The late afternoon sun filtered through the tall windows of Wellston High, casting long shadows across the school's corridors. It was a time of day when most students had finished their classes and were either heading home or hanging around to socialize. Arlo was one of the latter, making his way toward the student council room with a stack of papers under his arm. It was just another day for him, filled with the usual responsibilities that came with being king of the school.
But as he rounded the corner near the lounge, he caught the low murmur of voices—familiar yet laced with a tone that immediately set him on edge. Arlo paused, his eyes narrowing as he honed in on the conversation.
"Honestly, what kind of queen is Remi, anyway?" one of the students—a mid-tier with a smug look on his face—said. "She's too soft, always trying to play nice with everyone. It's embarrassing."
Another student snickered in agreement. "Yeah, like, why does she even bother with those losers? She's supposed to be setting an example, not holding hands with the weaklings."
A third chimed in, clearly emboldened by the others. "It's pathetic. No wonder people don't take her seriously. A queen should be strong, not some bleeding heart who lets everyone walk all over her."
Arlo's grip on the stack of papers tightened, his knuckles turning white. He felt a surge of anger rise within him, heating his blood and quickening his pulse. Remi? Soft? The very idea of it made his skin prickle with irritation. These mid-tiers, these insignificant voices, had no idea what they were talking about. They didn't know Remi—not really. They didn't see the strength behind her compassion, the steel hidden beneath her kindness.
Arlo could feel the barrier of restraint within him starting to crack. He wasn't one to lose his temper easily, but when it came to Remi, there was a line that shouldn't be crossed. And these idiots had crossed it.
Without a second thought, Arlo strode toward the group, his footsteps echoing loudly in the corridor. The students, caught off guard, turned to face him, their expressions shifting from smug amusement to shock and then to fear as they realized who was approaching.
Arlo's eyes were cold, his gaze piercing as he stopped in front of them. The atmosphere in the corridor changed instantly, tension thickening the air as the mid-tiers shrank under his stare. Arlo didn't need to raise his voice to make his point—his mere presence was enough to send a clear message.
"You think Remi is a bad queen?" Arlo's voice was low, dangerously calm, as he addressed them. "You think she's soft? Weak?" He took a step closer, and the students flinched. "You don't know a damn thing about her."
The first student—the one who had started the conversation—opened his mouth to say something, but the words seemed to die in his throat under Arlo's withering glare.
Arlo continued, his tone laced with contempt. "Remi is more of a leader than any of you will ever be. She doesn't need to bully or intimidate others to prove her strength. And if you think her kindness is a weakness, then you're more ignorant than I thought."
The students exchanged uneasy glances, the bravado they'd shown earlier completely gone. Arlo took another step forward, forcing them to back away until they were pressed against the wall, their eyes wide with fear.
"Let me make one thing clear," Arlo said, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "If I ever hear you talking about Remi like that again, you'll regret it. Do you understand me?"
They nodded hastily, the color draining from their faces. "Y-yes, Arlo," one of them stammered. "We didn't mean anything by it, we were just—"
"Just what?" Arlo snapped, cutting him off. "Just proving how small-minded you are? Just showing how little you understand about what it takes to be a leader?" He shook his head, disgust evident in his expression. "Remi has more strength and integrity in her little finger than any of you have in your entire bodies."
The students remained silent, too terrified to say anything in their defense.
Arlo let out a slow breath, forcing himself to calm down. He knew he'd made his point, and there was no need to escalate things further. The last thing Remi would want was for him to cause a scene on her behalf, even though she had no idea how fiercely he was willing to defend her.
"Get out of my sight," Arlo ordered, his voice icy. The students didn't need to be told twice—they practically bolted down the corridor, disappearing around the corner as fast as their legs could carry them.
Arlo watched them go, his jaw still clenched as he tried to push down the lingering anger. It wasn't often that he let himself get this worked up, but something about hearing those words spoken about Remi had set him off in a way he hadn't expected.
He took a moment to compose himself before continuing on his way to the student council room, though his thoughts remained unsettled. The truth was, Arlo knew that Remi's approach to leadership was different from his own. She led with compassion, with understanding and patience, while he ruled with authority and order. It was what made them such an effective team, but also what made her vulnerable to the kind of ignorant criticism he'd just overheard.
But that was precisely why he felt so protective of her. Remi wasn't weak. She was strong in ways that most people couldn't comprehend. And if they couldn't see that, then they weren't worth her time—or his.
When Arlo finally reached the student council room, he found Remi inside, sitting at the table and going over some paperwork. She looked up when he entered, a warm smile spreading across her face.
"Hey, Arlo," she greeted him, her voice bright and cheerful. "Finished with your classes for the day?"
"Yeah," Arlo replied, his tone much softer now. He set the stack of papers on the table and took a seat across from her. For a moment, he just watched her, taking in the way she looked so focused, so determined to do her best for the school.
Remi glanced up at him, tilting her head slightly. "Something on your mind?"
Arlo hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "Nothing important," he said. "Just... reminding myself of what really matters."
Remi raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued, but she didn't press him for details. Instead, she reached across the table and gave his hand a gentle squeeze, her smile never faltering. "Well, whatever it is, I'm glad you're here."
Arlo's expression softened as he returned the squeeze, his earlier anger fading completely. As long as Remi was there, leading with her heart, he knew that Wellston was in good hands.
And no matter what anyone said, he would always have her back.
