On the first day of his second class, Lukas would feel the aches in his body. He was not ready to start a new course, and he was certainly not ready to deal with his two impending situations. At least with Lord Alik, there was the sense that the man had wanted him. And, with all of his gifts, he had at least been respectful.

No strings attached.

Lukas would sit in the back of the classroom once more. That morning, he didn’t quite care if it made him look disinterested. Even though he had yet to send the breakup letter, he still laid back in his bed that night, the tears chilling his cheeks.

All those years with Irvin, and all of those attempts. And this is what it had ended up with. He had left, and after years of telling himself he had been fine with Irvin, he finally broke. And it wasn’t the gifts Alik had given him.

It was the fact that when Irvin had given him gifts, there was something expected of him. Whether it be that Lukas stayed, or that he do something else undesirable. Even food had been a luxury for him, despite Irvin’s position. Lukas had told himself he understood why. Irvin wanted to push him to be a better version of himself. Even when Irvin had given him some gifts related to art, there was something attached. A favor. Irvin always wanted a favor from him, stating it was Lukas’ duties. Irvin took care of him, and so while Lukas did his best to cook their dinners, keep their house clean, and do anything else to keep their lives afloat, it was never enough.

He didn’t know if Lord Alik had feelings as deep as he did, but with the gifts given, there was never a sense that Lord Alik wanted a favor out of him. When Lukas warned him about the risk he would be taking in seeing him, Lord Alik had understood. And he listened to him.

With these simple kindnesses, even if Lukas didn’t get with Lord Alik, it had taught him that something was wrong with his relationship. And now, as he sat in the back of the classroom, ready to take notes and introduce himself, the lingering sentiments from the night before would cloud his judgment.

He just had to make it through the day. He had to go to class, focus on his studies, and pretend nothing happened. At least now, he would be able to leave campus. He had saved up just enough money to go back to that coffee shop. Maybe then, he could reconnect with those people. But there was something else he was after. He wanted to send an interrealm letter.

He had to break up with Irvin, and he had to do it by the end of the day. Officially. But as he went through class, focusing on the lecture, the professor would give both him, and some of the other international–and interrealm students a pamphlet on words they might not have understood prior, along with a whole paper showcasing the vocabulary.

On that day, they would go over the basics of the culture. Smiling at a stranger would be wrong, and considered creepy by most. When giving out flowers, it was best to give an odd number. Simple things, like that. As Lukas took it in, he recalled how many he had witnessed while staying with Nikola and Dina.

The professor would pace around the room, giving an animated speech. At some points, while he understood the main portions, there were points where he felt lost. Even still, with her notes on the board, he would attempt to follow. He just had to do his best and to survive another day. And by the time the professor had completed the three-hour class, she would invite anyone down to the front to talk to her.

Lukas would grab his books before making his way over, his entire being trembling. There was one question he wanted to know, although at this point, he wondered if it was even worth asking. Regardless, he would give the teacher his thanks, before freezing.

“Lukas,” she said. “Do you have something on your mind?”

“I am curious about the nobility here,” Lukas said. “The family trees, the rules around it, and the like.”

“Such a topic. Do you have any nobility in your bloodline back home?” the woman asked.

“Maybe centuries ago,” Lukas said. “My parents were still rich. But I, near the end of my time in my old world, was anything but rich.”

“I could give you a book, but only after you finish your current homework,” she said. “Such a topic can be complicated, especially since nobility and the parliament don’t have much of a sway on modern politics. At least, not in recent years. Everything is based on the whim of the emperor right now, and the nobles are just his handsmen.”

“Oh,” Something about her bluntness left a pain for Lukas. Disappointment. While nobility was relatively prominent in his old world, he had never paid too close attention to it. And the fact that she asked if he was nobility also left some questions. “Can you tell me about the feud between Lord Alik and Lord Isidor, then?”

Her gaze went cold. “That one is a controversial topic. It’s best you don’t mention it too much. Essentially, Lord Alik, while he does have his family’s wealth, has been quite focused on utilizing it to revitalize his province, if you will. He has always been generous with his wealth, by means of using it for more practical things. Lord Isidor has been more focused on his role as the king’s advisor. Offering his daughter’s hand in marriage so that he has a prominent role in politics. But while Lord Alik represents generosity, Lord Isidor represents a man interested in generating and keeping wealth for both himself and his family. And while Lord Isidor does invest his funds into the kingdom, it is often for artistic purposes. Commissioning a symphony or a ballet, for example. They both contribute to the state and the people, but they do it in vastly different ways. Furthermore, their fathers were also enemies, but those feuds were based off familial things from older times.”

“So it’s complicated,” Lukas said.

“Precisely,” She said. “It is a taboo subject, just so you’re aware. Don’t go bringing it up to random strangers.”

“Thank you,” Lukas said. As he left the classroom, he made his way back to the café. In finding Alik at a table, he would give a subtle nod before dropping the letter. Afterward, he would grab a coffee and he would sit down for a moment, trying not to look at the man.

No one else had been in the shop, except for the shopkeeper’s daughter. As Lukas wanted. If another person came in here and saw them, he would wonder if they would cause a stir over such a thing. By the time he glanced over, Lord Alik caught his eye and nodded, giving a subtle wink at the end.

Lukas finished his coffee hurriedly, gave the cup back to the woman, then he glanced back at Lord Alik before leaving. A blush spread across his face. He had officially invited a mysterious, sometimes aloof, but still generous man to meet him in secret.

His heartbeat wouldn’t slow down for a while. Not while he was in range from the coffee shop. By the looks of it, he didn’t think the woman behind the counter had noticed. He closed his eyes, asking the universe to keep such a revelation secret.

The next errand would leave him to drop off his letter to Irvin. Rather than hesitating, he would hand over the envelope and the coins needed. As soon as the man behind the counter moved everything toward him, Lukas would leave.

Upon making it back to the dorm, his head swam. He had to find a way to meet Lord Alik in secret, and he had to keep up with his class homework. It wasn’t too terribly late in the day, but thanks to both of his excursions, he was still behind.

I paid four coins to send that letter, and I hope they get my letter to Irvin in time.