Life is rarely about personal skill

Before long I was already a part of Jonathan's group although there was only one other lackey a fashionable looking guy named Styles Lieden, perhaps it's because of his upbringing as the child of a beautician but he was quite uptight when it came to fashion, I received quite the tongue lashing, I'll have to admit but other than that he was quite sociable and in some ways unexpected was the fact that he was the more popular among the two, beyond a doubt Jonathan was much more handsome than Styles, and quite cooler too but that doesn't always necessarily mean he would be more liked, Styles had a way with women and his whole fashionista vibe didn't intimidate the guys so naturally he fit in with almost any group in the class, how he came to be Jonathan's lackey is a mystery I have yet to solve but as it was, Styles could have been one of the top figures of the class and in some ways he still is but by conceding to Jonathan, he seemed to have lowered his social standing, I wonder why Styles would accept that. To be a Robin when he could easily become a Superman himself.

My analysis was put to a halt however when our Class Adviser arrived, a man in his early twenties named Lucas Hadensburg, Mr. Hadensburg was a rather dignified looking fellow and that showed in the way he stood and the way he talked. Something about his register made his voice soothing to listen to and hence he easily managed to tame the class, although a big part is also because this was the top class and it would have been unbecoming of us to show insubordination, especially at a school like this.

Mr. Hadensburg was rather uninterested which was obvious in his expressions but still he acted as he should and went to his schedule.

"First and foremost we shall be assigning the class positions. All who wish to volunteer for the position of class president please stand up" He said in a monotone voice which was apathetic in every way, as if he was completely uninterested in the top class of the second-years heck it wouldn't be a far presumption to assume he was uninterested in life itself. Who broke you dude?

From the get go there were a couple who stood up without prompting, I was glad to see that the smart looking man from the bus was in my class, if I ever get bored I'm sure he'll entertain. Certainly he seemed like the best choice for it. There were two other girls who stood up, from the reactions I noticed they were fairly popular well one was for sure, the popular one was if I remember correctly Beverly Zandeleir, some spoiled girl that Jonathan warned me not to mess with, she's also one of the 3 queens of our year. She was pretty I suppose but unlike Nadia's elegance, hers was something I could only call unnatural, she wore relatively heavy make-up as if she always had some big ball to attend, her uniform was tailored to her preference which was fitter and more lavish looking with flashy patterns adorning the blouse, it made her seem rather showy, especially in the relaxed chest area which I can hardly wonder isn't against school regulations, and there's something else I cannot pinpoint that just made her seem like a bitch to me, well not like she'll have anything to do with me anyway.

The last girl was a bit plain to be honest, I mean she was cute sure but relative to the model like Beverly and Nadia, she couldn't hold a candle, well perhaps she never intended to in the first place, she wore very light make-up if any, her uniform despite well-kept was rather dull without any adornments and she wore big glasses and had pigtails, I mean she didn't even try, though it seems she was fairly competent and she certainly is confident to clash with Beverly, though I doubt she'll have much votes compared to the two.

I looked at Jonathan's seat and he was completely uninterested in running as he nonchalantly spun his pen around, that makes sense I suppose for you certainly had to be popular to win but just because you are popular doesn't mean you have to run per say or as for Jon's case, have any care at all.

Sir Hadensburg then tallied the voted and it was at follows, winning was Beverly unsurprisingly with 23 votes, next was Glasses with 8 votes then there was Pigtails who had 6. I knew she wouldn't win, heck I wonder why she even ran, I look to her direction and I realize it was because of her friends, the 6 who voted for her who cheered her up and to this she smiled quite warmly, it was captivating so I tensely looked away to the other direction where I accidentally came to notice Beverly looking by my direction, she wasn't looking at me but rather towards Jonathan who was in front, our eyes met and before she could react I broke eye contact and fidgeted, this might be a bad omen.

I didn't notice but Jonathan was looking at me with a sort of pitiful interest, come on is it really a crime to accidentally lock eyes with the queen? I stared at him with a worried look to that he only smiled at me mockingly, wait was he and Beverly looking at each other before I interrupted? Before I could come to a conclusion Sir Hadensburg spoke once more.

"And for the vice president?" Many eyes came towards Jonathan, so are the two of them a thing? In reply Jonathan ignored everyone but Hadensburg noticed this and called on Jonathan.

"Von Russo, do you want to volunteer?"

Jonathan looked at Hadensburg without even seeming tense at all despite all eyes on him. "N- "he was about to say no but then he stopped, smiled at me deviously and said "No sir but Arvior wants to" That asshole! The position itself wouldn't be the problem but the President who I will be supporting, if it was Pigtails or Glasses I wouldn't mind at all but knowing Jonathan he wouldn't call me otherwise.

