Raven

Chapter 29

Raven's POV

Adelaide and I were heading to the cafeteria to buy some snacks when we noticed that the students were hurrying towards the gymnasium. Adelaide pulled a student and asked them what was going on, out of curiosity. But before the student could even talk, the PA system of SEIA rang.

"Attention, all students. You are all requested to the gymnasium. Please proceed now. Again, you are all requested to the gymnasium. Please proceed now."

I looked at Adelaide in wonder but she only gave me a shrug and said, "Didn't heard any news from the office about this."

We put off our decision to buy foods and rode the shuttle that headed to the gymnasium. It was already packed when we arrived. Adelaide chose a seat near the exit and then we sat down.

In the stage, Miss Gryca and Hyperion were there. I thought he's on a camping trip together with Miss Harlequin and the triplets?

My questions were answered when Miss Gryca's voice boomed throughout the gymnasium. "Settle down everyone. Please welcome, our Headmistress, Lady Zheilred Harlequin Sinclaír."

The students clapped their hands and welcomed the Headmistress. Miss Harlequin came up to the stage wearing her usual grin. She took the microphone from Miss Gryca.

"Everyone, pardon for such short notice." Miss Harlequin started. "First of all, I would like to thank everyone for the successful school festival we had two weeks ago. The announcement of the winners were delayed due to some unforeseen circumstances. Hope you were patient enough to wait for the results."

"With your efforts and determination, St. Éttiene International Academy accumulated a total profit of 378,000. The money was donated to Little Éttiene's Orphanage to help the kids have better lives. And we couldn't have done it without your help. Thank you." Miss Harlequin smiled gently at everyone and bowed for a good five seconds.

"Today, aside from announcing the winners from the school festival, we will also announce the upcoming end-of-semester event that I have in stored for all of you."

End-of-semester? Isn't that two months later? Why hurry?

"I know everyone of you is confused as to why we are having an 'end-of-semester' event this early." She giggled. "I'll explain later on."

She gave the microphone back to Miss Gryca and sat down to her seat. I saw Hyperion leaned towards her. He said something that made Miss Harlequin cover her mouth from giggling.

"Now that I remember it, I'm sorry for leaving you behind at the Horror House." Adelaide suddenly talked, startling me. I forgot we were together since I was so focused on the stage and the surroundings were kinda chaotic from students talking.

"It's fine. Lilibeth already did her thing to calm me down." I said, eyes still at the stage.

"What do you mean by that?" Adelaide asked curiously.

I looked at her in confusion for a while until I remembered what we were talking about. "Oh, that. Every time I had attacks like those, Lilibeth always calms me down using some kind of method. She said she learned it from her mother since her mother was also a nanny and has to deal with hyperactive and problematic kids everyday."

Adelaide nodded and we looked back at the stage when it was time to announce which club won the school festival.

"Winning for four years in a row now, congratulations to The Oeuvre!" Miss Gryca declared.

From below, we could see members of The Oeuvre shouting and cheering. Miss V went up to the stage and received the cheque and the trophy.

Miss Harlequin stood up again while clapping with everyone. "Congratulations to The Oeuvre. Now, everyone should not be downcast. There will be plenty of chances, especially this event that I will announce. Take note, there will be two events that we will have. One is done by clubs. The other one is done individually."

The whole gymnasium went silent, which surprised me, as Miss Harlequin kept us in suspense.

"Why is everyone so focused?" I whispered at Adelaide.

"Just like the school festival, every event the headmistress organized will always have a big amount of prize money at stake, or a luxurious trip." She whispered back and then focused on the stage again.

"For the club competition, we will have the annual Olympiad!" Miss Harley announced. The students cheered, as if they were expecting this to happen.

"So it'll be held this semester." Adelaide said. "This happens annually, but we aren't sure if it's this semester or the next one, depends on the Headmistress' mood."

"For this event, the grand prize is... drum roll please."

As the drum rolled thrillingly, my heartbeat also went with it, syncing.

"500,000 cash and a full-paid trip to anywhere you want!"

The crowd went wild. I thought my eardrums burst out from the screaming and jeering of the people around us.

"Is she always this extreme??" I asked Adelaide while covering my ears. I really can't understand how the minds of rich people work.

"Always." Adelaide grinned.

"Calm down now, my dear students. That's not yet the fun part." Miss Harlequin shushed, finger on her lips. "I want you all to have fun before this semester ends, and so, for our individual competition, we will have a little survival game."

"The reward for this competition? A cash worth 1,000,000 and a scholarship at Crimson Regalia Academy!"

The atmosphere inside the gymnasium changed. All the students were pumped up when they heard the rewards for the survival game. Being admitted to CRA has been a dream of every child here in our country. However, only the rich and powerful could even step inside it, with an exemption to the ones who received scholarship from the Sinclaír Foundation.

Miss Harlequin made a shushing sound again and asked. "I have a question. Have you all heard what happened to Crimson Regalia Academy 3 years ago?"

A series of affirmation buzzed throughout the gymnasium. I also saw that news on the internet. The whole school played a game called Searching for the Queen, where the students were tasked to find and identify the owner of Crimson Regalia Academy. It was a unique way of telling who's the real owner of the school by the way, which was Miss Harley, who disguised as a transferee student.

"As you all know, I was home-schooled ever since I was a child, so people haven't seen me grew up as the sole daughter of the Sinclaír. When I devised that game, it was very chaotic, at the same time, fun. However, we won't be playing the same game. Obviously." She said it as she gestured that she's here. Everyone laughed including Adelaide.

But Miss Harley suddenly stopped laughing. "Just kidding."

The gymnasium went quiet again. Miss Harley grinned widely making everyone of us confused.

"We will still play that game. Searching for the Queen already began the moment this school year started. Effective only within the school, you only have two months to look for the real Headmistress Zheilred Harlequin Sinclaír!"

With my own two eyes, I saw Miss Harlequin grabbed the skin under her chin and pulled it up. It peeled off making everyone gasp in surprise.

It was a mask. The girl in front whom we thought the Headmistress was just wearing a mask.

The once standing Miss Harlequin was now a different girl.

"Good day, SEIA. I am Rebecca Grey di Angelo, Miss Sinclaír's proxy." She said grinning.

Even her voice changed. Everyone was shocked, except for some members of the Investigatory Team, like Blyneia, Reginald, and Milcah.

"The Headmistress, or should I say the Queen, is just amongst you. Good luck everyone, and have fun."

"Let the searching begin!"