How to Make a Sinner Sleep - Chapter 7: Chapter 7

When Kaden woke up, Noah was already gone.
It was already the end of the week, the last day of class before they had two days off. The week system worked the same way it did in that strange world he entered—five days of class, and two days of rest.
He stretched his arms into the air, glancing over at the neatly made bed. The dragon was an early riser, already out of the room no matter what time Kaden woke.
Almost as if he had some special skill to be out of the room before he even opened his eyes. Which, Kaden knew, was a difficult thing to do when insomnia often kept him up at night, waking the sinner up early in the morning.
All for the better, though. Being around Noah was awkward considering the past they shared, even if Kaden was the only one who remembered.
A knock sounded on his door as he finished buttoning up his shirt.
He walked over to see a blue-eyed man smiling at him in greeting, their uniform messily tossed on as always and a bed of hair that had been messed from sleep.
"Morning, Kaden."
Niklas waved, yawning loudly as he did. "Sleep well?"
Kaden pulled over his jacket and nodded, already used to the other's presence in the morning. For the entirety of the week, Niklas had followed him around like some sort of lost puppy, clinging for his dear life.
At some point, Kaden gave up putting a distance between the two, since the other's stubbornness wasn't one to fight against.
"Did you already submit your classes?"
"Yes."
"And? This is where you tell me which ones you chose, so we can make a mess together if we're in the same ones."
Kaden tilted his head. "Shouldn't you tell me yours first? So I know whether I should change mine or not."
Niklas shook a finger in the air in mocking disappointment, clutching a hand over his heart. "How could you even suggest such a thing?"
"Hmm."
"You know Kaden," said the other suddenly, peering up with slight curiosity painted over his clear vision. "You're nothing like the rumours say or what you suggest."
"...And what am I like, then?"
A look of consideration crossed over Niklas's face. "Sorta sarcastic, a little awkward, especially around Noah. Wait—you aren't in love with him are you?"
"...excuse me?" Kaden blanched, horrified at the idea. "Is something wrong with your head?"
"Hey, hey. I really don't judge, trust me. Love comes in all shapes and forms."
"That's not the issue." said Kaden slowly, raising his sharp eyes.
How could he say that the way he sometimes tip-toed around Noah was because, well, the other had isolated him in his previous life? Or maybe how he drugged and tricked the man into a prison of torture?
He also hadn't expected anybody to notice.
Kaden kept up-to-date with his 'annoy Noah while still acting like friends' agenda, to both irritate the dragon and satisfy Reed.
Seeing Kaden's conflicted expression and knitted eyebrows, Niklas nodded in understanding. "Don't worry, friend. I get it."
"...what exactly is it that you get?"
However, they'd arrived in front of the classroom and it wasn't a place to talk about such things, when listening ears surrounded. As they approached the back row where Noah sat waiting, Niklas flashed a thumbs up—
—and was that a look of pity on his face?
Kaden suppressed the urge to punch the other person, completely certain that some strange ideas were cooking in that brain.
The dragon raised his head, glancing between Niklas's odd look of sympathy, and Kaden's embarrassed irritation, and tilted his head.
"Is something wrong?"
Niklas winked, and the alarm bells immediately went off in Kaden's head. "You see, Noah, how would you feel about—"
"We were discussing my love for you." said Kaden teasingly, offering a careless smile to play on his lips. His eyes curved lightly as he twirled a pencil between his fingers. "Are you interested in replying to my confession, Bellamy?"
Noah scoffed and turned away, losing interest in the conversation.
As expected, if Niklas had said anything of the sort, it would've seemed true—but a confession from Kaden's lips would be seen as false or sarcastic.
Niklas's expression of pity became more vivid after watching the scene, and Kaden sighed. He stared the other down sharply. "Not a word, Niklas."
"I didn't say anything."
"You're thinking it."
"You're right, I am." admitted the man easily with a sheepish grin. "Alright, alright. Not a word about your romantic disasters, I got it. You know Kaden, I never lie."
"....." Kaden glanced over at Noah, who turned his head at the same time. Their eyes interlocked, and he swallowed, before waving his fingers lightly in the air.
Noah turned away again.
The rest of the lesson had breezed by, Kaden attentively listening with his notes out and pen in hand, Niklas doodling in Kaden's notebook for most of the lesson while Noah zoned out.
It was actually hard to tell when Noah wasn't paying attention, thought Kaden as he peeked over at the dragon, who stared ahead.
