Chapter 32 Clio's White Eyes
Tobias's heart was pounding.
Is this what it's like to have a sister?
Having a beautiful, sweet, and well-behaved sister must be something those without one just can't get.
It's funny, really. Ever since Rachel was adopted by the Martinez family when she was five, they've grown up together. Tobias and Rachel seem close, but not quite like real siblings.
Rachel always acts perfectly around Tobias and the others, but he can't shake the feeling that she's trying too hard to impress them.
But these past few days, spending time with Amelia, everything she does seems adorable to him, and he can't help but want to be near her.
Unable to contain his excitement, Tobias pulls Amelia into a hug.
Before Amelia can react, he's already messing up her hair with his hands.
"Hey, you're messing up my hair!" Amelia protests, trying to stop him, but when she looks up, she sees Tobias's eyes sparkling like a puppy with a new toy, full of satisfaction.
"Sorry, couldn't help it," Tobias sticks out his tongue, his handsome face showing anticipation. "Want me to fix it for you?"
"No need, you should get yourself ready first." Amelia doesn't hesitate, pushing Tobias towards the stairs.
Tobias rushes to his room and quickly changes into his school uniform before heading down to the dining room.
The Prestige High School uniform is pretty stylish.
It's modeled after British prep school attire.
A striped tie, white shirt, and knitted vest for the top, and gray trousers for the bottom. The high-quality fabric and tailored fit make Tobias look both sophisticated and full of youthful energy.
Tobias, tall and slender, has styled his hair with gel, exposing his handsome features, making him appear even more dashing.
"How do I look? Am I handsome?" Tobias asks Amelia, leaning in.
"Handsome," Amelia nods honestly.
Even though she hasn't met Ryan, Chris, and Zander yet, judging by Kevin and Tobias's looks, they are indeed more attractive than those celebrities in the entertainment industry.
"Good girl."
Tobias, clearly pleased with the answer, says to Amelia, "Oh, by the way, I talked to Kevin. He spoke with the principal of Prestige High School, so as long as you don't score too far below the passing mark on today's test, you'll get in. No need to worry."
"Okay." Amelia nods.
Worry?
She doesn't even know what that feels like.
Just then, Rachel, who has been fussing in her room for over an hour, finally comes down to the dining room.
The girls' uniform is similar, but with a bow tie instead of a necktie, a plaid skirt, knee socks, and English-style shoes.
The custom uniform fits Rachel perfectly, showing off her slender legs.
Like Amelia, Rachel has tied her hair into a high ponytail and wears a white mask, covering most of her face. But from her exposed eyes, it's clear she's wearing meticulous makeup.
Probably unable to cover the red spots on her face, Rachel uses the mask to hide them.
As Rachel descends the stairs, she hears laughter and chatter from the dining room. Seeing Tobias and Amelia close together, she can't help but grip her backpack strap tightly.
She immediately says to Tobias, "Let's go, Tobias, we're going to be late for school."
Amelia looks up, "Rachel, aren't you going to eat? You'll be hungry."
Seeing Amelia's flawless, beautiful face makes Rachel angry. She takes a deep breath and says, "I'm not hungry. Amelia, you should eat more. You'll be taking exams all day today."
Even if Amelia's face is a bit prettier than hers, how could she possibly get into Prestige High School with her mediocre scores from a rural high school? Especially since all the answers Amelia memorized yesterday were the wrong ones Rachel gave her.
If Amelia can't get into Prestige High School, she'll have to go to Harlan High School.
Harlan High School is a boarding school, with breaks only once a week. Out of sight, out of mind—Rachel won't have to see that annoying face anymore.
Thinking of this, Rachel's mood, ruined by the red spots on her face, finally improves a bit.
Jenny said she'd find a way to make the red spots fade, but for now, Rachel has to endure wearing the mask.
Half an hour later, Knox stops the car at the entrance of Prestige High School.
Tobias, Rachel, and Amelia step out together.
Tobias and Rachel are wearing Prestige High School uniforms, while Amelia is in regular clothes, standing out among the students entering the school.
Amelia heads to Mr. Gilbert's office to check in before her exam, while Tobias and Rachel go to their respective classes.
In the office, Amelia sees about ten other students without uniforms waiting.
Judging by their clothes and demeanor, they seem to come from less affluent backgrounds.
But one student, Leroy Brown, catches her attention.
Thin and wearing a slightly worn shirt, his skin looks like it rarely sees sunlight.
Leroy is standing alone in a corner, head down. Noticing Amelia's gaze, he looks up at her.
Even with his bangs partially covering his eyes, Leroy's features are strikingly handsome. His eyes have a cold, aloof look.
Leroy stands out from the others.
His demeanor is entirely different from those around him.
As Amelia observes him, her gaze drops to the simple, understated metal bracelet on Leroy's wrist.
The bracelet has a small silver plate in the center, engraved with a black key and a star beneath it.
Seeing the bracelet, Amelia raises an eyebrow.
A member of the K.A. Club, huh.
Definitely not an ordinary person.
Mr. Gilbert looks up and immediately recognizes Amelia from the new student photo.
She looks the same as in the photo, but her eyes are different.
The photo shows a hint of insecurity, but the Amelia standing before him seems indifferent to her surroundings.
"Mr. Harvey, is this the Martinez family's illegitimate daughter you mentioned?" asks Clio Webb, a middle-aged woman and teacher of Class E, whispering to Mr. Gilbert.
Gilbert nods.
The students here for the entrance exam are all exceptional, except for Amelia.
Prestige High School has started admitting talented students from poor backgrounds to improve its social image. In other words, the students in the office are from poor families but have excelled in their rural high schools.
But honestly, River City has the best educational resources in the country, leading both public and private schools in Celestria.
Prestige High School students receive elite education from a young age, giving them a head start.
Prestige High School's standards are much higher than other cities' high schools, let alone rural ones. A rural school's top student might not even pass Prestige High School's entrance exam.
So the students here are very nervous.
They're facing possibly the only chance to change their lives and move up the social ladder, and everyone wants to seize it.
But Amelia is different.
She's not an exceptional student, nor a prestigious lady.
She's reportedly the Martinez family's illegitimate daughter, raised in the countryside, and just brought to River City last week.
The Martinez family even called yesterday, asking for special care, meaning as long as Amelia doesn't score too far below the passing mark, she'll be admitted to Prestige High School.
Clio asks, "Mr. Harvey, I heard Amelia was just a mediocre student at her rural school?"
Gilbert sneers, "What kind of good students can come from a place like that? Even their top student might not compare to Prestige High School's worst, let alone an average one."
Clio rolls her eyes at his response.