The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 355: A New -

The morning sun bathed the kitchen in a warm, golden glow as the family buzzed with energy. Plates clinked, the scent of toasted bread wafted through the air, and a faint hum of chatter and laughter filled the house. It was a typical morning at the home of the Beaumonts—chaotic yet full of love.

Jasmine sat at the breakfast table, her wavy brown hair still damp from her quick shower. She held a piece of toast in one hand and skimmed through her phone, trying to watch a few more reels before heading to school. Her twin brother William, however, had other ideas.

With a mischievous grin, William slipped behind her, his taller frame casting a shadow over her book. "Morning, Jess," he said nonchalantly as his hand shot out and snatched her toast right from under her nose.

"Hey!" Jasmine exclaimed, smacking him playfully on the arm. "That was mine!"

William shrugged, already taking a big bite. "What? I’m a growing boy. I need it more," he said through a mouthful of toast, flashing a grin that was identical to hers. The glint in his blue eyes mirrored the one in hers—a shared bond of sibling mischief.

"You’re impossible!" Jasmine huffed, though a smile tugged at her lips. She stood, reaching for another piece of toast from the counter, but not before giving him another light swat. "I swear, one of these days, William, you’re going to eat us out of house and home."

"Just doing my part to keep Mom on her toes," William quipped, leaning against the counter as he polished off her toast.

At the other end of the kitchen, their younger sisters, Isadora and Cordelia, were making quite the scene of their own. Isadora, with her strawberry-blonde curls bouncing as she rummaged through her backpack, was frantically double-checking her supplies. "I can’t find my English binder!" she cried, panic creeping into her voice.

Cordelia, the youngest, already dressed in her neatly pressed school uniform, was sitting at the kitchen island, completely engrossed in a fashion magazine. "Maybe it’s under your bed, Izzy," she said lazily, flipping a page. "Or, you know, in the black hole that is your desk."

"Very funny," Isadora muttered, shooting Cordelia a mock glare. "I had it right here last night!"

Their mother, Sarah, bustled through the kitchen with the ease of someone who’d spent years navigating the morning mayhem of four children. She wiped her hands on her apron and handed Jasmine a new slice of toast, then turned to Isadora with a calming smile. "It’s probably in your room, darling. Why don’t you take a deep breath and check again?"

Their father, Charles, sat at the head of the table, sipping his coffee and glancing at the morning paper. "You kids are going to be late if you don’t hurry up," he reminded them in his usual calm tone, though a smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he watched the chaos unfold.

Jasmine grabbed her backpack, slinging it over her shoulder. "I swear, every morning it’s like this. Are we ever going to have a calm start to the day?"

William, now helping himself to a bowl of cereal, smirked. "Where’s the fun in that? Besides, isn’t it tradition at this point?"

"Tradition? You mean disaster," Jasmine teased, but her eyes softened as she glanced around the room. There was something comforting about the noise, the rush, and the playful banter that always seemed to fill their mornings.

Isadora dashed back into the room, binder finally in hand. "Found it!" she announced triumphantly, waving it in the air.

"Congratulations," Cordelia said dryly, still not looking up from her magazine. "I was beginning to think you’d show up to your first day of high school binderless. What a tragedy that would be."

"Very funny, Cordelia," Isadora said, rolling her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "I guess we’ll see how you handle high school now, Miss Fashionista."

The mention of high school seemed to shift the energy in the room. It was Isadora and Cordelia’s first day as freshmen, and the excitement—and nerves—had been building for weeks. Jasmine, ever the protective older sister, glanced at them with a mix of pride and concern. "You two ready for the big leagues?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "High school’s not all fun and games, you know."

Cordelia finally looked up from her magazine, her face a picture of cool confidence. "Please, I’ve been ready for this since middle school."

Isadora, on the other hand, looked a little more hesitant. "I’m... ready. I think," she said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "But it’s still kind of scary, right? New school, new people, new... everything."

William, ever the jokester, draped an arm around Isadora’s shoulders. "Don’t worry, Izzy. Just stick with us and you’ll be fine. Besides, no one messes with the Beaumont twins. Right, Jazz?"

Jasmine laughed, shaking her head. "Right. We’ve got your backs."

Their mother reappeared, handing out packed lunches. "You’ll all do great today," she said, her voice warm and reassuring. "Just be yourselves and remember, it’s okay to be nervous. Even you, Miss Confidence," she added with a wink in Cordelia’s direction.

Cordelia rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "Fine, maybe I’m a little nervous. But only a little."

Their father stood up, folding his newspaper neatly and tucking it under his arm. "Alright, kids, let’s hit the road. I’ve got a meeting at nine, and you all need to be on time for once."

The family grabbed their things, the sound of zippers and shuffling feet filling the room as they prepared to head out the door. William, of course, couldn’t resist one last comment.

"Bet you all I’ll make it to the car first!" he called, dashing ahead.

"Not if I beat you there!" Jasmine shouted, chasing after him with a laugh.

The younger sisters followed suit, their giggles and squeals echoing down the hallway as they raced to the car. Their parents exchanged a glance, shaking their heads with fond smiles.

As the family piled into the car, the energy of the morning carried with them—the joy, the teasing, the love that filled every corner of their home. It was the start of another school year, another Chapter in their lives, but no matter how chaotic the mornings got, one thing remained constant: they were always in it together.

As Jasmine caught her breath in the backseat, a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Despite the whirlwind of their morning routine, despite William’s antics and the endless rush, it was moments like this that made her feel the warmth of family. The chaos, the laughter, the teasing—they were all wrapped in the love they shared, and to her, that was all that really mattered.

But as they neared the school, her mind drifted elsewhere, and her heart beat just a little faster. Today wasn’t just another school day. Today, Jasmine had her eye on the equestrian club, and more specifically, on someone in particular who she hoped to see there. Her pulse quickened at the thought of him. With his easy smile and the way he carried himself on horseback, he had quietly captured her attention, though she would never admit it aloud. Still, the possibility of catching even a glimpse of him was enough to make her day.

By the time she reached class, the buzz of her morning had settled into a more familiar routine. She sat at her desk, glancing absentmindedly at her notes, though her mind wandered elsewhere. The bell rang, signaling the start of another period. She shifted in her seat, but a wave of drowsiness washed over her. The early morning rush, the late night spent thinking about the equestrian club—it was all catching up to her.

The door to the classroom swung open, and Jasmine’s attention snapped back to the present. The tiredness vanished as she straightened up in her chair.

The figure who entered the room wasn’t the typical professor they had grown accustomed to. In fact, he wasn’t like anyone she had seen at the prestigious private school before.

Tall, strikingly handsome, and impossibly young for a teacher, the man stepped into the room with a quiet confidence that immediately commanded attention. His brown hair was slicked back neatly, but a few rebellious strands hinted at an underlying wildness. His broad shoulders and athletic frame were impossible to ignore, even beneath the crisp, tailored shirt that clung to his muscled form. Every step he took seemed measured, each movement precise, as if he knew the effect his presence had on those around him.

Jasmine felt her breath catch in her throat. The class, once filled with low murmurs and the scraping of chairs, had fallen silent. Her eyes trailed up from his strong, steady stride to his face—sharp jawline, high cheekbones, and eyes that held an intensity she hadn’t expected. They were green, vibrant and piercing, as though they could see straight into the depths of your soul.

As he surveyed the room, his gaze finally landed on Jasmine. A jolt of electricity shot through her, and she immediately averted her eyes, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt a strange mix of excitement and dread, as though his gaze had seen more than just a student sitting in class. It had lingered on her, and she could feel the weight of his attention.

Then...