𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄. the transfer student.

THE DAY THE LETTER ARRIVED, ALL JULIAN AUGUSTINE COULD DO WAS STARE. The verbiage on the outside of the envelope was addressed to her from Gentry Hall. She felt like she was struck by lightning. See, Gentry Hall wasn't just a school. It was the school. It was a prestigious boarding school university, which was attended by royals, riches, and privileged students. It was a far cry from her modest public school, where surviving the day without her locker getting jammed was a small miracle. She had applied knowing that it would be a long shot for her acceptance; she had no special qualifications at all.

Her hands shook as she held the heavy envelope, the wax seal embossed with the unmistakable Gentry crest glinting in the late afternoon sunlight. She stared at it for a few minutes, scared to open it. What if she was holding her rejection letter? If that was the case, she would be mortified.

"Are you just going to stare at it or actually open it?" her mom asked from the kitchen.

Jules blinked, realizing that she had been standing in the entryway for far too long. She slowly made her way into the kitchen as she tore open the seal. Her breath caught as she unfolded the crisp, cream-colored paper inside. "Dear Miss Augustine," it began in a neatly typed font. The words blurred as her eyes skimmed over them, searching for the ones that would change everything. She caught phrases like, "congratulations," "exceptional potential," and "orientation packet enclosed." It was real. Somehow, incredibly impossibly, it was real.

"Mom!" she shrieked, glancing up from the letter. "I got in! I actually got accepted!"

Lucretia Augustine turned from the stove, a glowing smile illuminating her face. She swept her daughter into a big hug, saying, "I told you, my darling! They would've been fools not to take you."

"I think they really are the fools," Jules replied with a laugh. "They probably don't even know that I'm not of any important descent."

Lucretia laughed. "Maybe they're finally realizing it's not about status and money. I know for a fact that they chose you because of who you are."

Jules wanted to believe with all her heart that that was true. However, from looking through Gentry Hall's social media pages and reading up on the Gentrys, the family it was named after, she could tell that she would stick out among the masses. The school itself was huge, with striking architecture, located in the heart of London, England. But that's where all the mundane features ended.

Gentry Hall was a labyrinth of tradition, privilege, and mystery. She had read about the horror stories of the grueling House trials. They were used to determine House placements, the rivalries fierce and sometimes unspoken. The inferred rules could make or break a student's reputation. Everyone was automatically judged on day one. She had been handed the key to a magical kingdom, but she wasn't naive enough to think it wouldn't come with its challenges.

Later that night, as she lay in her bed staring at the letter on her nightstand, a million questions swirled around her head. Would the other students like her? Would she fit in? What if she couldn't last more than a day?

As the days passed, her acceptance started to feel real. She had received a DM from Caroline Gentry, the queen of Gentry Hall herself. The message was one of welcome, instructing her to reach out to Caroline or any of the Gentry brothers if she needed anything. She had also received several follow requests from other Transfer students. But her most shocking notification was the one sent to her from Romeo Evander Valerian Gentry.

* * *

When the day of departure finally arrived, Jules found herself nervously standing on a small platform in a secluded station. Her gaze fell on a train, which gleamed like something out of a storybook. Its carriages were painted a dark, royal blue with gilded accents. The Gentry Hall emblem was etched onto the side, as if to remind its passengers of the prestige they were about to enter. Jules readjusted her bag as she made her way to one of the train's doors. Her ticket was clutched tightly in her hand as she boarded.

The train's interior was more luxurious than she could've imagined. She had never experienced anything quite like this. The seats were plush velvet, upholstered in the same dark, royal blue to match the outside of the train. The windows framed the passing countryside like a magnificent oil painting. She quickly made her way up the aisle, feeling self-conscious. She could tell that most of the students seemed to know each other already, their chatter blending with the soft hum of the train.

Finally, she spotted an empty compartment near the back. When she peeked inside, she found that the only empty spot was in the company of someone else. Across from the seat, sat a boy about her age. He was dark-haired and strikingly attractive in a way that made her want to reach for her camera, which was stowed in her backpack. He was casually leaning against his seat, a book in hand, seemingly absorbed in whatever he was reading.

Jules hesitated for a moment. Was she really going to sit in a compartment with a stranger? Let alone one who was insanely gorgeous? After deliberating, she finally decided that she couldn't stand awkwardly in the aisle forever. "Is this seat taken?" she asked, gesturing to the one across from him.

He looked up, and for a few seconds, his bright green eyes studied her. Then, he gave her a small, crooked smile and shook his head. "Definitely not. I suppose it was waiting to be claimed by you."

"Thanks," Jules replied, sliding into the seat. She set her bag on the floor, feeling his gaze linger on her for a moment before returning his focus to his book.

She tried her best not to stare, but there was something incredibly beautiful about him. It was like he commanded her attention. He had an effortless confidence, the kind that came with knowing you belonged wherever you went. She had no doubt that everyone he came in contact with liked him. Before she could register what she was doing, her bag was unzipped and her camera was in her hand.

She swallowed, then asked, "Do you mind if I, uh, take a picture of you?"

He considered her question, then nodded. "I've never been asked that before," he answered softly. "Go ahead, I don't mind."

She was barely breathing as she took the picture. It was rare for her to find someone as intriguing as him. It was even rarer for her to actually ask someone if she could photograph them. But here she was, her camera raised and clicking quietly.

"First Year or Transfer?" he asked suddenly, setting his book aside.

