Isolated in the corner of the university amongst the bushes, my body shivers in the cold as I steal some dirt.

  “Go dig up some dirt before the ground freezes,” I mock as I rub my hands together. “We need it for the plants.”

  That damn Helia. I don’t care if she is the club president. Why doesn’t she come and dig dirt in the freezing cold herself? Not to mention. The ground is already frozen!! Slamming the shovel against the ground makes an audible thud. Damn it!! I need three bags and I’m barely halfway through the first one!

  How do you make fifty gold? I could steal from some of these richy rich types, but that sounds like a recipe for disaster. Maybe Abrigon could loan me some. Oh, who am I kidding? Based on our last conversation, he wouldn’t spit in my hand if it didn’t benefit him. I could sell cookies. I have the oven and supplies shouldn’t cost much. I can see it now. I could call them ‘Chosen Cookies'. They would sell like hot chocolate on a snowy winter day. Oh, I should make hot chocolate. I could call it… Damn, I can’t think of anything. I’ll have to put a pin in that one.

  Looking back down at the cold, hard ground, I let out a sigh. Back to work. As I dig, I notice the faint whisper of conversation. Who in their right mind would be out here in this cold? The faint whispers grow as I focus. It sounds like it’s coming from the bushes over there. Digging up dirt or digging up dirt? One involves actually digging, and the other doesn’t. The answer is obvious.

  Carefully, I sneak over to the conversation.

  “We can’t do this. I don’t love you,” the woman says.

  Well, well, well, I’ve seemed to have found myself something to entertain me. Let's get a little closer. As I push through the bushes, my head peeks through into a hidden gazebo. Standing in the gazebo are two of my fellow first years. A human woman with snow white skin and black hair. And an elven man with brown skin and white hair. They’re not in the advanced class, so I don’t recognize them, but I’m committing them to memory.

  “I don’t believe that,” the man says as he locks eyes with her.

  “You’re going to have to, Eidrel,” the woman says as she looks into the distance.

  Is this some kind of play? There’s no way this is real. They must be rehearsing or something.

  “Really, Yvena? If you don’t love me, then what about what we did under the moonlight?” he asks.

  Carefully, I lean forward to listen. What did they do under the moonlight?

  “That was a moment of weakness. It was a mistake,” she says, careful not to meet his gaze.

  “A mistake? Was I a mistake?” he asks with a soft tone.

  Yeah, was he Yvena? You can’t just say that when he’s obviously in love with you. You’re going to break his heart and yours. Look at him. Just look at him.

  With an exaggerated turn, she looks at him. “No, you weren’t a mistake, but-”

  “No buts,” he says, interrupting her.

  They lean in for a kiss, but she pulls away at the last second. “There is a but,” she says sadly. “You’re engaged to someone else.”

  Eidrel, you idiot!! Who is this harlot?! I thought you were in love with Yvena. I don’t know how to feel right now. As I think, the sound of the bushes rustling pulls my attention.

  Penelope rustles her way through the bushes until she is right next to me. “What are you doing?” she whispers to me.

  “Wait, it’s about to get good,” I whisper back as I turn my attention back to the couple.

  “You know that I don’t love her. I love you!” Eidrel proclaims.

  “How can I believe that?” Yvena desperately says.

  “Because I’m here with you, not her,” he says as he touches her hand.

  Penelope pokes me in my side. “Are you eavesdropping on these poor people? Is there a low you won’t hit?”

  “It’s their fault that they decided to have a private conversation in a public place. They should know better,” I say, focusing on the scene unfolding before me.

  “We should leave it’s-” Penelope says before getting interrupted.

  “You’re here now, but where were you two nights ago?” Yvena asks pointedly.

  “I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to meet, but things came up,” Eidrel says.

  Penelope stares in curiosity. “Where was he two nights ago?” she asks me.

  “I don’t know, but he sure sidestepped that question,” I whisper back.

  Yvena stands up straight and looks at Eidrel straight in his blue eyes. The silence sits between the two of them as a cold wind brushes past them.

  “You didn’t answer my question. Where were you two nights ago?” Yvena asks with a shaky voice.

  Eidrel hesitates before he answers, “I… was with… Bianca.”

  Penelope shakes me as she tries to hold in her excitement. “Who’s Bianca?”

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  “I think she’s his fiancée,” I answer.

  “He has a fiancée?”

  “Yeah.”

  “That two-timer," she says with venom.

  Yvena walks off the gazebo before stopping abruptly. “I knew this wouldn’t work out. Our families would never approve, and… you wouldn’t… couldn’t defy them. I hope you and Bianca live a happy life,” she says before running away with tears in her eyes.

  Eidrel stands there in silence. Shocked or maybe accepting his fate. “I would do anything for you. You just have to ask,” he whispers to himself before leaving.

  As soon as they’re gone, Penelope and I get out of the bushes.

  “You believe that?” Penelope says in disbelief.

  “Yeah, that was crazy,” I say as we walk back to the shovel.

  “He should’ve chased after her. He obviously loves her,” Penelope says as I pass her the shovel.

  “I know, right? If he loves her, she shouldn’t have to ask. He should just do it,” I say as I watch Penelope fill up one of the bags with dirt.

