Amara was still trying to calm her nerves.
She stared out the classroom window, watching the tall trees sway gently in the morning breeze. The classroom itself looked more like a university lecture hall than a high school room—wide windows, polished wooden desks, and a large smart board at the front.
Everything about this school screamed wealth.
Students slowly began filling the classroom, chatting loudly as they took their seats. Most of them barely noticed Amara, but a few glanced at her and whispered.
"Isn't that the scholarship girl?"
"I heard she bumped into the crown prince earlier."
Amara pretended not to hear them.
She opened her notebook and tried to focus.
Then suddenly, the classroom door opened again.
The noise in the room instantly dropped.
A group of students entered first—three boys dressed in perfectly tailored uniforms, laughing quietly among themselves.
But the person who walked in after them made the entire room go silent.
Crown Prince Adrian Alexander.
Even though he wore the same uniform as everyone else, he somehow stood out immediately. His presence filled the room without him saying a single word.
Girls straightened in their seats.
Some even fixed their hair quickly.
Amara kept her head down.
She didn't want attention.
But she could feel it—the way the atmosphere in the room had changed.
Adrian slowly walked down the aisle between the desks.
Students moved their bags out of his way instantly.
No one dared block his path.
Amara was writing something in her notebook when she suddenly felt someone stop behind her.
She froze.
Please don't…
A chair scraped against the floor.
Right behind her.
Amara's grip on her pen tightened.
No way…
She slowly turned around.
And there he was.
Crown Prince Adrian Alexander had taken the seat directly behind her.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Out of all the seats in the classroom… he chose that one.
Adrian met her gaze calmly.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Amara quickly turned back around, pretending to focus on her notebook again.
Her heart was beating faster.
Behind her, Adrian leaned back in his chair quietly.
Across the room, Vanessa Cole had just walked into the classroom with her group of cheerleaders.
Her eyes immediately searched for Adrian.
When she saw him sitting behind Amara…
Her expression darkened.
"What is she doing there?" Vanessa muttered under her breath.
One of her friends whispered, "Maybe he just sat there randomly."
Vanessa didn't look convinced.
She stared at Amara with cold eyes.
Meanwhile, the teacher finally walked into the classroom.
"Good morning, everyone," he said, placing his books on the desk.
"Before we start, I'd like to introduce our new student."
Amara felt every eye in the room turn toward her.
"Amara Daniels," the teacher continued kindly, "is one of our scholarship students this year."
Some students looked impressed.
Others looked amused.
"Amara, would you like to introduce yourself?"
Amara slowly stood up.
She could feel dozens of eyes staring at her.
"My name is Amara Daniels," she said quietly. "I'm happy to study here."
That was all she said before sitting back down.
A few whispers followed.
But then the teacher began the lesson.
For the next thirty minutes, the classroom became quiet except for the teacher's voice.
Amara tried to concentrate on her notes.
But something kept distracting her.
She could feel it.
The feeling of someone watching her.
Finally, she turned slightly.
Adrian was looking at her notebook.
Not rudely.
Just observing.
When he noticed her glance, his eyes met hers again.
For a moment, there was something almost curious in his gaze.
Then he spoke quietly.
"So…"
Amara blinked.
"Yes?"
"You always bump into people on your first day?"
Amara stared at him in disbelief.
For the first time that morning…
The cold crown prince had actually made a joke.