On the edge of the bed lay two knee-length socks, and just below them waited a pair of yellow slip-on shoes with modest heels.

Mina sighed. So much effort for a school uniform.

She called in the maids for help and was immediately surprised   corset. They did not cinch it too tightly, but the unfamiliar pressure left her stiff. Her golden waves were styled into a loose French braid draped over her shoulder, a pampered change from her usual low-maintance habits.

Outside, her luggage was being prepared   surprisingly only two carriages were needed. The kitchens, however, had gone overboard, delivering a feast so large it took nearly as many maids to serve as it did to pack her belongings. Like always, she ate alone in her room.

By the time she pushed her plate away, unable to stomach more, the maid from earlier appeared again.

"My Lady, are you ready to leave? Or perhaps do you need more time before the carriage departs?"

"I'm ready. Take me to my carriage."

"Right away. We have prepared the first carriage for you. If you wish for snacks or refreshments. We will stop at once."

"What do you mean?" Seraphine narrowed her eyes.

The maid bowed. "I will be joining you, my Lady   as your servant at the Academy. To help manage anything you may require unless... you would rather not have me."

Mina blinked. They're even assigning me a maid at school? This is getting weirder and weirder. She exhaled. "Fine. Tell me your name at once   or you'd rather I call you 'You.'"

"My name is Sue, my Lady. But you may call me as you wish."

Sue helped her into the luxuriously cushioned carriage, then followed the wagon behind, loaded with Seraphine's supplies. Mina leaned against the window, exhaustion finally dragging her into sleep.

When she opened her eyes again, she almost gasped. Before her loomed not a school but a city   a palace-sized campus, sprawling with residences, courtyards, shops, and wide stone roads. All this... just for nobles and royals? No wonder they never leave the grounds.

Her carriages stopped in front of a towering building   her new residence. The driver bowed low. "Forgive me, my lady. The front desk had not receievd word of your arrival. Punish me as you see fit."

He didn't sound sorry at all, but Mina was too tired too care. "Have the maid show me to my residence."

Sue led her to the second floor, the last door on the left. When the door opened, Mina's jaw nearly dropped. Six rooms: A terrace streched from the living quarters, overlooking the grounds,

The terrace alone was larger than her entire old apartment.

She composed herself flagged down a passing servant, feigning outrage. "How dare you keep me waiting? Being late is unacceptable! Do any of you even know how to do your jobs?"

Her little tantrum drew wary bows and apologies   and, importantly, secured her an escort to class.

The Academy's main building was overwhelming, grand as any royal palace. Students milled about    boys and girls between fourteen and eighteen, all cloaked in noble bearing. Mina barely slipped into her classroom on time, but that didn't save her from stares.

"Is that her?"

"Are we safe?"
"Someone should lock her up..."

So the rumors had reached even here.

Perfect.

Mina slid into character, her smile sharp as glass. Spotting a tall, elegant girl to her left, she purred, "Do let me know what we're discussing   I am dying to know."

The girl paled, lowering her gaze.

"So childish," Seraphine said, her voice lilting with false sweetness. "Dare to whisper the Arlowe name, yet too cowardly to admit it to my face? Fear not   I will remove your tongue to help you save face."

The girl staggered back, terrified. "P-please, my Lady, I'm from House Santis   you cannot dare touch me!"

Seraphine's smile sharpened. "I don't dare?" she closed the distance and slapped the girl hard across the face. The girl crumpled to the floor. "Dear, the only thing stopping me is that my maid forgot to pack my favourite knife."

Gasps filled the room. Seraphine turned to the others, her voice clear. "I will let this slide today. But if I hear my family name on your lips again    you will regret it."

Her smile   pure, angelic   froze the room colder than any blade. The girl fled sobbing. The rest stared firmly at the board, silence so heavy even the crickets outside seemed afraid to chirp.

Then the door opened.

Elias entered, followed by two others, and Mina's heart skipped   not from romance, but recognition. Callum Whitlock, hair like fire, eyes like cut emeralds; and Kael Marcellis, dark as midnight his aura heavier than air itself.

Two of the male leads. Here, already?

Callum looked every inch the knight   uniform streched tight across his broad frame, his smile unshakably bright. Kael was his opposite, the gold of his uniform clashing against his inky hair and cold, endless eyes. He didn't even bother with paper or quill, leaning lazily on his desk, radiating annoyance.

The class passed in a blur of "whomp whomp whomp," her professor nothing more than background noise. But leaving wasn't simple.

The lecture finally ended, the professor's voice trailing off as students scraped back chairs and stuffed paper into bags. Seraphine glanced down the row. Empty   except for him.

Kael sat with his arms folded, unmoving, as if he hadn't even registered the class was over, leaving her trapped. Unless she wanted to climb awkardly over the seats like some fool, her only way out was past him.

She squared her shoulders, summoning the tone she'd practiced. Cold. Demanding. Untouchable. "Move."

No reaction.

Her jaw tightened. He didn't even twitch. He just leaned further back, resting his elbow lazily against the chair, narrowing the space to almost nothing. He was ignoring her. Delibrerately.

Heat pricked at her cheeks. She tried again, sharper this time, voice dripping disdain.

"Are you a deaf troll? I said move."

This time, he turned his head. Slowly. His gaze met hers, lifeless and sharp, as though she weren't even worth the effort of contempt. When he finally spoke, his voice was cold, flat, and unyielding.

"Try the window."

They were on the fourth floor. Mina's mask nearly slipped. She forced herself to scoff, leaning closer with a venomous smile. "Don't make me ask again."

Kael didn't budge.

Fine. She tilted her head, voice playful. "Oh dear...such a face. Reminds me of my hound. Perhaps I should leash you and keep you in the kennel at my dorm?

Snickers rippled through class.

 Kael remained unmoved, leaning against his hand.

"Enough." Elias appeared beside him, weary but firm. "Kael, let her pass. You've another class to attend."

Kael rose at last, eyes sliding over Seraphine with disdain. "You're right. Not worth my time to fight with pyschos."

He brushed past Elias, leaving the air colder than before.

Mina exhaled slowly. Day one, and already I've set fire to the stage. This is going to be exhausting. 

And worse   the next class was mounted training. Knights' work. Seraphine might have had the bloodline for it, but Mina? She had never held so much as a steak knife in her life.