There were a few moments of Irene witnessing Leif's embarrassment that the thought 'typical male' flitted across her mind and she realized she was being unfair.
More important was defending her friend in front of a stranger who had already rubbed her the wrong way for a variety of reasons. He walked into the dining hall of what was to be their home and decided to start talking down on them simply because he was the son of a marquess.
"Anyone would think she was beautiful," Irene reasoned. "It is rare to see someone quite so delicate around here. The interest doesn't go beyond that. Perhaps it is your own curiosity that is clouding your opinion of us."
Despite how certain Arin was that the other apprentice was lying, he was met with a confident green-eyed gaze that caused him to say nothing further on the matter.
Simply opting to continue eating his food, the apprentices from the north did the same.
