelle asked, glancing around curiously. 

"I haven’t heard anything," Lorianne replied, her brow furrowed. 

“Actually...” Gretchen hesitated, glancing around before lowering her voice. “Let’s find an empty room first.” 

When the door shut behind them, all eyes settled on Gretchen, eager to hear what she had to say. Gretchen nervously looked at the group, unsure of how to begin. 

"Elena," she started slowly, her eyes filled with concern, "there have been some rumors circulating about you and your family." 

Elena froze. She had expected that news about her family’s situation would, sooner or later, reach her peers. But something in Gretchen’s tone, the weight of her words, made her uneasy. Why were there more whispers than she had anticipated? Her father making a bad investment shouldn’t be such a big deal—nobles were rarely free from scandal. 

Stay calm, Elena reminded herself. She had spent hours going over scenarios in her mind, preparing to explain why they had moved to the capital. She thought she was ready. But the tight feeling in her chest said otherwise. 

After a pause, Gretchen continued, her voice faltering. "You see... you didn’t go to Sebastian’s birthday banquet, and it’s pretty well known that the Duchess invites the families of top students to the event." 

Elena blinked, confused by where this was going. 

“About why you didn’t go to Sebastian’s banquet... They’re saying..." She paused, lowering her gaze. “That your mother... stole from the Duchess.” 

Elena’s mind reeled. Stole from the Duchess? That wasn’t true. Her breath hitched as Gretchen finished. 

"In the capital," Gretchen added carefully, "people would do almost anything to be aligned with the duke’s family. They’re saying your rejection wasn’t just rude—it was suspicious." 

Elena felt the air leave her lungs. She had braced herself for the truth about her father’s investments to come out, but this—this was something entirely different. A theft? That was the furthest thing from the truth. 

What her mother had endured as a child, the pain she had suffered because of the Duchess’s misplaced jealousy, was now being twisted and diminished into something shameful. After everything, her mother was once again being dragged through the mud for something she never did. 

 And now, Elena realized with a sinking heart, her mother would have to relive that pain all over again. Her chest tightened at the thought, and her heart ached for her. 

She swallowed hard, trying to maintain her composure. "That’s not true," she finally managed, though her voice came out smaller than she had intended. "My mother didn’t—" 

Before she realized it, tears were streaming down Elena’s face. Lorianne was the first to reach out, pulling her into a comforting embrace. The others followed, offering quiet reassurances, though they all knew their words couldn’t erase the weight of the situation. 

They waited patiently as Elena composed herself, wiping away her tears. “Everything will be fine,” Lorianne whispered, but a shared glance between them confirmed that they all understood—it would only get harder from here. 

As they left the classroom, the weight of the moment still hanging in the air, they stopped abruptly. At the far end of the hall stood Sebastian, his gaze fixed on Elena. A ripple of curiosity spread through the surrounding students as eyes turned toward the pair, waiting in anticipation to see what would happen next. 

Sebastian’s eyes lingered on Elena for just a brief moment, but it was enough to see that she’d been crying. As he watched her walk with the other girls, his thoughts drifted back to the sheet music he’d found in her book. 

After returning from the Lakehouse, he’d been drawn to the notes she’d written. Once he played them, he couldn’t shake how beautifully their melodies had merged, as if they’d composed it together. She impressed him once again. 

But the serenity from that discovery was short-lived. When he arrived at the academy, Benjamin had quickly pulled him aside. 

“Have you heard?” Benjamin asked, his voice low but urgent. 

Sebastian frowned. “Heard what?” 

“Elena Sinclair—top first-year—they’re saying her mother stole from your family. That’s why she didn’t attend your birthday party, even though she was invited.” 

Sebastian froze, his mind racing. This was exactly what he’d wanted to avoid when he’d asked his mother to rescind the invitation. Now, because she hadn’t, rumors were swirling, and his birthday banquet had become the breeding ground for yet another scandal.  

He felt a surge of frustration, knowing that no matter how carefully he tried to keep Elena out of it, she was already being dragged into the whirlwind of gossip surrounding their families. 

"I don't know," Sebastian replied, his tone guarded, though his mind raced back to what Geoff had uncovered. His mother and Catherine had been just children back then, but the nobility thrived on gossip, and in their world, perception was reality. People always sided with those who held the most power, regardless of the truth. 

"I haven't heard anything from my mother about that," he added more defensively than he intended, trying to keep his own uncertainty from spilling out. 

Benjamin frowned, unconvinced. "Are you sure? Because the rumors are spreading fast." 

Sebastian clenched his jaw. He hadn’t yet spoken to his mother about why she extended the invitation to the Sinclairs, or about what had really happened all those years ago between her and Catherine. The last thing he wanted was for this to spiral, to drag Elena into the middle of something that had nothing to do with her.  

He had tried to avoid exactly this scenario when he told his mother to uninvite the Sinclairs, but she hadn’t listened. Now, a whirlwind of gossip was swirling, fueled by nothing more than whispered half-truths. 

"Let's not jump to conclusions," Sebastian said, his voice tight. Inside, he felt anything but calm. He needed answers—and fast—before the rumors became something even he couldn’t stop. 

However, in a surge of defiance, Elena stopped in her tracks and turned on her heel. No. I need to talk to Sebastian. I can't let my mother suffer through this again. She steadied herself, then took a deep breath. 

"May I have a word with you... in private?" Elena asked, her voice polite but firm, addressing Sebastian directly. 

A ripple of surprise passed through the hallway as their peers exchanged curious glances. This was the first time they had publicly acknowledged each other outside of the bookstore. Until now, their interactions had been fleeting, secret moments that were shared far from the eyes of others. To everyone else, it seemed there was nothing between them—but they both knew better. 

