The next morning, Myraa woke up to chaos. Not her usual brand of chaos—like forgetting her charger or spilling milk on her favorite hoodie—but the kind of chaos that came with being thrust into a life of impossible wealth and confusing family dynamics.
Her day started with a maid practically breaking down her door to hand-deliver her "orientation outfit" and Kyra waltzing in five minutes later to smirk at her while she tried to figure out how to wear tights without falling over. "You've got thirty minutes," Kyra said, leaning casually against the doorframe, looking as flawless as ever in her tailored uniform. "Try not to embarrass yourself on stage."
"Stage?!" Myraa screeched, nearly tripping over one of the bedposts. "What do you mean, stage?!"
Kyra's lips twitched in amusement. "Oh, didn't I mention? Lady Reizei has arranged for you to give a speech during the opening ceremony."
"A SPEECH?!" Myraa clutched the silk robe she was still wearing like it might protect her from this nightmare. "No one said anything about a speech! I don't even know what this school is about! What am I supposed to say?!"
"You're resourceful," Kyra said, already halfway out the door. "You'll figure it out."
"RESOURCEFUL?!" Myraa shouted after her. "I'm the human equivalent of a tangled pair of earbuds!"
---
The Arrival at Camellia Academy
By the time the sleek black car pulled up to Camellia Academy, Myraa was already regretting every decision that had led her to this moment.
The school itself was overwhelming. The sprawling campus was filled with grand buildings that looked more like miniature castles, surrounded by gardens so perfectly manicured they made the ones at the Reizei estate look lazy. Students in pristine uniforms milled about, chatting animatedly in small groups, their laughter echoing in the crisp morning air.
The second Myraa stepped out of the car, heads turned. Whispers started almost immediately.
"Is that her?"
"She's stunning!"
"I heard she's an international model!"
Myraa froze in place, staring at the crowd of students staring back at her. "What is happening? Why are they looking at me like that?"
Kyra, standing beside her like the picture of regal calm, gave her a sidelong glance. "You're the Reizei heiress. What did you expect? Subtlety?"
"I expected to not be the center of a cult, that's what I expected!" Myraa hissed, clutching her bag like it was a shield.
"Relax," Kyra said, her tone as smooth as ever. "You'll get used to it."
"Stop saying that!"
---
The Opening Ceremony: Disaster in the Making
The opening ceremony was held in an auditorium so grand it might as well have been a concert hall. The stage was lit by chandeliers that sparkled like something out of a fairy tale, and rows upon rows of students filled the seats, all impeccably dressed in their uniforms.
Myraa stood backstage, pacing nervously. "Okay, it's fine," she muttered to herself. "I'll just wing it. How hard can it be? I mean, it's just a room full of rich strangers judging me for my every word—oh God, this is going to be a disaster."
Kyra, leaning against the wall nearby, raised an eyebrow. "You talk to yourself a lot, don't you?"
"It's called coping!" Myraa snapped.
Before Kyra could respond, a voice called out over the speakers: "And now, please welcome our special guest, Miss Myraa Reizei!"
Myraa froze. "Wait, what? Special guest?!"
Kyra placed a steady hand on her shoulder, steering her toward the stage. "Break a leg."
"I hope I actually break a leg so I don't have to do this," Myraa muttered as she stumbled onto the stage, blinking against the bright lights.
The applause was deafening. Myraa stood frozen at the podium, staring out at the sea of expectant faces.
"Uh… hi?" she squeaked into the microphone. Her voice cracked. A few students in the back whispered excitedly, "She's so humble!"
Taking a deep breath, Myraa tried to channel whatever confidence she could muster. "So, um… hi. Again. I'm Myraa, and, uh… this school seems great? Like, really great. The best school. Definitely better than my old school, which, uh, had Wi-Fi so slow it might as well have been powered by hamsters."
A wave of laughter rippled through the audience, and Myraa blinked, startled. Wait… they're laughing? At my terrible joke?
Encouraged, she continued. "Anyway, I'm really excited to, uh, be here. I don't really know what to expect, but I hope I don't accidentally destroy anything. So, yeah. Thanks for having me!"
The applause that followed was thunderous. Myraa stepped away from the podium, her legs shaking, and stumbled back into the wings, where Kyra was waiting with an infuriatingly smug smile.
"Well done," Kyra said. "You've already won them over."
"I didn't do anything!" Myraa hissed.
"Exactly," Kyra said. "That's what makes it impressive."
---
The Grand Reveal
As the ceremony continued, Myraa slumped against the wall backstage, trying to regain her composure. But her moment of peace didn't last long.
"And now," the announcer boomed, "please welcome our esteemed head of the Reizei family and founder of Camellia Academy, Lady Camellia Reizei!"
Myraa's head snapped up. "Wait. Did he just say—"
Before she could finish, Camellia stepped onto the stage, looking every inch the regal matriarch in a flowing silk kimono. Myraa gawked at her, her brain racing.
"Camellia?!" she whispered to herself. "Wait, isn't that the name of the caretaker? And the school? And—OH MY GOD."
The pieces clicked into place. The warm smile. The knowing eyes. The cryptic comments. The whole caretaker act. "She's Lady Reizei?! My grandmother?! Are you kidding me?!"
Next to her, Kyra smirked. "Took you long enough."
Myraa smacked her forehead. "I'm going to kill her. I'm going to kill my secret billionaire grandmother."
---
Everyone's Darling
By the time the ceremony ended, Myraa's "relatable" speech and her connection to Lady Reizei had made her the instant darling of the academy. Students crowded around her, asking questions and offering gifts.
"You were so inspiring!" one girl gushed, handing her a bouquet of roses.
"Do you need help carrying your bag?" another asked.
Myraa blinked, overwhelmed. Back in Montreal, she was invisible. Here, she was practically royalty.
"Why are they treating me like I'm Beyoncé?" she muttered to Kyra, who stood calmly by her side.
"Because you are," Kyra said simply.
"Oh no," Myraa groaned, covering her face. "This is going to be a disaster."