Chapter 24

Dio didn't respond, his face mere inches from Henri's. His expression made it seem like he was deep in thought about a matter most important.

"I would like to come inside." Henri repeated slowly, well aware that Dio was a bit of an odd ball. He was still yet to hear him speak but it didn't bother Henri one bit.

Dio finally stepped back and walked inside without inviting Henri to follow him.

Henri just stepped in and closed the door behind him, not entirely sure of what he expected to find but it wasn't both their beds pushed together at the center of the dorm room.

The bathroom door on the right opened to reveal Louis shirtless with a towel in his hand to dry his hair with. "Henri?" He paused at the door.

Henri froze as well, a panicked expression on his face. "Louis, I… ah… I came to get you for breakfast."

Louis stepped out and kept drying his hair. "Sorry, I should have been the one to come for you…"

"It's fine." Henri quickly reassured him, his eyes darting around the room to keep from staring outright at Louis. He would never get accustomed to shirtless Alphas, "I don't mind."

Louis noticed his straying eyes. "This is the first time you're visiting my dorm room." He pointed out.

Henri just shrugged, glancing at Dio who watched them interact with blank eyes, sometimes conversations were painful to have.

"I'll be ready in a few minutes…" Louis muttered, searching through his wardrobe.

He had actually been ready a while ago but then, Dio had spilled an entire bottle of lotion on his hair without warning and Louis was forced to wash his hair again. It was a really odd thing for Dio to do, Louis would have to speak to him whenever they had some privacy.

While they waited for Louis to get ready, Dio patted the bed to signal Henri to sit which Henri did self-consciously, lacing his fingers to quell his anxiousness.

Henri couldn't rely on acting regal and formal to buoy him in every interaction any more; for someone who had remained in character for years, he didn't know what other way to act. He only knew how to be the Prince, he had no idea how to be Henri.

His eyes kept straying to Louis's bare back that he didn't notice Dio staring at him for a while. He glanced at Dio and slightly flinched at how close the other was. "Is something the matter?" He found himself speaking softly.

It wasn't like he expected Dio to respond, it just felt odd to remain quiet while Dio stared so intently.

"What are you two whispering about?" Louis' cheery voice interrupted them, he walked up to the bed while doing up the buttons on his shirt.

"Lou." Dio rasped.

Henri was dumbstruck by this, his shock switching to mortification when he realized what Dio said. He couldn't even try to defend himself because that would be admitting to being bothered about talking about Louis.

Louis on the other hand was pleasantly surprised, he looked from Dio to Henri. "Really?"

"Put on your coat, we don't want to be late for breakfast," Henri grumbled, unable to look Louis in the eye. Curse his face for getting so hot over the littlest things.

Louis' laughter didn't help his flustered state but at least he put on his waistcoat and made the call for them to leave. Henri decided that it was best to keep his distance from Dio from then on, he couldn't trust the silent Alpha.

They met up with the three monsters at breakfast and afterward were directed to the hall where their orientation would be held.

Henri was impressed by the number of students present in the lavish hall, this was the first time the entire year were gathered in a single room. There were almost a hundred of them, it was an impressive number indeed, he could see why Louis had said that they would have to be divided into different classes.

Sir Bolton, the Head Chancellor was the one to address them. He was dressed in black and white like the rest of the chancellors and professors but his embroidered jacket had the most medals hung on it.

The speech was brief, fortunately, and after it was over, the division into their various classes began. Henri ended up in a class with Louis; Dio was also in the same class to no surprise. It was no secret that Louis had to make arrangements for Dio to be as close to him as possible, no one could deny him that because no one else could handle Dio.

Audie and Valentin were put into the same class and Henri immediately felt sorry for the professor who had to deal with their antics. Nael was placed in 1-C and he seemed to be the only one unaffected by this, meanwhile, Audie and Valentin were near tears.

Henri glanced at his tag that read 1-A, it was attached to the key of his lockers and his name was also written on the tag.

"Do you want to check out your locker?" Louis walked up to him after getting his tag, Dio shadowing him.

Henri was more interested in paying a visit to the clubs but he agreed, knowing that he still needed to know where his locker was.

Just as they made their way out of the hall, they were ambushed by Audie and Valentin pulling Nael by the band of his pants.

"Your Highness!"

"Prince Henri!"

They both wailed simultaneously. "Make them put Nael in the same class as us."

Nael kept a straight face. "I don't know these people."

"Quit making a fuss." Henri scolded them, looking around to find everyone looking in their direction.

"Are you three going to take a look at your lockers too?" Louis asked calmly, diverting the conversation.

Valentin let go of Nael in favor of taking out his tag. "We were about to go club scouting but it would be better if we did that first."

Audie stubbornly kept his hold on a straight-faced Nael. "That's just because Henri is going to his locker."

Valentin didn't flinch at being exposed like that, instead, he threw an arm around Henri's shoulders. "So are we going or not?"

Henri's response was a perfectly aimed elbow jab at Valentin's side, he smiled as the blond Alpha folded in half from pain. "Yes, we are."