CROWNS ACADEMY || A Royalty's Academia Book Series #1

෴VOLUME [39]෴

Rai's POV

The months went by uneventful until Halloween break. I decided to surprise my friends with a trip to the Maldives. I rented a top tier villa for the whole week.

"I'm so excited, I've always wanted to go to the Maldives." Lex said, holding up two tops to compare which one to pack.
"You're always excited about something princess Lexandra." I replied with a subtle smile.

We all met at the villa before going to our jet to the Maldives.
෴

The soft hum of the private jet’s engines was a gentle lull, carrying us away from the frenetic energy of Crowns Academy to a place where the only noise was the whisper of the waves and the call of distant birds. The Maldives  felt like a dream — one of those beautiful places you’ve only ever seen in pictures, but never imagined you’d set foot in yourself.

The sky was an endless gradient of blue, from the softest baby blue near the horizon to the deep, rich azure above. Below, the crystal-clear waters shimmered like liquid glass, interrupted only by the streaks of white foam as the waves lapped at the white sand. It was perfect. And yet, in the middle of all this perfection, I couldn’t shake the thoughts that clung to me like a shadow.

Nature really is breathtaking

I glanced across the jet at my friends, their laughter echoing around me. Tinku was flipping through a fashion magazine, her eyes scanning every detail for inspiration. Silantoi was leaning against the window, her fingers tracing the outline of a map of the islands. She seemed lost in thought, her elegant posture as graceful as always. Sasha was next to her, chatting animatedly about something she had seen on Instagram, while Csan and Siin, who had both been joking loudly about who was the better swimmer, tried to outdo each other with exaggerated tales of their past exploits.

Liam sat beside me, close enough that I could feel his presence, even though the distance between us was only an arm’s length. He was reading, his brow furrowed slightly in concentration. For a moment, I wondered what he was thinking. I knew he was always so composed, never showing any cracks in his armor, but the deeper I got to know him, the more I realized how much weight he carried — a weight I could only guess at. The responsibilities of being a future king, of leading his people, of making impossible decisions.

And then there was me. 

“What are you thinking about?” Liam’s voice broke through my reverie, low and calm, but laced with a hint of curiosity. 

I turned to look at him, my heart skipping a beat. “Just… everything, I guess.” 

He raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching into a smile. “Everything?” 

“Yeah.” I let out a soft laugh. “The academy, the fashion show, the trip, the future… It’s all a bit much, don’t you think?” 

His gaze softened, and he reached over, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “I know the feeling. But you’ve got a good heart, Stargazer. And we’re all here with you, remember?” 

I nodded, trying to swallow the lump that had formed in my throat. I wanted to believe him. But some days, the weight of the crown felt heavier than anything I had ever imagined. 

I turned my attention back to the island below. We were approaching our destination, and the boat ride to the private villa would be the next part of the adventure.

As we disembarked from the jet and boarded the boats that would take us to our island paradise, the air seemed to shift. It was fresher here — the salt of the ocean carried on the breeze, mingling with the scent of tropical flowers and fresh fruit. The sun was beginning its slow descent toward the horizon, casting the sky in hues of gold and pink. For the first time in a long time, I allowed myself to relax. To breathe.