She scoffed at the inner voice. Disappointed? Princess Jaya Rao was never disappointed, let alone by an Emerson. If Grey Emerson thought she was going to be put off that easily, he was wrong. Jaya knew she just needed to chip away a little bit longer. Success was right around the next bend, calling her name over its golden shoulder.

Later that day, Jaya set her laptop down on the polished wood desk in the library. The wind howled outside, announcing winter’s steady encroachment. Jaya felt safe, ensconced in the warm cocoon of books. They had a big test coming up in calculus, one Leo had called “epic.” Hearing it in his French accent had caused Rahul to ask him to repeat himself about seventeen times, which had then sent Daphne Elizabeth into peals of laughter.

Jaya smiled at the memory. Things had changed immensely since she’d first arrived at St. Rosetta’s. She now had friends here, something she’d never thought possible. They wouldn’t be her friends after she’d successfully executed her plan, but at least she had them for now. That was something.

She turned on her computer and logged into her email account. There was one unread message (from Kiran; he never texted and refused to use his phone to email people out of some unfathomable sense of propriety and etiquette).

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Subject: Hi from Kiran

Jaya,

It has now been nearly four months since Isha’s incident this summer. Things have died down in the Media, but not entirely. When you both left, it picked back up again.

My Family has had some doubts about our possible Alliance, but don’t panic. I believe I have calmed them down. I still believe an Alliance could be beneficial to both royal estates. Of course, how this all plays out remains to be seen.

Anyway, I wanted to tell you I am thinking of you. How is Aspen? I am sure the Boarding School situation is not ideal. Girls in trouble need their Parents, we all know that. But stay strong for your Family. You are the Heiress, and as an Heir myself, I believe we must do what’s best for our Kingdoms.

I will write again soon.

Sincerely,

Rajkumar Kiran Hegde

Jaya tried not to glare at her computer screen, but it was a trial. Although she and Kiran did indeed share many things in common, she’d forgotten about Kiran’s propensity for acting like he was a concerned uncle, rather than her peer. Kiran was one of those guys who thought Jaya’s X chromosome stood for “xplain things to me.” Things that were currently irritating Jaya about his email: