Moonveil Academy: Trapped With The Five Kings

Elara:

The unfamiliar word lingered in the air long after he spoke it.

’Groundling.’

I had absolutely no idea what it meant, but judging from the way he had said it, I doubted it was anything pleasant. There had been a certain disdain in his voice, as though he’d just found something beneath his shoes rather than standing in front of another person.

My brows knitted together as I stared at him. Tonight had been nothing but strangers calling me names that didn’t belong to me - Princess Argentis, Moon Child, Crown Princess - and now this. Groundling. I opened my mouth, ready to ask him exactly what he meant, but before a single word could leave my lips, Professor Fenrith calmly stepped forward.

”This,” he said evenly, ”is Miss Eleanora Argentis.” He paused only briefly before adding the part that still felt completely foreign to me. ”The Crown Princess of Starfall.”

Silence.

The effect was immediate.

Every pair of eyes in the group locked onto me. The relaxed atmosphere disappeared as though someone had snapped their fingers. One young woman stiffened almost imperceptibly. Another boy frowned deeply. One of the dark-haired young men folded his arms, studying me with unreadable dark eyes, while another quietly exchanged a glance with the brown-haired student standing beside him.

Even the blond man blocking my path froze for the briefest moment. Something flickered across those impossibly blue eyes - surprise perhaps, or disbelief - but it vanished so quickly that I couldn’t be certain I had really seen it.

I blinked at them.

For some reason, after everything Ms. Noctis had told me, I had unconsciously expected... something. Not cheering and certainly not celebration. But perhaps a greeting. Some acknowledgement.

If I truly was this long-lost princess everyone had supposedly spent twenty years searching for, shouldn’t there have been... I didn’t know... some sort of respect?

None came.

Not a single one bowed. Not a single one welcomed me. None of them even looked remotely pleased. The only person who spoke was still the blond man standing directly in front of me. His lips slowly curved upward. Whether it was a genuine smile or the beginning of something cruel, I couldn’t tell.

”...Eleanora Argentis.”

He repeated my name slowly, tasting each syllable before clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth.

”Interesting.” His gaze wandered from my shoes to the top of my head before settling lazily on my face once more. ”Well then...” He gave a slight nod that somehow managed to feel more insulting than respectful. ”Welcome back.”

The words sounded almost forced. As though he had only spoken them because etiquette demanded it.

”My name is Reign Valemont.” There was unmistakable pride in the way he introduced himself. ”Heir of House Valemont.” He fell silent afterward, simply looking at me... and waiting.

I wasn’t sure what exactly he expected. Gratitude? Recognition? An apology for existing? Whatever it was, I couldn’t give it. Instead, I simply looked back at him.

The longer I stood there, the more irritated I became. My family had been murdered only hours ago. I had been kidnapped, dragged onto an island that supposedly didn’t exist, told I was some princess, shown proof that everything I believed about my life might have been a lie.

And now... this incredibly handsome stranger seemed disappointed that I wasn’t reacting correctly to his name.

Honestly, I didn’t have the energy. Without saying a word, I stepped sideways and walked straight past him. I barely managed two steps when strong fingers suddenly wrapped around my wrist. And before I could react, I was pulled backward. I stumbled half a step before finding myself face to face with him once again.

The instant his skin touched mine...

Heat.

A strange warmth spread beneath his fingers. It wasn’t painful, nor was it burning. Just... warm. Unexpectedly warm.

Both of us froze.

His eyes widened and mine probably mirrored his. The strange sensation disappeared almost as quickly as it had come, leaving only the rapid pounding of my heart.

He looked down at where he was holding my wrist before slowly raising his eyes to mine. The shock disappeared from his eyes so quickly that I almost thought it was never there to begin with. Then his expression returned to its previous confidence.

”Supposed savior of the werewolves, you might not know that you are standing in front of the only werewolf to exist in centuries.” His grip remained firm as he threw the words at me.

The title made my stomach twist.

Savior.

Ms. Noctis had called me something similar too. But I had no idea exactly what it meant. How was I supposed to save a so-called supernatural race that might have gone extinctnif not for the nuisance standing in front of me. I had absolutely no idea.

I yanked my hand free.

”So what?” The words left my mouth before I could stop them. And for a split second, everything became deathly quiet.

The smile on Reign’s face slowly disappeared, and what replaced it was infinitely colder. He took one measured step toward me.

”Argentis.” The way he said my new surname felt more like a challenge than an address. ”As the princess of this realm... you should learn who deserves your company.”

His eyes swept over me once again. This time the scrutiny was blatant. He examined my jeans, my sneakers, my worn jacket, and the loose ponytail I’d tied before work. Disapproval filled his gaze.

”The human world has ruined you.” His voice remained calm. Too calm. ”But that’s acceptable. We’ll fix that.”

I frowned.

He continued as though discussing a broken piece of furniture. ”My fellow heir Regents and I will mold you back into the princess you are supposed to be.”

He took a step closer, standing entirely too close. I could easily see the different shades hidden inside his blue eyes and how he smelled annoyingly nice. It only made him more irritating.

”You need us.” His voice lowered. ”Far more than we need you.”

For one absurd second, my heart decided to completely ignore his personality and focus solely on the fact that he was probably one of the most attractive men I’d ever seen after the silver haired guy earlier tonight.

Thankfully, my brain was considerably smarter.

I met his eyes without looking away. ”I might not know enough about your world to understand how important you are.” My voice remained surprisingly steady. ”But I’m old enough to know how to choose the people I allow into my life.”

I tilted my head slightly as I continued, ”You are right. I probably will need help. A lot of it.” I paused deliberately. ”But if becoming friends with you is one of the requirements...” A tiny smile found its way onto my lips. ”...I’d rather fail.”

A sharp gasp echoed somewhere behind him. Then another followed. Without meaning it, my gaze flickered past Reign for the first time and I immediately noticed three more extremely stunning men standing at the front of the group with their gazes fixed on me. And those gazes held more than just shock.

Apparently... no one had expected my answer.

Good.

Neither had I.

I didn’t wait to decipher their expressions, especially when I could feel the anger building inside the so-called Valemont heir. Instead, I turned around and started walking. And this time, he didn’t stop me.

I had barely taken a few steps before his voice reached my back, cold and sharp.

”You have made a mistake, Princess”

I didn’t turn around, not even as a cold shiver ran down my spine.

Professor Fenrith silently fell into step beside me without saying a word. Neither of us spoke as we continued down the corridor. Only when we had rounded another corner did I finally release the breath I’d unknowingly been holding.

My heart hammered painfully inside my chest. Not because of fear, at least not entirely. And a horrible realization slowly settled over me. I had absolutely no idea who Reign Valemont truly was. Yet judging by everyone’s reactions...

I might have just made an enemy of someone I never should have.