ONE MONTH BEFORE
(Rosalia's POV)
Mariana was a sixteen-year-old girl who had been fighting for her life since she was seven. Her body, fragile and exhausted by years of leukemia treatments, was once again in the hospital room, connected to monitors and machines that kept her heart rate stable. During all those years, she had endured countless medical procedures, endless chemotherapy, and days of isolation. Despite her brave spirit, her body was finally beginning to give way and her light was slowly fading.
In her final moments, her mother and her sister were by her side, holding her hands while they read her favorite novel: A Love Forever. Mariana dreamed of living a love story like that of Diego and Rosalia, with passion and tenderness, but her reality was always marked by hospitals and medical care, preventing her from having a normal life. In her heart, she only hoped that, in her next life, she would have the opportunity to experience a love like that, intense and true.
Suddenly, the alarms on the devices began to sound. Doctors and nurses entered quickly, trying to stabilize her, while her family was removed from the room. They did everything possible, but her body collapsed. Mariana left this world of pain and suffering… but fate had a second chance prepared for her.
When she opened her eyes, Mariana did not recognize the place. She was in an old room, with walls adorned with tapestries and heavy curtains. Everything had an air of the period. Before she could react, a young woman entered, a few years younger than herself, showing determination in every step.
"Come, sister, it is time to get up. The etiquette teacher is coming earlier today, and you know she does not like tardiness," the young woman said, before leaving without giving Mariana time to respond.
Still dazed, Mariana looked for something to wear and the only thing she found were period dresses. She took the first one she saw and left the room, confused and not quite understanding what was happening.
With the passing of the days, she began to understand that she was inside the novel she loved so much, and most surprising: she was Rosalia, her favorite protagonist. Emotion overwhelmed her. There were only eight months left until meeting the Crown Prince, but her heart already beat with the longing to meet him.
One morning, her father, Baron Salvatore, had to go to the palace to discuss matters with the Emperor of the Empire of the Rose. Rosalia, excited at the possibility of getting close to the Prince, insisted on accompanying him. Her father, faced with the young woman's persistence, had no choice but to yield. Thus, together they set off for the palace.
Upon arrival, Rosalia separated from her father and headed quickly to the nearby garden, the place where she knew the Prince spent part of his time. From a distance, she saw Diego trying to avoid Valeria, the fiancée who, according to the novel, constantly harassed him. Seeing that her attempt to catch his attention was not working, Rosalia approached the nearby lake, contemplating her reflection in the water. Frustrated by not being able to capture the Prince's attention, she thought: "If Valeria were not here, I could approach Diego first and live our love story just as it should be."
Without hesitation, she ran toward Valeria and, with determination, pushed her into the lake. Valeria, who did not know how to swim, struggled to get out, sinking rapidly and touching the bottom in her desperation. Rosalia, amidst the cries for help, ran away to avoid being discovered. In her mind, what she had done was not wrong: the novel made it clear that Valeria was a villainess who sought to hinder the happiness of the protagonists. Therefore, she felt no remorse.
Upon reuniting with her father, they returned to the mansion and Rosalia decided to leave behind what had happened, focused on her goal: conquering the Prince.
With the passing of the days, she began to hear rumors circulating from the Delacroix Duchy. It surprised her, because she did not remember those events occurring in the novel, but she did not pay them much attention. What did bother her was that her plan to get rid of Valeria had not worked: thanks to Diego, Valeria had survived the lake. This did not diminish her determination; she knew she must approach the Prince much sooner than foreseen in the story.
Rosalia convinced her father to enroll her in the institute where Diego would study. After so much persistence, the Baron accepted, considering it an opportunity to improve his daughter's marriage prospects.
Finally, Rosalia arrived at the institute that afternoon. She had left her mansion practically at dawn, anxious to meet Diego. What she did not expect was to see the Prince accompanied by Valeria, and much less that he would be more attentive and considerate than usual toward his fiancée.
"(This cannot be happening… surely he behaves like this because he does not know me yet. Yes, that must be it…)" Rosalia told herself, trying to calm the frustration burning in her chest.
From her position, she watched as Diego showed genuine interest in Valeria, making gestures of courtesy and care that she had not seen in the moments described in the novel. Rosalia felt a tingling of jealousy mixed with anxiety. "I must act fast… I cannot wait any longer," she thought.
The following days at the institute were full of tension. Rosalia studied every move of Diego and Valeria, learning their routines and looking for the perfect opportunity to approach. Meanwhile, she also had to adapt to her new life, attending etiquette classes, learning to behave like the Rosalia from the novel, and avoiding calling too much attention to herself so as not to arouse suspicion.
In her mind, a plan was forming. Not only did she have to approach the Prince before the story dictated, but she also had to find a way to show him that she was different, more authentic, and capable of understanding him. Every smile that Diego directed at Valeria hurt her, and every kind gesture made her determination grow stronger.
"(If Valeria thinks she is indispensable, she is going to be mistaken… I will show her that I can be the only one for him)" Rosalia repeated to herself as she walked through the corridors of the institute, with her gaze fixed on every corner where she could find the Prince.
That same afternoon, while the students were dispersing, Rosalia decided to approach carefully. She did not want to be discovered too soon, but her heart urged her to rush into the encounter with Diego. Passing near a large window, she saw how the Prince was smiling distractedly, talking with one of his companions, while Valeria was at his side, trying to catch his attention. Rosalia held her breath.
"(I cannot waste time… I must approach now,)" she whispered, while her steps became resolute.
Fate seemed to play against her, because every time she tried to approach, an obstacle stopped her: students chatting, teachers guarding the corridors, even Valeria appearing at the least expected moment. Rosalia felt the tension increasing within her, but also her excitement. Each failed attempt only reinforced her determination: she had to get Diego to notice her before anyone else.
Finally, after several attempts and dodging curious glances, Rosalia found a moment to position herself near Diego, observing him while he spoke with Maximiliano and Damian. Her heart beat strongly; she knew the first step was to show herself as confident and elegant, like the true Rosalia.
"(Today I will begin our story… even if it is different from the novel, it will be my story,)" she thought, with a mixture of fear and emotion running through every fiber of her being.
That instant marked the beginning of her struggle for the love she had always desired—an intense love, full of passion and sweetness, which she hoped to live completely in this new life. Rosalia was ready to change the course of history and conquer Prince Diego, regardless of the obstacles Valeria might interpose.
The institute, until that moment a neutral and routine place, had been transformed into a silent battlefield, where every gesture, every word, and every glance would have a decisive meaning. And while Rosalia prepared to take her first step, she could not help but smile: at last, the adventure was beginning.