Friday morning felt different.
For the first time since arriving at St. Albion...
Vivienne didn’t wake up thinking about homework.
Today was Club Day.
She stood before the wardrobe for far longer than she cared to admit.
Unlike weekdays, club activities didn’t require the university uniform.
Instead, students were expected to dress appropriately for their chosen activities.
After a moment’s consideration, she selected a fitted ivory polo shirt, a pair of dark riding trousers, and leather ankle boots.
Simple.
Comfortable.
Practical.
She paused.
Then reached for a cream-colored ribbon.
Her fingers gathered her long blonde hair into a neat ponytail before tying it carefully into place.
"...You’ve changed your ribbon."
Claire’s amused voice drifted across the room.
Vivienne instinctively touched her hair.
"I did?"
Claire nodded.
"You picked the blue one first."
"...Then you changed your mind."
Vivienne blinked.
"...Oh."
She glanced once more at her reflection.
"I suppose I did."
Claire simply smiled.
She didn’t tease her.
After all...
Everyone wanted to make a good first impression on the first day of club activities.
"There."
Vivienne took a quiet breath.
"Ready?"
Claire picked up her violin case.
"Ready."
The campus looked unusually lively that morning.
Instead of walking toward lecture halls, students gradually separated in different directions.
Some headed toward the conservatory.
Others disappeared toward the swimming complex.
Groups carrying bows made their way toward the archery range.
At one of the intersections, Claire stopped.
"My building’s this way."
Vivienne smiled.
"Have fun."
"You too."
Claire’s eyes briefly swept over Vivienne’s riding clothes before she chuckled.
"...Try not to fall off a horse."
Vivienne laughed.
"I’ll do my best."
The two girls waved before parting ways.
Vivienne continued alone.
The farther she walked from the academic buildings...
The greener the campus became.
The sounds of lectures gave way to rustling leaves.
The scent of old books slowly disappeared, replaced by fresh grass, leather, and earth.
Then...
The equestrian grounds appeared.
Vivienne stopped walking.
Beyond elegant white fences stretched several immaculate riding fields.
Rows of red-brick stables stood proudly beneath the morning sun.
Stable hands calmly led magnificent horses across the grounds while upperclassmen adjusted saddles with practiced ease.
The occasional neigh echoed across the open fields.
For several seconds...
Vivienne simply stared.
"...This is a university club?"
It looked more like a private equestrian academy.
Taking a slow breath, she joined the gathering of first-year students near the entrance.
Anthony wasn’t there yet.
Instead...
The first familiar face she noticed belonged to Lady Evelyn Sinclair.
The heroine stood near the front of the gathering, speaking pleasantly with two first-year girls.
The gentle smile on Evelyn’s face hadn’t changed.
Neither had the quiet warmth she naturally carried.
Just as the novel had described...
People gravitated toward her with surprising ease.
Vivienne smiled to herself.
Right...
I’d almost forgotten.
Evelyn joined the Polo Club too.
Another thought followed almost immediately.
...And Damian.
She let out a quiet laugh.
University had consumed her entire week.
Lectures.
Assignments.
Homework.
By the time she returned to the dormitory each evening...
She barely had enough energy to think.
Only now did she remember that today wasn’t just about Anthony.
The rest of the novel’s cast would be here as well.
Her eyes instinctively drifted toward the pathway leading from the stables.
Anthony should be here soon.
On the opposite side of the grounds...
Anthony Ashford and Damian Blackwood walked toward the freshmen assembly area.
Both wore fitted riding attire embroidered with St. Albion’s crest.
Several club members greeted them respectfully as they passed.
Anthony acknowledged each greeting with a polite nod while discussing the morning’s orientation with one of the senior instructors.
As they neared the gathering, his gaze swept naturally across the freshmen.
A familiar young woman immediately caught his attention.
Evelyn.
Chestnut hair rested neatly over one shoulder as she chatted with two classmates.
She looked relaxed.
Comfortable.
When she noticed him, she smiled politely.
Anthony returned the greeting with a small nod before continuing to scan the crowd.
Then...
For the briefest instant...
His eyes caught another familiar figure.
Long blonde hair tied into a simple ponytail.
An ivory polo shirt.
Dark riding trousers.
Standing quietly among the freshmen.
...
Vivienne?
Before he had time to process what he’d seen, Damian’s attention wandered across the same gathering.
His eyes stopped almost immediately.
Well...
That was unexpected.
Lady Vivienne Beaumont.
Even among dozens of first-year students, she stood out effortlessly.
The morning sunlight caught the soft golden strands of her hair, while the simplicity of her riding attire somehow made her look even more elegant than the elaborate dresses she usually wore.
For just a moment...
Damian almost forgot he was looking at Anthony’s notoriously persistent fiancée.
She had grown into an undeniably beautiful young woman.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
He lightly nudged Anthony’s shoulder.
"Look who’s here."
Anthony followed Damian’s gaze.
It landed on the very same young woman.
...
So I wasn’t mistaken.
She really is here.
His eyes lingered for another quiet moment.
Then drifted toward the horses grazing peacefully beyond the fence.
She hates horses.
The memory surfaced immediately.
Whenever House Beaumont visited Ashford Manor years ago...
Vivienne refused to go anywhere near the stables.
She disliked horses.
Dogs.
Almost every animal Damian had ever tried to tease her with.
Yet now...
She stood among the newest members of the Polo Club.
There was only one explanation that made any sense.
...
She came because of me.
Almost as though sensing his gaze...
Vivienne looked up.
Across the field...
Their eyes met.
Recognition immediately lit up her face.
A warm smile bloomed across her lips.
The kind of smile reserved for someone she’d been hoping to see.
Anthony felt his heart sink.
...
Oh no.
She really was here.
His eyes briefly swept over the riding grounds once more.
Then back to her.
She joined the Polo Club...
Because I’m here.
There was simply no other explanation he could think of.
A familiar headache threatened to form.
If history repeated itself...
She would spend the entire morning following him from one end of the field to the other.
He’d barely have time to fulfill his responsibilities as one of the senior instructors.
Please don’t.
Not today.
The orientation had only just begun.
He still had dozens of first-year students to look after.
After the briefest hesitation, he gave her a polite nod.
Nothing more.
Then he quietly looked away.
If he didn’t encourage the conversation...
Perhaps...
Just perhaps...
She would let him do his job first.