Sebastian hesitated for a beat, caught off guard by Elena’s sudden boldness. His eyes searched hers, seeing the determination that hadn’t been there moments ago, and for reasons he couldn’t quite explain, he found himself nodding. "Of course," he responded, his tone more controlled than he felt. 

Elena’s heartbeat quickened as she stood in the empty classroom, her thoughts racing. She had summoned every ounce of confidence to ask Sebastian to talk, but now, as he closed the door behind them, her mind went blank. What do I say? She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. 

Sebastian’s composed demeanor unsettled her. He walked toward her with the same calm she had always noticed, as if the rumors circulating about their families didn’t faze him at all. How can he be so calm after hearing something so outrageous? she wondered. 

“What would you like to say, Lady Elena?” Sebastian’s voice was steady, his eyes unwavering as they fixed on her. 

Elena straightened, determined not to let her personal feelings for him weaken her resolve. This wasn’t about them—it was about her mother. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat and spoke firmly, “It may seem trivial to someone of your status, but someone needs to set the record straight. My mother didn’t steal from the duchess.” 

Sebastian’s expression didn’t change, but Elena felt the weight of her words in the silence that followed. She knew neither of them had been directly involved in the past, yet he was the only one who could help her stop the rumors, at least within Ashwood Academy. She met his gaze, determined to protect her mother from reliving the pain she had suffered years ago. 

“This isn’t just gossip, it’s about my mother’s honor... and yours too, in a way. I need your help to stop this.” 

Sebastian’s tone was measured, but his words cut through the silence like a blade. “Let’s look at the facts,” he began, stepping closer to bridge the gap between them. “Didn’t you reject my mother’s invitation to my birthday banquet?” 

Though it had been his wish for the Sinclairs not to attend, the truth of her rejection unsettled him more than he cared to admit. 

“I had my rea—” Elena began to explain, but her words were cut short as Sebastian took another step closer, startling her. 

“If you seek out the information, you’ll hear that your mother did try to steal from mine,” he continued, his voice calm but unwavering. 

“That’s not true!” Elena’s voice rose, the emotion flooding her as she stepped back. Tears threatened to spill as she tried to maintain distance between them. “The duchess lied.” 

Sebastian’s expression darkened, annoyance creeping into his voice as he ruffled his hair in frustration. “Are you calling my mother a liar, Lady Elena?” 

The tension between them thickened, and Elena hesitated, unsure how to proceed without making things worse. “You should ask her to tell you the truth,” she finally said, her voice quieter but still firm. 

As she tried to step back again, creating a physical and emotional distance, Sebastian reached out and grabbed her hand, holding her in place. His grip wasn’t forceful, but it was enough to stop her. 

“Is that all you wish to tell me?” His eyes bore into hers, searching for something more. 

Elena’s heart raced, her frustration rising to meet his intensity. “What more do you want me to say?” she shot back, her emotions raw and unguarded. 

Sebastian didn’t respond immediately, the silence between them heavy with tension. Elena felt her face flush under his intense gaze, and her heart raced as she searched for the right words. 

“I just want to get through my time here at Ashwood Academy and return home. I don’t need enemies here,” Elena said, finally breaking the silence. Her voice, though steady, carried a vulnerability that made Sebastian loosen his grip, releasing her gently. 

He hadn’t considered the long-term—hadn’t thought about the fact that Elena would eventually leave the capital. That would be for the best, he reasoned, his mind grasping at the idea. Then he wouldn’t be so distracted by her, and he could refocus on his responsibilities, on the life his parents were carefully grooming him for. 

A sudden knock at the door interrupted his thoughts, and both of them turned as Gretchen appeared in the doorway, her expression a mixture of concern and curiosity. “Is everything okay, Elena?” she asked, glancing between the two. 

Elena gave a small nod, stealing a glance at Sebastian before answering. “Yes, everything’s fine.” Gretchen hesitated for a moment, then closed the door, leaving them in the quiet once more. The tension between them had eased, though it still lingered like a shadow. 

“Please,” Elena began, her voice softer now, almost pleading. “I don’t want my mother hurt again. Help me, your grace.” The formality of her words seemed to catch Sebastian off guard, and for a moment, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. 

“I don’t know what you expect me to do, Elena,” he replied, his voice steady but cautious. “Once a rumor starts in the capital, there’s little anyone can do but hope it fades quickly.” He didn’t want to offer promises he couldn’t keep, but he knew he had an uncomfortable conversation ahead with his mother. 

Elena’s face fell slightly, but she nodded, understanding. “Then, I guess there isn’t much more for me to say,” she murmured as she turned toward the door. 

Just as she reached for the handle, she paused and turned back to him, catching his gaze once more. “By the way, happy birthday. I would have liked to be there, but... well, you can see how complicated things are between our families.” 

Sebastian nodded, feeling a strange sense of comfort in her words, though they did little to resolve the complicated web they were caught in. He watched as she quietly left, the door closing behind her with a soft click. The room felt emptier now, and Sebastian’s thoughts, once again, were consumed by her. 

Elena stepped out into the hallway, aware of the curious eyes fixed on her. Whispers rippled through the crowd, students eager to know what had happened between her and Sebastian, but she paid them no mind.  

Their gossip was the least of her concerns. Her thoughts were already drifting elsewhere, heavy with the realization of what lay ahead—returning home and the difficult conversation she would soon have to face with her mother. 

Her mother, who had only just begun to enjoy her return to the capital, would now have to confront the resurfacing of old wounds. And Elena, as much as she wanted to shield her from it, knew the truth couldn’t be avoided much longer.  

As she moved through the halls, her heart weighed down by the uncertainty of what awaited her, she felt the mounting pressure of not only her own struggles but her family’s as well.