She found Caden in the common room. He was surrounded by other students, all of them talking, asking questions. He looked shocked, his usual confidence gone.
When they saw Elara walk in with her royal guards, the room went silent. Everyone stared. Some students immediately stood up, not sure whether they should bow. Others pulled out their phones and started recording.
Elara walked towards Caden. He stood up.
"Ela…I mean Princess Elara." He said clearly looking uncomfortable.
"Caden." Elara smiled. "I need you to do something for me."
"What?" He asked in a confused tone.
"I'm moving to the royal suite. The one Seraphina used to have. I need someone to carry my belongings from my old dormitory." She paused. "I'd like you to do it."
The room went completely silent. Caden's face went from pale to grey.
"You want me to…"
"Carry my luggage. Is that a problem?" Elara tilted her head. "I mean, you've had me carry your bags dozens of times. Surely, you don't mind returning the favor."
She could see him struggling. He probably wanted to tell her to go to hell. But everyone was watching. But she wasn't just Elara anymore. She was the Crown Princess of Veloria.
"Of course." Caden said through clenched teeth. "It would be my honor."
"Wonderful." Elara smiled. "Follow me."
She turned and walked out of the common room with her guards following her. After a moment, she heard Caden following her as well.
They walked through the school in silence, and word spread fast. By the time they reached her old dormitory, whole school was following them.
Elara opened her door. The room was small, and shabby, with her few belongings scattered around .
"Everything is in those bags." Elara said, pointing to her two suitcases and a backpack. "And be careful. Some of it is fragile."
Caden stared at the luggage like it was a snake. Then, unwillingly, he bent down and picked up the first suitcase.
"The other one too." Elara said. "And the backpack as well. I'm sure you can manage."
His jaw tightened, but he grabbed the second suitcase and slung the backpack over his shoulder.
Caden Blackwell, in his expensive clothes and designer shoes was carrying the shabby luggage of the girl he used to bully.
It was ridiculous.
"Lead the way." He said with sarcasm.
Elara smiled and walked out of the room. The crowd of students parted for her, many of them bowed as she passed.
Behind her, Caden followed with her bags, and she knew that every single person in the school was watching and recording him. This moment would be all over social media within minutes.
When they finally reached the North Wing, the royal suite's door was already open. Elara stepped inside and she was stunned.
The room was huge. It had marble floor with crystal chandeliers, big windows overlooking the lake. There was a king sized bed with silk sheets, a sitting area with plush couches. The bathroom was bigger than her entire old room.
"Put the bags by the closet." Elara said.
Caden walked in and put down her luggage with more force than necessary. He straightened, his face burning with anger and humiliation.
"Anything else?"
Elara walked towards him slowly. The crowd of students was still outside, watching through the open door. She kept her voice low so that only he could hear.
"Do you remember what you told me on my first day here?" She asked. "When you made me carry your bags?"
Caden's jaw clenched.
"No."
"You said, 'Some of that luggage costs more than whatever orphanage you came from.'" Elara smiled. "Funny how things change, isn't it?"
His hands clenched into fists.
"You made me kneel a lot of times." Elara continued. "You made me clean Seraphina's dress while everyone laughed, you threw away the only thing I had from my past, you spent three years making me feel worthless." She stepped even more closer. "So yes, Caden. There will be many more things. And you're going to do every single one of them with a smile."
"You can't…"
"I can. I'm the Crown Princess of Veloria. You're just a rich boy. We are not the same. We will never be the same." Then she raised her voice so that everyone could hear. "Thank you for your help, Caden. You're dismissed."
He stood there for a moment, trembling with rage, and humiliation. Then he turned and walked out, pushing the students without looking at anyone.
Elara watched him go. Then she turned back to her new room and smiled.
"Your Highness." Henrik said from the door. "Shall we post guards outside?"
"No. I prefer my privacy." Elara walked to the window.
Somewhere out there, Caden was probably punching a wall. Seraphina was probably crying in whatever room they'd moved her to. And the rest of the school was learning a valuable lesson about how quickly power could shift.
She'd spent three years at the bottom. Now she was at the top. And she was going to enjoy every single moment of it.