Valmont Series - Inheritance Code

Chapter 5.4 - Surveillance with Better Lighting

The words weren't bitter.

Just... worn. Like she'd tried disappearing before and failed.

"As if who you stand next to matters more than who you are."

She paused.

"As if friendship needs to be optimized."

That line hovered.

Aria gave a dry half-smile.

A reflex. Not a deflection — just something to keep her from answering honestly.

Because Aurora was right.

You didn't have to say the wrong thing. Or make the wrong move.

You just had to be seen with someone the system hadn't finished calculating yet.

"Great. I'll try to stand very still and not inspire any more algorithms."

Aria's voice was dry — the kind of humor you reach for when you're out of options.

But the joke didn't land.

Not even with her.

Because Aurora was right.

They hadn't done anything extraordinary. No declarations. No scandal.

They'd simply been seen.

And now the system was rewriting them in real time — adjusting, forecasting, calculating.

Aria leaned back in her chair, keeping her expression neutral.

She told herself she didn't care.

But her ONYX said otherwise.

It was still blinking.

Not loud. Not urgent.

Just constant.

Allegra didn't flinch.

"You're still less visible than Aria," she said, tone even.

"For now."

She glanced at both of them, then took a sip of her crème.

"The system watches everything," she continued.

"But not everything gets published. Veritas only surfaces what it deems socially relevant."

She swiped her ONYX once.

"And relevance is tied to visibility. The more you're watched by other students, the more detailed your feed becomes.

Proximity. Phrasing. Timestamps. At a certain threshold... even silence gets recorded."

Aurora looked down at her feed again, shoulders tense.

Then softly, almost to herself:

"Maybe I should change Houses."

The comment hung there — not quite a joke, not quite serious.

"Solara feels... measured. Like influence is expected. Art. Culture. Presence."

She looked at Allegra.

"If I joined a quieter House... maybe opting out wouldn't affect my rank."

Allegra didn't dismiss her.

"You can. House transfers are allowed."

She paused.

"But which one would you choose?"

Aurora didn't answer.

Allegra set her glass down gently.

"AVNX recommends Houses based on who you are. Your orientation. Your responses. How you adapt, how you observe.