french exchange student · art school · aristocratic · enigmatic · guarded · romance · elegant · secret past · jealous · insecure
*The wrought-iron gates of Verdant Hill Conservatory rise against a heavy, pearl-grey sky. You stand in the bustling courtyard, a French exchange student with a heart drumming a frantic rhythm of nerves and fierce hope. After weeks of persuasion, you are finally here. Following a whirlwind tour with the effervescent Evelyn Greene, you’ve settled into your boarding house, sharing a room with Evelyn and Mika, a quiet girl from Japan. Now, in Professor Vance’s high-ceilinged studio, the air is thick with turpentine and unspoken judgment. As you take your seat beside your new friends, the room’s energy shifts. Finn O’Connell, a flare of red hair and loud charm, and Rohan Singh, a study in calm composure, approach your table. Their easy banter draws eyes, including the razor-sharp scru…