As the hum of animated conversation filled the room, everyone seemed to be engrossed in their own little worlds, exchanging laughs and whispers. In stark contrast, Leo sat quietly in his seat, his expression as blank and emotionless as ever. He observed the lively atmosphere around him with an air of detached indifference, as if the chatter of his classmates was nothing more than a distant echo.
*Suddenly, the door open once again.*
All heads turned as a strikingly beautiful woman stepped into the room. She glided toward the center with an effortless grace, commanding attention without uttering a word. It was clear that she was in her late twenties, possessing a refined elegance that drew everyone's gaze. Once settled, she offered a warm smile and introduced herself.
"Hello, everyone! I'm Agnes Scarlet, and I'll be your advisor starting today. It's a pleasure to meet you all," she announced, her voice melodic and inviting.
"Yes, Miss," the students replied in unison, though Leo merely acknowledged her with a slight nod.
Inside, Agnes couldn't help but feel a twinge of confusion. This was the moment she usually captivated her audience, yet the students, particularly Leo, seemed unimpressed—almost unmoved by her stunning appearance. 'What's going on?' she wondered. 'Why aren't they awestruck by my beauty like the others typically are?' It was in her moment of contemplation that her gaze landed on Leo.
'Wow, who is that guy?' she thought, a hint of melancholy creeping into her demeanor. 'I suppose their eyes are drawn elsewhere when a striking figure like him is in the room.'
Switching gears, Agnes began to call the roll, her voice full of authority. "I'll be checking attendance now. Leo Victor Raven?"
"Here," came the calm, measured response from Leo.
Agnes was momentarily taken aback. 'So, the handsome newcomer is the top student,' she reflected, realizing she hadn't bothered to check the rankings before her arrival due to a tinge of laziness.
"Kevin Dover?"
"Present," replied another student.
'Interesting,' Agnes noted, turning her attention to him. The handsome Kevin certainly had his charm, but in a fleeting comparison to Leo, it felt as though she was juxtaposing Earth against the heavens.
"Ren Voss?" she called out next.
"Here," responded Ren, who also possessed striking features that drew Agnes's attention. 'It seems this class is brimming with beauty,' she mused, yet she couldn't help but evaluate them through a lens of superficial judgment, favoring only those who met her high standards of attractiveness. It was a quirk of hers, one she usually found amusing, but now she felt a bit unsettled among such remarkable peers.
"And finally, Melissa Shinestone?" she announced, her voice rising slightly as silence blanketed the room.
When no answer came, Agnes repeated, "Melissa Shinestone—"
***
*Melissa's POV*
Inside her cluttered room, chaos reigned supreme as Melissa, the sole heiress of the prestigious Shinestone royal family, was caught in a frantic rush. "Oh God, I'm going to be late!" she exclaimed, her heart racing as she scrambled to find her shoes. She groaned, harshly reminding herself that she had overslept.
"It's the first day, and I can't afford to show up tardy!" she panicked, imagining the judgmental stare of the school's top-ranked student.
With her dorm door flung open, she sprinted down the dimly lit hallway, the silence amplifying the sound of her hurried footsteps. 'Am I going to have to do this every day? Wake up at this insane hour?' The thought weighed heavily on her mind, and for a brief moment, she questioned her decision to enroll in this academy.
But then a stern reminder from her mother emerged, echoing in her thoughts: *"Melissa, if you're not in the top ten by midterms, I'll throw away all your precious mangas!"*
"What kind of threat is that?" she muttered under her breath as the classroom door came into view. She pushed through, panting.
"Melissa Shinestone—" Agnes was about to say when.
*The door swings open once more for the 4th time.*
"I'm here! Sorry, I'm late!" she called out, her voice echoing in the now attentive room.
"Why are you late?" Agnes inquired, scrutinizing the newcomer with a sharp gaze.
"Teacher, will you believe me if I were say I helped a granny cross the street?" Melissa said, her fingers fidgeting nervously.
Eyes in the classroom widened, disbelief palpable as they exchanged glances, while Leo continued to observe with his characteristic, stoic expression.
"Melissa Shinestone, if you're late again tomorrow, I'll deduct 100 points from your score," Agnes stated bluntly.
"Wait, but teacher, our monthly allowance is only 1,000 points. If you take 100 from me, how would I survive?" she cried, her eyes welling up with faux tears.
"I suggest you take a lesson from the students below the top ten; they only get 500 points, yet you don't see them sobbing over it," Agnes replied coolly, clearly unfazed.
'Of course they wouldn't; you're intimidating!' Melissa thought, though outside, she merely replied, "Yes."
"Alright, now take your seat," Agnes said, waving her hand dismissively.
"Yes—" Melissa started, but her voice trailed off as her gaze fell to the back of the room. Specifically, on Leo. Caught in his undeniable charm, she couldn't help but blurt out, "Wow, what a hottie!" Her exclamation broke the class's focus, and immediately, all eyes turned to her, surprise etched across their faces, with Leo himself showing his usual unfazed demeanor.