The sun had not yet fully risen when Priscilla Lorena Albani woke up, the soft morning glow filtering through the curtains of her room. Students of noble blood and those from other prominent families would now live under the same roof, a decision that generated both intrigue and a certain uneasiness among the more traditional families. Priscilla got out of bed, smoothing the skirt of her dress as she looked at herself in the mirror. Her face reflected a mixture of nerves and determination. Although she was a princess, granddaughter of the queen and future heir to the throne, today she would be no different to any other young girl attending her first day of school.
She knew that expectations of her would be high, but also that many eyes would be fixed on her, not only because of her title, but because of what she represented at court.
The sound of her maid's footsteps brought her back to the present. She entered wearing a simpler-than-usual formal dress, suitable for a day at school, with an air of nervousness that she could not hide.
—Your Highness, the carriage is ready. — she said with a smile.
Priscilla nodded, her thoughts wandering to the news she had recently heard. The change in the rules had shaken the nobility, creating a sea of rumors about how the relationships between the most powerful families might change, and how some young people would be exposed to new influences.
By the time she arrived at school, the atmosphere was already full of whispers. The nobles, who until now had been separated in private academies and with exclusive tutors, were now mixing with high society families who did not belong to the nobility but had their own ties of power and influence. The scene was different, and Priscilla felt slightly out of place as she walked among so many unfamiliar faces.
On her way to the main building, her eyes met a figure that stood out among the students. It was Maximo Adrián Valois, the son of the Viscount of Valois. Despite his recent rise in the court, Maximo's presence caused a stir wherever he went. His deep eyes and elegant bearing left no one indifferent. Moreover, his arrival had been accompanied by a lot of rumors about his close relationship with Selene Katherina Akvis, the daughter of Baron Akvis, a young woman with a haughty air who seemed to share a strange chemistry with Maximus. No one knew if their relationship was romantic, but the courtesy between the two only fueled speculation.
Selene, with her dazzling beauty, was no stranger to curious stares. However, her family did not have the best reputation. Although they were known for their wealth and their ability to trade, scandals about their marriages to people of lower classes continued to haunt their name. Despite these conflicts, the Akvis family had managed to stay in high society, thanks in large part to their economic power. Selene knew how to use her position, but her arrogant attitude kept her at a distance from many of the other young women, who found her difficult to get along with. However, her relationship with Maximus had caused more than a few whispers, and Selene wasted no opportunity to take advantage of the situation.
Priscilla watched the two young people, Máximo and Selene, chatting animatedly from a distance, and couldn't help feeling slightly uncomfortable. The fact that the young man, now close to becoming a viscount, was so close to Selene caused a strange feeling in her stomach, although she couldn't identify exactly why. She knew that the court's expectations were placed on him, especially in his relationship with a young noblewoman. However, Priscilla couldn't help but wonder if those expectations would also be placed on her.
As she went deeper into the building, a group of students approached her, greeting her respectfully. Some were nobles from minor families, others were from high society, but they all showed a cautious attitude in the presence of the princess. The first day was proving to be more of a challenge than she had anticipated.
The bell rang, announcing the start of classes. The students dispersed quickly, and Priscilla made her way to her classroom. The room was decorated with sober elegance, and the desks were arranged in perfect rows.
On entering, Priscilla noticed the fixed gaze of Maximo Adrián Valois. He was sitting in the corner of the room, calm in his bearing, but his gaze met hers involuntarily.
—Your Highness. — Maximo greeted her with a slight bow of the head, breaking the silence in the air.
Priscilla nodded politely, although a small wave of unease ran through her body. At that moment, she realized that this first day would only be the beginning of something much more complicated than she had imagined. Something in the air seemed to indicate that the relationship between her and Maximo could be more than just courtesy. And as she watched Selene, the sense of conflict between them all intensified.
The bell rang again and class began. However, Priscilla couldn't help wondering how many of the rumors swirling around her were true. Was Maximo really as close to Selene as they said? And if he wasn't, what did that mean for her? The answers seemed far away, but the only thing that was clear was that this day would mark the beginning of something much bigger. A subtle conflict was already underway, and the princess found herself at the center of it, unable to do anything to prevent it.
Suddenly, the bell rang again, and the students got up to go to their next class. Priscilla sighed deeply, ready to face whatever came next, but not quite knowing what to expect.
The hours at school passed slowly. Classes followed their normal course, but the atmosphere was not like the one Priscilla had experienced in the palace, among history books and private tutorials. Here, conversations revolved not only around knowledge, but also about rumors, influences, and relationships among members of high society. Although she tried to concentrate, the presence of Maximo continued to haunt her mind. Every time their eyes met, a strange sensation would envelop her. She didn't understand what she was feeling, but something inside her kept drawing her attention. The way he looked at her, as if he didn't care what others thought, baffled her.
Throughout the day, Priscilla couldn't help but catch Maximus's eye more than once, and each time, that strange connection seemed to intensify. At recess, despite the surrounding murmurs, her attention inevitably fell on him. However, Selene was always close by, like a shadow, always alert, always attentive to every detail. Although there was nothing to suggest a romantic relationship between them, Priscilla couldn't help thinking that something else was going on between them, something she couldn't see, but could feel in the air.
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Classes continued with more of the same: political theory, history, science. Nothing seemed to fully capture Priscilla's attention, and without meaning to, her mind kept returning to Maximo. Why did she find it so hard to stop thinking about him? She knew that the rumors about his family and his closeness to Selene didn't help to clarify her thoughts. However, beyond the curiosity he aroused in her, there was a restlessness she couldn't understand. Was it just the presence of such an enigmatic young man that disconcerted her?