He put on the display of a model student, eyes focused on the board and his entire self sitting straight, tall, as one would expect from the dragon lineage. The fact that his intelligence was high, and his answered often correct, added to that.
However, upon close inspection, whenever the sunlight adjusted to move towards his gaze, Noah would flinch slightly and furrow his eyebrows—as if surprised at the sudden light.
A few rapid blinks would follow in succession as he readjusted himself out of the sun's deadly grasp, settling down and resuming his orderly, timed blinks and relaxed eyebrows.
His hand, with naturally dyed black finger tips due to his dragon blood, rested over his paper and would occasionally move.
Unlike the studious Kaden, however, the notes were mere scribbles across the page, and not anything actually coherent. A few random words, here and there.
You see, Noah had a secret that he preferred to keep a secret from others. His attention span in a classroom was pathetic.
Not just a little bad, but he got distracted within three seconds and a classroom was like a battlefield.
That didn't mean his grades were terrible. No, he retained knowledge and soaked it up easily. He simply had to review and study in his own time—unable to pay attention in class.
Kaden thought of sharing his neat notes—Niklas called him a 'try-hard'—but then decided that Noah would likely rather fail a class than accept help from the likes of himself.
However, when he stood up from the table to exit the room, a low voice called out to him.
"Chauvet."
Kaden stopped and turned around, smiling falsely while in his head he complained, 'Why are you talking to me? Go away.'
"Your notes."
"What about them?"
"I would like to see them."
Kaden stared at the other for a little longer, while Niklas crouched nearby, peeking not-so-subtly from the door that he'd rushed out of earlier.
"Oh? The great dragon is asking me, of all people, for their notes? Is this your reply to my confession?" He couldn't help but smile arrogantly, somewhat proudly.
Noah didn't flinch, utterly calm. "Yes."
"And what do I get out of showing you my beautiful handwriting?"
"What would you like?" asked Noah impatiently, tapping on his book with a frown. "Did you want to claim that princes carry from the other day?"
Kaden had almost forgotten about that incident. He cleared his throat and took a step closer, raising the pitch of his voice. "...if you insist on touching me, then I'll let myself be sullied by you, dear Bellamy."
Honestly, he was a little disgusted by his own words. But Noah's expression, which had warped into sheer disdain and horror, was worth throwing away whatever pride he had.
"Why do you have to word it like that?"
"Isn't that what it is? Your insistence on princess carrying me is because you want to touch—"
"Silence, Chauvet."
"Do you know that you saying something often makes me want to do the complete opposite? And I know the truth is that you adore hearing my voice, hence why you continue to talk to me despite putting on that awful expression."
"......" Noah stood up from the table, narrowing his eyes into a deadly glare.
Kaden continued, oblivious. "Anyway, don't you think I should get a 'please' first? And a thank you after, of course."
The current Kaden had never felt so energized before!
He'd been annoying Noah to make sure things played out properly—a story line that went too off track was one he couldn't fix anymore, after all.
But to think that the confident, elegant and powerful Noah could make such a disgusted expression. He hoped it wouldn't become too addicting of a hobby... but annoying Noah made him feel absolutely accomplished.
In fact, it was like watching that perfect and proper dragon distort due to his actions or words... there was something inexplicably satisfying about it.
If the dragon had heard of his thoughts, he would've beaten Kaden up with no doubt. Verbally and physically.
Of course, Noah was a person that Kaden felt incredibly guilty towards, and also a hero he admired from the past—but a bit of teasing would be fine, right?
Noah ground his teeth together, his complexion darkening by the minute. He could see the smug little look on Kaden's face, with the quirk of his lips and glittering eyes that weren't like the usual fake mockery.
A proud rat, Noah would call him.
Or a sly fox, perhaps.
Regardless, although Noah could learn the information in classes on his own time, having notes would help him to an incredible extent.
Kaden's writing was neatly printed, written very carefully, as if he'd practiced. He also organized the sections of his notes properly—a rather diligent student, for the act he put on.
The different faces of the man perplexed and intrigued Noah.
This so-called villain that he'd felt some sort of strange interest in from the first day, acted cold-hearted and sarcastic at times, then innocent and foolish at others.
Yet he was also a hard-working student whose notes were likely the best in class, and a person who ate everything with the exception of olives.
Kaden's ever-changing expressions were the sort that Noah couldn't look away from. Of course, ultimately, Kaden was a person who couldn't be trusted, because his destruction and harmful acts were a fact.
Although the dragon had grown curious, he remained cautious and alert.
