Page 205 of Bad Prince
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Always with her.
“Stell.”
It slips out low.
Not loud enough to carry.
Just enough.
She pauses.
Just a fraction.
Then turns.
Her face is calm.
Composed.
That same armor from the hallway.
But closer?
I see it.
The tightness at the corners of her mouth.
The way her eyes don’t quite settle.
“Vale.”
Flat.
Professional.
Like we’re teammates.
Like we’re nothing.
I step closer anyway.
Ignoring the way the gym subtly shifts around us.
People notice.
They always notice.
“You’re killing it,” I say.
It sounds stupid the second it leaves my mouth.
“Doing my job,” she replies.
No smile.
No bite.
Just… neutral.
