Chapter 101: Grotesque Wealth

A cold wave of shock washed over Starlight, followed immediately by sheer disbelief. She knew how the Apex Board worked. She knew that the system generated money through student participation and voting, but she had never truly stopped to think about the scale of it. Back in District Fifteen, people worked exhausting jobs for months just to earn a fraction of what was currently displayed on her screen, and she had just earned it in less than a week.

Were students truly throwing around this kind of insane money just to vote on rankings?

"How is this even possible?" Starlight blinked once, then twice, half expecting the digits to somehow disappear and settle into something reasonable, something that made more sense. But the number remained unchanged on the screen, an impossibly large fortune sitting directly in her newly activated academy account.

What made her throat tighten even more was the realization of how the system functioned. Eclipse House had already processed the transaction.

As the house captain and secretary had explained, the house automatically deducted a mandatory ten percent administrative cut from all rank payouts for operational expenses before the funds ever reached a student’s personal account. Which meant this staggering amount was only what remained after the house had already taken its cut. And if this was what remained after a ten percent deduction, then the total sum spent on her rank in less than a week was utterly grotesque. It was more money than she had ever dreamed of seeing in her lifetime, all poured into a glorified student leaderboard.

How much money had been circulating through this ranking system for her share alone to be this huge? And if this was what she had earned from just one week on the ranking board, then exactly how much money would she be making if she stayed in the top rankings a little longer?

The thought hit her like a lightning bolt.

"Uhm... Star?" Elle took a hesitant step back, staring at her with wide, alarmed eyes. She could practically see dollar signs and sheer greed flashing in Starlight’s eyes. She had never seen Starlight make a face like that before, and it was infinitely more terrifying than her usual cold, nonchalant expression. "Are you... okay?" Elle asked cautiously. "You’re kind of scaring me right now. Why are you staring at your phone like you’re plotting to buy out the entire institution?"

"I’m perfectly fine, Elle," Starlight said slowly, looking up from her screen with unusual calm as she locked eyes with Elle, a dark, slow smirk creeping across her lips. The sight immediately sent a chill straight to Elle’s bones, a sudden wave of goosebumps racing across her arms. She shuddered and instinctively took another step backward. "Starlight..." she said warily. "Are you sure you’re absolutely fine? You are seriously creeping me out right now."

Starlight did not immediately answer. She tapped her phone screen once, locking it, then slid the device back into her pocket, the slow smirk still lingering on her lips, breaking every trace of her usual quiet indifference. "I have never been better," she said, her voice dropping into a dangerously even register. "For the first time since I stepped foot into this academy, everything’s finally starting to make sense."

Elle crossed her arms, rubbing her sleeves in an effort to smooth down the prickling hairs on her skin. "Star, you look like a corporate overlord who’s planning to take over the entire city. It’s unnatural. Where did my stoic, perpetually annoyingly lovely roommate go?"

"I’m just thinking. If just being on the ranking board for one week pays out this kind of fortune..." Starlight trailed off, rubbing her chin thoughtfully as her eyes gleamed with growing interest. "Then how much more am I going to make if I stay there for the rest of my school year?"

"Whoa, Star. I never took you for someone who would get this excited over money." Elle blurted out in disbelief, staring at her.

Starlight raised an eyebrow. "Who on earth doesn’t love money?"

"I can’t believe this!" Elle gasped, letting out a disbelieving laugh. "Seriously, I can’t believe it would just take a massive payout to finally break through that cold exterior of yours and turn you into a money-hungry little mastermind. I guess seeing enough zeroes in your bank account will bring out anyone’s true colors!"

Starlight opened her mouth, about to reply, when the sudden, melodious chime of the suite’s doorbell rang through the living area.

She paused, exchanging a sharp glance with Elle before both of their eyes shifted toward the door. Who on earth could possibly be ringing the doorbell right now? It wasn’t as though it had become public knowledge that she had been given a private suite... or had it?

"I’ll get it," Elle said, stepping past her and already making her way toward the door.

She pulled it open with an easy smile that vanished the second her eyes landed on the tall, sharp-featured figure standing on the other side.

It was Nikolai Wolfhart, one of the Imperial Crown Princes and the notoriously aloof twin.

The prince stood with his hands tucked into his pockets, looking every bit as intimidating and unapproachable as the rumors claimed. His black hair was neatly styled, the dark strands falling just enough to frame his striking features, while those sharp blue eyes swept over her with obvious displeasure. A crease formed between his brows as he looked down at her with cold irritation. "Who the hell are you? And what are you doing here? I thought this was supposed to be Starlight Dawson’s residence."

His voice was curt, clipped, and impatient.

Elle froze, a chill running down her spine as she stared up at him, his heavy aura washing over her and making it difficult to breathe normally. The sheer intensity of his presence made the contrast between the two brothers impossible to ignore.

While Mikhail was calm, polite, and gentle, Nikolai was cold, intimidating, and openly dismissive, making it obvious he considered her far beneath his attention. In that moment, Elle realized just how privileged she had been to interact with Prince Mikhail and experience his courtesy. His soft-spoken nature was a rarity she had never truly appreciated until now. Compared to the prince standing in front of her, Mikhail’s kindness felt almost unbelievable.

Instinctively, she shrank back slightly as fear flared in her chest. "I... I’m sorry, Your Highness. I actually... yes, this is Starlight Dawson’s suite. She’s inside. Should I—should I call her for you?"

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