  “And the poor fiancée. She’s stuck in an engagement with a man who doesn’t even love her,” Penelope says as she continues digging.

  “Yeah. Did you recognize them by the way?” I ask.

  “No, but there are a lot of students this year. I doubt I would recognize them by face alone.”

  “Does Eidrel and Yvena ring any bells for you?” I ask.

  A tinge of recognition crosses her face. “Actually, yes. Eidrel is the son of Duke Ofkald, and Yvena is the daughter of Duke Calor!” she exclaims.

  “Ok. What does that mean?” I ask, confused.

  “Their families have been at war with each other for centuries. Even now, with the unification, they still hate each other. No wonder they’re meeting in secret. It would be a scandal if anybody found out,” she answers as she fills the last bag.

  “Spicy. Why are you here?” I ask, realizing how odd our meeting was.

  “Well, after following Hopper all of yesterday, I realized you were lying to me. Which means you are up to no good,” she says with annoyance.

  “So, you somehow tracked me down and then followed me into a bush in an isolated corner of the university?”

  “Well, when you put it like that, I sound crazy.”

  “Sound?” I question.

  “Listen, I know you’re not The Chosen One. You know you’re not The Chosen One. I don’t know why you decided to impersonate him, but I’m going to keep an eye on you until I figure out why,” she says as we begin to carry the dirt to the greenhouse.

  “I don’t know what to tell you, but I am The Chosen One. There’s no doubt about it,” I [Lie].

  “You can keep saying that. Doesn’t make it any more true than the first time,” she says, having now realized she’s carrying two bags of dirt. “Why did I dig up dirt and carry it to the greenhouse?”

  “I need it for the Botany Club,” I answer as I open the door to the greenhouse.

  “Why are you helping the Botany Club?” she asks as she places down the bags.

  The voice of Helia cuts in as we enter. “That’s because he’s a member of the Botany Club, Princess Penelope,” Helia answers.

  Penelope gives me a weird look before turning her attention back to Helia. “Lady Helia, I was not aware that he had joined your club. Why?”

  With a soft, but cold smile, Helia answers, “Well, he has a passion for plants. He’s almost hungry about it.” She gives me a wink.

  “Well, enough about me. What club did you join, Penelope?” I ask as Helia gives me an odd glance.

  “I haven’t decided yet. I was thinking between the Tea Club and Endurance Club.”

  I can guess what the Tea Club is about, but what in the hells is the Endurance Club about? Do you endure? Is that it? This university has weird clubs. First it was the Assassin Club, and now the Endurance Club. Next thing I’m going to hear is that they have a club for King or a Cheating Club. Whose in charge of managing these clubs anyway?

  “Well, if you're still undecided, why don’t you consider joining the Botany Club. We’re a tight-knit group with plenty of opportunity to grow,” Helia puns.

  Yeah, tight-knit because there are only two of us in the club. Helia and I. And what was that pun? Was it supposed to be funny or what?

  “I’m sorry, Lady Helia, but I’m no good at gardening. I have what is called a brown thumb,” Penelope says as she slowly takes a step back.

  “That’s no problem, Princess. We have plenty of plants that require minimal care. I’m sure you’ll do fine,” Helia says, taking a step towards Penelope.

  “No, no, no. I’d rather not intrude. Would you look at the time? I have to get to my club,” Penelope says, basically running out of here.

  “I don’t know how you managed that, but that was impressive,” I say to Helia.

  “Is my inability to recruit members amusing to you?”

  “No. I just find it impressive that you managed to scare her off,” I say, truly impressed.

  “Get back to work,” she says, watering the hydrangeas.

  Looking around the greenhouse, I note the overgrown vines and dirty floors. Not to mention, why does she have the water lilies next to the fire lilies? They’re basically killing each other. We at least need some earth lilies between them. As I work on trimming the overgrown vines, I rearrange the lilies.

  “Why’d you do that?” Helia asks.

  “They grow better this way.”

  Helia's face twists in shock. “Wait, do you actually know how to garden?”

  “Yeah, I told you I knew a little bit,” I say with a hint of fear.

  “I thought you were lying. We actually have someone knowledgeable about plants. This changes everything.”

  “Wait?! I thought you knew about plants.”

  Helia the Dryad says, “No. I’m terrible with plants.”

  “What do you mean?! You’re the president of the Botany Club! How do you not know anything about plants?!” I exclaim in surprise.

  She scratches her chin in awkwardness. “Technically, I’m only the president because all the other members graduated. It was a last-man-standing deal. I’ve been using the old members' notes, but I don’t fully understand them, and some of them are hard to read.”

  “Why are you in the Botany Club?” I ask, utterly confused.

  “It’s the easiest club to slack off in,” she says with an annoyed tone.

  She’s insane. Insane and lazy. I weirdly respect that. That’s why she made me go get the dirt. Looking around at the plants, I note how healthy they look. I will say she did a good job for someone who doesn’t know anything about plants. I wonder why she put in so much effort?

  Helia looks at me with expectant eyes.

  With a groan, I put my gloves on. “Let's get to work on rearranging the greenhouse.”