Or she'd simply decided it wasn't allowed to be.
She tilted her head, eyes narrowing just slightly.
"This is about the key, isn't it?"
Aria's tone was casual, but her gaze wasn't.
Aiden nodded once.
"The key. The system shift. And mostly—why us?"
He exhaled slowly.
"What it's trying to tell us. And what our family has to do with Avalon."
Aria's eyes flicked to his jacket.
"Do you have yours with you?"
It wasn't curiosity. It was calculation.
She hadn't brought hers.
No need to.
Her uniform was immaculate, hair pinned just enough to look effortless, just controlled enough to remind people she belonged. Every step she took was being recorded—by Veritas, by students, by rivals who smiled too quickly.
She was playing a different game—one that didn't involve chasing mysteries.
At least, not publicly.
"That's the plan," Aiden said quietly.
They'd had the key all along—just hadn't seen it for what it was.
Not until last night.
She didn't respond right away. Just watched him. Measuring.
"You know it's going to react again."
"I'm counting on it."
She shrugged, adjusting the cuff of her blazer like the topic barely registered.
"Mine's still in the drawer. Figured if it turns out to be dangerous, you'd set it off first."
Aiden gave her a sideways glance.
"Appreciate the trust."
Aria smiled—calm, composed, just slightly smug.
"Oh, always."
She stepped past him, eyes already drifting toward the Astria Platform—
—and then the air shimmered.
A notification blinked into view:
[Prestige Link Request – Accepted | Celia Huang]
They both paused.
No one else around.
Just the quiet weight of shared knowledge settling between them.
Aiden spoke first, low and even.
"We don't tell anyone yet."
Aria didn't argue.
She just nodded once, eyes scanning the empty courtyard.
"Agreed."
A second notification surfaced—clean, immediate:
[Veritas: Celia Huang]
— "Legacy Courtyard. I'll meet you there."
[Veritas: Aiden Lancaster]
— "Already here."
The flicker on his interface caught her eye.
She tilted her head, smirking.
"Celia Huang?"
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...
Chapter 6.3 - Courtyard Convergence
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