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I looked over at the source of the sigh that came from my right. It cut through the surprisingly quiet room like a knife.

If it hadn't sounded so despondent and if it hadn't come from Raúl, I might not have been inclined to put down my copy of The Lord of the Rings, which was pretty high on my Do-Not-Interrupt-Me-While-I-Read-This-Book list.

"You okay?" I asked.

He frowned at the magazine he'd been leafing through.

"They're all so expensive," he groaned.

I glanced at the glossy pages to see what cost was too high for the son of a high ranked noble. It was a car. Well, technically a model car, which cost so much that it might as well have been the real deal. My jaw hung loose at the figure just below the car.

"I'd say," I murmured. "I knew you were into cars, but I didn't know you collected them."

"It's kind of a hobby," he grinned. "It can get pricey though, but what are friends for?"

He grinned at the other guys who ignored him.

"What are friends for?" he repeated, louder this time.

"Buy your own car," Jun mumbled. "You're rich enough."

"The Lord of Everton is rich," Raúl corrected sharply. "I don't want his money."

"He is your father," Jun rolled his eyes. Raúl glared at him, but Jun just went back to whatever it was he was scrolling through on his phone.

"You've been quiet," Raúl observed suspiciously and promptly went over to investigate what had Jun so occupied.

He had good reason to be suspicious after the prank that Jun had played on him and Kristof two days ago. It was a wonder Kristof could doze beside Jun so peacefully. I would sleep with one eye open after that. Then again, he was so used to Jun's antics he could probably sense if he was up to no good.

Jackson and Beau looked up from their laptops warily, hoping that the rare, precious silence wouldn't be disrupted. Ashton and Kevin dutifully ignored them.

Jackson and Beau were like the mom and dad of the group. Ashton and Kevin were the responsible older brothers and Raúl, Kristof and Jun were the three youngest; the musketeers who were always up to something.

"What are you doing?" Raúl asked, grabbing Jun's phone.

His brows furrowed and he glanced at Jun who rolled his eyes.

"You're curious about the Solar Gold Festival?" A large grin spread across his face. "You should have just asked me. I'm way more reliable than Google. I'm Raúl the-"

"Shut up," Kristof mumbled in his sleep before throwing one of the couch pillows in Raúl's direction.

"I don't care about some stupid festival," Jun muttered, grabbing his phone from Raúl. "I just happened to hear about it."

"Oh?" Raúl smirked, unconvinced.

"Shut up," Jun snapped. A tint of pink stained his cheeks.

So he was interested in the festival.

"I heard that it's going to be fun," I smiled. "And when the sky turns dark, there's going to be fireworks."

Jun's eyes sparkled at the mention of fireworks. "I've never seen fireworks before."

"So you do want to go," Raúl pressed.

"No. Go away, Raúl," Jun growled.

"Let's go then," he grinned, despite Jun's denial. "All of us can go together."

"It would be your first Solar Gold Fest too," Kristof added, waking up with a stretch.

Jun huffed.

"It would suck to miss the fireworks," Kristof continued. A small smile played on his lips.

Jun narrowed his eyes at him.

"And all the Crysauralian delicacies. And the countdown until the next sunrise. And the-"

"Fine," Jun sighed, crossing his arms in defeat. "If you insist, I'll go to this festival or whatever." His eyes landed on me. "You're coming too, right Elizabeth?"

Seven pairs of eyes turned to me.

"Uh... I don't think so."

"Why not?" Jun frowned, coming over to me. "It's going to be your first time seeing the festival too."

"Yeah, but I'll be busy."

"Where's your Crysauralian pride?" he asked, suddenly feeling the spirit of the festival.

"I'm feeling very Meryllian today actually," I teased. "Besides, I can watch it at ho-"

"Do not say at home," Ashton frowned. "Why don't you want to go?"

"I have studying to do," I protested.

I looked to Kevin for help but he only shrugged. "I want you to go too."

"You lost me at studying," Ashton scowled.

"But I promised Noe that we would-"

"Noe?" His eyes narrowed. "You mean that arrogant guy you have classes with?"

"Wow," I cooed, "Look at the pot calling the kettle black."

He rolled his eyes. "Why can't he just stay away from you?"

"Because he's my best friend?"

"Well, I'm not leaving him alone with you. Come to the festival with me."

"I didn't know that you wanted to go to the festival," I smirked. "Since when was his royal highness interested in the festival?"

His eyes glittered at my light provocation. "I suddenly feel very motivated to go."

"Oh?" I laughed. "You'll owe me a study session then."

"I'll study with you as long as you'd like. Go to the festival with me."

I pretended to think about it and then grinned. "Fine, I'll go."

"So it's settled then?" Kevin asked. He looked at Jackson, who sighed.

"I'll make the arrangements for us to go."

"Cool," Beau grinned.

Jun's eyes sparkled and although he tried to hide it, I spied a smile.

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