She felt like an invisible, irrelevant spectator watching a family she had spent ten years trying to control slip entirely out of her grasp in less than an hour.
She had watched Arian, the cold, distant corporate heir who usually ignored everyone, blush and obey a command about asparagus.
Sebastian, the rebellious brat who usually fought with everyone over single piece of meat, grin like an idiot over a plate of lamb ribs.
She had watched Lucas, the arrogant little genius who treated her like an intellectual inferior look at Celeste with eyes of worship.
A toxic, suffocating wave of pure jealousy clawed at Rosalle’s chest, burning like acid in her throat.
She couldn’t allow this to continue.
If she let Celeste establish herself as the undisputed, beloved sovereign of this household tonight, Rosalle’s status would be permanently reduced to that of a redundant, secondary outsider.
She needed to strike.
She needed to find a weakness in Celeste’s armor, something that couldn’t be solved with a clever word or a plate of food.
She needed to expose the girl’s lack of high-society breeding and academic sophistication before the parents decided to give her everything.
Just then, Adrian Hartwell set his ivory chopsticks down onto his silver rest, clearing his throat to initiate the formal evening family business.
“Now that we are all seated and eating comfortably,” he said, his deep voice carrying the warm, satisfied authority of a patriarch whose household was finally in order, “there is a practical logistical matter we must discuss regarding Celeste’s future integration into the capital.”
He looked across the table at his eldest daughter, his eyes softening with paternal concern.
“Celeste, you are twenty years old this year. During our brief conversation in the foyer, you mentioned that you completed your secondary education at a specialized boarding institution abroad.”
“While I am overjoyed to have you home, a young lady of the Hartwell family should not be deprived of the traditional university experience. The social networking, the academic atmosphere, and the peer relationships formed during university are critical assets for your future standing in high society.” Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping(.)com.
Adrian gestured toward his left flank.
“Your twin brother, Arian, is currently in his second year at S University, the highest-ranked academic institution in the capital, and majoring in Corporate Finance and Global Management. Rosalle is also enrolled there in her second year, studying Classical Arts and Humanities.”
The Patriarch smiled warmly at Celeste.
“I was discussing the matter with your mother earlier. We believe it would be most beneficial if you were to enroll at S University as well for the upcoming autumn semester. Being on the same campus as Arian will allow him to assist you in navigating the academic environment, and it will give you a chance to enjoy the youth and freedom that you were… that was stolen from you for so long. How do you feel about this proposal, my dear? Would you be interested in attending university with your brother?”
Celeste paused her chewing, her chopsticks resting gracefully over her porcelain bowl.
Her brain immediately processed the proposal:
S University.
Geographic location: Monte District, twelve kilometers from the manor.
Campus population: approximately forty thousand students and over forty faculty.
Tactical assessment: A university campus represents an ideal urban operational base.
It provides access to high-level digital infrastructure, state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, and a natural, inconspicuous vantage point for monitoring any potential underworld or corporate threats directed at my twin brother or the Hartwell family interests.
Additional bonus: University cafeterias often feature diverse, subsidized regional street food stalls.
“I have no objections to the proposal, Father,” Celeste replied smoothly, offering a calm, pragmatic nod.
“Acquiring formal domestic credentials is a logical step for civilian integration. I am comfortable with sharing an academic perimeter with Arian, if it’s alright with him.” Read this novel at novelping.com for the best experience.
Arian Hartwell’s back straightened slightly at her answer, a small gleam of satisfaction flashing in his dark eyes at the prospect of walking around the campus with his real twin sister.
Before Adrian Hartwell could express his approval, a soft, hesitant, drippingly sweet voice drifted from the western edge of the table.
“Father… please forgive me for speaking out of turn, but… I am deeply concerned about the practicalities of Sister Celeste’s enrollment.”
The table went silent.
Everyone turned to look at Rosalle.
The twenty-year-old fake daughter had set her spoon down, her large eyes wide with what looked like sisterly concern.
She bit her pale lower lip, her fingers nervously twisting her silk napkin as she looked between Adrian and Celeste with an expression of pure, fragile anxiety.
“What is your concern, Rosalle?” Adrian asked, his voice cooling slightly, his executive radar instantly detecting the subtle shift in atmosphere.
“It… it is just about the entrance standards of S University, Father,” Rosalle said softly, her voice trembling with carefully calibrated hesitation.
“As you know, S University is the premier academic fortress of our nation. The entrance examination cut-off points are exceptionally severe, even for the children of the top ten aristocratic families in the capital. The university committee requires rigorous standardized academic transcripts, verified domestic merit points, and top-tier national test rankings before they even consider an application.”
She turned her large, tear-rimmed eyes directly toward Celeste, her voice dropping into a tone of patronizing, sorrowful pity.
“Sister Celeste mentioned earlier that her communication infrastructure at her foreign boarding school was… limited. And we don’t even know if her overseas curriculum aligned with our domestic educational standards. If Sister’s academic merit points aren’t sufficient to meet the strict cutoff… what will we do?”
Rosalle let the silence hang for two beats before delivering her poisoned sting, wrapping it in a layer of feigned familial loyalty.
“Of course, Father has immense wealth and influence! I know Father could easily donate a new research laboratory or pay a multi-million-yuan endowment fee to secure a special ‘backdoor’ placement for Sister! But… but I worry about Sister’s feelings! The socialite circles and the student body at S University can be very cruel and gossipy.”