chapter seventeen

The sun shinned over the Vasari estate, setting the sky ablaze in hues of amber and crimson. As around the room preparing myself for the farewell, I looked around my chambers, seeing the swaying curtains, the neatly stacked book, I could not help but feel a certain amount of warmth, The weekend provided me with a needed amount of peace, free from the academy's stress and work.

I stood in my chambers, fastening the final strap on my trunk. My hands moved with familiar precision, but my mind remained tangled in the events of the past few days. The Crown Prince's unexpected presence. The weight of my father's doting and concern for my happiness. My mother's quiet worry.

A soft touch drew me from my thoughts.

Mother cupped my face, her cool fingers brushing my cheek with the gentleness of a whisper. "Take care of yourself, my sweet girl," she murmured, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

I closed my eyes for a fleeting moment, letting myself sink into the warmth of her affection before I pulled away.

Father stood beside her, his expression unreadable save for the slight furrow in his brow. He placed a firm hand on my shoulder. "If you need anything, send word."

The words were simple, but they carried an unspoken promise—one that settled heavily in my chest.

I nodded, swallowing against the tightness in my throat. "I will."

Pamela, ever attentive, dipped into a small bow. "Safe travels, my lady."

With one last glance around the room, I stepped into the waiting carriage, Isolde settling in beside me. The doors closed with a quiet finality, and soon, the familiar sights of House Vasari blurred into the distance.

The road back to the academy stretched endlessly before me, the rolling hills and towering trees offering no comfort. The quiet should have been soothing, but my thoughts refused to settle.

I let my head rest against the carriage's interior, exhaling slowly. For a moment, I tried to focus on the good--the dinners with my parents, the sound of my father's steady voice as he recounted estate matters, the laughter that had, for once, felt genuine.

But peace, I had learned, was fragile. A fleeting illusion.

It wasn't until Isolde's voice broke the silence that I realized we had arrived.

"My lady?"

I blinked, pulling myself from my thoughts.

"We've arrived," she repeated, softer this time.

I inhaled deeply, steadying myself before stepping out. The Female Lodge loomed ahead, its towering structure bathed in the dying light of day.

I barely made it a few steps inside before I collided with someone.

A sharp intake of breath. A fleeting moment of stillness.

Then, violet eyes.

Evangeline Ravenshire.

Her gaze was cool, distant, but beneath the surface, there was something else. Something sharp.

I recovered quickly, inclining my head. "My apologies, Lady Evangeline. I wasn't paying attention."

She studied me, her lips parting slightly before she seemed to think better of whatever words had lingered there. Without a response, she stepped around me and disappeared down the hall.

I let out a slow breath. The encounter left behind an ache I couldn't quite name.

"Are you alright?"

Arabella's voice was light, but the sharp look in her eyes told me she wasn't asking out of idle curiosity.

"I'm fine," I said, too quickly.

She arched a brow. "A terrible liar, as always."

Before I could protest, she hooked her arm through mine and tugged me toward her bed. "Never mind that. Tell me, how was your weekend? Did you do anything scandalous?"

I snorted. "Not particularly. It was… peaceful. Mostly."

Arabella hummed, unconvinced. "Mm. That sounds suspicious."

I hesitated before offering a small smile. "I spent time with my parents. Had dinner with them every night. My father even took me riding although for the most of it he did the riding, I did the falling." A quiet chuckle escaped me. "It reminded me of when I was younger."

Her expression softened. "That sounds nice. The air must be fresher there."

"It is," I admitted.

For a moment, we sat in comfortable silence, but then Arabella's lips curled into a mischievous smirk.

"Well, while you were off enjoying your noble-family retreat, I suffered a catastrophic humiliation."

I raised a brow. "Oh?"

She groaned dramatically, pressing a hand to her forehead. "During lunch in the Great Hall, I.." she winced, "—may have tripped while trying to sit down."

I blinked. "You… tripped?"

"Oh, not just tripped," she groaned. "I completely lost my balance, stumbled forward, and grabbed Lord Cedric's shoulder to steady myself."

I bit my lip to stifle a laugh. "Arabella…"

"Oh, it gets worse," she lamented. "In my panic, I yanked too hard pand we both fell."

My hand flew to my mouth. "You dragged Lord Cedric down with you?"

Arabella nodded solemnly. "And, Selene, when I tell you we landed with a thud I mean, it shook the table."

I couldn't hold it in. Laughter bubbled in my chest, spilling out in full force. "What did he do?"

"Oh, he just sat there for a long moment, staring at the ceiling like he was reconsidering all his life choices." She sighed dramatically. "And then he sighed the deepest, most weary sigh and said, 'Lady Whitmore, I fear sitting next to you may be a dangerous endeavor.'"

I was laughing so hard my ribs ached. "Poor Cedric."

"Poor Cedric?" she huffed. "What about me? The entire hall saw it. I had to endure an entire lunch of whispered snickering."

I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye. "I wish I had been there."

Arabella smirked. "Trust me, you wouldn't have survived without crying from laughter."

As the last of my laughter faded, the weight pressing on my chest felt a little lighter.

The unease was still there, lingering beneath the surface. But, for now, it didn't feel so suffocated with my thoughts.