Adrian's 15th birthday.

  The grand ballroom of the Vale mansion gleamed with opulence, the soft glow of chandeliers casting a golden hue over the extravagant guests. Seraphina Duvall, at 16, was no stranger to such gatherings.

  She had attended many high-society events throughout her life, but this one felt different—this one was the event. The Vale family was one of the most influential in the country, and she, a minor investor’s daughter, was a small fish in their grand pond.

  Her father, ever the humble businessman, kept close to her side, conversing with a few of the other guests. Seraphina, dressed elegantly, looked out at the sea of influential faces, her mind preoccupied with the upcoming year.

  She had worked hard to get into Vermillion Crown Academy, something her father was quietly proud of, but they still had a long way to go to truly gain the Vales' respect.

  At that moment, her father’s voice broke through her thoughts.

  “Ah, Lucian, it’s a pleasure to see you again,” her father said, his tone polite but deferential, a clear respect in his voice.

  Seraphina turned, trying to mask her nervousness. Lucian Vale, the patriarch of the Vale family, approached with his son, Adrian. Adrian, at just 15, was a year younger than Seraphina but already had the air of someone important—someone who carried an unmistakable aura of confidence and entitlement. His presence commanded attention, even in a crowd like this.

  Lucian greeted Seraphina’s father warmly, while Adrian stood by, looking completely uninterested in the exchange. His eyes scanned the room, clearly lost in his own world, and he paid little attention to the adults talking in front of him.

  “Ah, Seraphina,” Lucian said, turning to her with a polite smile. “I believe your family has been a supporter of our business ventures for some time now. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

  Seraphina stood up straighter, giving a small, practiced smile. “It’s an honor, Mr. Vale,” she said, her voice steady but betraying a hint of nervousness. “I admire your family’s work.”

  Her father, eager to make an impression, added, “Seraphina is working hard to get into Vermillion Crown Academy. She’s determined, and we have high hopes she will succeed.”

  Seraphina felt a slight flush on her cheeks at her father’s words, but she quickly suppressed it. She knew her father didn’t intend to boast; he was simply proud of her hard work.

  Lucian nodded approvingly. “I’m sure you’ll do well. Vermillion Crown is a prestigious academy, and we are happy to support the future of young talent.”

  It was then that Seraphina’s eyes drifted towards Adrian. She had hoped for a moment—just a glance, perhaps—that he would acknowledge her. But Adrian’s eyes were fixed somewhere else.

  Her stomach tightened slightly as she realized that, to him, she was nothing more than a passing face in the crowd. Adrian didn’t even look at her long enough to offer a polite nod. His disinterest was palpable.

  Her father, unaware of her momentary discomfort, continued the conversation with Lucian, but Seraphina felt an odd flutter in her chest. It was irrational, but the more Adrian seemed to ignore her, the more determined she became. Why didn’t he care? Why wasn’t he interested?

  For the briefest moment, their eyes met—just a fleeting glance—but it was enough to make Seraphina’s heart skip a beat. He’s different, she thought, detached, above it all. And that was precisely what intrigued her. She was used to being the center of attention, but Adrian didn’t even acknowledge her existence.

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  Something clicked in Seraphina’s mind—only someone like him could understand what it’s like to live in a world where every move was scrutinized. Only someone like him could be worthy of standing beside her.

  She forced herself to push the thought away, her mind still racing with the strange certainty that, one day, she and Adrian would be on the same level, that they would match. She would be the one who could understand his world, and he, the one who could understand hers. But for now, she would wait. And the next time their paths crossed, she would make sure he knew who she was.

  ?

  Two years later, finally she could set her foot in the Vermillion Crown Academy.

  The Vermillion Crown Conference was the most anticipated event of the academic year. Hosted within the grand hall of the university, it brought together the brightest students, guest scholars, and visiting professionals from across the country. For most, it was a chance to learn or to network. But for Seraphina Duvall, it was a stage—one she had claimed with care and purpose.

  She was proud of it. Not everyone could maneuver their way into becoming the personal assistant to Adrian Vale, the youngest neuroscience prodigy on campus, barely seventeen yet already carrying the weight of a name that echoed in both scientific and financial circles. It hadn't been easy. But she wasn’t just anyone—she was the granddaughter of the university principal, and she had asked for this. Directly.

  Her grandfather, after much persuasion, agreed. The Vale family were major sponsors of Vermillion. The gesture, he told her, might help deepen ties. Seraphina had nodded politely, but inwardly, she thought only of Adrian.

  She had watched him from afar for over a year now. Distant. Detached. Unapproachable. He never mingled with campus groups or attended student events. He never sought approval or recognition. Seraphina had convinced herself it wasn’t arrogance—it was simply that no one had ever been worth his time.

  Until her.

  She arrived at the conference hall early that morning, tablet in hand, headset on, a clipboard tucked under her arm. She had reviewed the full schedule three times, personally contacted the room technicians, adjusted the lighting preferences Adrian had submitted, even modified the presentation slot to allow for an extended Q&A.

  When Adrian arrived—precisely seven minutes before his session—he didn’t greet her. He walked in with quiet purpose, carrying only a slim black case. His eyes scanned the room, not for her, but for the technical setup. Seraphina approached him confidently.

  "Everything is set. I made sure the lighting is as specified. Your panel was shifted slightly to avoid overlap with the biotech segment. And the neurologists will meet you after."

  He didn’t respond, not with a nod or word. He simply moved past her to check the system himself. The first sign of trouble came quickly. The lighting, which she'd confirmed with the technician, wasn’t correctly calibrated. Adrian fixed it himself in seconds. She hadn’t noticed the projectors casting a faint glare over the lower seating area.

  Next came a timing issue—the Q&A she’d adjusted ran into a panel Adrian had no intention of missing. He cancelled his session early and left the stage without speaking to anyone.

  She followed quickly, apologizing for the miscommunication. He didn’t acknowledge it. She still held her clipboard, flipping pages frantically, checking what went wrong. She was certain she’d been meticulous.

  But it was later, after the session ended, that the real problem unfolded.

  The neurologist Adrian was supposed to meet—one of the few interactions he had agreed to—had waited in the wrong hall. Seraphina had mistakenly double-booked the reserved room with a business innovation panel. By the time the mix-up was discovered, they were gone.

  Adrian didn’t comment. He didn’t confront her or ask for explanations. He simply left, the case under his arm, expression unreadable.

  Seraphina stood in the corridor long after everyone else had dispersed. Her headset was off. The clipboard hung limp by her side.

  She’d worked harder for this than anything else since entering Vermillion. She thought she could impress him or, at the very least, earn a single word of acknowledgement. But he hadn’t even looked at her long enough to register her name.

  A few days later, she overheard one of the senior staff in the administrative office.

  "Vale declined any future student assistance. He’ll manage all logistics himself. Even from the principal’s office, he said no exceptions."

  Seraphina walked past like she hadn’t heard a thing. But that night, alone in her room, she sat silently for a long time, staring at her notes and charts, wondering what it would take to ever stand beside someone like him—not as an assistant, not as a student, but as an equal.

  He didn’t remember her name.

  But one day, he would.

  ?