The Untouchable prince
1347 Words
Nora’s POV
“You must be Nora!”
The girl practically bounced across the room before Nora had the chance to answer. She placed the pillows on the neatly made bed and stretched out her hand with an enthusiasm that was almost contagious.
“I’m Ava Carter.”
Her smile was bright enough to light the entire room.
“And unless Student Affairs made a very embarrassing mistake, you’re my new roommate.”
Nora laughed softly as she shook her hand.
“I’m Nora Bennett.”
“I know.”
Ava’s grin widened.
“The scholarship student everyone’s talking about.”
Nora groaned.
“Oh, no.”
“It’s that obvious?”
Ava laughed.
“You’d be surprised how quickly news travels around here.”
She leaned against the bed frame, folding her arms.
“Especially when someone scores the highest entrance examination in five years.”
Nora blinked.
“…What?”
“You didn’t know?”
“I just knew I got the scholarship.”
Ava stared at her for a second before bursting into laughter.
“I like you already.”
“You seriously have no idea what kind of attention you’ve attracted.”
Nora sighed as she rolled her suitcase beside the empty bed.
“I didn’t come here for attention.”
“I came here to study.”
Ava’s smile softened.
“I figured.”
She watched quietly as Nora unpacked her clothes with surprising care, folding each item neatly before placing it inside the wardrobe.
There weren’t many.
Just enough to last the term.
Unlike some of the girls Ava had seen arrive with six designer suitcases and matching travel trunks, Nora’s belongings fit comfortably into half the wardrobe.
Yet somehow…
Everything she owned had been cared for with love.
A neatly folded knitted sweater.
Books with worn edges.
A pencil case that had clearly been used for years.
Nothing expensive.
Everything treasured.
Ava smiled to herself.
She liked people who appreciated what they had.
“So…” she asked.
“Where are you from?”
“Enugu.”
“My parents still live there.”
“They must miss you already.”
Nora smiled.
“I’ve only been away for a few hours.”
“They’ve probably called twice already.”
“My mum sent three messages before the taxi reached the highway.”
The girls laughed together.
The awkwardness between strangers slowly disappeared.
…
By the time Nora finished unpacking, the room felt warmer.
More lived in.
She carefully placed the framed family photograph on her bedside table.
Her fingers lingered on the frame.
Ava noticed.
“Your family?”
Nora nodded.
“They’re the reason I’m here.”
“My dad works more than he should.”
“My mum runs a tailoring shop.”
“They’ve sacrificed so much.”
“I want to give them a better life.”
Ava remained unusually quiet.
For the first time since they’d met, the cheerful sparkle in her eyes faded.
“My mum would’ve loved to meet you.”
Nora looked at her.
“Would’ve?”
Ava nodded slowly.
“I lost her three years ago.”
The room fell silent.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
Ava forced a smile.
“It still hurts sometimes.”
“But she’d be happy knowing I made it here.”
Nora crossed the room without thinking.
She hugged her.
Not because she knew the right words.
But because sometimes…
People didn’t need words.
Ava hugged her back.
“Thank you.”
When they finally stepped apart, Ava laughed awkwardly.
“Look at us.”
“We’ve known each other for twenty minutes and we’re already getting emotional.”
Nora laughed too.
“I think that’s a good sign.”
“It means we’ll survive being roommates.”
“I hope so.”
…
A loud chime echoed throughout the dormitory.
A calm female voice followed.
“Attention, students.”
“Orientation will begin in thirty minutes.”
“All first year students are expected to report to Founder Hall.”
“Please wear your academy blazers.”
Ava’s eyes widened.
“Oh no.”
“We’re going to be late.”
She threw open the wardrobe and grabbed her blazer.
Nora quickly did the same.
The academy uniform fit perfectly.
White shirt.
Charcoal skirt.
Black blazer embroidered with the academy crest.
She pinned the silver badge above her heart.
For a second…
She barely recognized the confident young woman staring back from the mirror.
“You clean up nicely,” Ava teased.
“So do you.”
The girls left their room together.
The hallway buzzed with excitement.
Parents hugged their children goodbye.
Students searched for classrooms on folded maps.
Laughter echoed from every direction.
Outside, the late afternoon sun bathed the campus in warm golden light.
Everything seemed peaceful.
Until they reached the central courtyard.
Nora noticed it immediately.
The invisible line.
Gold badges gathered around the fountain.
Silver badges occupied the benches beneath the trees.
Nobody had instructed them to separate.
Nobody questioned it.
They simply…
Did.
As they walked toward Founder Hall, two first year boys accidentally bumped into a group wearing Gold badges.
One of the Gold students looked down at the boy’s silver badge before dusting off his sleeve with exaggerated disgust.
“Watch where you’re going.”
“We’re sorry,” one of the boys apologized.
“It was an accident.”
“It usually is.”
His friends laughed quietly.
The Silver students lowered their heads and walked away.
Nora frowned.
“That’s unfair.”
Ava sighed.
“You’ll see a lot of that here.”
“And the teachers allow it?”
“They pretend not to notice.”
Nora looked back at the boys.
“They shouldn’t have to apologize.”
Ava studied her roommate for a moment.
“You really can’t ignore injustice, can you?”
“No.”
“I’ve never been able to.”
Ava smiled.
“Something tells me…”
“…you’re going to shake this school.”
Before Nora could respond—
Silence.
It spread across the courtyard so suddenly that it sent a chill through her.
The laughter disappeared.
Conversations ended mid sentence.
Even the birds seemed to stop singing.
Students instinctively stepped aside, creating a clear path through the middle of the courtyard.
Some lowered their heads.
Others straightened their uniforms.
Gold badges stood proudly.
Silver badges quietly moved farther back.
A whisper drifted through the crowd.
“He’s coming.”
“The President.”
“Xavier Ashford.”
Nora frowned.
“Why is everyone acting like this?”
Ava’s playful smile vanished.
“You really don’t know who Xavier Ashford is.”
“I’ve heard his name.”
“That’s all.”
Ava looked toward the far end of the courtyard.
“He’s the Student Council President.”
“The heir to the Ashford family.”
“The richest student in the academy.”
“The one person nobody dares to challenge.”
Nora raised an eyebrow.
“Nobody?”
“Nobody.”
Footsteps echoed against the stone pavement.
Slow.
Steady.
Confident.
Nora turned instinctively.
A tall young man emerged from the western corridor, surrounded by several Student Council members.
His black blazer fit perfectly across broad shoulders.
The gold badge on his chest caught the sunlight.
Students stepped aside without being asked.
Teachers greeted him with respectful nods.
He acknowledged them with nothing more than a calm glance.
There was no arrogance in the way he walked.
No need to demand attention.
The academy simply… gave it to him.
Nora watched silently.
For reasons she couldn’t explain, something about him felt different.
Not because of his wealth.
Not because everyone feared him.
But because behind the calm expression on his face…
She caught the faintest glimpse of loneliness.
Before she could think another thought—
A terrified first year student stumbled backward, crashing directly into Nora.
She lost her balance.
Her books slipped from her hands.
They scattered across the stone path.
Right in front of Xavier Ashford.
The entire courtyard froze.
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