Leina's alarm chimed before the sun dared to peek above Westdentia's skyline. She was already awake.
Today was different.
Not because of the new uniform that hung on her door—a deeper shade of navy, trimmed in gold, with her family crest stitched into the blazer's inner pocket—or the fact that her hair had actually cooperated for once. No. It was the feeling in her chest. The thrum of change.
She pulled open the curtains and stared down at the Reinhardt estate's gardens. Fog still clung to the hedges like ghosts reluctant to leave. Her dog, Diane, was asleep near her bed, tail twitching in a dream.
"Okay," she whispered, "Here we go."
Downstairs, chaos was unfolding—as per usual.
"Lester, you're going to forget your tablet again," Logan barked, one shoe on and holding a travel mug like it owed him money. "Liam! Louis! I swear if you swapped bags as a prank again—"
"Prank?" Louis said innocently, zipping up a bag with a grin. "We don't prank, Father. We enrich lives."
Leina rolled her eyes and snagged a croissant from the counter.
Giselle swept into the kitchen in a fitted blazer and jeans, brushing a kiss to Leina's cheek. "Ready, sweetheart?"
Leina nodded, heart thudding. "Do I look like I belong in the Crown Room?"
Lester, already tall and intimidating in his final-year uniform, gave her a once-over. "You're the smartest one out of us all. Of course you deserve to be there."
Her face flushed. "I was hoping for, like, more realism."
"You look great," Liam added. "Also, Alex texted. He's already on campus."
Leina blinked. "Wait—what?"
Westdentia Academia had always looked like something out of a fairy tale. Marble columns. Towering archways. And an obnoxious number of fountains.
When Leina stepped out of the car, she felt it. That pull in her chest—nostalgia mixed with anticipation.
She was back.
"LEINA!"
A blur of motion tackled her in a hug. It was Samantha, grinning ear to ear in her pristine uniform, curls bouncing as she pulled back.
"Look at you! Crown Room royalty now, huh?"
Leina laughed, overwhelmed. "Sam! I thought you weren't coming till next term."
"My health got better. Mom said if I passed all my physicals, I could start now." Samantha looked like she might cry. "I'm here."
Before Leina could respond, a new voice interrupted.
"Careful, Crown Girl. She might cry, and then you'll cry, and I'll be forced to pretend emotions exist."
Malvern.
But not the shy, flushed boy from before. This Malvern was taller, hair pushed back, carrying himself like someone who had grown over the break—in height and confidence. He offered her a knuckle bump, and Leina stared before responding.
"Did you, uh, get possessed by a cooler version of yourself?" she said.
Malvern smirked. "I hit puberty. Twice."
The Crown Room was everything she imagined: ornate chandeliers, deep blue velvet chairs, mahogany desks with engraved nameplates. Only the most elite students were assigned here—and now she was one of them.
Her nameplate gleamed at the third desk in the front row: Leina Reinhardt.
The twins were assigned to House Margrave—known for its strategic minds and cold efficiency.
Lester, of course, had been elevated to House Thalor, the highest among final-year students—mostly scholars, heirs, and future diplomats.
It was all overwhelming, but Leina felt her nerves settle when she slid into her seat.
This was her a new chapter in her life, and she was looking forward to doing great- as per usual.
During lunch, Samantha introduced Leina to two of her new classmates—Talia and Vee, both girls Leina remembered vaguely from prior events, now grown and radiant with Westdentian poise. They ate under the lemon trees in the east courtyard, gossiping, laughing, and exchanging first-week horror stories.
"I heard someone tried to bribe their way into the Crown Room," Vee whispered.
"With what?" Samantha asked.
"A horse. Like, a literal horse."
They burst out laughing.
---
As classes ended, Leina was heading to the library when a ripple passed through the crowd. She saw it before she understood it.
Standing in the middle of the courtyard near one of those dumb fountains stood...
"Alexander."Leina unconsciously whispered to herself, also not taking note that people were approaching her sides.
Hair slightly longer. Taller. Sharper. The lines of his uniform looked criminally expensive and unbothered by the weather. His emerald eyes scanned the courtyard like they were beneath him—until they landed on her.
Leina froze.
So did her thoughts.
"Brother!" Samantha screamed beside her, which startled her and brought her back to reality.
Alexander began walking toward them. Each step loud despite the silence.
Malvern whistled low under his breath. "Well damn."
When Alexander stopped in front of Leina, he tilted his head slightly, his voice silk over steel.
"Miss Reinhardt. I hope you haven't missed me too much."
Leina opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Alexander smiled, amused, and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear like it was a memory he'd missed.
"See you around."
And just like that, he disappeared with his sister hopping away.
---
Leina stood there, heart in her throat,all baffled and taken aback, and all she could think about was:
"What just happened?"