The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 356: The Creep

Jasmine could feel the weight of his gaze pressing down on her, the kind that made her skin crawl and her heart race. Why was this man—a stranger—staring at her so intently, without even the decency to blink? The longer he looked, the more her stomach twisted in discomfort. She couldn’t figure it out, couldn’t understand why he seemed so fixated on her. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Then, his eyes, once a vibrant green, flickered crimson as if blood was filling them from within. His face followed, flushing with an intensity that made him look as if he were holding his breath. "Finally..." he muttered, still not breaking his gaze. "I’ve found you..."

Jasmine’s heart stuttered in her chest. She was barely eighteen, and here was this grown man—tall, intimidating, and obviously much older than her—uttering those strange words. She could feel her face flush with embarrassment and fear. Bowing her head, she looked down at her desk, trying to escape the uncomfortable spotlight he had cast on her. Her hands were clammy, her breath shallow. Why was he looking at her like that?

Her mind raced, desperately seeking out the reactions of her classmates. Surely, they saw this too. She glanced around, her eyes flickering nervously over the sea of faces in the room. Some of the students exchanged confused glances, while others looked equally unsettled. The room buzzed with low murmurs, like a hive on the verge of swarming.

God, this is so embarrassing, Jasmine thought, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks even more. She wanted nothing more than to disappear, to blend into the background and pretend none of this was happening.

Her eyes found William, her brother. His brows were furrowed, his expression stormy as he seemed to sense her distress. Without missing a beat, William leaned over to one of the boys next to him and whispered something, effectively pulling attention away from the creepy man and changing the subject in the class. It was a simple gesture, but Jasmine was immensely grateful for the way William had a knack for diverting situations when she needed him most.

The man cleared his throat, the unsettling moment not entirely over as he stepped to the front of the class. "My name is Jerrick Theodulf," he said in a voice that carried authority. "I’ll be your TA for the semester."

The entire class seemed to freeze, the shock palpable in the air. Theodulf? As in the Theodulf family? The room erupted with whispers, eyes wide with disbelief. Jasmine’s mind spun. Was he really part of that family?

The Theodulfs were legendary in their country. A military family of unmatched prestige, they had served since the nation’s inception, holding vast political power. Every male in the family had been required to serve in the military, with many holding the highest ranks. Their influence was unparalleled—both in the military and in the government. And here was one of them, a man with a presence that commanded attention, now standing in their classroom.

At lunch, Jasmine found herself sitting with her siblings—William, Isadora, and Cordelia. She barely touched her food, her mind replaying the strange encounter with Jerrick.

She could feel it again, that unsettling sensation of being watched. Slowly, she turned, and sure enough, there he was—Jerrick, staring at her from across the courtyard.

"What’s that creep doing?" she muttered under her breath, her unease returning.

William followed her gaze, and his jaw clenched. His usually carefree expression was gone, replaced with a fierce protectiveness. "That’s it," he said, pushing his plate aside and standing up abruptly.

"William, don’t!" Jasmine called after him, but he was already making his way toward Jerrick, dragging a couple of his friends with him. William didn’t tolerate anyone making his sister uncomfortable, and this time was no different.

Before William could confront him, Jerrick turned and walked away, as if he knew he had stirred something up. William’s friends, now beside him, looked confused and a little lost. They exchanged glances, unsure what to do next.

"What happened?" Isadora asked, her concern evident.

Jasmine sighed, relaying the events of the morning to both Isadora and Cordelia. They frowned deeply as she described Jerrick’s behavior.

"You need to talk to the school counselor," Isadora said firmly. "That doesn’t sound right at all."

Cordelia nodded in agreement. "He’s acting weird. If it happens again, you need to say something."

"I will," Jasmine promised. "I’ll talk to Dad about it if it continues. I don’t want to make it a bigger deal than it is right now."

Still, she decided to find William and calm him down. She doubted confronting Jerrick would end well for her brother, and she didn’t want to escalate the situation unnecessarily. When she caught up with him outside, William was pacing, his friends standing by awkwardly.

"He disappeared," William said, his voice simmering with frustration. His fists were clenched, and he looked ready to fight someone.

"Let it go, just for now," Jasmine said softly, placing a hand on his arm. "He didn’t do anything to hurt me, not yet at least. If he does, I’ll tell someone. I promise."

Days passed, and though Jerrick’s behavior was less overt, it didn’t fully disappear. Every time she saw him, his eyes lingered on her a moment too long. He never approached her, but sometimes she caught him following her at a distance. Strangely, as time went on, the initial fear and discomfort dulled. He started to feel like a shadow, something always present but never truly threatening. She convinced herself that he was just there, like air.

But as the days blended into weeks, something even more unsettling happened. Jerrick no longer seemed as creepy to her. In fact, she began to notice things about him. His chiseled jawline, the deep green of his eyes, the effortless way he carried himself. She hated herself for it, but she was beginning to think of him as... handsome.

Ugh, she thought, shaking off the feeling. I can’t find an old man attractive. That’s not good. And besides, she already had a crush—Hector Arkhipov. It would be a betrayal, wouldn’t it? Cheating, even, she mused.

Later that day, after lunch, Jasmine found herself sneaking away to the equestrian club. They wouldn’t allow everyone inside, so she climbed a tree that overlooked the arena. From there, she could see Hector, her crush, riding his horse.

Hector Arkhipov. With his golden hair shining in the sunlight, his amber eyes gleaming with life, he looked like a prince straight out of a storybook. He rode with ease, his strong, lean body moving in rhythm with the horse. Every movement he made, from the way his hands gripped the reins to the subtle shift of his posture, captivated her. Her heart fluttered just watching him.

"Whatcha doin’?"

The deep voice startled her so much that she almost fell out of the tree. Her heart leaped to her throat as she clung to the branch for dear life.

Looking down, she saw Jerrick standing there, hands in his pockets, staring up at her with that same casual gaze.

"Is it against the rules, Mr. Theodulf?" Jasmine asked, her voice tinged with defiance, the same defiance any teenager would muster when caught doing something they shouldn’t.

"No," Jerrick replied, his tone easy, as if he had known her for years.

"Then do not disturb me," she said, but her heart raced as their eyes locked. His green eyes, deeper than she had ever noticed before, seemed to pull her in. The closer she looked, the more handsome he appeared.

But Jasmine shook the thought away. No. He’s creepy, and this is not allowed. She had to stay loyal to her crush, to Hector. This is cheating, she reminded herself, hardening her heart once more.