Part 8

I can't look at the prince because of the shame I've created. The prince waited for me; he was the one who waited for me, Gemma! The car eventually comes to a halt, and I breathe a sigh of relief since I've been feeling a lot of tension since the car started. As the prince and I descended, the students immediately bowed to him.

"Five meters."

"Huh?" I glared at him.

"You should be at least 5 meters away from me." Prince Augustus stated.

"Five feet?" I muttered. I began to count. "Ah, Prince Augustus?"

"The first rule is to stay five meters away from me, and the second rule is not to talk to me," Prince Augustus added as he continued walking.

"But..."

"Prince Augustus, we're going back to the palace." Mr. Osiris said as well as the royal guards bent down.

He, too, has rules, like King Lucien.

"There is just one rule I expect you to obey. I know it won't happen, but I still want to warn you. Don't fall in love with him."

I couldn't stop chuckling. What? Fall in love with that arrogant prince, lol. I guarantee the king that I will not be put in such a position. "Please forgive me, your Majesty. That will never happen, king Lucien!"

Fall in love? HAHA, that's hilarious!

I was terrified since Mr. Osiris was about to go. I moved my mouth softly up to his ear to whisper. "Mister? Could you please not leave?" I muttered. "I don't know anyone here, and I'm nervous."

Mr. Osiris laughed aloud, the reason why the prince had stopped walking. "I apologized, Prince Augustus," he bent his head and said to me. "I'm sorry, Miss Gemma, but the prince does not wish for us to be here." Mr. Osiris pats me on the back of the head.

I feel like I've gone back to my first day of high school: my anxiety and terror filled my entire body. I saw the students; they weren't staring at the prince but at me, so I glanced down as I moved to avert their sight. Who wouldn't notice? I'm the only female student here, so why do we have to attend the same school, not just any school, but a boy's school? Can I at least go to a regular school?

The prince stepped inside the elevator. I was about to follow him, but he beckoned for me to halt with his hand. "Take the stairs; I'm the only one who can use the elevator." As the elevator progressively shut down, I was forced to use the stairs.

I was on the third floor, but I felt like I would run out of air, so I paused for a second to catch my breath. It's one more floor to the homeroom. I was about to take a step forward when rubbish fell on my head. "Wait, what?" I glanced up to see who had thrown trash on my head. There, I saw three men laughing, and they stopped when I looked at them, intimidating.

"Oh, I'm sorry, we didn't intend to throw trash on you," the youngster apologized before fleeing.

"You intended to dump garbage on my head," I mumbled, irritated. Fortunately, the trash they dumped was only paper, but there was a dirt stain on the sleeve of my suit. I sighed, embarrassed. "I hate men's school."

I stand near the door, searching the room for Prince Augustus. Once I spotted him seated in the second row, and the seat next to him was unoccupied, I went in and sat down.

I haven't been able to sit properly when a man chases me away. "You're sitting in my chair," remarked the man in front of me.

"I apologize." I got out of my chair and sought another one. Now I have no option but to sit at the back because it's the only available seat.

The long-haired guy approached the prince's seat. The prince rose from his seat, welcomed the man, and high-fived each of them. "Finally, you showed up... prince," the man said with a grin on his face.

Prince Augustus placed his hand on the man's shoulder and said, "Yeah, knucklehead."

The man then looked around the room; he was stunned as soon as he saw me, then locked his gaze on mine for a split second.

"All right, let us move on to our next topic." As the first instructor entered the room, that's when our gazes cut off. "Oh, and we have a new student in this class. She's unique; she's the lone girl here and the first female pupil at Borstal."

Is it necessary for him to bring it up? I kept my head down because I knew what was going to happen next, and that was exactly what I didn't want to happen.

"Would you mind standing up and introducing yourself so that everyone can get to know you?"

So, what will I do? I don't want to, but I've no choice but to get up and gently walk in front. Due to my intense anxiousness, my heart rate increased. No, Gemma, I shouldn't be nervous; I'll simply introduce myself; making a speech in front of a group of kids should be even more nerve-racking.

I turned around and faced them. "My name is Gemma..." and I remembered my surname. What if I said my full name, and they found out that my father was in the news? Forgive me, papa; I can't tell them my last name since it's my first day here, and I don't want them to think badly of me. "That's all, Maria Gemma."

I was going to return to my seat when the teacher spoke out. "I read in your file, Gemma..." I was even more nervous that the teacher would bring up my papa's issue. I turned my gaze towards the prince. I could see by the look on his face how pleased he was with my position.

"So, before you moved here, you were the president of the University of Amarillo."

"Huh?" My uneasiness vanished. I let out a sigh of relief. "Yes," I answered confidently.

"The bright students in my class have climbed once again. My name is Mr. Allan or Al for short, " he added with a smile. "Please take your seat, Gemma." he went to his place and began writing a question on the board.

"Thank you, Mr. Al."

How do caves form?

How does a river valley form?

"Is there anyone who can answer the questions on the board?" Mr. Allan asked, but no one raised their hand.

