I Stopped Simping and the Heroines Lost Their Minds

The crowd pressing around the central notice board was only getting worse as more students poured out of the academic halls. Arthur, Felix, and Emily stepped away from the crush of bodies and joined Leon, Alicia, Chloe, Elara, and Cedric near the edge of the courtyard.

”Let’s eat,” Leon suggested, looking back at the shifting crowd. ”Before we have to fight for a table.”

They moved inside and claimed a long table near the back of the dining hall. The notice announced a one-month holiday beginning at the end of the week.

”We only just got back from the exchange exhibition,” Cedric complained as he set his cup down. ”Now everyone expects us to travel again. I have spent enough time inside carriages for one lifetime.”

”You slept through most of the return journey,” Elara reminded him, reaching for a piece of bread.

”My family sent their holiday plans before the academy even announced the dates,” Leon said, leaning back on the wooden bench.

Alicia opened her mouth to mock, but Leon cut her off.

”Don’t,” Leon warned. ”Most of my month consists of formal dinners, mandatory training sessions, and sitting silently while my parents conduct endless meetings.” He looked across the table at her. ”Are you free?”

Alicia paused, her expression turning slightly sour. ”I have similar obligations.”

Leon smiled. Alicia immediately pointed her fork at him. ”Do not look pleased about that.”

Beside them, Felix had already pulled out a fresh sheet of parchment. He was outlining exactly what he intended to read and how many hours he would spend training during the month away from classes.

Chloe looked over his shoulder. ”Do you understand what a holiday is?”

”Fewer classes mean more uninterrupted work,” Felix answered, adjusting his glasses without looking up from his grid.

Cedric stared at him. ”That sentence should be medically examined.”

Cedric slid Felix’s crowded schedule back across the table. ”What about you, Arthur?”

”I had considered remaining in Lornfell,” Arthur answered casually, taking a drink. ”And simply seeing what happened.”

Emily interrupted without missing a beat. ”You are coming home with me.”

Arthur turned his head to look at her. ”Am I?”

”Yes,” Emily said.

”For the entire month?” Arthur asked.

Emily shrugged, her shoulder brushing his. ”Stay until you become tired of my family.”

”That could happen before breakfast,” Leon told him across the table.

”Stop judging every family by your own, Leon,” Alicia said.

Arthur ignored them and looked back at Emily. ”Does your mother know you are bringing me?”

”She knows I may bring someone,” Emily answered, a faint smile touching her lips. ”She does not know it is you yet.”

Felix looked up from the page. ”That explains why she was so curious about your phrasing in her last letter.”

Arthur smiled. ”Alright. I’ll come.”

”The carriage leaves on the first morning,” Emily said. ”Be ready before seven.”

Leon raised his cup toward Arthur. ”Good luck.”

”He survived Grayroot,” Emily told Leon smoothly. ”He will survive one family dinner.”

The meal broke up soon afterward. Leon and Alicia left arguing over whose family had planned the worse holiday, while Felix carried his absurd schedule toward the library. Elara and Cedric returned to the dormitories to finish unpacking.

Emily lingered near the tables. ”I need to write to my mother and confirm that you are coming.”

Before she turned to leave, she caught the front of Arthur’s shirt, pulling him in for a short, firm kiss.

”Do not make other plans,” Emily told him.

”You have not told me when I am allowed to leave,” Arthur pointed out.

”I haven’t decided,” Emily said, releasing his shirt.

She walked away toward the stairwell.

After Emily left, Chloe stepped up beside Arthur.

”Come with me,” Chloe said.

She took him directly to her dormitory room. The moment they were inside, she pushed the heavy wooden door shut, turned the latch, and caught him by the collar.

She pulled his head down and kissed him, her mouth hot and demanding.

”You are not disappearing for a month before giving me proper attention,” Chloe said against his lips.

”I don’t intend to remain at the Thorne estate for the entire month,” Arthur pointed out, wrapping his hands around her waist.

”That is not a reason to waste tonight,” Chloe replied.

She pulled him forward, backing up until her legs hit the edge of her narrow bed, and pulled him down with her. Arthur sat on the edge of the mattress, and Chloe instantly straddled his lap.

She kissed him deeper, her tongue sweeping into his mouth as she rolled her hips down against him. Arthur inhaled sharply at the friction. His hands slid under the hem of her shirt, his rough palms dragging up the warm, smooth skin of her stomach and ribs.

He unfastened the front of her uniform trousers, pushing the fabric down just enough to slip his hand inside. Chloe gasped, her back arching as his fingers found the damp heat between her thighs.

Her hands moved to his belt, quickly opening the buckle and canvas buttons. She reached inside his trousers, her cool fingers wrapping firmly around his rigid length.

Arthur swallowed a groan, his hips bucking instinctively upward into her grip.

Chloe stroked him steadily while grinding against his moving fingers. Arthur kissed her jaw, then her neck, biting lightly at her collarbone while he pushed two fingers deep inside her.

”Arthur,” Chloe gasped.

He worked his fingers faster, his thumb rubbing firmly above them. Chloe’s nails dug into his shoulders. Her hips jerked against his hand, and her thighs locked around his waist as she came.

She rode out the tremors, her breath hot against his neck, her hand never stopping its rhythm on him.

Before Arthur could pull her back up for a kiss, Chloe slipped off his lap. She dropped to her knees on the floor between his parted legs.

She looked up at him for one second, her eyes dark and heavy, before she leaned forward and took him into her mouth.

Arthur’s fingers tightened in her hair as she took him deeper. Chloe kept the same hard rhythm until his body tensed. His control broke. He came with a harsh groan, his fingers tightening in her hair.

She swallowed, pulled back, and wiped the corner of her lips with her thumb. She stood up, straightened her clothes, and went to the small washbasin in the corner to clean up.

Arthur fixed his clothes, his heart still hammering against his ribs.

A few minutes later, Chloe returned and lay down beside him on the narrow bed, resting her head comfortably on his shoulder. The room grew quiet as their breathing settled.

”How long are you staying at Emily’s estate?” Chloe asked, tracing a light circle on his chest.

”I don’t know,” Arthur answered honestly.

”Then come see me when you return,” Chloe said.

”I would have done that without the order,” Arthur said, turning his head to look at her.

Chloe smiled. ”Now you will do it faster.”

She leaned up, kissed him once softly, and then pushed him toward the door.

She leaned up, kissed him once, and pushed him toward the door.

”You should leave before curfew.”

Arthur stepped into the quiet corridor. Chloe’s door clicked shut behind him.