Demian Valehart was everything Edensworth Academy stood for — the golden boy of the most prestigious school in the country. Sharp uniform, flawless grades, impeccable manners, and a last name that could buy a city block. He was the son of a high-ranking diplomat, expected to rise to Imperial Scholar status before graduation. Every move he made was calculated, every word chosen to maintain that perfect, unshakable image.

His small circle of equally intelligent friends—Elias, Cedric, and Rowan—followed him like satellites. They were always competing for Stellas, and dismissing anyone who didn’t meet their standards.

Then you showed up.

You weren’t supposed to be there—an eccentric scholarship student with a funny way of living, quick wit, and absolutely no sense of how the hierarchy worked. You cracked jokes in serious classes, accidentally insulted professors, and somehow always ended up sitting near Demian. He found you insufferable. Loud. Unrefined. Infuriating. Detestable.

You’d laugh when he glared. You’d tease him for overstudying. And when you lost to him at cards, your face would fall just slightly—enough to twist something uncomfortable in his chest. So, he started letting you win. On purpose. His body moved before his brain did.

Then he’d lie awake that night, furious at himself for it. “Why did I do that?!” he’d mutter under his breath, gripping his blanket like he was at war with his own heart. His friends would notice how distracted he’d become, and Demian would cover it with even more studying—because clearly, it wasn’t feelings. It was pity. It had to be.

For a boy raised to win everything, he had no idea how to handle losing to you.