Arabella stood at the foot of the stairs, steeling herself to climb to the attic. Steadying her breath, fighting the trembling in her legs.
Tap… Tap…
Slowly, she began ascending the stairs.
At last, she stood before the door. This door was the only thing between her and her conversation with Baran.
Krruuuu…
The door creaked open, dragging on into what felt like eternity for Arabella — but finally, it opened, and there he was.
With his clothes fluttering lightly in the wind, brown hair, dark cold eyes, and a mischievous smirk, an above-average looking young man leaned against the railing, his gaze fixed on her.
"You finally came," Baran said in a neutral tone. His voice held neither anger nor warmth.
Arabella approached to within ten steps of him, leaving herself just enough distance to retreat if needed.
"What do you want from me?" Arabella cut straight to the point. Every second spent with him was enough to make her feel faint.
Baran's lips curved faintly, and turning his back to her, he spoke.
"The weather's nice today, isn't it? Birds chirping, flowers blooming…" his voice carried a faint melancholic note.
Arabella glanced at the sky. The vibrant blue wrapped in crisp air was soothing to the soul, and the soft, playful shapes of the clouds teased the imagination.
It really is beautiful… she thought. A simple, yet clear thought — born from the peace of this calm atmosphere after all the tension.
"On days like this…" Baran suddenly broke off mid-sentence.
He let out a deep sigh into the air, then turned back to her.
"What do I want from you?" Baran slowly raised his hand and opened his palm, still wearing his gloves.
"Your most precious treasure," he said, slowly enough for Arabella to absorb the words.
Arabella was at a loss for what to say. Baran had asked for her most precious treasure. Not her family's — which meant she was about to reject him outright. She wasn't ready to give her virginity to anyone.
"Baran, I'm afraid…"
"You're still hung up on this morning's conversation, aren't you?" Baran cut her off.
"What do you mean?" Arabella asked, a confused look on her face.
"To be clear — give me your Family Friendship Badge." Baran hadn't expected his little theater act from the morning to turn into this, but he was prepared — and quickly seized control of the situation.
"WHAT! Never!"
"How is it not? It's perfectly reasonable."
"Absolutely not! Do you even know what Family Friendship means?"
"If I didn't, I would have asked to sleep with you, Arabella."
Their quick exchange came to a halt at Baran's last remark.
Arabella decided to use this pause to think. Baran, meanwhile, turned his gaze back to the sky.
"Why? I mean, why my Family Friendship?" she finally asked, having thought it over — though she still regretted being curious the last time she asked something.
"Why? Isn't it obvious? Political power," Baran replied without turning around, his voice soft.
"Baran, are you even aware of the weight of Family Friendship?" Arabella pressed, wanting to be sure.
"Even if I am, why would I care?"
"But Baran…"
"As long as only you know about it, I don't think it's that big of a deal, right?" Baran cut her off, turning back toward her. There was a sly yet faint smile on his lips, his eyes as cold as ever.
Arabella wasn't satisfied with his answer — but if only the two of them knew, she would at least be spared all the responsibility.
"…Ahhh… Fine, I accept. I'll hand over the badge tomorrow," Arabella said, reluctantly. After all, she had given him that right herself.
"Good. But one small question," Baran said, clearly pleased to have secured his trump card — yet knowing full well Arabella wouldn't have given him such leverage so easily.
"What is it?"
"Who gave you this idea of 'everything I want'?" Baran asked directly. He didn't need to know, but if he did, it might give him an advantage.
"Theodore suggested it."
At those words, the air seemed to grow heavier.
"…Alright. I see. You can go now — and bring it to me during the last two classes tomorrow," Baran dismissed her quickly.
Baran became angry the moment he heard Theodore's name. Although Theodore did not directly affect him, he was one of the few students Baran considered worth investigating. And because of Theodore's racial traits, Baran involuntarily kept his distance. Theodore was definitely someone Baran needed to suppress.
Reflection of the Crowns