I Killed The Main Characters

Ariana sipped her tea delicately, nibbling on a shortcake with chocolate drizzle.

Livia, on the other hand, had already gone through a few biscuits and was lazily stirring her tea, clearly enjoying the relaxed mood.

"This place is so cute," Livia commented, looking around the shop.

"I can't believe we didn't come here sooner.

The cakes are divine."

Ariana nodded, her mouth full of shortcake, trying not to talk while eating.

"Yeah, it's really nice."

They continued chatting about random things—classes, upcoming exams, and a little gossip here and there.

The light-hearted conversation made Ariana forget about her usual nervousness.

Then, out of nowhere, Livia changed the topic.

"So… what's up with you and Noah?"

Livia's tone was playful, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

Ariana froze mid-sip.

She looked at Livia, wide-eyed, her cheeks flushing a deep pink.

"W-What?

Me and Noah?

There's nothing!"

She stammered, shaking her head, her voice squeaking slightly.

Livia smirked, clearly not buying it.

"Oh, come on, Ariana.

You've been talking about him non-stop since we sat down.

'Noah helped me with this,'

'Noah explained that to me,'

'Noah's so smart.'

It's kind of cute, really."

Ariana blushed even deeper, sinking into her chair.

"I-I didn't realize… I was just… he's been helping me study, that's all!"

"Sure, that's all," Livia teased.

"You're not blushing like that just because he helped you study, are you?"

Ariana's hands clutched her skirt under the table, her fingers nervously squeezing the fabric.

She looked down at her feet, brushing her legs together, trying to control the fluttering feeling in her chest.

The question lingered in her mind—Do I really like him?

Her heart raced as she thought about it.

'There's that feeling again,' she told herself.

'My body feels heavy and light at the same time.

And I feel like I'm burning up from the inside.

An intense heat but… oddly soothing.'

She shook her head quickly, trying to snap herself out of her thoughts.

She grabbed a piece of chocolate cake and shoved it into her mouth, hoping to avoid any more teasing from Livia.

But Livia could tell just by looking at Ariana's flushed face that something was going on.

Livia sighed, putting a hand on her cheek.

"Alright, alright. I won't force you to say it, Ariana.

But I can tell you're confused about how you're feeling."

Ariana glanced up, still chewing the cake, her face red and flustered.

"Look," Livia began, her tone turning more serious.

"Liking someone is complicated, especially when it's your first time.

Your feelings can be all over the place, and sometimes it's hard to know what's real and what's just admiration or friendship.

But one thing's for sure—when someone's on your mind constantly, it means something."

Ariana listened quietly, her fingers still gripping the edge of her skirt.

"I'm not saying it's love," Livia continued,

"but it could be.

And love is… tricky.

It's amazing, but it can also lead to a lot of heartache if you're not careful.

You have to be prepared for all kinds of outcomes."

Ariana stared down at her lap, her mind swirling with thoughts.

She had never been in a relationship before, so everything Livia was saying sounded new and overwhelming.

"For instance," Livia went on, "what will you do if you confess that you like him, but he doesn't feel the same way?

Are you ready for that possibility?"

Ariana's heart sank a little at the thought.

She didn't know how she'd handle that kind of rejection.

Would it hurt too much?

Would it change everything between them?

Livia could see the worry in Ariana's eyes and softened her tone.

"I'm not trying to scare you.

I just want you to be sure about your feelings before you dive in.

You've never been in a relationship, right?"

Ariana nodded slowly.

"No, never…"

Livia smiled warmly.

"That's okay. Everyone's new at this at some point.

Just take your time to figure out what you want. There's no rush.

And if it turns out you really do like Noah, well, then that's something you'll have to deal with when the time comes."

Ariana's mind drifted back to her family, the House of Snow.

She remembered the time when her parents introduced her to a guy from another noble family, someone she was expected to marry after her studies at Ravenwood.

He had everything her family could want—a prestigious background, wealth, and status.

But Ariana had never liked him.

She had tried, for the sake of her family, to see if she could love him, but it never worked.

The guy was arrogant and shallow, always talking about himself and his family's accomplishments.

He barely cared about Ariana's interests or dreams.

To him, she was just a trophy, another step toward solidifying his power.

That wasn't what Ariana wanted.

The reason she had come to Ravenwood was to study magic and make a name for herself.

She wanted to graduate as one of the top students, someone who could stand on her own and make decisions for her future.

The only way she could reject the arranged marriage was if she became powerful enough to be independent of her family's influence.

Ariana dreamed of starting her own prestigious house one day, where she could marry someone she truly loved—someone she chose for herself.

Livia had finished her tea by now and was watching Ariana with a thoughtful expression.

She rested her chin on her hand, her gaze distant.

"Noah…" Livia said quietly, almost to herself.

Ariana snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Livia.

"What about Noah?"

Livia smiled softly but didn't answer right away.

Instead, she simply leaned back in her chair, lost in her own thoughts about the mysterious boy who had somehow managed to get under everyone's skin without even trying.