CHAPTER ONE

I have been here for three days. The time has done nothing to calm the dread and turmoil inside me. If anything, time has accelerated the palpitating anxiety building it to the point of harrowing insanity.

The incessant haranguing of the grandfather clock in the corner ticking away felt like chips being taken off my life. Every tick, takes away my freedom, my control over myself.

"Your coffee Miss Vale " I glance down at the immaculate light brew steaming away next to a platter of croissants, cheeses,strawberries, butter and whipped cream. My stomach flipped. Nauseating. My nose crinkles in disgust.

"Cassian, who made this?" I turn to glare at the obsidian haired boy besides me. His green eyes calmly focus on my face.

"The new private chef Miss." He moves to remove the utter monstrosity of breakfast infront of me. He carries the platter and awaits my orders. The displeasure is quite evident.

"​Cafetière, a bit or caramel syrup and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Ice cubes and put it in a Hydro Flask tumbler strictly. Add a savoury charcuterie board." I stand up smoothing my red plaid skirt and start walking back to my work station overlooking the city.

The streets bellow are buzzing with excitement. The penthouse suite of Vale Hotels is always at the top most floor above all the Executive and VIP suites. This is my first time staying in Scotland in this one. The view is good.

The interior is suited to my tastes. Minimal and bright. This is the breakfast room. A white marble-lined table with trimmed gold edges gleaming in the morning sun. The cream velvet chairs are comfortable enough. The breeze coming from the balcony is fluttering the soft lacy curtains around giving them an iridescent glow. It subtly smells like lilies, no doubt, Cassian’s doing.

The excitement and buzzing from the streets below doesn't reach me. The children chasing each other, the couples strolling hand in hand, the youths taking photos of each other, it feels like peering into an alien world.

A buzzing sound jerks me back to my suffocating reality. I glance down at my phone.

MOTHER

I pick swipe and press the loudspeaker button.

"Good morning Mother" My voice solemnly rings out. A gentle breeze brushes past me.

"Good morning Daughter " My mother's carefree voice comes through. I release a breathe I didn't know I was holding in. My tense shoulders relax a little.

"How is your trip going Mother? Where are you now? How is father?" I haven't seen my parents in a year. They decided to leave the business to me, up and immediately vanished to go travel around the world incognito. This is a fact only known to me and my aunt who was left to care for me.

"Oh Daughter your father is here. We are in the Maldives. Such a splendid and wonderful place to be, you would have loved it here. Infact your father and I are buying you an entire beachfront property here to celebrate your admission " She trills happily. My stomach sinks. I go silent.

"Daughter have you revised all the files I prepared for you?" My father’s voice comes through. Clean and authoritative. Always cutting straight to business.

"Of course Father" I glance down at the scattered papers on the table. Veyne, Hartley, Sora, Marlowe and more. I have studied and looked at these files for the past three days committing every single detail to memory.

"Knowledge is power Daughter. They will be your allies or foes for life depending on which direction your decisions take you at your three years at the academy. Choose wisely Daughter"

My mother's voice comes through again.

"Enough of that Richard. Can't you tell our Daughter is anxious enough as it is? " I can here her chastising Father.

"But I needed to make sure she understood Angelique" Father grumbles as his voice fades.

"Now Daughter, your father is right but do your best. We are so thrilled you were accepted into such a prestigious Academy. We would have loved to tell you what it's like in detail since your father and i met there but you know we can't. It's prohibited. Make lots of friends and it'll be smooth for you." The line goes silent for a bit.

"Mother, Father?" I call out. Is it the network?. It can't happen. I hear heavy sighs and then both my parent's voices ring out.

"Come back to us Lyria. Please graduate safely Lili, promise us you will come back to us" Mother's voice cracks and I hear gut wrenching sobs as Father tries to soothe her.

I hear soft footsteps before Cassian comes into view with a golden trolley.

"Coffee" I beckon him to come. He strides to me quickly holding a small silver serving tray with a black tumbler.

"Cassian " Father's voice rings out. Commanding and authoritative, all the softness from a few moments all gone. "You know your orders"

"Yes Sir, Mr Vale." He bows to the phone. I take a sip from my tumbler. The cold coffee immediately stuns my brain awake. I shudder. It tastes amazing. Calms my nerves. Cassian backs away to the far end of the room.

"Lyria, Promise Us" Mother's voice rings out like a quiet whisper. Solemn and unforgiving.

"I promise Mother" And with my somber promise the line goes dead. I stare at my blank screen. My parents rarely call me by my name. Something big will happen at the academy that might endanger my life if they did.

I sigh as i cross the room my louboutins clicking on the glossy wooden floor. Cassian immediately pulls out the chair for me as i settle in for breakfast.

I dismiss all the foreboding thoughts as i look at the chacuterie board lain out infront of me.A rule of Three always applies to a charcuterie board : Select at least 3 meats and 3 cheeses for variety.

Arrangement: Place small bowls for dips first, then fan meats (folded or folded into roses) and cheeses around them.

To fill the gaps: Use crackers, nuts, and dried fruit to fill all empty spaces on the board for a abundant look.

I like control and order. Cassian know this. He arranged this board so well I am absolutely pleased.

The Meats: Salami (calabrese, pepperoni), prosciutto, capocollo, and summer sausage. The cheeses: A mix of textures, such as sharp cheddar, brie, gorgonzola, pepper jack, and herbed chèvre.

The Crunch: Baguette slices, focaccia, pretzel crisps, and artisanal crackers.

The Briny & Savory: Green or black olives, marinated artichoke hearts, cornichons, and peppadew peppers.

The Spreads & Nuts: Stone-ground mustard, hummus, fig spread, walnuts, cashews, and almonds.

"Absolutely perfection" I give Cassian an approving nod. He returns a small smile as his ears redden. He's so taken by compliments.

"Come. Let's partake together." He sets down his silver tray and takes a sit besides me. We eat in silence. It is so rare foe us to be alone together that I cherish these moments with him. My only friend and tether. He is closer to me than my own parents.

We were raised together, even if he is my butler, I have been with him since birth. We are technically cousins since he is the only son of the branch family head, Father's step brother. Illegitimate but still family.

He has none of the Vale looks. He is all Obsidian hair, emerald eyes and olive skin. Where as I am cream skin, blue eyes and bronze hair with copper red. Bronze hair being the trait of the legitimate Vale heirs. I have the most prominent shade of bronze in the family, even brighter than father's.

I glance at the vibrant red broken thorn crown inside my wrist and swallow the last of my coffee hard. I stand up.

Cassian automatically stands up pulling the chair away from me.

I cross the room fast. Cassian matches my stride opening doors as I exit my suite into a walkway and elevator used privately by family.

The elevator comes to a halt in the underground private parking. There are over thirty luxury cars. I pause for a bit contemplating which car to take as my eyes scan the parking lot.

"Let's take Genesis for a spin" I start walking towards the muted burgundy Genesis G90 my parents gifted me as a warm up admission present. A driver materializes by the car as we reach. Cassian opens my door before he circles and gets in himself besides me.

Soon we are racing out of the hotel onto the streets. As soon as we hit the long winding road to Inverness. My thoughts start drifting.

What dangers lie in this academy to get my unshakable parents so rattled? And why did I have to first go through this school to become recognised as the official heir of Vale House?

I sigh and look out the window. The further up we climb, the more the atmosphere becomes dreary and foggy. I watch as the road stretches endlessly and dreary infront of me as the foreboding feeling I tried to suffocate earlier crawls up again.