The Inauspicious Route to my Happy Ending

The cafeteria was a large room with shale-blue walls and gray marble flooring. There were approximately thirty tables, each one circular in shape and able to seat six people; they were also all black with black leather chairs. The chairs were honestly quite comfortable. There was also a large amount of foliage, giving the area an elegant yet laid-back feel.

A maid came by and cleared the table of empty dishes once Adrien was finished eating. Instead of getting up as soon as he finished eating, he decided to look around the room in greater detail instead of the cursory glance from when he had first entered.

Adrien was surprised to see that many of the students were there. Most were eating while others were just hanging out with friends. He found Lianna, Crown Prince Nathaniel, and the person suspected to be prince Mikyle in one corner of the room. It was surprising to see royalty eating the rest of them instead of heading back to the Palace. He also spotted Cedric and Brayden sitting down with their peers.

As his eyes skimmed past the Crown Prince's table, his eyes suddenly met red. He felt his face heat up and he quickly looked away. He decided to look in any other direction except from where the Male Lead and Female Lead of this world were.

Once he was done looking around, he stood up to leave. He was walking down the middle aisle, careful to avoid random spills or bumping into someone. A foot from one of the tables sneaked out and slammed into his ankle. A stinging sensation shot up from his ankle, spreading throughout his leg.

Losing his balance from the impact, Adrien stumbled forward, falling towards the ground. He landed on his hands and knees, scraping the palm of his right hand on the marbled flooring.

"Fufu! I see you're too stupid to even know how to walk properly!" The snickering voice belonging to Brayden rang in his ears. Someone actually laughs like that?! "A blemish on the Mallorne name," his brother continued, snickering as he spoke. This gave rise to even more snickers as the others sitting at the twins' table joined in.

Adrien curled his fingers and gritted his teeth. He wanted to hit Brayden or curse at him, he wasn't exactly sure which one, but finally decided against it.

He closed his eyes briefly and inhaled, trying to cool down his boiling blood. I can't cause any problems yet. And if I can just hold it in, I'll be able to escape them for good after I graduate.

"Mhmm," Adrien hummed out once he calmed down enough. "You're right, brother. I am indeed in need of learning if I wish to erase the blemishes of House Mallorne," he said as soon as he stood up, dusting imaginary dirt from his uniform.

Brayden turned red in the face as the full meaning of Adrien's words sunk in. "You! You!" Brayden stuttered.

Adrien turned away from them and walked out of the cafeteria with a smirk curving his lips. Man, that felt good!

* * * *

Mikyle was sitting down at a table in the far corner of the Academy's cafeteria facing the main entrance. His brother and future-sister-in-law were sitting on his left discussing their plans for Lady Aisley Ceciles, Lady Aefre's older sister, and the eldest daughter of Duke Ceciles.

Aisley Ceciles was considered the most beautiful girl at the Academy besides Lianna Silva. She had shoulder-length, curly hair that was the same shade of pink as the carnations in his mother's garden. Her large eyes were upturned, and they were an aqua blue color. Even Mikyle could admit that she was an attractive woman, and he hadn't been attracted to women for over two years.

Mikyle cut into his stake and took a bite, his mind suddenly drifting to Adrien Mallorne. He had learned the boy's name during the first-years' Mana Test. He was pleasantly surprised that the boy was in fact an actual boy.

"I just hope Lady Aisley behaves herself," Lianna sighed, stabbing her salad with the prongs of her fork. "I'd hate to embarrass her in front of her younger sister. I know how much she dotes on Lady Aefre."

Nathaniel nodded along, not looking sympathetic in the least. "I just wish that Lady Aisley would get it through her thick skull that I have a fiancée."

Mikyle was unable to hear Lianna's response because Adrien Mallorne had walked in just then. He felt his focus zeroing in on the bunny-like boy. This was the first time that he had ever felt this drawn to someone.

The boy made a beeline for the register to place his order without looking around. He then made his way to a table, choosing one that was empty and far away from other people.

Mikyle found that a little odd. Most people chose to sit with their friends or family, especially on the first few days at the Academy. Although he didn't find it odd that Adrien chose not to sit anywhere near his brothers. From all of the rumors he had heard, he knew that the Mallorne twins did not get along with the youngest Mallorne.

It's not like all families get along. I think ours is the only exception, though Nathaniel and Lior do have a bit of a rocky relationship at the moment.

Mikyle habitually ate his food as he watched Adrien Mallorne eat his. Even from this distance, he could see the boy savoring his food with a pleasant look on his face.

Is that the seafood course he's eating? He must really enjoy salmon, seaweed and rice wraps, and shrimp. Hmm? He looks like a bunny but eats like a cat.

It wasn't long before Adrien Mallorne had finished all of his food. Mikyle had to stifle a laugh from watching how the boy practically devoured his food with gusto. He certainly eats faster than most nobles. It's only a given that nobles take longer to eat since we're taught to eat slowly and neatly, to not let any kind of spillage or mishap happen.

After Adrien finished eating, he casually glanced around the room. Mikyle had to stifle the smirk that wanted to show itself when Adrien caught his eye. Mikyle lost the battle and found himself smirking when Adrien's face flushed red and his eyes quickly darted away.

Hmm? I usually only garner this kind of reaction from women. Does this mean Adrien Mallorne is attracted to men. . .no, to me?

"Did you find something amusing, brother?"

"He only smiles like that when he's planning something," Lianna commented, casting her gaze around the room to find what or who had the second Prince's full attention.

Mikyle found himself stiffening at their words, not realizing that his smirk had grown into a full smile. "Something has caught my attention," he readily admitted, not hiding anything, "though I'm still unsure of what kind of attention this bunny has garnered from me."

"Bunny?" Nathaniel and Lianna mumbled quietly.

He watched as Adrien got up to leave. He had also seen the Idiot Mallorne stick his foot out and trip him.

Mikyle's hands fell heavily against the table, and he was amidst getting ready to stand when Adrien Mallorne picked himself up from the ground.

Adrien's delicate, feline-shaped eyes flashed dangerously and a smirk curled the corners of his lips. "Mhmm. You're right, brother. I am indeed in need of learning if I wish to erase the blemishes of House Mallorne." His soft voice carried across the large room.

Nathaniel, who had turned around to see what all the fuss had been about, paused, his shoulders quivering with restrained laughter.

"Ha! Serves that miscreant right!" Lianna huffed, her mirth plain as day on her face.

"Haha!" Mikyle bent over, unable to hold in his laughter, though it wasn't as if he had tried to. "A bunny?! He's more like a feisty cat!"

"Bunny?" Lianna questioned again, puzzled over Mikyle's words. Her amaranth eyes sparkled as she glanced back and forth between Mikyle and Adrien's retreating form.

A cat? No, he's more like a kitten. Mikyle thought to himself with a shake of his head.