"I see so Lu Gastra" Hadensburg then wrote my name in the whiteboard without even asking me and I was about to stand in opposition but right next to me Styles pulled my blazer, I looked at him and he turned his head. Then he whispered to me, "It would be bad if you refused man, look around the guys aren't happy with you being there" I wouldn't have listened if not for my knowledge of Styles, he was a master of reading the room and the social politics, I knew that I should heed his advice.

The rest of the positions were filled, Pigtails was the secretary and Glasses the treasurer then Hadensburg left us to ourselves having finished what he went for, I would have liked this teacher if not for his dragging me into this mess but perhaps the one to blame here is Jonathan.

I immediately go to him pissed and he just couldn't hide the amusement of his face when he saw my reaction.

"The hell was that Jon? I thought you had my back" Jonathan stopped laughing for a while then looked at me then burst out laughing again.

"It's just…that you looked…so scared…Ha ha ha" Jonathan replied to me stuttering as he couldn't stop laughing.

"Hey Jon I'm all for pranks and all but throwing Arvior to the queen? You know she'll destroy him, and you also need to watch your back" Styles came to us understanding the weight of it all.

Jon finally calmed down and he looked at Styles without the least bit of worry.

"Don't worry about Sty, he'll do fine against her and as for me, well I can take care of myself"

Styles only sighed and let the whole matter go, understanding there won't be anything else I'll get from Jonathan I do the same. I look at Glasses who sat near us and he only looked at me with concern, am I in more danger than I expected?

"Hey Arvior wanna walk to the cafeteria with me?"

"Ah sure" I accept his offer as it seems Styles wants to talk to me about something.

"Buy me a wafer" Jonathan requested as we were leaving with still no worries in his face as he waved his hand towards us.

I walked with Styles and for a while he was silent as he paced, I walked faster to catch up and then I heard him mumble.

"That idiot is still so stubborn

"Huh? You mean Jon?"

Styles looked at me as if I weren't meant to hear that and then he sighed and explained.

"Surely you see it right? Beverly wants Jon"

"I mean sure, I suspected it"

"Do you know why I stopped you from refusing the position?"

I remained silent.

Styles only smiled half-heartedly. "The threat is Beverly and her followers"

"Why? I mean it's not like she wants me to do it"

"No, that's not why. Say you were the king, and then you gave a peasant your gold but the peasant turned it down without the slightest regard, how would you feel?"

"I mean sure I'd be offended but what's the big deal? Beverly didn't even choose me, Jon just pushed it to me"

"How would you like it if you were pushed away first by your crush and then someone below you also turned you down?"

I remained silent.

"Then there are the boys, almost everyone wants that position Vior, its considered a great privilege to stand with the queen especially for those beneath her, so how then would it look if the lucky guy who managed to get the position turned it down, I'd get mad if I were them"

"I mean why? That would mean someone else would have to do, maybe even them"

"No one volunteered, you realize that right? Why then would such a position, so near to the queen be ignored?"

"…Beverly…"

"Yes that's how much influence she has, and she always got what she wanted, it didn't matter how, anyone who stands in her way would have to deal with her posse…and outside the power of her Daddy"

"What's her father got to do with it?"

"Her father is the mayor; it may be different from where you're from but here the Mayor holds the power to banish, beat, and blackmail anyone who isn't part of the higher class"

I grimaced. If Beverly becomes pissed but isn't able to release her anger towards Jon, then the obvious victim would be me. Would my status even have any bearings here? Even if it does, if I call would Father even bring the mob to help me?

"Just try not to irritate the queen, do as she says and you should be fine, but also don't seem too happy or get too close, even if she's fine with it, I don't have to tell you that even her admirers have powerful families do I? if things go badly then I'll try my best to help you"

"Thanks" Styles only smiles at me in reply.

"She and Jon, do they have a history?"

"Hm, yeah I suppose they do. Apparently last year they even dated for a while, but then they broke up and a bunch of bad blood started sprouting with their families. Jon is basically one of the few people even Beverly is powerless against both with her and her family's influence"

"Why does status even have to be involved here…" I only sigh at the pathetic abuse of power.

"Ha, welcome to Duvangelie University man, where all the spoiled brats gather and those without the power suffer"

Now I see why Styles clings to Jonathan, because he lacked the status to protect him from people like Beverly. Despite how good Styles is in the matter of social politics, how good he is at reading the room, he simply cannot afford to survive without the help of someone with power. People like Beverly can do as she pleases here, there's the ultimatum after all, you do what I ask or else.

I see now that violence is the only force to counter their power, that is why this school bans such acts. Because from the very beginning this has been a place where your own skills and abilities matters less than the power and wealth you have been born with. Why would Father bring me to such a place? Is this some sort of warning of what I would become without them? Ha, as if I needed to be reminded.