CHAPTER 112: THE PARTY NIGHT

Jae walked into the academy’s casual party with Elise at his side, his face giving little away. The hall was dimly lit, lanterns hanging in uneven lines overhead, their glow spreading in soft patches against the old stone walls.

Shadows stretched long and thin, moving gently whenever someone passed by. A faint hum of music floated from the far corner, where a group of students had clustered around a lute.

The sound wasn’t polished, not like a formal performance, but the uneven strums and laughter gave the place a warm, easy mood. Scattered around the room, small groups had formed, some drinking, some gossiping, some simply trying to look important.

For most people, the party was a chance to breathe after the week’s heavy lessons, a break from routine. For Jae, it felt more like an obligation, something to show his face at before slipping back into the quiet he preferred.

His eyes drifted over the room, catching the decorations, the food on the tables, the exaggerated laughter of some students who had clearly had too much wine already. None of it held his interest. He didn’t care for this kind of noise, and it showed in the way his expression barely shifted as he walked through the crowd.

Elise kept her pace matched to his, every step even, every movement precise. She didn’t cling to him, didn’t try to draw his attention, but her presence was steady, as though she wanted everyone else to see her there at his side.

Her back was straight, her chin lifted just enough to suggest confidence. When they reached a quieter spot near the back of the hall, she lowered herself onto a bench with a kind of deliberate grace.

Arms folded across her chest, lips pressed into a thin line, Elise scanned the crowd. Her eyes moved sharply from one face to another, catching details others might miss, the tilt of a smile, the flick of a glance, the way people shifted their weight when they thought no one was watching

She looked calm, but her fingers tapped lightly against her sleeve, betraying a restlessness that didn’t match the cool mask she wore.

That rhythm faltered the instant Tirel walked into the hall. Elise’s gaze locked onto her, the tapping stopped, her chest tightening in a way she couldn’t dismiss.

Tirel entered with a different kind of presence than most. She didn’t just walk, she moved like the space was hers already, like the party had been waiting for her to arrive. Heads turned almost naturally, eyes following her.

Elise felt the sting immediately. She refused to call it jealousy, refused to give it that name, but the pressure in her chest told another story.

Tirel’s steps had an easy rhythm, a sway in her hips that was impossible not to notice. Her chin tilted slightly, her eyes carrying that sharp, playful shine that made her seem untouchable.

She carried herself like she knew every eye in the room belonged to her, and she didn’t mind it. In fact, she welcomed it.

Jae’s gaze followed her before he even realized it, his thoughts stirring as he took her in. She was striking in a way that demanded attention.

The way her waist curved, the way her steps had purpose, the subtle grace in the line of her shoulders, it was magnetic.

And then there was the fullness of her figure, the kind of presence that lingered in the corner of his mind long after his eyes had moved away. He couldn’t deny it.

She knew how to command attention, and she was using it now. More than that, it was clear she wanted him. The thought was obvious, almost humming in the air between them.

All he needed was the right moment. That idea lingered beneath his otherwise calm exterior.

When Tirel finally drew near, her voice cut through the noise around them. It was light, teasing, smooth enough to pull attention without effort. "Thought you’d be bored stiff at this party," she said, her lips curving into an easy smile. "Looks like I was wrong."

Jae tilted his head slightly, the smallest smile tugging at his mouth. His tone was steady, dry, but held a flicker of amusement. "I’m just here because I had to be." He let his eyes hold hers for a beat before adding, "But you’re making it a bit more interesting."

Her steps slowed as she leaned in just enough for him to catch the faint trace of jasmine on her skin. The scent was subtle but sharp in the closeness. Her eyes caught the lantern light, gleaming with mischief. "Good," she said smoothly. "I aim to please."

The corner of Jae’s mouth curved again, his voice dropping lower, softer, just for her. "Careful," he murmured, "you might get more than you bargained for."

Her laugh rang out, bright and quick, a short sound that blended into the background music and chatter. But Elise heard it clearly. She sat stiff, her arms now pressed even tighter against her chest.

Her face stayed calm, but a fine line had formed between her brows, and her teeth caught lightly on her bottom lip. Watching the two of them trade words so easily stirred something restless inside her.

She hated how it felt. It was sharp, a little raw, and she couldn’t shake it. She kept her silence, though, holding herself still, as if quiet control could hide the jealousy gnawing beneath it.

Jae felt her tension beside him, but he didn’t comment. He let it hang there, unspoken, while his attention stayed fixed on Tirel. He leaned closer, just enough for the air between them to thin, for their laughter to overlap.

Their words found a rhythm too natural to ignore, a back-and-forth that grew with each exchange. Nothing loud, nothing overly bold, just a thread of playful banter weaving tighter between them with each passing line.

Around them, the party kept on as if nothing had shifted. Cups clinked, voices rose and fell, music wavered unevenly as someone missed a chord on the lute. The lanterns swayed lightly in the draft that moved through the hall.

But in the corner where Jae, Elise, and Tirel stood, the air felt heavier, slower, as if the rest of the room had dimmed a little.

Elise held her silence, her thoughts tangled in a knot she couldn’t pull apart. There was envy in it, yes, but also doubt, and something else she couldn’t name.

A part of her wanted to step in, to break the flow between them, but she stayed where she was, her gaze fixed, her body tense.