CHAPTER 27 — Navira's POV
"Results Day: The Rankings Don't Lie"
The morning air tastes like nerves and paper cuts.
Results day.
The day everyone fears. The day the truth comes out in black and white, numbers and percentages.
I walk into the school with the same calm I've worn for months — white hair tucked perfectly behind my ears, pale lashes casting faint shadows over icy eyes. I don't need to check my reflection. I know what I look like: albino, immaculate, untouchable.
Agnes is already there, pacing. She wears her usual overly-coordinated outfit, hair perfect, smile fixed in place like a wax sculpture. Her clutching of her test papers is subtle, but enough for me to see: she's scared.
Jasver is leaning casually against the wall, phone in hand, looking exactly like someone who has no idea what he's about to witness.
Good. Let him be surprised.
The Reveal
The principal calls the room to attention. Murmurs hush. The list is posted.
I don't glance at it immediately. Let them sweat.
Agnes gasps, eyes wide as the first few names flash across the screen. The whispers start:
"Navira…" someone murmurs. "Top again?"
I finally look. There it is. My name at the very top. Perfect score. Maximum points. Every subject.
A tiny, self-satisfied smile creeps onto my face.
Agnes? She hovers near the bottom. Barely passing. Her lips tremble. That's cute.
The twins — Alden and Alastair — do well. Not perfect, but respectable. They glance at me with admiration, mixed with the tiniest hint of unease.
Jasver leans forward, eyes bright. "Wow. Navira… you really are… amazing."
I raise a single brow. "I know."
He chuckles softly, clearly smitten, and tries to play it casual.
Agnes notices. She sees him lingering near me, smiling.
Her face? Incineration-level red.
At Home — The Aurline Reaction
Dinner at the Aurline mansion is… tense. Deliciously tense.
Vivienne clears her throat. "Well… these results…" She glances at Agnes. Her eyes flicker with disappointment. "Navira, we're very proud of you."
I tilt my head, eyes soft. "Thank you, Mom. I just… tried my best."
Victor, quieter, nods slowly. "Exceptional work. Truly."
Alden and Alastair glance at each other. The twins' expressions are unreadable, but I catch the faintest hint of pride — and fear.
Agnes slumps in her chair, pouty, sulking. "I… I studied! I… I tried!"
"You tried," I murmur softly, voice dripping with sweetness. "That's important… but sometimes trying isn't enough."
She flinches. She glares. She hates it when I don't attack her directly but still win.
Vivienne clears her throat, trying to salvage the mood. "Agnes, it's… it's okay. We all have strengths."
Agnes sneers, mutters under her breath, "Strength? What's that when you barely pass?"
Victor's hand hovers over his forehead. Alden and Alastair look mildly horrified.
I smile gently. "Sometimes, the real strength is knowing how to survive… and how to thrive."
Jasver Can't Hide It
Jasver leans closer. "Seriously, Navira… how do you do it?"
I shrug lightly. "Observation. Focus. A little patience. And knowing what I want."
He smiles, clearly intrigued — not just by my scores, but by me.
Agnes notices immediately. Her hands curl into fists under the table.
"You… you… he…!" she sputters.
I don't answer. I merely keep my soft, calm smile, eyes fixed on my plate like a perfectly innocent angel.
Power doesn't scream. It whispers, and it's always understood.
The Twins' Silent Commentary
Alden leans toward Alastair. "She's… untouchable."
Alastair nods, frowning. "It's… unsettling. She's not like us. Not like Agnes."
Exactly. I'm not like them. I never wanted to be.
I take a quiet sip of water, letting them stew. I don't need to gloat. The results speak for themselves.
Agnes Spirals
She can't hide it. Not this time.
"Oh my god… everyone's looking at me!" she whispers, panicked. "He's looking at her! He thinks she's… smart!"
I glance up. Jasver is staring — fascinated, genuinely impressed.
I tilt my head, voice soft and innocent: "You know, Agnes… maybe you need a bit more practice next time. Finals aren't everything, but… they do matter."
Her mouth opens. No words come out. The blush creeps deeper.
I sip my water again, smiling subtly.
The Closing Move
Later, in the car ride home, I watch Agnes slouch silently in the backseat. She mutters things to herself, no one hears.
Jasver sits quietly beside me, glancing occasionally with that interested, curious expression.
I remain outwardly calm. Sweet. Innocent. Perfect.
Inside, I'm planning my next moves:
Consolidate my academic dominance
Keep my part-time company role secure
Observe the family dynamics carefully
Make sure Agnes can't leverage anything against me
And, of course… Jasver remains entertained and impressed by my every move.
I let him be slightly in awe. It's useful.
The house is quiet when we arrive. Agnes trudges upstairs, fuming. The twins follow, muttering, as if I might overhear.
I smile softly, the albino queen of both school and home.
Tonight, I rest. But tomorrow… the next move is already being planned.
Because in the game of power, I'm not just a player. I'm the one setting the rules.