Chapter 137: The Cafeteria

The cafeteria was massive. Long tables stretched from one end to the other, filled with students in academy uniforms. The air was thick with the smell of roasted meat, fresh bread, and sweet pastries. Runes glowed softly along the walls, casting a warm, golden light over everything.

Behind the long curved counter, the staff served dishes unlike anything a commoner would ever see—Grilled Drake Steak, Phoenix Flame Soup, Frostberry Tart, Titan’s Heart Stew, Spirit Blossom Salad, Dragonfruit Sorbet, and more.

But no one was eating anymore. They were all staring.

They were staring at the three of them that just entered the cafeteria. Their attention was hooked, every eye in the room drawn to the doorway.

Lucien’s charm and handsome features had gotten the hearts of the girls rolling. Seraphina and Lilith’s unique beauty had gotten the hearts of the boys rolling.

"Who are they?"

The question rippled through the cafeteria. It started with one student near the entrance, then spread like wildfire.

"I don’t know. I’ve never seen them before."

"Are they new? I thought the entrance ceremony was months ago."

"Look at them. They’re not wearing the standard first-year uniform. Those are Honor uniforms."

"Honor students? Here? Why would they come to the general cafeteria?"

The whispers grew louder. Students craned their necks, trying to get a better look. Some stood up from their seats, forgetting their food entirely.

A group of girls near the front table stared at Lucien, their cheeks flushed. One of them leaned toward her friend.

"He’s gorgeous. Who is he?"

"I have no idea. But I want to know."

"Look at those two with him. They’re clinging to his arms like they own him."

"Lucky guy."

A few tables away, a group of boys watched Seraphina and Lilith with hungry eyes. One of them whistled low under his breath.

"Now those are some beauties. The blonde one looks like a goddess."

"The silver-haired one too. And look at her eyes. Crimson. Exotic."

"Think they’re taken?"

"Look at how they’re holding onto that guy. What do you think?"

The boys sighed collectively.

Lucien ignored them all. He walked toward the counters, Seraphina and Lilith still holding his arms. His expression was calm, unreadable. But inside, he was already tired.

This is going to be a long year.

Lilith scanned the room with her crimson eyes, a small smile playing on her lips. She liked the attention. She thrived on it.

Seraphina was different. Her golden eyes were cold, scanning the crowd like she was daring anyone to look too long. Most students quickly turned away when her gaze passed over them.

Ryker trailed behind them, shaking his head, clearly not noticed by the students. He had seen this before. It never got old.

As they got to the counter, they were asked to pick some unique dishes that were better than the rest. This was the benefit brought by their status as Honor students.

This food was nutritious and had better effects than those eaten by ordinary students. Lucien took his orders, the girls followed, then Ryker took his too.

They all went to one of the empty seats with two chairs at the different sides of the table. Lucien sat on one of the chairs, dropping his food.

Seraphina and Lilith’s eyes made contact when they saw the only seat available. This was the chance to sit beside Lucien, to be the only one sitting beside him.

They didn’t look like empresses or ancestors. They were like battling wives.

Both moved at the same time, as they rushed to the seat. The crowd who were still watching them was a bit confused and surprised about their behavior.

They moved with insane speed, rushing to the seat beside Lucien. But Lilith was faster and smoother in the action due to her small body, taking the seat as she smirked at Seraphina.

Seraphina stood frozen, her golden eyes wide with disbelief. Her hand was still outstretched, reaching for a seat that was no longer there. Her lips parted, then pressed into a thin line.

Lilith settled into the chair, her silver-white hair cascading over the backrest. She crossed her legs and tilted her head, her crimson eyes gleaming with triumph.

"Too slow," Lilith said, her voice sweet and mocking.

Seraphina’s eye twitched. Her fingers curled into a fist at her side. The air around her grew cold, frost creeping along the edge of the table.

The students watching felt the temperature drop. A few shivered, pulling their uniforms tighter. Others leaned back, sensing danger.

Lucien sighed. He didn’t look up from his food. He already knew what was coming.

