Chapter 2: Forgotten

Valerie’s POV

I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the embarrassment that still clung to me like the steam on my iced coffee cup. After what just happened, there was no way I could sit back inside that diner and pretend to enjoy breakfast. So I headed straight to my car, slid into the driver’s seat, and placed the untouched burger and macchiato beside me.

“Great,” I muttered to myself, staring out at the morning sun beginning to rise fully over the horizon. “Just great.”

Not only did I almost face-plant in public, but I also did it right in front of him — Leon Albourne. The very man the entire country idolizes. The man my family has been quietly betrothing me to since childhood. The one who just caught me, literally, and then proceeded to act like I was nothing more than a stranger with poor balance.

Was I forgotten?

The thought settled in like a dull ache. It’s not like we ever had a real conversation, but we have met before — at least three times that I can remember. Family banquets. Private gatherings. Once, I even caught him watching me from across the courtyard at the Winter Gala years ago. I never knew if I imagined it.

Back then, I was too young, too overwhelmed by all the rules, the whispers, and the expectations. And Leon? He was already poised, quiet, untouchable — like a prince out of a different world.

But today, when our eyes met… there wasn’t a flicker of recognition. Just politeness. Courtesy.

Distance.

I sighed and turned the key in the ignition, forcing the car into motion.

Ring ring ring.

My phone buzzed from the passenger seat. Mom.

I clicked the Bluetooth. “Mom, I’m driving. Talk later,” I said quickly and hung up before she could guilt me into another surprise errand.

As I made my way toward Rosemont Valor Resort, I tried to center myself. The road curved along the sea cliffs, and the sunlight sparkled on the ocean like scattered diamonds. A place this beautiful shouldn't feel so suffocating. But something about today… something was different.

The gates of Rosemont swung open as my car approached. The guards nodded, already recognizing my vehicle — another perk of being a Vale, even if I stayed hidden in the shadows.

I parked near the west wing entrance, where the private suites were reserved for family. The moment I stepped inside the marble-floored corridor, the scent of fresh orchids and Earl Grey tea drifted in the air. The walls were lined with paintings of ancestors, chandeliers glimmered above, and warm morning light poured through the tall windows.

Following the quiet clinking of porcelain, I entered the drawing room — and there they were.

“Grandma! Mom!” I called softly, breaking into a small smile.

They both looked up from their tea and lit up when they saw me.

My grandmother looked impeccable, as always. She wore a tailored lavender dress suit with lace gloves and a pearl necklace that probably had its own royal lineage. Her white hair was pinned into a classic twist, and her posture could rival a queen’s.

My mother, elegant in her own right, wore a pastel silk blouse tucked into high-waisted trousers, her long hair flowing behind her like a runway model. She was sipping tea with a gleam in her eye — one that usually meant she was up to something.

I leaned down to kiss both of them on the cheek.

“You’re late, dear,” Grandma teased, her eyes twinkling. “Even on your birthday.”

“I was ambushed,” I muttered. “With love, of course.”

“We have so much to do today!” Mom said excitedly. “Are you ready to go shopping?”

Here it comes.

I tried to smile. “Shopping sounds fun… but don’t we already have enough gowns in the dressing wing?”

Grandma clicked her tongue. “This one’s different. The boutique is expecting us. Private entrance, no cameras. Just a few elite designers and us. No worries about the public.”

Still, my stomach twisted.

Even if the place was high-end and exclusive, the idea of being out in public — even subtly — always made me nervous. I wasn’t just anyone. I was the only heiress of the Vale family, and no one at my workplace, or anywhere outside family circles, knew that. I couldn’t risk being recognized.

But Grandma was already adjusting her gloves and standing up. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime birthday, darling. 23 is… special.”

And by special, she meant sealed. The number echoed in my head like a prophecy.

Later That Night – The Birthday Banquet

Rosemont transformed as the sun dipped beyond the horizon. The courtyard glowed with golden chandeliers, floral arrangements poured from silver vases, and the scent of gardenia and vanilla filled the air. Waiters in black suits moved like shadows, balancing silver trays and wine glasses. Guests from powerful families — most of whom I’d never even met — arrived in tailored suits and shimmering gowns.

I stood at the top of the grand staircase, dressed in a floor-length ivory gown with a delicate gold sash and subtle embroidery that shimmered with each step. My hair was curled and pinned half-up with jeweled clips passed down from my grandmother. I felt like a different person — regal, composed, everything they expected me to be.

But inside, I was nervous. Not because of the attention — I was used to hiding.

But because of what would happen tonight.

As the orchestra played a soft instrumental, my father stood at the center of the banquet hall and clinked his glass gently. The room quieted.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, voice steady and noble. “Thank you for joining us on this momentous evening — to celebrate the 23rd birthday of my beloved daughter, Valerie Elyse Vale.”

A polite wave of applause followed.

I stepped forward, offering a soft smile, and nodded at the room.

“But tonight’s occasion is not simply about a birthday,” he continued, eyes scanning the room with pride. “It is also the day the royal seal awakens — the ancient bond between the Vale and Albourne families, bound in trust, legacy… and unity.”

Gasps. Murmurs spread through the crowd like ripples in water.

My heart thundered.

At that moment, the heavy doors at the end of the ballroom opened.

And in walked him.

Leon Albourne.

Dressed in an obsidian-black tuxedo that hugged his tall frame perfectly, with a gold pocket square to match the subtle threads in my gown. His eyes scanned the room until they landed on me. He didn’t smile, but his gaze softened — the kind of softness only I could detect.

The room fell completely silent as he stepped forward and joined my father.

The Albournes followed behind — his mother graceful, his father regal. Two royal lineages, side by side.

“Tonight,” my father announced, “marks the beginning of a union forged not in convenience, but in destiny. As of midnight, by the laws of the royal seal, Valerie and Leon shall be bound… in marriage.”

Shock. Applause. Whispers. So many emotions swirled in the room.

But I only heard the sound of my heart — and the echo of Leon’s voice from this morning:

“Be careful. This place is full of unexpected hazards.”

He wasn’t just talking about the diner.

He meant this.

Us.

And now… there was no turning back.