Free Web NovelChapter 58: Chapter 58
Seton waited patiently for Henri’s response, wondering how much he could milk this opportunity.
Henri on the other hand was aware that Seton wouldn’t just honor his request without a catch. "Name your price."
Seton kept his face neutral. "I don’t have anything at the moment, let’s just say that you owe me a favor.’
Henri wasn’t pleased by this but he had been the one to make the request, he couldn’t be picky. "Very well." He accepted, getting to his feet. "I trust you’ll keep to your word."
Seton smiled diplomatically. "You’ll find that I’m quite trustworthy."
Henri didn’t believe him a single bit but he didn’t argue, nodding to Seton and walking out. If Seton double-crossed him, he would just get Alois to deal with him, he was playing nice here.
With nothing to really do after finishing up his club activities early, Henri decided to return to his dorm room till noon. He couldn’t help but worry if making a deal with Seton was the wisest thing to do but he had already done it now.
He half expected Seton to make his request as soon as possible but the weekend went by and he didn’t hear from the Alpha. Well granted, there weren’t any further skirmishes with Dio but the whole thing seemed off to him. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
He kept the deal he made with Seton a secret however, there was no need for anyone else to know, well as long as Seton kept to his work.
The second week of college was no easier than the first and there was barely time for anything else. They had the whole year to take the classes required, it wouldn’t hurt the professors to slow down some, would it?
At breakfast on the second weekend, Audie was sprawled over the dining table, Valentine nodding off beside him. "Why do we have to eat breakfast so early, it’s the weekend, and I could still use some sleep." He grumbled.
"You’re not required to come to meals." Henri reminded him as he calmly ate, while Dio had to push Valentin away because the blond Alpha was drowsily leaning in his direction.
"But I want to, I just wished they pushed the time further on weekends." Audie went right on.
"So you won’t be going to your club this morning?" Louis asked.
Audie gave him a look full of pain. "Not when I’ve got so much work to do, I couldn’t even if I wanted to."
Louis could understand that, it was why he asked. "Maybe I’ll pay a visit to mine in the afternoon." He hummed, he would be too busy that morning because he had to spend the entire time at the library. "You also won’t be going to yours, right Henri?"
Henri pursed his lips, the best decision would be to spend the time in his dorm room, catching up on some school work and perhaps writing a letter to his mother but there had been something bothering him for over a week now.
Seton had yet to name his price. Perhaps it was defeating the entire purpose for Henri to worry about it so much but it was the appropriate reaction over someone like him.
"There’s a brief meeting that I have to attend." He said, he wasn’t being entirely truthful because that wasn’t the only reason he wanted to go.
"I suppose that can’t be helped."
-*-
Henri walked with purpose to his club room, almost certain that he would get to see Seton this time. The only positive side he could see to the deal he made with Seton was that the Alpha truthfully kept to his word.
Tarquin was the one to open the door when he knocked much to his surprise because the president of the Horse-riding club was more often than not in his little office. It could also just be a trick of the light but his countenance seemed brighter.
"Henri! I was hoping you would visit the club room." He beamed, inviting Henri in.
The club room was still mostly empty because the other club members were yet to arrive, fortunately, that includes Rex.
"You’re awfully cheery today, president, did something happen?" Henri asked warily, noting that a couple of members present were also as bright, chatting loudly amongst themselves.
"Come to my office first." Tarquin invited, leading the way there.
Henri held his curiosity in check and followed after him, wondering what might have happened to put everyone in such a chipper mood.
"Does this have something to do with the mock competitions?" He asked as he sat down on the seat offered to him.
"Not quite but I’m certain that you had a hand in it."
Henri frowned. "Me? I don’t remember doing anything so grand."
"I’m not sure what you did but I’ve got to say my thanks all the same!" He said, getting to his feet to give Henri an enthusiastic handshake, all the while leaving him in the dark.
"I still don’t know what was done."
"Seton resigned from the club!" Tarquin announced happily, throwing his hands up.
Henri leaned back in shock. "He what?" This piece of information might be similar to winning the lottery for Tarquin considering that the Alpha had been tortured by Seton for a full school year and then some but Henri didn’t feel the same.
It was just another thing to be worried about, why did Seton resign? Henri might have beaten him at a single race but he was still better than everyone else.
So while Tarquin looked so happy that he might like to do a pirouette around his little box of an office, Henri’s expression was quite gloomy.
Tarquin misunderstood and immediately sobered up. "There’s no need to feel guilty, I just predicted that it had something to do with you because you said you had something you needed to do but if you didn’t even know about it, then it couldn’t have been you after all..."
"It’s alright, president." Henri cut off his rambling, masking his emotions. "Do you mind if I don’t participate in the mock competitions? I’d like for the others to be able to shine as well."
Tarquin looked enraptured by this. "Certainly! Although, you new fans won’t be very pleased."
"I’ll join the next one then, if you’ll please excuse me." He murmured heading off.
Tarquin watched him leave with concern, worrying at his lip. He had expected Henri to be just as elated as everyone else who had suffered under Seton’s reign.
But now that he thought about it, he couldn’t remember seeing Seton treat the Prince badly, not even when he lost to him. Perhaps even someone like Seton understood the importance of royalty.
And so Henri returned to his dorm room more troubled than when he started for his club room. Should he tell this to Alois after all? He could have the Alpha keep an eye on Seton just to be careful.
But he knew Alois, Alois would just use force. It would also make him upset to find out that Seton put Henri in his debt. All that was very well but Henri worried that Dio would be the one to suffer the consequences if there was a falling out.
He was distracted when they met up at the cafeteria at noon but no one had the time to notice because they also had enough on their plates. *and it wasn’t food*
-*-
On Sunday afternoon, Nael and Errol were at the cafeteria. It wasn’t odd for students of different classes to be seen together as the students were literally given the freedom to do whatever.
Nael had truly moved into the new dorm room that Errol had been given but other than that, nothing had changed. Well, other than Nael improving on his knowledge of what Errol’s favorite foods were.
They mostly ate their meals in their shared dorm room, although Errol kept trying to get Nael to eat with his friends, but that afternoon, Nael had asked Errol to get a drink with him.
A drink that somehow morphed into a proper meal. Errol couldn’t complain though because he liked chicken sandwiches and apple pie.
Halfway into their meal - well it was just Errol who was eating, Nael preferred to watch him while sipping on a drink.
Well, halfway into their meal, someone bounded over to their table and latched onto Nael’s shoulders.
"Here you are! You didn’t come over to the club again, don’t you want to join afterall?"
Nael’s expression became frosty as he tried to dislodge Kais who held on tight. "Trent said I was free to take as long as I needed while making a decision." He said coolly.
"But it’s been two weeeks." He whined. "I want to race you."
At this point, a strict-faced Alpha walked up and picked up Kais who was still reaching out for Nael. "I apologize." He muttered solemnly.
Nael relaxed. "It’s no problem, Captain."
Trent cleared his throat, holding Kais under his arm like he was a stack of files. "So have you made your decision? You’re the second-best swimmer we currently have so you understand our impatience."
"Not yet, Captain." Nael smiled placidly, waving them off as they left.
Errol fiddled with his food, he knew that Nael had been invited to the swimming team because his brother and Audie wouldn’t shut up about it but he didn’t know that he was yet to join.