They didn't appear to know the answer, so I mustered the confidence to raise my hand. Not only did I raise my hand, but so did the prince and the man in front of me. What a bunch of nuts! No one had raised their hand before, but when I did, they suddenly raised their hands at once. I lifted my hand higher so that Mr. Allan would notice me. However, he picked the prince instead.

"How do caves form?" Prince Augustus started. "Limestone caves are formed when carbonic acid in rainwater seeps into cracks in the limestone and dissolves the rock. Sea caves are created by the pressure of waves or the corrosive effect of salt on the foot of cliffs. Ice caves are carved out by a stream of meltwater running beneath a glacier, in a cross-section of the limestone cave stream plunging underground at a sinkhole. Stalactites hang down from the roof. Water seeps into cracks in rocks. Stalagmites grow upwards from the cave floor, and columns form where stalactites and stalagmites join."

The prince pleased me with his explanation that I cheered him, but I was the only one who applauded, so I felt a bit ashamed. Seriously, they weren't even surprised by the prince's explanation.

"Thank you, Prince Augustus, for giving a good explanation." Mr. Allan said proudly. "How about question number two? Who wants to answer?"

We lifted our hands once again, the prince, me, and the man in front of me, and this time Mr. Al called me.

"How does the river valley form?" I started. "High up in the mountains, fast-flowing streams create steep-sided, V-shaped gullies. In the middle part of the valley, the water meanders WINDS across a broad valley. Near the sea, the river flows across a flat plain or fans out into a delta. Rainfall runs down gullies. V-shaped of river valley's upper course. River curves back and forth in a series of meanders. Flatland slows water flow. Fan-shaped delta at the river mouth. The river sheds sediments in the flat floodplain and the broad shape of a valley at the river mouth."

"Hmm, very nice, Gemma," Mr. Allan applauded. "I'm pleased the prince has returned to Borstal. Gemma has also come, bringing this class to life. Anyway, let us return to the subject."

Well, it doesn't seem like a horrible idea for me to attend Borstal. At first, I was unfortunate because of the lunatic who flung rubbish at my head.

"You raised your hand previously, Mr. Emmet. It'll allow you to answer. Can you name the world's tallest mountain?"

"Easy, the world's highest mountain is Mount Everest in the Himalayas, Nepal, reaching a height of 8,848 m or 29,028 ft at its peak," he explained confidently.

Wow! He was even aware of Mount Everest's height. So, I assume there are a lot of intellectual people in Borstal. Haist! Mishe and Abel, I hope you're here as well.

"Good." Mr. Allan

"Good? Mr. Allan, my response is better than hers..." He shifted his gaze to me and pointed at me. Is that the guy? The man who dumps trash on my head. "Answer."

"Please, Emmet, sit down and quit spouting nonsense."

He sat in his chair with an arrogant look on his face. What a jerk! I regret my previous praise; you are not intelligent.

We three took turns answering Mr. Al's questions. The same goes for other topics. It's as if there's a competition going on in class.

The bell sounded, signaling that it was time for lunch. Students flung their papers in relief that it was lunchtime, especially those who had not cooperated in class. I grabbed all of my books and hurriedly stuffed them into my bag, slung my backpack on my shoulder, and turned around to chase Prince Augustus and the man with long hair.

"Wait a minute, princess!" The man chuckled as he raced towards the prince.

Prince came to a halt and glared at the man. "Do you want to die?" Prince Augustus said with a grimace.

"Okay, chill." He wrapped his arms around the prince. "What's up with that expression?"

"I'm not in the mood, bastard," Prince Augustus said as he took the man's hand off his shoulder.

"You're never in a good mood, or are you experiencing bipolar symptoms again?"

"F*ck you! I don't have bipolar disorder."

I moved closer to them to hear their discussion better; I needed to know the man's name since I was going to report it to the king.

"You're a bore to chat to."

"Perhaps you forgot my name is Prince Augustus."

"BORING," The man yawned, reaching his hand behind his back. "All right, I'll go ahead and meet you after, princess."

"Asshole!"

Prince Augustus used the elevator once more while I took the stairs. And, to make sure no one threw rubbish on my head, I peered up at every step down the stairs. EMMET, come out now! I looked around the elevator for the prince, but he was gone. He immediately exited the elevator. I dashed out to look for him, and there he was, walking somewhere.

"Prince!" I yelled, dashing after him. "Are you going somewhere?"

"Aside from following me, do you have nothing else to do?" Prince Augustus snarled.

I smirked. "I have no choice but to follow you. Are you not going to eat?"

He was enraged as he glanced at me. "ARE YOU STUPID?" he said aloud. To the shock of his yell, I felt myself shrink at the very notion. "STUPID! Is the phrase don't talk to me difficult to understand?

"I-I was o-only..."

"Fuck!" Prince Augustus screamed as he tightened his grip on my left arm. I was stunned by him, unable to breathe, and my entire body trembled with terror. His eyes were enraged, and his fist seemed poised to strike me. "You've screwed my life so much since you arrived!"

"Prince..."

"Don't wait for me to hurt you!" he snapped back. "Now, do whatever you want, and don't follow me again!" Prince then let go of my arm immediately.