CHAPTER 1: RING! RING! RING! My alarm shrieked like it was trying to wake the whole mansion. I was already awake, of course. How could I sleep? Today was the day. After exactly two weeks and five days of negotiations, Father had finally agreed to let me attend Collège Françoise Dupont. An actual school. With actual classmates. I’d never been to one before — first Mother homeschooled me, then Nathalie took over. But this… this felt like a chance at something normal. There was one condition, though. I wasn’t allowed to bring my cane. Father said it would “draw unnecessary attention.” I told him I didn’t mind, and maybe I don’t — I’ll just have to walk slower and take my medicine more often. It’s fine. It has to be. I got ready faster than I ever have in my life. Dark red blazer, black tie hanging loosely around my neck, black trousers. Shirt untucked — a tiny rebellion — and hair styled just right. I grabbed my cane anyway for the walk downstairs. The dining hall was as huge and empty as always. My breakfast sat waiting for me, steam curling up from the single plain pancake I get every morning. I half‑hoped Father might be there to send me off, just this once. He wasn’t. Nathalie walked in instead, clipboard tucked under her arm, her expression already tight with stress. “Good morning, Nathalie,” I said. She gave me a small smile — her version of warmth — before returning to her notes. “Is Father… joining me?” I asked, even though I knew the answer. She shook her head. “He is—” “Busy. As usual.” The words slipped out before I could stop them. Suddenly, I didn’t feel hungry anymore. The pancake looked even more unappetizing than usual. I pushed back from the table and decided I might as well head out early. Outside, one of our black limos waited in the driveway. My bodyguard was wiping down the windows, humming silently to himself. He looked up when he saw me and waved. I waved back. He can’t speak, so I don’t know his real name. But he lets me call him Gorilla. It suits him — big, strong, gentle. And today, he’s the only one here to see me off.
