THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES | Coriolanus Snow

part I: the mentor | 7

The two teenagers walked through the elegant foyer, their footsteps echoing softly against the polished marble floor. The mansion exuded an air of opulence and refinement, and the décor of the salon reflected the Evergreen family's wealth.

A familiar voice echoed through the salon. They entered it and their eyes caught Leopoldes Evergreen in his study through the open door. Spotting him, they decided to entered the study and extend their greetings.

"Afternoon, Father. I didn't know you would be here so soon," Lupinia greeted.

"Lupinia, yes the negotiation was quick. But I expect to be away doing business deals soon"

Leopoldes looked up, and his face lit up upon seeing the blonde boy. "Ah and here is the reason for this. Coriolanus," he said warmly.

"You know, I've been a little disappointed in you, my dear boy, but man, oh man, I underestimated you, because that was such a clever business move," Leopoldes remarked, addressing Coriolanus.

Confused, both Lupinia and Coriolanus asked simultaneously, "What are you talking about?"

"Your little show on the news, brilliant. It brought a lot of attention from very important and powerful people to the company and showed that you are a good investment for the future. New business deals are coming up, all thanks to you!" Mr. Evergreen said, tapping Coriolanus proudly on the shoulder.

"Business is booming, my boy. And to thank you I have got a present for you. It's upstairs in Lupinia's room. Check it out. I hope you like it. Now I got to get back to work," he announced, leading them out of his office and closing the door behind them.

"Such a great business move, as if you had planned that," Lupinia mocked, rolling her eyes at Coriolanus, a short smile playing on her lips. "Let's check out your gift, come on," she said, leading the way. Coriolanus followed her, climbing the massive staircase, his mind wandering about what her room would look like. The last time he had been there was when they were still children.

"Welcome," Lupinia announced as she opened the door to her room. It was huge, possibly the size of the apartment he and his grandma, and Tigris were staying in, if not even bigger.

Lupinia's room exuded a sense of elegance and sophistication. Clearly, it was beautifully decorated, and Coriolanus couldn't help but think that she might have had a hand in it. The furnishings reflected her style impeccably. A large walk-in wardrobe caught his eye, filled with a plethora of clothes, each piece seemingly as stylish and refined as the next. It was no surprise, considering Lupinia always dressed impeccably, tailored to the occasion.

The room also had a small table with an expansive mirror, likely her designated space for preparing and perfecting her look. A desk occupied another corner, a space where she probably dedicated time to her studies at the academy. The focal point, however, was a massive king-size bed, adorned with pinkish fluffy curtains that added a dreamy effect to the whole setting. The bed was positioned next to the balcony, creating an inviting and serene atmosphere in Lupinia's room.

The ambiance in the room hinted at Lupinia's impacable taste and attention to detail, making it a fitting reflection of her persona.

"I guess that must be it. Ohh looks like your wedding outfit" she said, picking something up from her huge bed and handing it to him. In her voice both joy and sadness evident.

The gift was a customized suit with matching trousers both decorated with beautiful golden details. Coriolanus could have never afforded that and he was more than happy about the gift as he had no idea where to get a expensive looking weeding outfit from. But this was perfect!

"You wanna try it on?" Lupinia asked as Coriolanus ran his fingers over the exquisite material.

"Sure."

"You can change in my wardrobe," Lupinia offered as the wardrobe was like a room in itself, just filled with her shoes, bags, and clothes.

Coriolanus walked into the wardrobe closing the door than he got out of his clothes to try on the outfit.

"And how does it suit you?" Lupinia asked, her curiosity evident.

A small gap in the door presented itself, and despite her better judgment, Lupinia found her gaze drawn to the sight within. It was impolite, she knew, but she couldn't tear her eyes away. Coriolanus's bare, muscular chest and abs were on display as he changed into the white button-down shirt that her father had gifted him. The unexpected tension in the air left Lupinia unsettled. What was happening to her? She had always been resolute in her dislike for Coriolanus, but something had shifted.

Since that moment in the car, a new kind of tension had settled between them. Lupinia found herself contemplating what it would be like to be kissed by Coriolanus, a thought she never expected to entertain. Hating him seemed like an outdated concept now. He had managed to break down the walls she had carefully constructed, and she found herself surprisingly okay with it. This newfound chemistry between them intrigued her, but the question lingered - did he feel the same way?

The uncertainty gnawed at her. Was Coriolanus sincere, or was this all a game to him? If it was a game, she couldn't deny that she was on the best way to lose it. The internal conflict was evident in Lupinia's eyes as she brought herself to look away and sit down on her bed, waiting for the boy to come out.

"I think it looks good," Coriolanus replied as he walked out of her wardrobe. The suit fit him perfectly, accentuating his tall and well-built frame. "For once you are right," she said, smiling even if good was an understatement. Lupinia felt her cheeks slightly heat up at the sight of the handsome looking boy she was soon to be married to. Oblivious to her momentary distraction and invested looks, he started to smirk.

"You sure as hell like what you see," he said, winking at her, then walking back into the wardrobe.

"Don't flatter yourself too much," she said, rolling her eyes.

A silence hung between them, but then Lupinia decided to break it.

"I'm going to get food for Lucy and Jessup. When you're ready, meet me downstairs, then we are going to the zoo."

"Okay," his voice sounded from the wardrobe.

A little while later, Lupinia found herself in front of the maid's room, knocking on the door.

"Oh, hello, Ms. Evergreen. How can I help you?" the young woman asked.

"I just wanted to let you know that my father has arrived back home, and I also wanted to ask you to prepare me some sandwiches," Lupinia said politely.

She always treated the staff well, understanding how much they did for her and her family daily. In contrast to her father, who saw them as his personal servants, Lupinia found it in her moral compass to treat them with respect and politeness.

As the sandwiches were ready, Lupinia walked out of the kitchen. "Thank you, Zoila," she expressed her gratitude. She then waited for Coriolanus to meet her in the foyer, but he took an unusually long time.

"Where have you been?" she asked when he finally arrived.

"I just thanked your father for the present."

Finally the two teens walked to the car, and Coriolanus opened the door for Lupinia. They both got in, and the car began to move.