Chapter 3 - Exam

"In sickness and in health, till death do us part, I, Luca Findlay, promise to love and cherish you forever." The flower stem he had woven into a ring loosely fitted my finger.

"Jeez. You sure are a charmer Luca."

"Haha~ I sure am." He laughed.

"So you love me.... then why did you try to kiss Madeleine?"

The sudden jolt of the carriage woke me up.

My dream slipped away from me, like oil on water.

It had been a month since I promised my mother to keep my reputation clean.

I looked out the window.

We had arrived at the kingdom's academy, greeted by a pothole.

I grumbled as I sat up, dusting off the boring uniform all exam takers had to wear.

The coachman offered me a hand as I stepped out, which I gladly took.

"Thank you for bringing me here. Please come pick me up at 4 pm." I smiled at him.

He just tipped his hat as he went on his way.

I entered the student-filled halls.

Many aristocrats were homeschooled, so to make sure that their education was sufficient, the academy held an exam every year to assess every young noble's intelligence.

Fools simply weren't allowed to be close to the royal family.

I stepped to the nameboard, already being stared at by lots of teenagers.

I found myself sighing as I looked at the board.

"R-r-roo-... Hey, can you read this?"

I turned to the voice that was addressing me and was promptly surprised.

Flaming red hair, and mysterious blue eyes. There was no mistaking.

"Room 023. Quinn Farraday." I read the line he was pointing at.

"Reading is so hard when it's not your own name." He scratched his head.

You'd never guess that he was a merciless soldier by his quiet demeanor.
Not to mention that he was terribly young for it.

He was like- thirteen. 3 years older than me.

But he was a late bloomer, his slim body somehow perfectly suited for sneaky kills, if my intel from my past life was to be trusted.

"Indeed. I find numbers easier." I turned back to the board.

"...... Okay? Why are you telling me this?" He turned to me, looking confused.

"Apologies. Consider it a whim." I finally found my name.

Room 023 - Antoinette Crawford

Shit. I was in the same room as him?

This was going to be mentally exhausting.

I quickly walked off, making a beeline for my exam room.

Quinn followed. "Hey! What's your name?"

I quietly cursed myself for promising to build connections with affluent people, before turning to him, a practiced smile on my face.

"I am Antoinette Crawford, of the dukedom Crawford. Is there anything you might need, mister Farraday?"

"Ant-Antoi- Antony. You're in the same room as me, right? Show me the way." He crossed his arms, looking me down as he was a bit taller than me.

My name isn't that hard to pronounce.
But, I swallowed my pride, gleefully nodding.

"Of course mister Farraday. Please do follow me."

I led him to the exam room, staying behind as he rushed through the doorway.

It's strange. I don't think that I met him back then...

Wasn't I supposed to meet-

"Oh. Hello there."

I would recognize that voice anywhere.

A cold sweat ran down my back.

I turned around.
It was him.

Luca Findlay.

My future fiancé.

And the man who will kill me.


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(A/N: Art was made by myself :) )

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