Chapter 4: Exposed

    Seraphina''s Pov

    Dinner time came sooner than I expected, and I sat on my bed, watching as Ashleigh, Jolene, and our last roommate, whose name I''d learned was Liana, all walked out of the room without so much as a glance in my direction.

    They were laughing and chatting about things I couldn''t understand for the life of me, and watching them, I couldn''t help but wish I had what it took to blend into that ease, but instead, I felt like an outsider.

    I considered skipping dinner since I wasn''t sure I could handle being in a dining hall full of students who, whether intentionally or not, would no doubt throw judgmental glances in my direction.

    I also wasn''t even sure how things worked here—where was I supposed to sit? Was there some sort of seating arrangement I didn''t know about? What if I ended up sitting in someone else''s spot and made a fool of myself?

    I sat on the edge of my bed, chewing the inside of my cheek, and thinking to myself that maybe I could just wait until everyone else was done eating.@@@@

    I didn''t feel that hungry anyway, so I could sneak down to the dining hall later when the crowd was much less, grab something quickly, and retreat back here before anyone noticed I was even there. That seemed like a safer plan.

    I stared up at the ceiling, letting my thoughts go all over the place as I listened to the faint sounds of footsteps and voices in the hallway.

    The room felt empty and, oddly enough, comforting. For the first time since I''d arrived, I felt like I could breathe, and even though my stomach wouldn''t stop growling, I ignored it.

    I could handle hunger for a while longer until I was mentally ready to face everyone.

    The sound of the door opening suddenly pulled me from my thoughts, and I sat up quickly, my heart leaping into my throat as Ashleigh stepped back into the room with an annoyed look on her face.

    "Why are you still here?" she asked, her tone harsh. She eyed me wearily, taking in my unchanged clothes and the way I was still sitting in the same spot. "Aren''t you going to have dinner?"

    I stammered, trying to come up with some excuse. "I was just thinking... maybe I''ll go later."

    Ashleigh rolled her eyes, cutting me off before I could even finish the thought. "No, you''re not," she said, folding her arms across her chest. "You''re going to get dressed, and you''re going to meet me outside in five minutes."

    I blinked at her, confused and a little taken aback. "W-what?" I managed to stutter.

    She sighed, clearly impatient. "I''m being kind enough to let you sit with us in the dining hall today, but don''t expect this to be a regular thing, though. It''s just for today. So hurry up."

    I sat there, still stunned.

    Ashleigh was doing me a favor? That didn''t make sense.

    I had barely interacted with her except when I had to introduce myself, and from what I could tell, she wasn''t exactly the warm and welcoming type.

    Yet here she was, telling me to join her and her friends for dinner as if it were some act of charity. I couldn''t decide if I should feel grateful or insulted.

    My hesitation must have shown on my face because Ashleigh gave me a pointed look. "Five minutes, Seraphina. Don''t make me come back here for you."

    With that, she turned and walked out, leaving the door slightly ajar behind her, and I stared after her, my mind racing.

    How many people would I have to introduce myself to and fumble my way through awkward small talk with?

    The mere thought of speaking up in front of all these girls was enough to make my throat feel tight.

    Ashleigh, Jolene, and Liana took their seats casually, and they didn''t even notice how badly I was struggling behind them. I felt awkward, out of place, and completely alone despite the noise and movement around me.

    There was an empty seat beside Ashleigh, and after a moment''s hesitation, I slipped into it, trying not to draw attention to myself.

    I found myself staring around the room, wondering when I was supposed to go and take my food, like we did in the cafeteria at my old school. I wasn''t sure of the rules here, and the last thing I wanted was to make a fool of myself in front of everyone.

    I hoped no one had noticed me looking lost, but of course, that was too much to ask. A girl sitting across from me with short brown hair caught me looking around.

    "The hall staff will serve the table soon," she said. "Just be patient."

    I blinked, surprised that she had spoken to me. I nodded quickly, muttering a barely audible "Thank you."

    I expected her to turn back to Ashleigh and the others to continue whatever conversation they were having, but instead, her attention remained on me.

    "What''s your name?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

    All eyes turned to me, and I wanted to disappear and melt into the floor. Why did she have to ask me that in front of everyone?

    "Seraphina," I managed to say. "Seraphina Hook."

    The girl''s expression was unreadable for a moment before she smiled faintly. "I''m Ofelia." She paused, as if considering something, before asking, "Which kingdom are you from?"

    I swallowed hard, my hands gripping the edges of my chair. "Aldoria," I said, hoping that would be the end of it.

    But as soon as the word left my mouth, her eyes widened. "Aldoria?" she gasped. "I''m from Aldoria too!"

    The other girls were now watching us with interest, and I felt even more trapped.

    Ofelia leaned in a little closer. "Are you by any chance related to General Koran Hook?" she asked. "The major general who married his sister-in-law?"

    The question shocked me; my entire body tensed, and for a moment, I couldn''t move.

    Of course she knew; everyone in Aldoria knew. The scandal had followed my family like a plague.

    My father had married Gianna after my mother''s death, and it had been a topic of conversation in Aldoria for as long as I could remember.

    Now it had followed me here.

    My mouth felt dry, and I struggled to find my voice. "Yes, I am," I finally whispered. "He''s my father."