At Luxford Academy, the elite boarding school for the ultra-rich, Adriana and Nicholas have been bitter rivals since childhood. Forced to live in the same dorm, their once-friendly pranks have escalated into daily clashes-sharp insults, constant bic...
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We're deep into the world of Daphne's imagination, and I have to admit, this tea party is way more fun than I thought it'd be. Katerina's on my left, giggling as she pretends to sip tea from a tiny plastic cup, and Daphne, in her full princess outfit, is seated at the head of the table, taking her role as host very seriously.
"More tea, Lady Adri?" Daphne asks in the most regal voice a three-year-old can muster, holding up a miniature teapot with glitter all over it.
"Oh, absolutely, Your Majesty," I reply with an equally serious tone, holding out my cup. Daphne pours an invisible stream of "tea" into it, and I take a pretend sip, making an exaggerated "Mmm!" sound. Katerina stifles a laugh, trying not to break character.
We're mid-sip when the door to the playroom swings open, and in walks Nick. His expression is the usual calm, unreadable look, but I can see that tiny spark of curiosity in his eyes as he surveys the scene. It's obvious he had no idea what kind of royal operation was going on in here.
The second Daphne spots him, her face lights up like it's Christmas morning.
"Nicky!" she squeals, hopping off her little plastic chair and running toward him. Nick crouches down to catch her, and she flings herself into his arms with the enthusiasm only a toddler can muster.
Nick picks her up easily, settling her on his hip. "What's going on in here?" he asks, looking around at the glitter-covered table and our mismatched tea set with a raised eyebrow.
"We're having a tea party," Katerina explains, rolling her eyes like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "And you're late."
Daphne, already in full princess mode, nods with a serious expression. "You need to be dressed properly," she declares, wriggling out of Nick's arms and marching over to her box of dress-up clothes.
I sit back, hiding my grin behind my cup, knowing exactly where this is going.
"Daphne," Nick says, standing up with a suspicious look on his face. "What do you mean by 'dressed properly'?"
Daphne doesn't answer. Instead, she pulls out a tiny, glittery tiara and a pink tutu skirt, holding them up like they're the crown jewels. "You have to wear these!" she announces, bouncing back over to him.
Nick looks down at the tutu, then back at Daphne, and I can see the war going on behind his eyes. On one hand, he's Nick—cool, calm, and collected. He doesn't wear pink tutus or tiaras. But on the other hand... Daphne is his little sister, and she could probably convince him to do anything.
"Come on, Nicky," I chime in, unable to resist. "Every tea party needs a prince."
Katerina snickers behind her cup. "Or a princess," she whispers, just loud enough for Nick to hear.
Nick shoots me a look that says, 'You're enjoying this way too much', but I just smile sweetly back at him. Daphne's eyes are wide with expectation, and I know there's no way Nick's getting out of this.
