I hadn’t expected Andrew to seek me out before the Grand Competition.

Gabriel had gone to the library to return some books for me, leaving me alone in our suite.

Andrew entered without knocking, his posture lazy, but his golden eyes gleamed with something unreadable.

“You’re something else, Elisabeth,” he said, his tone dripping with mockery. “You leave me, and the next thing I know, you’re warming Gabriel’s bed. You’re just a parasitic plant—always clinging to someone stronger.”

I barely spared him a glance. “If that’s all you came to say, then get out.”

Andrew’s expression darkened. “I came to talk about the competition.”

I tilted my head, unimpressed.

“Elsa...