Different

Eloise barely noticed her own breathing. Her eyes locked onto Adrian, watching how he commanded the very air around him. His presence was unsettling—not because he was aggressive or cruel, but because he was too calm, too certain, as if the world itself bent to his will without him needing to demand it.

From her hidden perch, she shifted slightly, her fingers gripping the stone railing.He knew she was there. That much was obvious now. Yet, he didn't react, didn't call her out. Instead, he closed his book and turned to Olga.

The old woman didn't speak immediately. Her wrinkled fingers traced the edge of a rusted ring on her hand as if weighing her words.

"You are growing too fast, young lord."

Adrian didn't blink. "I don't care."

A bitter chuckle left her lips. "You should."

A long silence stretched between them. The cold night wind swept through the balcony, rustling the edges of Adrian's robe. His unreadable gaze lingered on the old woman for a moment longer before he sighed.

"Speak."

Olga's expression darkened. "The others are moving. Some sense it, some don't, but change is coming. You are the storm at its center, whether you wish to be or not."

Adrian tilted his head slightly, almost bored. "And?"

Olga sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "And that means eyes will start turning towards you, faster than you expect."

Adrian's fingers drummed against the Book of Character, his mind already elsewhere. Let them look.


---

Inside the Hall…

The Noble Lords' Banquet was a grand affair. Long tables stretched across the chamber, lined with golden goblets and plates of exotic dishes. Chatter filled the space as nobles exchanged pleasantries, laughter mixing with the soft hum of enchanted instruments.

Maria sat beside Hillan, her wine glass resting idly in her hand as she scanned the room. "Do you think he's playing nice?" she asked, voice laced with sarcasm.

Hillan smirked. "No. But he's not causing trouble, so that's a win in my book."

Maria rolled her eyes. "It's strange though, isn't it?"

Hillan raised an eyebrow. "What is?"

Maria glanced toward the entrance. "The Carter girl. I know that look in her eyes. She's studying him, the way one studies a puzzle they can't solve."

Hillan followed her gaze, spotting Eloise standing near the hall's edge, alone, lost in thought.

He sighed. "It's only natural. Everyone gets curious about him eventually."

Maria hummed, swirling her drink. "And how many of those people survived the curiosity?"

Hillan didn't answer.


---

Meanwhile, in the Garden…

Eloise finally found him.

Adrian sat beneath a lone cherry blossom tree, the soft pink petals drifting around him in the night breeze. His book lay open on his lap, though his gaze wasn't on the pages—it was on the sky, as if searching for something beyond sight.

For the first time, Eloise hesitated. She had followed him here, burning with questions, but now that she was in front of him… she wasn't sure where to start.

"You followed me."

His voice broke the silence, calm and indifferent. He didn't look at her, didn't acknowledge her presence beyond those three words.

Eloise crossed her arms. "You're hard to ignore."

A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "So, I've heard."

She frowned, stepping closer. "You're strange."

Finally, Adrian turned his gaze toward her, his dark eyes unreadable. "And?"

She opened her mouth, then closed it. She didn't know. Something about him unsettled her, but not in a bad way. More like…

More like she wanted to understand him.

After a long pause, she exhaled sharply and sat down beside him, much to her own surprise.

Adrian blinked but didn't comment.

For a long moment, they sat there in silence, surrounded by the quiet rustling of leaves.

Eloise sighed. "You're different from the other nobles."

Adrian hummed. "Good."

She turned to look at him, her expression thoughtful. "Good?"

He leaned back against the tree, closing his eyes. "I don't want to be like them."

Eloise studied him, then smiled slightly.

For the first time that night, she felt like she had learned something real about him.

And that made her even more curious.

***

Available on Webnovel, Wattpad, Royal road and Honeyfeed