The next evening, Liliana and Kiribeth met at the inn. Kiribeth's new friend Gwennyth was coming along; she'd be coming to the Academy too!  They all had so much to talk about, and clothes to compare (Liliana's were fancier, they all agreed), and a betrothal ring (Liliana's) to coo about, and magic dancing lights and tinkling bells (Liliana's; the other two of them had bare wrists and low ears and couldn't do any magic) to smile in awe over!

Their carriages drove together from there to the school, and the three of them were in and out of each other's together.  They would have such fun at the Academy!

The first days at the Academy were a whirl of greetings and unpacking and dances and feasts to get to know each other and get to know the new place.  A whirl of chaos, Liliana overheard one of the professors (Master Dermot) say - but surely if so, it was good chaos?  It'd been the best week of her life, as she said to Kiribeth and Gwennyth as they were relaxing in her room the evening before classes started.

And then came the classes.

Well, studying was hard.  But it was easier once she found she could find other students to help, even in ways the professors wouldn't really endorse.  The gossip-circles formed, and firmed up, and morphed in ways she couldn't keep up with by herself.  She found her high title as the Lady Marquesse of Thoarn (eldest daughter of the Duke of Thoarn) actually made some people drop silent as she came over.  But, she found, Kiribeth and Gwennyth were happy to relay her some of the juicy news she couldn't find herself.

And, of course, magic was so amazing.

So, as she went to sleep several weeks into the term, Lady Marquesse Liliana was very happy... 

Lila blinks her eyes open.

Over her feather-soft bed, she sees flower carvings in the ceiling beams.  For a moment, she thinks she's back in Father's castle, with the whole usurper a bad dream.

But then she rolls half-over and sees a rose-cut betrothal ring sitting on her bedside table, just where the dawn light would glint off it.

And she remembers.  She remembers two sets of memories now - no, three sets almost.  Princess Lila's, Lady Liliana's, and then a whole set of "Roses of Villarosa" pageants and pretend-games that felt like Princess Lila had joined in them many times even though she couldn't place when.

She lies blinking for a minute, sorting through the memories and placing things.  She - Lila - had chosen this life.  She - Lila - had chosen the romantic comedy route of the pageants, somehow... she couldn't quite remember why; it'd probably been how everyone would feel more of the storyline that way?  But regardless, she - Liliana - had an enviable fiance, if she - now, both of them - could keep him.

She rubs the elf-sigle on her wrists, as she - Liliana - liked to do sometimes.

Her maid wouldn't be coming for some time unless called; she - Liliana - liked to lay in bed a bit in the morning.

Finally, she - Lila, she reminds herself, whatever role she might have chosen to play - swings herself out of bed.  There's one dark secret she wants to check before starting her new role...

She swings herself out of bed, walks over to the closet, and taps a secret door in her trunk.  For the first time, as she - Liliana - knew, she - herself now; Lila - she holds Father's forbidden magic book.

It's smooth on the hands.  Maybe it's spells; maybe just expensive leather.  She - Liliana - had stolen it again and sneaked it to school.

For a moment, Lila considers burning it.  It would be safer.  And she knows a flame spell now.

She recoils from the thought.  Why would she destroy a plothook so quickly?  But, a new sort of revulsion joins that:  why would she let Other People keep her from her magical birthright?  She wanted to learn the book; why shouldn't she have it!?

Almost before she knows what she's doing, she's locking the forbidden book back in its secret compartment.

"Ah," Lila thinks to herself, chuckling.  "I did say I wanted to be in-character!"