itbomm

chapter 12: where the stars all are

A/N: i'm still getting lots of questions about verena and athanase. i'm not sure if it's because i haven't been clear on the matter, but no, they don't end up together.

she is his love interest, yes, but they will not end up together by the end of this story. they will have romantic moments, but their relationship will be focusing on friendship. here's the link for more information about athanase and verena:

https://starlit-dreaming.tumblr.com/post/659221243952824320/itbomm-an-athanase-ships

in short, no, athanase will not end up with verena

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"Could you...?" she trails off mid-whisper, looking up to the stars above, a blanket around her shoulders, a warm mug of hot cocoa in hand. She abruptly stops, as if her thoughts reached a conclusion. "Promise me that you won't stop talking to me when I leave."

"Don't be stupid — you're my best friend," he huffs. "You're not getting rid of me that easily."

She turns her head, looking at him with a smile.

.

He doesn't remember the colour of her hair, the colour of her eyes. All he remembers is the tears dripping down her cold cheeks, the way she flushed red as she gave him a heartbroken smile amidst the cold night.

.

Her shoulders shake, and he feels like he's at fault because it's a pained expression caused by him, him, him...

"Hey..." she softly starts off.

.

"...Athanasios," a voice calls out, snapping him back to attention. "Your Imperial Highness, Prince Athanasios?"

Athanase blinks back into reality, finding himself sitting in the flower garden, the table set up with a tea set and the usual assortment of cakes. Sitting across from him was Lady Verena, who stared at him with knitted brows. A look of concern, from what he could tell.

"It's nothing," he states, looking back down at his cup of tea, taking a sip.

He tries to ignore the concerned look Felix gives him.

"Forgive me for being bold, Your Imperial Highness," Verena frowned. "But you appear to be... rather pale. Perhaps we should reschedule our next meeting for another day?"

Athanase stares at her for a long moment.

"That would probably be for the best," he begrudgingly acknowledges. "I will have to cut our time together short for today."

"I wish you well, Prince Athanasios."

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There is something unsettling about Lady Verena. It wasn't the fact that she was Toska's minor villainess, and asides for her obvious crush on him, she seemed like a regular girl. He hated not knowing anything about this situation — it was nothing like otome games, where he'd deliberately read the storylines on the game's wiki page.

She reminded him of someone else, though. The way she smiles brightly at the sight of cake was oddly familiar.

And from the look she would sometimes give him, with her brows knit and lips pursed, well...

He wasn't the only one who felt that odd familiarity.

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There is a boy with red eyes, whose gaze immediately meets with Athanasios as he walks past and into his sister's room. Something about him was unsettling to Athanase, as he walked past with his long black hair swaying. Maybe he hates long black hair like that magician's?