The light inside Aria's suite felt different this morning.
Not warmer.
Not louder.
Just... clearer.
Sharper.
Aware.
Like even the walls recognized what she'd done.
Yesterday, she had forced Avalon to look.
Aria's ONYX chimed softly. Then again.
A shared Veritas thread blinked into view—clean, gold-lined, unmistakably Allegra.
[Veritas: Allegra Kingsmith]
— "Congratulations, both of you. Veritas flagged your entrance. AvaNET classified it as a cultural anomaly.
Not just seen. Tracked.
Prestige protocol recognized. Welcome to the board."
Seconds later, Aurora responded in the shared thread—elegant, poised, and unmistakably gracious.
[Veritas: Aurora Waldorf]
— "Appreciate the message, Allegra. You played it perfectly too.
I saw you ranked up from our mentorship too—congratulations!
You helped us rise, we helped you climb. Very Avalon.
Couldn't have done it without you."
Aria read the thread in silence for a moment. Her smile was soft this time, not sharp.
"She's proud of herself," she murmured.
"And honestly... she should be."
She swung her legs over the side of her bed, stretched once, then replied:
[Veritas: Aria Lancaster]
— "Cheers to our victory. I'll be there in a sec... Allegra, you joining us?" ✨
* * *
She stepped into the AuraSuite.
The room responded instantly — soft steam blooming, sensors syncing to her vitals with quiet precision.
Lyric's voice followed, calm and composed:
"Radiance protocol initiated. Hydration, skin luminosity, and mood balance optimizing now."
A few minutes later — skin reset, hair softened, and presence dialed to elegant — she emerged.
"StyleForge," she said. "Full sync."
Panels slid open, the interface already waiting.
"Valmont Formal Uniform recommended," Lyric offered smoothly. "You're scheduled for high visibility today. Prestige alignment: optimal."
Aria hesitated — just briefly.
Uniforms used to feel like erasure. A silencing of expression. Back home, conformity was the enemy.
But here?
Wearing the uniform wasn't hiding.
It was signaling.
"Confirm,"
Today was about belonging.
StyleForge responded instantly. Threads lifted and shaped around her with tailored precision.
Midnight navy — the standard Valmont base — edged in clean gold piping along the lapels and hem. The Valmont Crest gleamed over her chest: a crown, laurel, and bold "V," embroidered in polished gold thread.
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...
