Chapter 126: Unusual Courtesy [II]

Okami’s face brightened almost immediately, a genuine, warm smile spreading across his features. "Great. Thank you." He turned toward the car and pulled open the front passenger door for her, stepping aside to give her room.

"Please, go ahead."

Starlight offered him a brief nod. "Thank you." She gathered the fabric of her red gown carefully to keep it from catching beneath the door, then eased herself into the passenger seat. The interior was as immaculate as the exterior, with black leather seats, subtle silver detailing, and a dashboard illuminated by soft white lights. The car smelled faintly of leather and understated cologne. Everything about it suggested money without being unnecessarily flashy, from the smooth finish of the dashboard to the discreet ambient lighting running along the doors.

Ellie, meanwhile, wasted no time slipping into the back seat. She settled comfortably against the leather upholstery and pulled the door shut behind her, looking entirely pleased with how conveniently their evening was beginning. Okami closed the passenger door after ensuring Starlight was settled, then walked around the front of the car and climbed into the driver’s seat.

A moment later, the engine purred to life, and the dashboard lights brightened as he fastened his seat belt. As he pulled away from Eclipse House, Starlight turned slightly toward him. "You didn’t bring a plus-one? The invitation said we could bring someone along, didn’t it?"

Okami glanced at her briefly before returning his attention to the road. "It did. I just didn’t have anyone in particular to invite." He paused, appearing to consider how best to explain himself. "I’m not particularly close to many people. The only person I’d really consider a friend is also a member of the Elite Circle, so there wasn’t much point in asking him to accompany me when we’d both be attending the same event anyway."

"Oh, that makes sense," Starlight replied, accepting his explanation without asking anything further. She turned her face toward the window, watching the academy buildings pass by as the car moved along the illuminated road. The conversation appeared to have ended as quickly as it had begun, and she had no intention of forcing it to continue. She had agreed to the ride because it was convenient, not because she suddenly felt compelled to become acquainted with another werewolf. For now, she was content to enjoy the comfortable seat and spare her feet the unnecessary strain of walking to the Red Lodge in heels.

Okami felt a quiet sense of satisfaction as he guided the car toward their destination. So far, things were unfolding more smoothly than he had anticipated. Starlight had accepted his offer, and although she had initially seemed wary of him, she hadn’t outright rejected his gesture. He knew she had every reason to be cautious, considering how her encounters with the royals and sub-royals at the academy had been going. One after another, they had crossed her path, and judging by the way those encounters had unfolded, he could understand why she might be reluctant to trust another royal or sub-royal who suddenly approached her. Still, she had given him the opportunity to make a decent first impression without dismissing him outright, and that alone was enough to make him feel that his decision to wait outside Eclipse House had been worthwhile.

Beside him, Starlight briefly turned her gaze from the window and studied his profile. Okami appeared entirely focused on driving, his hands resting comfortably on the steering wheel. There was something about his manner that made him seem different from the other royals she had encountered, although she wasn’t prepared to decide what that difference meant just yet. Still, a thought began to take shape in the back of her mind. If she wanted to find a way out of the Crown Twins’ ridiculous corrective conduct program, she would need to understand the people around them and the relationships that connected the academy’s influential students. Perhaps Okami could prove useful in that regard. She would have to be careful, of course, but there was no harm in getting to know him a little better before making any decisions.

For now, she would simply observe him and see where the evening led.

*****

The drive took barely a minute before Okami pulled up in front of the building that housed the Red Lodge. He slowed down as he approached the entrance, steering toward the wide driveway before bringing the car to a smooth stop. A few attendants stood nearby, ready to receive arriving guests. Okami shifted the car into park and unfastened his seat belt, and Starlight immediately reached for the passenger door handle, intending to get out.

However, before she could pull it open, his voice stopped her. "Please, wait a moment."

Starlight turned to look at him, her hand still resting on the handle, a faint crease forming between her brows as she wondered what he was up to. Okami gave her a hopeful smile.

"Please, let me do this. Allow me to be a gentleman, at least this once."

Starlight stared at him for a second before the corners of her lips lifted in quiet amusement.

What is wrong with this guy? she wondered, settling back into her seat. Still, she saw no reason to argue over something so trivial, so she released the handle and waited while Okami climbed out of the car. He hurried around the front of the vehicle, his polished shoes tapping against the paved driveway as he made his way to her side. Pulling open the passenger door, he stepped aside with a courteous smile.

"Please," he said, gesturing for her to get out.

Starlight shook her head faintly, still amused by his determination to perform such a simple courtesy, before gathering the fabric of her red gown and carefully stepping out. "Thank you," she said, straightening once her heels were firmly planted on the ground.

Okami closed the door gently behind her, looking rather pleased with himself, while Starlight smoothed her gown and turned her attention to the building before her. Elle emerged from the back seat a moment later, only to stop and stare at the magnificent structure before her. Her eyes widened as she took in the grand entrance, the towering windows, and the elegant lighting that accentuated the building’s exterior.

"Wow, this is beautiful," she exclaimed, turning her gaze from one detail to another. "So this is the building where the Red Lodge is located?" She had heard about the place countless times and had been eager to see it for herself. Now that she was finally standing before it, her excitement was written all over her face.

Starlight also took a moment to examine the building properly. She had come there earlier that morning for her corrective program with the Crown Twins, but she hadn’t had the time to appreciate her surroundings. Looking at it now, she had to admit that the building was truly magnificent. Everything, from the imposing architecture to the elegant entrance and the attendants stationed nearby, gave the place an air of exclusivity. It hardly felt like somewhere meant for an ordinary student gathering. The entire setup seemed more suited to a prestigious event attended by people of considerable status.

While the two girls admired the building, an attendant approached Okami to collect the car. Okami handed him the key, and the attendant accepted it with a courteous nod before taking charge of the vehicle. Once the car had been taken away, Okami turned to the two girls and gestured toward the entrance with an inviting smile. "Ladies, shall we?" Starlight nodded, and Elle moved closer to her, still fascinated by the building around them. Together, the three of them headed toward the entrance.