The Freshers Ceremony ended with murmurs still swirling like smoke across the hall.
Whispers followed Jace as he left—admiration, confusion, irritation, and fear all mixed together.
Some thought he was bold.
Some thought he was stupid.
None could ignore him.
Jace walked out of the auditorium with relaxed steps, hands in his pockets, eyes quietly observing the campus around him. The place was too polished—marble floors, trimmed gardens, fountains shaped like royal crests. St. Alaric Academy was less a school and more a kingdom.
And every kingdom had a ruler.
"Hey—wait up!" someone called behind him.
Jace turned slightly.
It was the boy who had sat next to him earlier—the same one who kept sneaking glances at him during the ceremony. He jogged over, panting lightly but smiling.
"My name's Liam. Liam Carter," he said, extending a hand. "We… we're both scholarship students."
Jace nodded once.
"I figured."
"You were really brave in there," Liam said, awe creeping into his voice. "Nobody ignores Theo's entrance. When he walks in, the whole school practically jumps."
Jace shrugged.
"He walked in. I didn't see a reason to stand."
Liam's jaw slackened.
"You talk like you're from another planet."
Jace didn't reply.
"Since we share the same dorm zone," Liam continued, "I can show you around. So you don't accidentally offend more people."
Jace nodded. "Lead the way."
As they walked, whispers trailed behind them—some soft, some sharp.
Who is he?
He acts like Theo doesn't exist.
He's too confident for a poor kid.
Too handsome… there must be something else about him.
Jace tuned it all out.
Then—
A group of girls approached, their light perfumes mingling with the breeze.
Allison was at the center.
Her walk was slow, graceful, almost bored—but her eyes lifted the moment she noticed Jace.
She stopped walking altogether.
Her friends exchanged glances of interest.
"That's him," one whispered. "The boy who didn't stand for Theo."
Allison stepped forward a little, studying Jace from head to toe. Her gaze was full of curiosity, amusement, and something else—interest.
"You're the new scholarship student," she said.
Jace lifted a brow.
"And?"
Allison's lips curled into a slow, almost wicked smirk.
"You're calm," she said. "Too calm. Most new students shake when they hear Theo's name."
"I don't fear other students," Jace replied.
"You should."
Her eyes glittered. "Especially when they're the prince of this school."
"I'm not interested in school royalty."
Allison's smirk widened.
"Well, you outshined him today. Without even trying."
Then, openly and shamelessly, her gaze traced his jawline, his eyes, his posture.
"You're dangerously handsome," she said casually. "Girls already want to know your name."
Jace remained silent.
She stepped back, amused.
"Careful, Jace. Theo hates competition."
Then she turned and walked off with her friends, pretending not to care even though she glanced once more over her shoulder.
Liam nearly collapsed.
"Jace… that was Allison. And she never talks like that. Ever."
Jace started walking again. "Not interested."
Before Liam could process that, a sudden thud echoed behind them.
A scholarship girl—small, carrying too many books—was shoved to the ground by an elite boy. Her papers scattered everywhere.
"Watch where you're going, low-class trash," the boy snapped.
Liam froze.
Mira, the girl, scrambled to gather her papers with trembling hands.
Jace's steps slowed.
"Jace," Liam whispered urgently, "don't. Just—don't start anything yet—"
But Jace was already moving.
The elite student scoffed when he saw him.
"Oh look, another charity case. What do you want?"
"You pushed her," Jace said calmly. "Apologize."
The elite boy laughed. "Are you stupid? Do you know who I am?"
"No," Jace said. "And I don't care."
The boy attempted to shove Mira again—
Jace caught his wrist mid-air, grip iron-solid.
"What the—let go!"
"Apologize," Jace repeated.
Allison, who had just reached the stairs with her friends, stopped mid-step.
Her eyes widened slightly.
He's really something…
Pain shot through the boy's arm as Jace's grip tightened.
"F-Fine! I'm sorry! Happy?!"
"Pick up her books," Jace added.
Humiliation burned the boy's face, but he bent down quickly, gathered the papers, shoved them toward Mira, and ran off.
Mira stared at Jace with huge eyes.
"T-Thank you… I—my name's Mira."
"Jace."
"You're amazing," she whispered.
Liam groaned. "You're going to get us all in trouble."
Above them, on a balcony overlooking the courtyard, Theo stood very still.
His jaw tightened.
His best friend leaned in.
"That's the kid, Theo. The one who didn't stand."
Theo didn't blink.
"He embarrassed one of my people," he said coldly.
"He's already getting attention. Even Allison—"
"I saw," Theo snapped.
He gripped the railing so hard his knuckles whitened.
"That boy… doesn't know the rules of this school."
His eyes darkened.
"And I'll make sure he learns."
Below, Jace walked beside Liam and Mira, unaware of the storm quietly forming around him.
But one thing was already clear:
Jace had arrived at St. Alaric—
and nothing would ever be the same again.