"Transfer," she said, looking taken aback. "How'd you know?"

"Your vibe."

"My vibe?" she repeated, her cheeks flushing pink.

He looked at her, the corners of his lips twitching into a smile once more. "You're too nervous to be a First Year. They don't know to be worried yet. And you don't have any pre-established friends like some of the others do."

Jules gave him a curious look. "And what about you? You're not worried at all. By the looks of it, you could've shared a compartment with anyone on this train. Yet, you chose to sit alone in the back."

"That's because, like you said, I'm not," he said with a shrug. "Besides, I've learned over the many years of doing this, that I like to be by myself on train rides."

"So, you're one of the older students, then?"

"Something like that, yes," he said cryptically, his green eyes brightening.
She sighed and rolled her eyes, more out of amusement than irritation. This boy really had a way of telling her both everything and nothing at the same time. It both infuriated and intrigued her. She wasn't exactly sure what to do with that. After a pause she asked, "Do you have a name? Or should I just call you 'something like that'?"

He leaned forward, his expression mischievous. "You can call me whatever you want," he said quietly. "And how should I refer to you?"

"Jules," she replied, trying to match his confidence, despite being totally shot down for getting to know each other.

"Jules," he repeated, as if testing how it sounded. "Nice to meet you."

Before she could respond and read into his words, the train slowed. Her gaze never left his as an announcement crackled over the intercom. "We will be arriving at Gentry Hall in a few minutes. Please gather your belongings and prepare to disembark. Thank you for traveling via the Gentry Hall Express. Enjoy your stay."

Jules's stomach flipped. This was it.

Romeo stood, retrieving his suit jacket from where it lay on the seat. He put his book into his satchel, humming softly under his breath. "Word of advice, if you'll take it," he said, looking down at her. "Don't overthink it. The trials are rough; they're meant to almost make you fail. However, if you don't allow yourself to be led astray, you'll survive."

"How can you be sure?" she asked, standing as well.

He gave her that same crooked smile, which she could assume to be his trademark. "I can just tell that you're not someone who gives up easily. After all, you didn't get into Gentry because of your status or wealth."

Jules wasn't sure whether to feel flattered or slightly unnerved by his keen insight. Before she could respond, the train came to a stop, and the doors slid open with a soft hiss. The boy exited their compartment before her, and she quickly followed suit. Outside, the platform at Gentry Hall was a flurry of motion. Uniformed drivers stood in front of black cars, checking names and escorting students to their designated vehicles. Jules stepped off the train, taking in her surroundings. She could see the estate looming in the distance, grand and imposing, its towers shrouded in mist. It was even more magnificent than she had imagined.

"Augustine, right?"

She turned to see the boy standing a few feet away, his hands in his pockets.

"Yeah," she said, frowning slightly. "How did you know?"

He bent and gave her a small bow. "It's a small world. See you around, Julian."

She was about to ask what he meant, when a girl appeared beside him, her long, auburn hair swept into an elegant ponytail. She was stunning in a way that felt deliberate, like she knew exactly how to use her looks to her advantage. He offered the girl his arm, no questions asked. She took it and watched him for a few minutes.

"Romeo," the girl said, her tone commanding. "We have work to do. Come on."

The boy—Romeo—gave Jules a brief nod before following the girl toward one of the waiting cars. She stared after them, her lips parting in dumbfounded surprise. Of course, after closer examination, she knew exactly who the girl was. Caroline Gentry was unmistakable; everyone knew who she was. What piqued her curiosity the most was Romeo. Why did he look so. . .at ease, like he wasn't a student who feared being in Caroline's presence? It couldn't be a coincidence that he met her off the train. And his name. . .could he be the Romeo Evander Valerian Gentry, the one who reached out to her a few days ago?

Pushing the thoughts aside, Jules found her own car, and soon they were winding up the long, tree-lined drive to the Hall. Everything her eyes landed on was lush and green. When they arrived, the students were gathered on the grand stone steps leading into the entrance. Jules spotted Romeo near the front of the group, standing beside Caroline Gentry.

A tall woman in a royal blue blazer stepped forward, leaving an immediate silence in her wake. "Welcome to Gentry Hall," she said, her voice crisp and clear. "I am Headmistress Armitage. You are about to embark on a journey that will challenge you in ways you cannot yet imagine. The trials begin tomorrow. Tonight, if you are a newly admitted student, you will be shown to your temporary quarters. If you are a returning student, you may return to your House. Sleep well, and prepare yourselves."

Jules barely had time to register the speech before the headmistress turned her attention to the group at the front. "And as always, the Gentry family will be overseeing the proceedings."

Her heart stopped. The Gentry family? They were England's royalty. She looked forward towards the front of the crowd, where the headmistress gestured to the students beside her.

Romeo.

He stood with Caroline and several other students. She noticed that he and Caroline stood in the front, while the others were close behind them. Each of their expressions were calm and confident as they surveyed the crowd. Jules's mind raced. Romeo was a Gentry. She should've known. As if sensing her gaze, Romeo's green eyes flicked to hers. He gave her a knowing smile before turning back to the crowd before him.

Jules's stomach lurched. She had spent hours on forums reading about the Gentry family, the heirs to the school, its legacy, and of course, the monarchy. Apparently, she hadn't spent enough time examining images of them online. She hadn't expected to meet one of them on the train, especially after he messaged her.

She felt completely out of her depth, now knowing who he was.