An Unexpected Revelation
Valeria was walking with a serene step toward the dining hall of the imperial boarding school, after having finished a long day of classes. The afternoon sun filtered through the large windows, tinting the corridors in golden tones. Just when she was about to turn the last corner, a female voice called her with some shyness.
"Miss Valeria? May I speak with you for a moment?"
The young woman turned, surprised by that unexpected call. Before her stood a girl with a delicate face, although visibly nervous, with her hands clasped in front of her as if she feared saying something improper.
"Of course," Valeria responded with kindness. "Do I know you, Miss?"
"I do not think so…" the girl hurried to introduce herself. "My name is Rosalia Salvatore, a pleasure to meet you."
Valeria's heart skipped a beat. The name had struck her memory like a lightning bolt, forcing her to maintain her composure.
(No… it cannot be. She should not be here yet. According to what I remembered from the novel, Rosalia was supposed to appear months later. What is she doing here so soon?)
Valeria took a deep breath, forcing herself to smile.
"I say the same. But tell me, what did you want to speak to me about, Miss Salvatore?"
Rosalia hesitated for a moment, as if searching for the right words.
"I do not know how to say this… are you familiar with a novel called A Love Forever?"
Valeria's face hardened immediately.
"What? Where do you know that name from?"
"From my world," Rosalia answered bluntly.
Valeria froze.
"That means that you…"
"Yes," the girl nodded with sincerity. "I am a reincarnated soul. And, apparently, you are too."
Valeria watched her in disbelief, then leaned back with a bitter smile.
"Oh, my God. Of course… what made me think I was the only one here? But tell me, what else do you know?"
"Of course. But… would you like to get something to drink while we talk?"
"All right, let's go."
Both entered the dining hall, where the aroma of freshly served tea and newly baked sweets permeated the air. After ordering a teapot and some snacks, they sought a secluded table by the windows to talk in peace. As soon as they sat down, Rosalia took the floor again.
"First of all, let me introduce myself properly. My real name is Mariana. I was sixteen years old in my world and… well, I was from Peru."
Valeria nodded, still processing everything.
"I will introduce myself too. My real name was Luz, I was twenty-three years old and lived in Argentina."
Rosalia blinked in astonishment.
"How long ago did you wake up here?"
"A little over a month. And you?"
"Six or seven weeks, perhaps. And I have to confess something to you…" the girl's voice trembled. "I hope you do not judge me, but… I caused your accident. I… I pushed you into the lake."
The freshly served tea was forgotten between them. Valeria's eyes widened, incredulous.
"What are you saying? Do you have any idea what you did?" her voice rose more than it should, drawing some curious glances. She quickly lowered her tone, leaning toward her. "You killed the true Valeria! After that accident, I took her place."
"I know… and you have no idea how much I regret it," Rosalia broke into tears, clutching her handkerchief tightly. "I only wanted to live my own epic love story with the Prince. I thought that if I removed you from the beginning, I could be happy sooner. I believed the story had to develop as it did in the novel…"
Valeria pressed her lips together.
"What you did was wrong, very wrong. But… I cannot say I am angry, because thanks to that, I am here. Just one thing: why did you say wanted? Do you no longer desire it?"
The girl slowly regained her calm.
"Exactly that. I was wrong. I ask your forgiveness for my actions; I know nothing justifies them. I promise never to do anything against you again. I said wanted because I realized this is not the novel we read. Things changed too much."
"Changed? In what way?"
"I have already presented myself before the Prince, and nothing happened."
Valeria looked at her with suspicion.
"What do you mean by nothing happened?"
"In the novel, just by seeing me, he was supposed to be captivated, in love at first sight… but it did not happen. I tried to approach him, but the Prince only has eyes for you."
The blush rose to Valeria's face without her being able to prevent it. She did not expect to hear something like that from the lips of the heroine of her favorite story, much less that she was also a reincarnated soul.
The conversation continued between confessions and memories of their deaths. Valeria shared the loneliness of her final days in her world, while Rosalia revealed that she had spent most of her short life within the walls of a hospital. That had led her to idealize the love stories her sister read to her. Understanding her desperation did not justify her actions, but Valeria understood the root of her impulse.
"I would like to be your friend, Valeria," Rosalia finally said, with a sincere look. "I know I did not start on the right foot, but I swear I will never do anything against you again."
Valeria observed her in silence for a few seconds, then sighed.
"Let's forget that and start anew. As I said, I do not justify what you did, but thanks to you I had the opportunity to have a family."
"Thank you, Valeria. You have a great heart."
A brief, comfortable silence stretched between them, interrupted when a figure appeared in the dining hall.
"Hello, ladies. Do you mind if I join you?" Prince Abel asked with a charming smile.
"Oh… Prince Abel," Valeria said, somewhat nervously. "Of course, for my part there is no problem."
"Nor for mine," Rosalia responded.
"Excellent," Abel said as he took a seat. "And tell me, how long have you been friends?"
"Just a few minutes," Rosalia answered naturally. "Miss Valeria is very kind; she helped me with a few things."
The Prince smiled, pleased.
"Is that so? Then I too would like to be your friend, Miss Valeria. Today I met Miss Rosalia and I would like to count on your friendship as well."
Before Valeria could respond, a firm voice loaded with annoyance broke in from behind them.
"She cannot."
The three of them turned in surprise. There stood Crown Prince Diego, with a furrowed brow and an expression that mixed rage and barely contained jealousy.
"Prince Diego…" Abel said with a hint of irony. "Could you explain to me why Miss Valeria cannot be my friend as well?"
Valeria blinked, incredulous. At what moment had Diego appeared? And, above all, why did he always arrive at the precise instant to speak for her?
"Yes, Diego," she replied firmly. "Can you tell me why I cannot be friends with Prince Abel?"
Diego's eyes darkened, struggling between rage and the desire not to ruin the fragile progress he had achieved with Valeria. He remained silent, but inside he was dying to scream in Abel's face that he could not be her friend because she was his.
Rosalia, noticing the tension about to explode, intervened quickly.
"Ehm… well, I think it is time for us to withdraw, right, Prince Abel?"
"I… cough, cough… yes, we were just leaving," Abel said, grudgingly. The girl gave him a discreet elbow in the ribs to force him to stand up. The pain made him react and, although he did not want to, he ended up agreeing to leave before the situation escalated.
Valeria observed the scene with a mixture of surprise and amusement. Rosalia returned a knowing look, as if assuring her that she was controlling the situation. When Abel and she withdrew, Valeria turned back toward Diego.
She stared at him, with a furrowed brow.
"Very well, Diego. I am waiting for your answer. What exactly is your problem with Prince Abel?"
The air between them grew tense, charged with emotions that neither dared to let overflow yet.