Finally, the bell for the end of classes rang, and Priscilla got up, along with the rest of the students. As she left the school, a cool breeze caressed her, but her mind was still caught up in her thoughts. The day was over, but something inside her said that this day would not be forgotten.
On returning to the palace, the maid led her through the corridors to her room. Priscilla felt exhausted, but something else was bothering her. As she undressed to change, she heard laughter and conversation coming from the main hall. On leaving, she found her grandmother, the queen, surrounded by servants and courtiers.
—Grandmother. — said Priscilla, somewhat confused. —What's going on?
—My dear, I have organized a ball for tonight. — replied the queen with a smile, as if it were all part of a routine. —It is to celebrate the start of the academic year, but also to strengthen some relationships. I need you to be ready to receive the guests.
Priscilla looked at her in silence, not knowing exactly what to say. A ball, a celebration, were always opportunities for the most influential families to get closer to each other, to forge alliances or, in some cases, for conflicts to arise. She wasn't sure if she wanted to participate in that dynamic, especially after what she had experienced during the day.
The queen, however, seemed excited, as if everything were under control. —The Valois will be here soon. Maximo Adrien, the viscount's son, is invited, as is the Himt family. — she added, almost as if she didn't want the princess to forget that detail.
On hearing the name Maximo, a strange feeling ran through Priscilla. The idea of seeing him that night, in a different environment to the school, made her feel even more confused. The worry that had begun to grow in her about his presence seemed to become more intense, and she didn't know if that was a good or a bad thing.
Priscilla retired to her room to get ready, but as she looked at herself in the mirror, something in her reflection seemed different. The thought of Maximo was still on her mind, and for a moment, she wondered if all this was just a passing curiosity or if something much more complicated was beginning to develop.
“What does all this mean?”, she thought as she got dressed. The truth was that she still didn't know if it was a simple attraction, a nascent interest or something deeper that she couldn't understand.
When she was finally ready, she descended the palace stairs and made her way to the main hall, where the guests were beginning to arrive. The murmur of conversation and music filled the air, but in her mind, only one question resonated: How prepared was she to face whatever this night might bring, especially with Maximus there?
The sun had already set when Priscilla got ready for the dance. She decided to wear a beige dress, one that had been specially designed for her, with delicate floral prints in soft shades that evoked the colors of autumn: oranges, reds and golds. The dress was elegant, but not excessive, in keeping with the occasion. She complemented it with jewelry that shone with the autumnal tones: amber earrings and a delicate necklace of golden pearls that sparkled in the soft light of the candles in the hall. However, despite how beautiful the ensemble was, a growing anxiety invaded her. There was something in the air, something she couldn't understand, that made her feel strange. And everything pointed to the same person: Maximo Adrián Valois.
As she looked at herself in the mirror, she thought she should calm down. “It's nothing,” she kept telling herself, “it's just a celebration, one more night with all those guests.” But, despite her attempts to convince herself, the feeling didn't go away. Something inside her was deeply unsettling her. She knew that Maximo would be there, and that idea made her more nervous than she wanted to admit.
As she entered the hall, the music began to fill the air, and the place was already lit up with thousands of soft lights. The courtiers and nobles were arriving, and her grandmother, the queen, seemed to be enjoying every moment, greeting the guests graciously. Priscilla, however, was distracted, her mind drifting between the conversations and the murmurs. Although she tried to be cordial and smile at those present, she couldn't stop thinking about the idea of meeting Maximus face to face that night.
Shortly afterwards, when the last guests arrived, Priscilla saw the figure she didn't want to see, but at the same time couldn't help but expect. There he was, Maximo Adrián Valois, in all his splendour, with his elegant bearing and a smile that disarmed any kind of indifference. The fact that he was there, at that moment, in that place, made her heart skip a beat, and the nerves she had tried to calm began to surface again.
She approached him, and when their eyes met, a shiver ran through her body. A subtle smile appeared on his face, as charming as ever, but that did not calm Priscilla's nerves. When he approached to greet her, he took her hand with a gentleness that made her tingle. Without warning, he gave her a delicate kiss on the hand, a gesture that made her heart beat faster than she would have liked to admit.
—Your Highness, how beautiful you are tonight,” Maximo said with a kind smile, complimenting her dress with a look of genuine appreciation. —That color suits you perfectly.”
For a moment, time seemed to stand still. They both stared at each other, and during those brief seconds, Priscilla felt a strange connection, as if all the noise in the room disappeared and there were only the two of them. However, before she could fully process what she was feeling, the moment was interrupted.
Suddenly, a figure approached with quick steps, her laughter resonating throughout the room, and the atmosphere changed instantly. Selene Katherina Akvis appeared, with her imposing presence and defiant attitude, greeting Priscilla quickly and disinterestedly.
—Ah, Princess. — Selene said with a cold smile, without losing her arrogant tone. —How nice to see you at this party.
Before Priscilla could reply, Selene turned to Maximo, took him by the arm and gently pulled him away.
—Come on, Maximo, there are other people waiting for you too. — Selene said in a low voice, as if the conversation they had just had was of no importance. It was enough for Maximo, although somewhat reluctant, to walk away with her.
Priscilla stood there, motionless, not quite understanding what had just happened. Selene's interruption had been so abrupt that it had not only broken the eye contact she shared with Maximo, but it had also left a strange feeling in the air, an uneasiness that Priscilla did not know how to deal with.
As she watched Selene and Maximo walk away, a new wave of confusion washed over her. Why had that interaction with Maximo made her so nervous? And why, when she saw Selene so close to him, did she feel that mixture of insecurity and jealousy, although she couldn't understand why?
She decided she couldn't keep thinking about it. She had come to the ball to enjoy the night, to relax and not let thoughts about Maximo or Selene get the better of her. However, a small part of her knew that tonight had only just begun, and that there was still much to discover.
