Cars were lined up to drop off students at the Keep. And even though there were only freshmen students today, it still looked crowded since everyone was piled up just outside.

"I've seen it in pictures, but this place really is breathtaking," Max commented as he gazed at the large structure outside the car window.

"Why aren't they opening the doors yet? Are they going to let all those heirs wait outside like that?" Max asked as he looked at Marcus, but Marcus didn't answer. Instead, he took out a pair of leather gloves and put them on. And like earlier, he wore a serious expression on his face. 

"Étienne, drop me off here while you drop Max at the West Tower. The students can't see him yet," Marcus explained.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Max asked, but Marcus ignored him again.

When it was their turn to park in front of the main entrance, Marcus didn't wait for Max and headed out of the car by himself. 

The students in white uniforms all stopped talking the moment they caught a glimpse of Marcus. Max thought they might just be intrigued because he was wearing a different uniform, but the way they looked at him was different. It was the same as how the guard had looked at Marcus earlier. It was almost like they were looking at him with complete respect.

"Is Marcus famous here?" Max asked as he watched his brother approach the crowd. His black uniform stood out from the rest of the students who were in white, but other than the uniform, his entire presence grabbed everyone's attention.

"I think your brother is trying to divert the crowd's attention," Étienne explained as he looked at Max through the rearview mirror. Max didn't say anything and just continued to stare at his brother in silence. As the crowd turned their backs on the car to watch Marcus, Étienne drove to where he would be dropping his young master off, as Marcus instructed.

"What's with Marcus? And why can't the students see me yet? It's not like I'm the president of the country," Max said with an annoyed expression. School hadn't even officially started, and he was already being treated differently.

Étienne stepped out of the car and held the door open for Max. Max brushed the thought away and went out. He just wanted this to be over so he could attend to matters that were a lot more important than an orientation.

"I'll message you when the orientation has been concluded," Max told his butler. Étienne handed Max's bag over to him and bowed his head. "Enjoy your day, Master."

Max didn't say anything as he made his way inside. But when he got to the entrance, he spotted a charming student standing just right in front of the door, almost like he was waiting for him. 

The student was wearing the same uniform as Max, but there was a slight difference. He had two brooches on his collar. One was a silver ionic column, while the other was a golden Roman numeral one (I).

Max was about to excuse himself when the student slightly bowed his head in front of him and suddenly said, "Maximilian Leigh Sinclaire. Welcome to J.S. High."

The man reached out his hand for a handshake, but Max just stared at it, forcing him to put it back down. Thankfully, he didn't look offended by Max's rude reaction. "I am Ian Rothman, the president of the Supreme Student Council called Elites. It is a pleasure to meet you," Ian greeted Max with a smile that showed his perfectly white teeth.

Max stared at Ian from head to toe like he was assessing him. Anyone would have felt uncomfortable if someone looked at them intently like that, but Ian didn't mind. He stood still and waited for Max to finish staring. And when their eyes met, Ian smiled at him again and asked, "Do I not look like a president to you?"

Max was startled by the question. He hadn't really meant to stare at him like that. He just had this habit of observing things he wasn't familiar with, a habit he'd already been scolded for in the past.

He wasn't staring at Ian because he doubted his president title either. In fact, he looked exactly like one. The way he stood, spoke, and even gazed at Max was no doubt leader-like. There was no reason to doubt him at all.

"My apologies," Max said, and this time, it was Ian's turn to be surprised. He never expected an apology from someone like Max. He laughed at himself for judging him too quickly.

Ian gestured his hand towards the entrance. "It's alright. Now, please follow me. I'll bring you to the auditorium before the students come in," Ian told him, and Max was once again confused about why he had to hide from the other students. If he knew he wasn't allowed to be seen, then there was no point in wearing the uniform.

"Don't tell me they haven't opened the main door yet because of me," Max guessed as the president guided him on the way to the auditorium.

"Well, you are the student who shares the same name with the school," Ian explained, but both of them knew that was an invalid explanation. There was definitely a deeper reason that he or Marcus wasn't revealing to him yet.

The two didn't talk to each other anymore after the short exchange. Max wanted to ask questions, but he knew that most of them would probably be answered during the orientation anyway.

 "Here we are."

Ian and Max arrived at the balcony, or specifically, the dress circle of the auditorium. Students were starting to fill in the stalls below them, but they hadn't noticed Max at all.

"You'll be sitting here. The orientation will be three hours long, so if you wish to take a break, the restroom is outside in the left hall. Someone will also bring you tea and some biscuits later," Ian explained, and Max nodded as a sign that he understood, and at the same time, as a sign of thanks.

Ian smiled at him again. "Well, on behalf of the vice president, let me once again welcome you to J.S. High."

"Behalf of the vice president?" Max furrowed his brows in confusion after hearing the statement, but before he could even ask about it, the president had already taken his leave.

