After her afternoon class wrapped up, Rosalia was meticulous about avoiding Caris. She packed her things quickly and slipped out through the side exit before the girl could even approach her.

Class had been a wake-up call, though. The lecturer had announced an upcoming practical assessment. Because Rosalia had been admitted late into the semester, the coursework was already well underway, and this assessment was crucial to make up for missed time. The assignment was simple yet demanding: sketch a series of original dress designs, source the fabrics, and present the completed sketches along with material swatches to the class in ten days.

When she got back to the villa,...