But before the mood could drift too far into ease, another presence slid into place — quiet, yet immediately magnetic.
Aurora.
Aurora Waldorf appeared with that same effortless grace Aria remembered — from the capsule ride last night.
Straight layered hair falling like silk, skin luminous in the ambient glow — and notably, no uniform.
Instead, Aurora wore an elegant white silk halter dress, patterned delicately with a dark blue rim and soft golden nautical prints.
Same idea, Aria thought. She'd chosen not to wear the uniform either — not for today.
Of course it was deliberate. White always worked on her.
It amplified her innocent allure.
Pure. Unbothered. Graceful in stillness. Composed without even trying.
She didn't radiate confidence the way Aria or Solara girls did.
She didn't need to.
She just... belonged.
Aria's eyes narrowed slightly, though she kept her expression neutral.
That kind of presence — soft yet commanding — wasn't taught.
It was inherited. Or worse... instinctual.
Aurora's eyes found Aria's — warm, polite, and faintly amused.
Aurora approached softly, her steps light, her presence quiet — yet somehow impossible to overlook.
"Hey," she said gently, her voice as smooth and soft as morning light.
"Yesterday, right? We shared the capsule."
Right. The capsule. That same gliding presence, impossible to ignore.
Her smile was polite, pleasant... but not exactly warm.
It wasn't cold either.
Just... neutral. Perfectly so.
"Yeah," she replied casually. "Nice to see you... properly this time."
Without waiting, Aurora slid gracefully into the seat beside Allegra.
Not pushy. Not claiming.
Just natural — as if space always made room for her.
"I figured we'd run into each other again," Aurora continued, her tone casual, as if they were already old acquaintances.
She radiated innocent charm — so disarming that it looped right back into being slightly unsettling.
Aria felt it at once.
Not hostility.
Not rivalry.
Just that quiet, natural glow that made others seem a little dimmer in comparison.
Effortless. Angelic.
And utterly unbothered.
Aria's fingers tightened slightly on her ONYX without meaning to.
Before the subtle tension could twist further, Allegra — cheerful as always — broke through smoothly.
Allegra — cheerful as always — broke through smoothly.
"Oh! You two know each other already? Magnificent! Solara girls should stick together. I can help with both your House Challenges."
She smiled, then added with a wink,
"But first — Prestige link. Nothing moves in Avalon until it's official."
The moment broke.
Aria let her smile loosen, refocusing on Allegra's warmth.
Aurora only nodded gracefully.
"Of course," she said quietly, her eyes unreadable. "That sounds... perfect."
As if responding on cue, Aria's ONYX pulsed softly — detecting the nearby signal with seamless precision.
→ Aurora Waldorf | Proximity Identified → Prestige Link Eligible
A translucent swipe panel shimmered into view.
Aria hesitated only for a beat before swiping right.
Request sent.
Across the table, Aurora's ONYX blinked in kind — her fingers already brushing the air in the same casual, unspoken rhythm.
A soft ping confirmed it:
→ Aurora Waldorf → Prestige Link Accepted
No words passed between them.
They didn't need to.
In Avalon, the exchange said enough.
Acknowledged.
Connected.
Ready to compete — or collaborate.
Aurora's eyes flicked up, soft but steady.
"Looks like we're official now," she said lightly, though her tone carried a quiet undertone that Aria couldn't quite read.
Not smug. Not threatening.
Just... assured. As if this was always inevitable.
Before Aria could reply, Allegra clapped her hands softly, slicing through the tension with effortless charm.
"Magnificent," she declared, eyes gleaming like a strategist aligning her players.
"Solara girls — officially linked and ready. Which means, you're now eligible for House Challenge pairing. Optional, of course... but let's just say: winning's a lot easier with support."
Aria tilted her head slightly.
"I thought House Challenges were solo."
"They are — officially," Allegra confirmed with a sly smile.
"But strategic alliance is part of Avalon too," Allegra said breezily. "Teams can boost each other, share tasks, cover weaknesses. It's not against the rules. In fact, smart players always find allies early."
Aurora's lips curved faintly, catching the nuance immediately.
"Strategic alliances, huh?"
"Temporary ones," Allegra agreed breezily.
"But trust me — nobody wins here alone."
Aria sat back slightly, absorbing the words.
Solara's way, clearly.
Perfectly styled, perfectly social... but always strategic beneath the softness.
"Fine," Aria said, eyes flicking between Aurora and Allegra.
A flicker of energy passed through her ONYX — something new, sharp, expectant.
"Let's see what we can do."
Aurora's smile was soft, almost serene.
"Glad we're on the same page."
No challenge.
No edge.
Just grace.
And yet... Aria felt it.
Not a threat.
Not even pressure.
Just the quiet weight of being seen — truly seen — by someone who wasn't trying to outshine her...
But might anyway.
Allegra leaned forward, clearly delighted by the connection.
Next: The Real Playbook — Three girls. One House. No room for coincidence.
YOU ARE READING
Valmont Series - Inheritance Code
Teen FictionWhat if your perfect life was just a rehearsal? On their twelfth birthday, Aria and Aiden Lancaster wake expecting luxury, freedom, and the future they were promised. Instead, they're given an ultimatum: Leave everything behind - their friends, thei...