Max sighed and took a seat. 

While the freshmen students chatted with each other, Max couldn't help but think about the president, who had quite an unforgettable character. He hadn't met someone so calm yet so empowering as him before. It made perfect sense why he led the students at an institute like J.S. High.

Max had been the president of his old school as well, but he was only given that title because of his family name. Ian Rothman, on the other hand, looked like he deserved that title, even if his family name had influenced it.

Was he the man that his uncle Janus was referring to? Was he one of the members of Crème de la Crème who were ruling this school?

"By the way, where on earth is my brother?"

"Good morning, freshmen students!" an MC unexpectedly greeted them, causing the students to settle down.

A tall man wearing a navy-blue suit walked into the middle of the stage and waved his hand at the crowd, who stared back at him with a blank expression. It was obvious they weren't charmed by him at all, but the dead reaction of the audience didn't seem to faze him as he continued, "I know you're all excited to begin the orientation. But before that, let us first welcome J.S. High's most outstanding students, the Elites!"

Silence.

The crowd didn't cheer for an obvious reason: they didn't know what he was talking about. 

Max, on the other hand, had an idea. 

If he could remember correctly, Elites was what the student council was called here. So unlike the 1st-years, Max waited for a bunch of students like Ian to arrive. Nothing happened for a few seconds, causing the students to start talking with each other again. But when a familiar face came out on stage, the chatter started dying down.

One by one, well-known heirs appeared in front of them.

First came the Griffiths twins, Justin and Dustin—heirs to one of the world's largest airlines. Then Richard Young, the so‑called Chinese Super Elite, whose family ranked among the oldest billionaire dynasties in the country. And finally, Ian Rothman.

Max hadn't recognized him at first. But when someone in the crowd whispered his name, the pieces fell into place. Ian was the grandson of the chairman of the Rothman Medical Group.

 The students couldn't believe that such powerful heirs were standing right in front of them. They hadn't expected it at all.

"Uncle said there are four students in J.S. High who are part of Crème de la Crème. Are they the students that he mentioned?" Max mumbled to himself as he stared at them one by one.

The four introduced themselves to the crowd. 

Justin Griffiths was the school's representative, while his twin brother Dustin was the council's treasurer. The two were the only junior students in the group. 

There was Richard Young, who was the secretary. The vice president was said to be out of town, so they skipped his introduction and left his identity unknown. Finally, there was Ian Rothman, the president of the student council. Others looked at the students with awe, while others looked at them with mocking smiles, probably because they knew their family was more powerful in society compared to the students who were standing in front of them.

Max hadn't known who Ian Rothman was at first, but now that he did, his opinion of him still didn't change. Ian was a force to be reckoned with. He hadn't seen him in action yet, but Max's short encounter with him was enough evidence to know that he should be respected in this school.

The crowd started murmuring at each other again as the MC handed the microphone to Ian. Ian smiled and took a step forward. The crowd still hadn't settled down yet, but that didn't stop him from starting his speech.

"Looks like we have a new batch of fucking pests in our castle."

The freshmen students stopped talking in an instant, while some gasped upon hearing the insult. Max couldn't help but show his surprise as well after hearing what the president had to say. For a second, he thought he had heard him wrong.

Ian didn't even remove the smile from his face after saying such offensive words to a bunch of heirs. But he wasn't fazed by their reaction at all as he continued, "To begin this orientation, let me give you guys an important lesson."

All the students' attention was now on Ian. There was just something about him that made everyone stop what they were doing so they could listen to him. They felt as if, if they tried to do anything that would displease him, they might be called out for it, and that thought terrified them.

"In J.S. High, the moment you set foot inside its grounds, everything that you are outside these walls is stripped away from you. You are nothing but white uniforms in a castle of kings. Ranks are important, rules govern us, and superiority keeps our system moving. Know your place, and you will survive in this school," Ian said with diction and power that made some students swallow the lump in their throats.

"Now, how you will be treated is all up to you. You will earn the respect and fear of everyone around you through your own efforts. Nothing you do outside will matter here," Ian continued.

As Max listened to the student council president, the fire burning inside of him grew bigger and bigger. His heart started beating fast as cold sweat raced down his forehead. He gripped the handrest of his seat. The excitement was almost unbearable to him.

"One last thing, freshmen..." Ian took a step back. He looked at the other student council members and nodded his head, giving them a signal. In unison, the Elites confidently said, "What happens in the castle—"

Max's eyes widened in realization as he remembered the exact same words coming out of his uncle's mouth. Because of complete excitement, Max jumped out of his seat and continued the phrase with them.

"Stays in the castle."

No one else saw or heard him say it, but Ian glanced toward him and smirked in satisfaction. "Welcome to J.S. High, new students. We do hope you enjoy your stay."