In the Library

Tedros is sitting alone in his room, papers tossed haphazardly all around his desk. He should have been at dinner with everyone else, but he couldn't afford to fail the next test in History. Professor Sader had already let him off the hook too many times, and he needed to prove that he was still worthy of being class captain. That it wasn't some fluke. Even though Sophie tricked him, he was still a prince and future king of camelot. He deserved everyone's respect, not the pitying glances and the constant teasing he was currently getting from his teachers and friends.

He shook his head, this was not a helpful studying strategy. Just focus. Focus, focus, focus. Maybe he should just go get dinner, might help him take his mind off of it. But then he would have to see everyone. He didn't think he could take that right now. Half the time, he felt like he was going to yell at someone, and the other half he just wanted to run away.

Tedros knew that he made a mistake, but he shouldn't have to be stuck in his room on a random school night, afraid to go downstairs.He needed to find a way to study.

He glanced over at the window. The sun was just setting and he could see the first glimpse of the moon behind a cloud. He was grateful that his room didn't face the Evil castle. He was positive that he would never get anything done if he had to look at her tower.

He rubbed his eyes again, feeling how tired he was of thinking of Sophie. He looked around his room, trying to find something to distract his mind. His eyes landed on the bookshelf near his bed. Perfect. He did need to get out of his room, and maybe a book will help him study. Might as well go to the library. There wouldn't be any people there right now, and the tortoise would probably be asleep. Hopefully.

Tedros opened his door as quietly as he could, but there was no one in the hallway. Good. He walked over to the stairs and climbed up, all the way to the fourth floor of Honor.

The Library of Virtue filled the whole space, golden shelves stretching to the ceiling. He couldn't help remembering the last time he was here, right before the trial. He had followed Agatha, suspicious that she was cheating with Sophie. He had been right. Why hadn't he trusted himself?

Because you didn't want to believe Sophie would do that, whispered a voice in his head, eerily similar to his father's.

He should have. He knows he should have. Why did he trust her over his own gut feeling?

Because you liked her.

No, she tricked him. Sophie was evil.

But you thought she was Good. You wanted her to be Good.

She pretended. She was lying the whole time.

You're naive and stupid. You shouldn't have trusted her.

Tedros took a deep breath and clenched his hands. The voice was right, he shouldn't have fallen for her. He had just wanted someone different, someone truly good who wasn't like all the others. But Sophie wasn't the right choice. She never would be.

He looked at the tortoise, asleep at his desk. Tedros walked past him, grateful that no one would know that he was here. He wandered along the shelves, looking for a book that could help him. Something, anything about history, or heroes, or something in between. He would take anything at this point.

Most of the room was filled with shelves, with some chairs and couches in corners. It wasn't a bad place to be, surrounded by books. Peaceful even. Well, it would be if he didn't need to find a specific one or he'd fail a test.

He kept walking, looking around, until he finally came to a back corner with a little nook. There was a little table with a lit lamp and an armchair, piled high with blankets, pillows, and at least 10 books. They all looked like beautification books. One of the girls probably left them there.