HER MAJESTY, HIS ROYALTY

EPISODE 8:FADING PETALS (MELLO & JANE)

The trip to Gordiee had been a success, and the students of Crowns Academy returned to school, brimming with memories of their adventurous journey. Social media was buzzing with excitement, as Crown royals visiting Athras Central had become the hottest trending topic.

Evly and Mshell decided it was finally time to share the news of their relationship with their friends, bracing themselves for the reactions. To their surprise, Mello exclaimed, "Oh! You two finally decided to tell us? You're probably the only ones who didn't notice your feelings for each other." Meanwhile, Hayley, ever composed, reacted with calm acceptance, which surprised no one.

With the excursions behind them, there was a noticeable shift in the school routine. Extracurricular activities took a backseat as students found themselves overwhelmed by a mountain of schoolwork. Tests, assignments, and projects kept them thoroughly engaged, leaving little room for leisure.

Jane and Mello once considered the perfect couple, had hit a rough patch since the Gordiee trip. Their relationship, once effortless, now faced unexpected challenges, and the once sparkling bond between them seemed to have dimmed.

MELLO

I've been overworking myself lately. Somehow, I managed to complete around ten projects in just two days—something I didn't even realize was possible. But then again, this is Crowns Academy, where the impossible tends to become reality.

As I contemplated my exhaustion, Hayley abruptly interrupted my much-needed alone time. "Hey, Mello, I need your help quickly!" she exclaimed.

I sighed, my brain feeling utterly fried. "No, Hayley, I definitely can't help you right now. I'm completely drained."

Hayley, ever persistent, replied, "Oh, come on! You don't even know what I need help with."

Given Hayley's track record, I was certain that whatever she had in mind would only add to my stress. "Whatever it is, I just don't have the energy for it right now," I muttered, hoping she'd understand. But Hayley wasn't one to give up so easily.

"Well, too bad, because you'll have to!" she said, undeterred. And then, she dropped a bombshell. "I need you to help me hack into Carlo's tablet. I need to check something she said."

She said it so casually like hacking into someone's device was the most normal thing in the world. But I shouldn't have been surprised—this was Hayley, after all, and normal wasn't exactly her specialty.

I stared at her, dumbfounded, desperately trying to find the right words. "Hayley De' Ville!" I finally exclaimed, hoping the seriousness in my voice would get through to her. "Really, what do you take me for?"

She simply stared back, completely unfazed by my objections.

"I don't hack into people's things without their permission," I said firmly, immediately regretting how that sounded.

"Oh, is that so, Mello?" she replied, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Should I remind you about ninth grade? Remember Mr.—"

Before she could finish, I lunged toward her, quickly placing my hand over her mouth. "Shush, Hayley!" I hissed, panic creeping into my voice. "That was a different situation—it was an emergency!"

She pulled away from my hand, smirking. "Well, this is an emergency too!"

"Unfortunately," I replied, trying to stand my ground, "like I said, I don't have the strength right now."

"Please, Mello," she pleaded, her tone softening. "You're the only other tech genius I know besides Carlo."

I tried to steer her in another direction. "I'm not the only one. There's Darcy from Science class—she's pretty good too."