Kaden frowned at Noah, who had fallen into a deep silence. "What're you lost in your head about?"
An indifferent blink. "I'm thinking about you."
"What?"
"How foolish you are."
"...what? Aren't you the one asking me for notes?" Kaden tilted his head, confused. He felt childish, indulging in this pointless conversation of bickering and teasing, and sighed.
Noah nodded simply. "May I please see your notes, Kaden Chauvet?"
Really, the other didn't mind lending his notes. It would be the first time he'd lent a classmate notes before, an experience he was certain he'd be able to cross off on his checklist of 'things to do in the Academy'.
Therefore, he nodded and handed over the notes. Noah uttered a gruff thanks, before skimming through the rows and rows of organized writing.
Kaden watched as the rich black eyes reflected his written words, flicking to the next page and then back again. He watched as Noah scrunched his nose slightly at sections harder to understand, then relaxed at easier ones.
Ten minutes later, the man closed it and held it up.
Kaden, in response, opened out his palm and waited until Noah stared deeply and frowned. The dragon attempted to place the notes down, and Kaden curled up his fingers.
"...what is it you want, Chauvet?"
"A trade, or payment, of course. How about my notes for a pen of yours?" offered Kaden, teasingly, awaiting the irritable frown that eventually relented in order to stop Kaden from speaking any longer.
However, Noah's eye twitched and his expression grew gloomy, dangerous. "I don't lend out my items."
"Even after I graciously lent you my notes?"
"I will not lend out my belongings."
Kaden opened his mouth to speak, before realizing that something was off. Noah clutched his notes tightly, waiting to return them, and his stone expression had gone more rigid and tight.
It wasn't a good time to keep pressing. Though what particularly had set Noah off, Kaden wasn't entirely certain.
His insistence hadn't gone for long, and Noah often indulged him for longer. Therefore, what was the reason for this time? Regardless, he accepted the notes back and Noah nodded.
"Thank you."
"...you're welcome." Kaden took the book in his hands, feeling a little awkward. Niklas still waited at the door, eagerly watching. "If that's all, I'll be taking my leave.
"Wait."
Kaden turned, halfway towards the door. "What?"
"I'm eating with you."
"Again?" Kaden couldn't help but say in surprise. The other had religiously sat in front of him, regardless of whether Niklas attended or not. He'd wondered when Noah would stop, finding his own group of friends to sit with instead.
Wouldn't it be easy for Noah, revered and worshiped by many?
"Again."
But the dragon never stopped. And he didn't seem to have that intention, either.
Niklas overheard this part and ran over, waving his arm wildly in the air. "Of course, of course! Aren't you a permanent part of our table now, Noah?"
The man didn't agree nor deny his words.
The odd pair of three started down the hallway. Niklas, as always, was the one to begin a new conversation. "Hey, there's an exploration coming up. Are you guys participating?"
"An exploration?" Kaden had heard vague things about it in the past, but hadn't gone because he'd been too scared to even try asking.
"Yeah, into the Eastern Forests. It's an activity run by the Academy—there are all sorts of curious creatures, most are safe for us to see. There are lots of rare plants to study too! Plus, the monsters that are there usually are pretty weak."
"Monsters? Isn't that dangerous for untrained students?"
"They'll be a teacher or two, chaperoning, of course. As well as a group of graduating students. I heard the two student presidents themselves will come along this time!"
Kaden hesitated. "Student... presidents?"
Niklas noticed the flicker of fear, remembering the scene he'd briefly witnessed in the beginning of the week.
There was something incredibly misplaced about the relationship between Reed and Kaden... but since the latter refused to tell, Niklas could only wait and observe.
"Well, they have their own mission to complete, so it's unlikely we'll run into them. Even if we do, we'll be in a group. You won't be alone." Niklas placed emphasis on the last words, and the tension lining Kaden's shoulders relaxed slightly.
Noah narrowed his gaze, listening quietly to the side. So there was some sort of secret, a relationship between one of the student presidents and Kaden.
Of course, he was well-aware of Reed and Kaden's sibling relationship.
How could he not, when the contrast between the brilliant and sunny Crown Prince, and the sadistic and cruel illegitimate child were the most famed rumours around?
But even Noah wouldn't make that assumption so quickly. Just as how Kaden's true face was unpredictable under the disguise of confidence, Reed's careful display of gentlemanly kindness seemed coated in false pretense.
For now, he would simply observe and see.
Wait to discover the true faces of the two princes in this land.