Q had no idea where Professor Ligarius was leading her, only that the labyrinthine halls of RAPS seemed endless and dazzling, each one more imposing than the last.
The polished marble underfoot reflected the warm golden light spilling from sconces that lined the walls, casting delicate shadows on the pristine plaster. Every turn revealed new wonders: intricately carved pillars that spiraled toward the vaulted ceilings, tapestries woven with threads that glittered faintly, and the soft murmur of a distant fountain echoing like a ghost of the garden she'd glimpsed earlier.
"Keep up, Miss Q." Ligarius called over his shoulder, his tone patient but with an edge that suggested he didn't like to repeat himself.
Q clutched at her skirt, her bare feet padding hastily against the cold marble.
"Where are we going?" she asked, her voice breaking slightly under the weight of so much grandeur.
"You'll see soon enough/" Ligarius replied, his long coat swishing as he turned sharply down another corridor. His strides were purposeful, almost theatrical, as though he were leading her toward something far greater than she could imagine.
At last, they stopped before a pair of massive double doors, their frames carved with intertwining roses and ivy so intricate it felt alive. Ligarius pushed one open with a single fluid motion, stepping aside to let her enter.
Q froze on the threshold, her breath catching as her eyes adjusted to the scene before her.
The room was impossibly grand, dominated by a chandelier so vast it seemed like a galaxy unto itself, its countless crystals catching and refracting the sunlight that streamed in through towering windows. Below, a dozen girls moved with deliberate grace across the mirrored floor, their steps slow and methodical. Books perched precariously atop their heads as they glided back and forth along invisible lines, their postures perfect, their faces serene.
"What… what are they doing?" Q asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Practicing poise," Ligarius answered, his tone matter-of-fact. "A Princess must embody grace, even in the simplest of movements. Such discipline is the foundation of all royal bearing."
Q frowned, tilting her head as she watched the girls. Their gowns shimmered with every step, the silken fabrics whispering against the floor. Their hair was sculpted into elaborate updos, each adorned with delicate pins and ribbons that sparkled like starlight. Everything about them felt foreign, distant, unreal.
"It looks ridiculous." she muttered, though her voice lacked conviction.
And then the memory came, unbidden and sharp, cutting through the opulence around her.
She was sitting under the old willow tree in the Carlton Estate, chewing on a blade of grass while Maddy paced in front of her. A book was balanced precariously on her head, her hands stretched out for balance.
"Why are you doing that?" Q had asked, unable to hide her smirk. "You look like you're about to fall over."
Maddy had glared at her, her face flushed with exertion. "You wouldn't understand."
Q had laughed. "You mean walking like a chicken with a book on its head?"
That had been the final straw. Maddy had yanked the book off her head and plopped down next to Q with a huff.
"You don't even know what poise is," she muttered, her voice tinged with irritation. "You don't even know how to read."
Q's laughter had died in her throat, replaced by a flicker of embarrassment.
"So what if I don't?" she had said defensively. "Books are boring."
"They're not boring," Maddy had said, her tone sharp. "They're important. If you'd just let me teach you—"
"Fine," Q had interrupted, crossing her arms. "Teach me, then."
It had been a disaster. Letters blurred into nonsense, words refused to stick, and by the time the sun dipped below the horizon, both of them were exhausted.
"Reading's not for everyone," Q had muttered, half-apologetic as she slumped against the tree. "I'm tired."
"So am I," Maddy had sighed, brushing dirt off her dress. "Just promise you won't make fun of it anymore."
"I promise." Q had said, and she never had.
Now, standing in this shimmering room, Q felt that memory twist in her chest, sharp and bittersweet. Her gaze swept over the girls again, and for a fleeting moment, she thought she might see Maddy among them, her golden hair catching the light just so.
Then Ligarius's voice snapped her back.
"I'm looking for Madeline Carlton."
Q's heart lurched, her eyes darting around the room as every head turned toward the professor.
And there she was.
Maddy stood near the far wall, her figure framed by the light streaming in through the windows. Her gown shimmered like liquid gold, its cascading layers of fabric so fine they seemed woven from sunlight itself. Tiny flowers were embroidered along the hem, catching the light in a way that made them seem almost alive. Her face, painted with a delicate hand, was the picture of perfection, her lips tinted the color of crushed rose petals.
Q barely recognized her.
For a moment, she simply stared, unable to reconcile this poised, polished figure with the Maddy she had known—the girl who had climbed trees in her garden, her hair forever escaping its braid, her hands smudged with ink and dirt. This Maddy felt distant, unreachable, like a portrait hanging on the walls of RAPS.
But she was still Maddy. That was all that mattered.
"Maddy!" Q's voice broke through the stillness, louder than she intended.
Every head turned toward her, the girls gasping softly as she stepped forward. Her boots clacked against the floor, a harsh contrast to the gentle whispers of silk and satin that filled the room. Ligarius's sharp "Miss Q, wait!" was lost in the rush of her steps as she closed the distance between them.
"Maddy, it's me!" Q called, her voice breaking with the weight of her relief.
But Maddy didn't move. Her expression was frozen, her lips slightly parted as though she couldn't quite believe what she was seeing.
Q reached out, her arms wide, ready to pull Maddy into the kind of hug that could erase all the distance between them.
At the last moment, Maddy stepped back.
The rejection was a physical thing, hitting Q like a slap. She stumbled, her arms falling awkwardly to her sides as she stared at her friend, confusion clouding her features.
"What are you doing here, Q?" Maddy's voice was sharp, cutting through the stunned silence that had fallen over the room.
Q blinked, her heart pounding.
"I came to see you," she said, her voice trembling. "I missed you."
Maddy's face hardened, her cheeks coloring—not with joy, but with something closer to embarrassment. Her hands clenched at her sides, her knuckles pale against the shimmering fabric of her gown.
"You're embarrassing me," Maddy interrupted, her voice rising slightly. Her hands clenched at her sides, her knuckles white. "Do you have any idea where you are? What this is?"
Q's face crumpled, her tears threatening to spill. "I just wanted to see you. I missed you."
Maddy's glare only deepened, her lips pressing into a thin line.
"You can't just barge in here like this-"
Q staggered back a step, her breath catching in her throat.
Maddy opened her mouth to say something more, but one of the girls beside her grabbed her arm, whispering something into her ear. Maddy glanced around the room, noticing the growing number of stares and murmurs directed at them.
Her expression shifted, her glare softening slightly, though her tone remained cold.
"Go back home, Q. You shouldn't have come here."