After registering, Diego accompanied Valeria to her room. Following them was Clara, who was assigned a service room next to her mistress's.
"It is here, Miss Valeria. I hope to see you tomorrow at breakfast time," Diego said with formality, though a slight blush covered his cheeks.
"Thank you for everything, Highness, but there is no need to exaggerate," Valeria responded, in a serene tone. "I know you are doing all this so that people believe our engagement still stands, but as long as neither of us says it has been canceled, that is more than enough. There is no need for so much acting."
"And who says I am acting?" Diego replied, with a deep gaze. "I know that in the past I behaved badly toward you, but I would like to remedy it and for us to become closer."
"As I understand it, was that not what I wanted in the past and you always avoided it?" Valeria murmured with a certain irony. "Forgive me, Prince Diego, but I am tired. The trip was exhausting and I need to rest. If you permit me, I will go to sleep. You should do the same. Goodbye."
Having said this, Valeria turned around and entered her room without waiting for a response. Diego remained standing for a few seconds, frustrated. It was evident that Valeria had completely lost interest in him, but that would not stop him. He had the firm intention of winning her back; even if she said she never loved him, he did not believe those words.
Meanwhile, Valeria let herself fall onto the bed and became pensive. She did not understand Diego's behavior. In the novel, he had always despised her, and she herself had witnessed that attitude during the walk through the garden of the Delacroix Duchy.
"Whatever is happening to this little prince, it will surely disappear when he meets Miss Rosalia. Better to maintain distance," she said to herself, trying to convince herself not to yield to the attraction that, despite everything, she felt.
Although Diego could be an idiot with the original Valeria, it could not be denied that he was an attractive young man: he had a charming smile, eyes capable of hypnotizing, and a bearing that was difficult to ignore. Valeria understood why the original owner of the body had been in love with him. Even so, she had to remain firm; letting herself be carried away by those feelings could mean her end.
The next morning, Clara helped Valeria prepare before heading toward the dining hall. The young woman ordered her breakfast and sought a table away from the curious glances that followed her every move. She found an empty, quiet table, but her peace was short-lived: a group of girls approached with expressions of annoyance.
"Miss Valeria, were you not planning to approach your friends? Three months of vacation and you have already forgotten us," Emily said, her voice heavy with reproach.
"Yes, Valeria, were you planning to ignore us?" Sofia added.
"Come on girls, let her speak. Surely she has a good excuse for not having been in touch this last month, and on top of that she ignores us upon arrival," Esmeralda intervened.
Valeria was being bombarded by the seven girls who stood before her. These were friends of the old Valeria—or rather, friends of the villainess she intended to save from her tragic fate.
"Forgive me, ladies, but I do not remember you," Valeria responded with sincerity. "I had an accident and I remember nothing of who I was before."
Upon hearing this, the girls felt bad. They could not imagine what their friend must be going through in those moments. Vanessa lunged toward her and hugged her tightly:
"Oh, my God, Valeria! I am so sorry. It was not our intention to make you feel bad. We were just worried about you. I am Vanessa Martinez."
"Forgive us, Valeria. We knew nothing of your situation. I am Sofia Gray."
"I am Cristiana Saenz, and between us, I am your favorite friend," she said with a mischievous smile.
"Do not lie to her, Cristina. You love us all equally… though me a little bit more. I am Emily Barbosa," she added, smiling.
"Now girls, do not fight. Let me introduce myself, I am Esmeralda Vasquez."
"Esme is right, do not fight. I am Susan Garcia," intervened another of the girls.
"But tell us, how did it happen? I am Amanda Rios," said the last one, showing genuine concern.
Valeria observed Amanda with special attention. Although the girl had not harmed her, she had to be careful; beneath that innocent appearance was hidden the reincarnation of Judas in person.
"I am not sure… I fell into the palace lake. The second prince, Damian, saw me by chance and pulled me unconscious from the water," Valeria explained calmly.
"Oh, my God, Valeria! But how good it is that you are well," Emily said, relieved.
"Do not worry. We will help you in everything we can," Sofia added.
While the girls talked with Valeria and brought her up to date, Diego observed from afar with a furrowed brow. He wanted to approach her and share breakfast, but just as he was making his way toward the table, a young woman feigned a trip in front of him. Diego, accustomed to this type of trick to catch his attention, dodged her skillfully, but the distraction made him lose a crucial moment.
When he turned his gaze back to Valeria, he saw that a group of girls surrounded her and had sat beside her. This annoyed him deeply; thanks to the distraction of the fallen young woman, he had lost the opportunity to be alone with Valeria. Coldly, he turned to the girl on the floor:
"Be more careful next time," he said, in a tone that chilled the blood.
Without another word, Diego turned around and headed to sit with his brother, Damian, who had observed the whole scene. Seeing his brother's serious face, he could not help but smile. It seemed curious to him how Diego had changed lately; not even he recognized himself in the attitude he was showing. Even so, he preferred to remain silent. He knew that with Diego's explosive mood, any comment could lead to a dispute between them.
Valeria, meanwhile, sat with her friends, trying to maintain her composure and control her emotions. She knew Diego was nearby, and although her interest in him was minimal, she could not deny that she felt a certain discomfort knowing that he was watching her. The tension was palpable: every gesture, every look, every word could be interpreted differently.
The friends continued bringing her up to date, reminding her of the events of the last month and sharing anecdotes that Valeria could barely process. However, in her mind, the memory of Diego remained—his posture, his bearing, and that mixture of severity and charm that made him irresistible even to someone like her, who did not want to become emotionally involved.
While having breakfast, Valeria decided to maintain her distance. She knew that approaching Diego, even a little, could put her at risk. Not because of him, but because of the complex web of stories that surrounded her: Rosalia's fate, the plot of the novel, and her own mission to protect herself and others.
Diego, for his part, did not stop observing her. Every move of Valeria's was an opportunity to approach, to understand her better and, above all, to try to redeem himself for the mistakes of the past. Although he had not yet managed to get close, his determination was firm: he would not let the first encounter at the institute go unnoticed.
Breakfast passed among conversations, furtive glances, and silences charged with tension. Valeria remained alert, aware that every word could be used against her, while Diego mentally traced strategies to win her attention. That day marked a new beginning: the story they thought they knew was about to change, and both Valeria and Diego were determined to write it in their own way.