The entire school compound fell silent. Students and teachers alike stopped in their tracks, staring in awe as Alessandro Romano maneuvered his sporty car recklessly through the gates, two sleek limousines trailing behind like shadows. The self-proclaimed emperor of Royalty Academy had arrived, and everyone knew it.
He finally brought his red-and-black sports car to a stop in his private parking lot, a spot that screamed power and privilege. One of his ever-growing entourage of bodyguards opened the door for him, holding his blue blazer jacket with a polished, precise gesture. His white shirt was slightly undone at the top three buttons, hinting at a sculpted chest beneath, while his black trousers fit him perfectly, straight and commanding.
Alessandro stepped out with the effortless confidence of a man who owned the world, accompanied by his childhood best friend, Jaxtyn Abberton. Together, they were untouchable—both feared and idolized by the entire school. The rumors surrounding them made them sound like demi-gods, their beauty, wealth, and influence setting them apart from everyone else.
Alessandro's presence alone could stop hearts and silence conversations. Girls gawked, boys scowled in jealousy, and even the teachers seemed to watch with a mix of awe and caution. Jaxtyn was undeniably attractive, but Alessandro was in another league—worshipped almost as if he were a living Greek god. The ground he walked on, the things he touched, the very air around him seemed sacred.
They were the school's wealthiest students, heirs to empires no teenager should realistically inherit. But Alessandro carried his power with an intensity that made everyone aware of his influence. He wasn't just a rich kid—he was a prince, a young master with bodyguards who would defend him with their lives. Anyone who dared to cross him did so at their own peril.
Alessandro stood beside Jaxtyn, right hand casually in his trouser pocket, surveying the morning with a faint, amused smile.
"Bro, you look kind of happy… like, actually at ease. Why?" Jaxtyn asked, watching him closely.
Alessandro's smile stayed faint and unreadable. "Man, you wouldn't understand," he said curtly.
"Okay," Jaxtyn replied, shrugging. Alessandro stepped ahead of him, walking with a controlled, deliberate pace.
"C'mon, let's get going in," he announced, his tone casual but authoritative, as if he were issuing an unchallengeable command.
They made their way through the grand parking lot. Alessandro inhaled the cool morning air, a rare moment of calm in a life otherwise ruled by chaos. Over the summer, he'd been chained to meetings, negotiations, and deals at his family's business empire, working like a machine while his peers enjoyed their freedom. Now, he craved the simple luxury of doing nothing, of being young without someone demanding his attention or respect.
School, for Alessandro, was freedom. A rare bubble of normalcy where he could feel alive without the weight of a billion-dollar empire pressing down on him. For someone who inherited the Romano mafia conglomerate as the sole heir, even this small reprieve was priceless.
Both of his parents had died in a plane crash fifteen years ago, leaving him under the strict guidance of his grandfather, a man obsessed with molding Alessandro into the perfect successor. The older man had been lenient when Alessandro was a child, but as he grew, discipline and business knowledge became non-negotiable. Alessandro had mastered the inner workings of a vast criminal and corporate empire by the time he was a teenager—everything from negotiations with rival families to money laundering strategies hidden behind legitimate businesses.
Now, the only thing he wanted was a taste of normal youth—school corridors, fleeting interactions, and the thrill of attention he didn't have to buy.
As Alessandro strode through the school hallway, almost every girl he passed blushed, caught in the gravitational pull of his presence. He reveled in it, though he knew he was cruelly unapproachable. He browsed the crowd slowly, right hand still in his pocket, jacket draped behind him, eyes scanning for someone interesting. It was tradition—new school year, new girl to toy with.
The school bell rang, cutting through his survey. Students hurried to their classes while Alessandro and Jaxtyn moved like rulers among their subjects, precise, deliberate, untouchable.
In Royalty Academy, Alessandro held privileges no one else could comprehend. He could skip classes, bend rules, and yet still maintain top grades. His influence extended even into the classroom, where teachers reluctantly awarded him perfect marks under subtle pressure. Jaxtyn, by contrast, played by the rules more, but Alessandro didn't need them—he had power, wealth, and a fearsome reputation to keep him untouchable.
Today, neither felt like attending any class. Together, they made their way to Alessandro's private lounge on the rooftop, a sanctuary above the school's hustle. Up there, he could think, relax, and remind himself that even heirs to empires—and the sons of mafia dynasties—deserved moments of freedom.