Vivienne had barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, the same thought would pop into her head.
Tomorrow...
I’m finally going to St. Albion.
Then she’d grin into her pillow before forcing herself to sleep again.
Needless to say, it wasn’t a particularly restful night.
When the morning sunlight finally streamed through the curtains, she was already awake.
She stared at the intricately carved ceiling above her for a few seconds before a bright smile slowly spread across her face.
"...Today’s the day."
For a brief moment, she almost forgot where she was.
Then the events of yesterday returned one after another.
The mysterious bedroom.
The acceptance letter.
Vivienne Beaumont.
Anthony Ashford.
The Duke and Duchess.
Everything.
She laughed softly to herself.
"...I’m still here."
Whether this was an unbelievably vivid dream...
Or something she still couldn’t explain...
She had already decided yesterday not to dwell on it.
If dreams had expiration dates, she would simply enjoy this one until it ended.
If it wasn’t a dream...
Well.
She would deal with that when the time came.
A gentle knock sounded on the door.
"My Lady?"
Vivienne sat up.
"Come in."
The door opened, revealing Beatrice with the same warm smile she wore yesterday.
"Good morning, My Lady."
"Good morning, Beatrice."
The maid blinked for the briefest moment before smiling even wider.
"It seems you’re in an excellent mood today."
Vivienne laughed.
"Is it that obvious?"
"A little."
Beatrice walked toward the curtains and tied them neatly to either side, allowing even more sunlight to flood the room.
"It’s a special day after all."
"It is."
Vivienne admitted it without even trying to hide her excitement.
"My first day at St. Albion."
Beatrice smiled knowingly.
"I had a feeling you wouldn’t be able to sleep."
"...Was I that obvious?"
"You’ve been smiling since I entered."
Vivienne touched her own cheeks and laughed in embarrassment.
"...Have I?"
She really had.
How could she not?
This was the beginning of the story she’d reread countless times over the years.
After freshening up and changing into her university attire, Vivienne stood before the full-length mirror.
The uniform was elegant without being overly elaborate.
A cream-colored blazer embroidered with the crest of St. Albion rested over a white blouse, paired with a navy skirt that fell just below the knee. A matching ribbon completed the outfit, while polished black shoes gave everything a refined finish.
She smoothed the front of her blazer.
"...Cute."
Not that she had expected anything less.
This was St. Albion, after all.
Even the uniforms looked expensive.
Beatrice smiled approvingly.
"It suits you perfectly, My Lady."
Vivienne twirled once, making the skirt sway gently.
"I like it."
"I thought you would."
Together, they made their way downstairs.
The scent of freshly baked bread drifted through the hall long before they reached the dining room.
The Duchess was already seated when Vivienne entered.
Her face immediately lit up.
"Oh, look at you."
Vivienne smiled.
"Good morning, Mother."
"Good morning, darling."
The Duchess stood and adjusted the ribbon at Vivienne’s collar despite it already being perfectly straight.
"There."
"Now you’re absolutely perfect."
Vivienne laughed.
"I think it was already straight."
"It is now."
The Duke lowered his newspaper just enough to look over its edge.
"It was straight before."
The Duchess shot him a playful look.
"No one asked."
The Duke quietly returned to his newspaper.
"...As expected."
Vivienne couldn’t help laughing.
Her parents were unexpectedly adorable together.
"Good morning, Father."
"Good morning."
He folded the newspaper and set it aside.
"You slept well?"
Vivienne hesitated for the tiniest moment.
"...Not particularly."
The Duchess immediately looked concerned.
"Were you nervous?"
Vivienne shook her head.
"Too excited."
The Duke gave a small nod.
"That’s more like our daughter."
Breakfast began soon after.
Unlike yesterday, the atmosphere felt relaxed.
They chatted about little things.
The flowers blooming in the eastern garden.
A charity gala the Duchess would be attending next week.
A new commercial development the Duke was considering in the capital.
Vivienne mostly listened.
Occasionally asking questions.
Occasionally laughing.
It felt...
Comfortable.
Comfortable enough that she almost forgot these weren’t her real parents.
Almost.
When breakfast was nearly over, the Duchess dabbed the corners of her lips with a napkin before looking at Vivienne.
"Call us when you arrive."
"I will."
"And don’t skip meals."
"I won’t."
"And don’t stay up too late reading novels."
Vivienne coughed awkwardly.
"...I’ll try."
The Duchess smiled triumphantly.
"I knew it."
The Duke calmly took a sip of his coffee.
"If you encounter any difficulty, call me."
"Or me," the Duchess quickly added.
"The university is only an hour away," the Duke continued. "If necessary, I’ll come personally."
Vivienne smiled.
"...Thank you."
She wasn’t sure whether they had always loved the original Vivienne this openly...
Or whether she’d simply never appreciated it while reading.
Either way...
It warmed her heart.
Outside the mansion, a deep navy Rolls-Royce Phantom waited quietly beneath the morning sun.
The Beaumont crest gleamed subtly on the hood.
Several attendants were already loading the last of her luggage into another vehicle bound for the university residence halls.
The chauffeur opened the rear door.
The Duchess embraced Vivienne one last time.
"Take care of yourself."
"I will."
The Duke placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Enjoy university."
Vivienne smiled brightly.
"I’ll do my best."
As the Rolls-Royce pulled away from House Beaumont, she lowered the window and waved until her parents disappeared behind the estate gates.
The drive passed surprisingly quickly.
Fields gave way to elegant suburbs.
Suburbs gradually blended into the historic district surrounding St. Albion.
Then...
Vivienne saw it.
Even from a distance, the university dominated the landscape.
Majestic stone buildings rose beyond ornate iron gates, their Gothic towers reaching confidently toward the morning sky. Ivy climbed centuries-old walls, while broad tree-lined avenues stretched across an enormous campus that looked more like a royal estate than a university.
Students and their families moved about the grounds in every direction.
Luxury sedans.
Vintage Rolls-Royces.
Bentleys.
Jaguars.
The occasional limousine.
House crests displayed discreetly on polished hoods.
Parents giving last-minute advice.
Freshmen nervously dragging suitcases toward the residence halls.
Upperclassmen wearing Student Council armbands strode briskly across the campus carrying folders, clipboards and stacks of orientation materials.
The entire university buzzed with life.
The chauffeur opened her door.
"We’ve arrived, My Lady."
Vivienne stepped out slowly.
For a long moment...
She simply stood there.
Taking it all in.
"So..."
A smile gradually bloomed across her face.
"This..."
"...is St. Albion."
The place she’d visited hundreds of times in her imagination.
Now standing before her.
Real enough to touch.
Real enough to walk through.
Real enough...
To begin a brand-new story.
Adjusting the strap of her bag over one shoulder, Vivienne took a deep breath before stepping through the university gates with an excitement she no longer cared to hide.
The story...
At last...
Had begun.