"Lilith," Seraphina said, her voice calm but edged with ice. "Get up."

"No," Lilith said simply. She picked up her fork and twirled it between her fingers. "I got here first. Fair and square."

"You cheated."

"How do you cheat at sitting?"

Seraphina’s jaw tightened. "You used your size to slip past me."

Lilith shrugged. "Not my fault you’re slower."

The frost spread further. The students at the nearest table quietly gathered their trays and moved away.

Ryker, who had taken a seat on the opposite side, watched the scene unfold with a mixture of amusement and pity. He glanced at Lucien.

"Mentor," he said quietly. "Are you going to do something?"

"You both shouldn’t fight or argue, or I am going to leave the canteen for you." Lucien said in a slightly cold voice.

Lilith and Seraphina, who were planning to use a fight to talk things out, felt doused as if they had poured cold water on them when they heard Lucien’s words.

This left Seraphina sulking. She looked at the seat beside Ryker, her gaze cold as she laid her eyes on him. She felt like killing him this instant. There was no way she could sit beside him.

Ryker, who was watching this, felt chills from the gaze Seraphina was giving him.

He swallowed hard and looked away, pretending to be very interested in his food. His hands trembled slightly as he picked up his fork.

What did I do? he thought desperately. I didn’t do anything.

Seraphina’s gaze didn’t let up. It pressed down on him like a physical weight, cold and sharp, promising pain if he so much as breathed wrong.

Lucien noticed. He sighed.

"Seraphina," he said. "Stop scaring him."

Seraphina turned to Lucien, her expression shifting instantly. The cold glare melted away, replaced by a soft, almost pitiful look.

"But darling," she said, her voice sweet. "There’s nowhere for me to sit."

Lucien gestured to the empty chair across from him. "There. Sit there."

Seraphina glanced at the chair, then at Lilith, who was still smirking in her seat beside Lucien. Her eye twitched.

"That’s across from you," she said. "Not beside you."

"It’s still at the same table."

"But—"

"Ok, ok, you can carry the chair and sit down at my left side." Lucien said helplessly.

"Yay. That’s a great idea, darling." Seraphina smiled, delighted as she heard this.

She immediately grabbed the chair and dragged it around the table, the legs scraping against the obsidian floor with a sharp screech. She placed it on Lucien’s left side, positioning it so close that her shoulder pressed against his arm.

Lilith’s smirk vanished. Her crimson eyes narrowed.

"That’s not fair," she said. "You can’t just move the chair."

Seraphina settled into her new seat, her golden hair cascading over Lucien’s shoulder. She turned to Lilith with a sweet smile.

"He said I could."

"He said you could sit at the table. Not cling to him like a vine."

"I’m not clinging. I’m sitting."

"You’re practically on his lap."

"I am not."

"Your shoulder is touching him."

"So is yours."

The two women glared at each other across Lucien, sparks practically flying between their eyes.

Lucien sighed. He picked up his fork and continued eating, ignoring them both. He had learned by now that sometimes the best strategy was to let them exhaust themselves.

Ryker watched from across the table, his expression a mix of amusement and pity.

The students watched all of this, even though only those close could get a faint outline of what was happening. But those that were faraway were curious about them as they entered.

Especially for the guys, they had their eyes on Seraphina and Lilith. The beauties had captured their hearts.

And even noticing Lucien with them and their attitude with him didn’t stop them from planning to strike up a conversation with them.

A boy near the back table leaned toward his friend, his voice low. "Look at them. The golden- haired one and the silver-haired one. They’re gorgeous."

His friend nodded, his eyes fixed on the two women. "I know. And they’re sitting with that guy. Who is he anyway?"

"Doesn’t matter. Look at how they’re clinging to him. He’s probably just some noble brat."

"So what? That doesn’t mean we can’t try."

"You’re crazy. Did you see the way the golden one looked at that other guy? She almost killed him with her eyes."

"That was different. He was probably annoying her. We’ll be different."

The friend shook his head but didn’t argue. He was already thinking the same thing.