Way back when the Whiteford Academy opened its prestigious doors so that elite students can also enroll, the school finds itself faced with a new problem. Not the bratty, rich, new students mind you, that one’s a given. The problem of course refers to their pompous, snotty parents.

During the weekends, parents of the elite students are allowed to enter the academy to visit their children. If they wish for it, the parents can bring their children to visit the nearby Sunnyvale Town. Any students who left the school grounds to go for an outing must return on the same day itself before dusk. If the students know they will be spending the night outside, special permission needs to be acquired earlier from the principal or the vice principal.

Failure to do so will result in strict punishment (usually detentions, extra school work, demerit points), repeat offences would be grounds for suspension, and the continuous flouting of this rule would eventually result in expulsion.

And of course, like all things in life, this rule only applies to commoner students. Elite students generally get away with a slap on the wrist (writing a personal apology letter or paying a small fine) if they spent the night outside without any permission and just returned the next day. Most elite students couldn’t even be bothered to pick up a pen and write a few simple lines of fake regret, they just straight up pay the fine. Why wouldn’t they? They could afford it, they have the money.

Mind you, if a commoner student was to pay that particular fine, he or she would have to work hard for several months just to save up enough money to barely pay it.

If for whatever particular reason, some visiting parents find themselves in a situation where they are unable to take their children for an outing to the outside world, they could go ahead and just spend some quality time together inside the confine of the Whiteford Academy. The problem with that situation is… no such place exists in the school where they feel it is suitable enough to accommodate someone of their stature.

After much deliberations and meetings (plus tons of complaints from entitled parents and spoilt students), the higher ups managing the school decided to construct a sizeable building compound on an empty plot of land in the Whiteford Academy. The cost for the construction of this building complex would be borne by a consortium largely made up from the parents of elite students, the same goes for its management and its upkeep. The entire place will have its own separate cleaning crew, security guards, and private staff to run it.

In the public eyes, the budget for constructing this building complex while disgustingly exorbitant, it was still in the realm of possibility. But there are hush whispers, rumors floating around that the true cost was actually several times much higher. Tales of secret rooms, hidden passageways and tunnels, an underground arena for fighting, the works. There are talks that if the exact price was actually revealed, it could almost match the value of building the grandest temple that the Grandiel Continent has ever seen.

To enter this holy abode, you would have to pay a considerable amount of money to gain membership. And that membership has to be renewed every year if you wish to continue visiting these sacred grounds. Entrance to this place is so exclusive, even if you’re one of the noble teachers who taught the elite classes and are well-liked by the elite students, you would still find it hard to get an invitation into this place.

On paper (as well as etched on the bronze plaque hanging outside the building compound), this place is publicly known as The Ivory Tower. Unofficially? The elite students prefer to call it by another name.

The Gilded Cage.

No one knows how that name came to be. Some say it originated because there was once an empty bird cage in the flower garden besides the tea room. Others say originally there was a plan to build an aviary inside the complex, but it had to be abandoned due to rising costs. However the name first appeared, it stuck. The Gilded Cage was what the elite students used to call this place when they frequented it. And many years later after they had graduated, it was the name called by their own children who decided to follow in their parents’ footsteps and attend the same school.

In order to discourage the elite students from frequenting this building complex too much and neglecting the other parts of the Whiteford Academy, the Gilded Cage (or the Ivory Tower depending on who you asked) is only opened during the weekends, and only for breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and high tea. Curiously, this building complex is closed during night time even though there was an overwhelming demand for it to stay open and serve supper as well as dinner.

Of course, in the event that a distinguished sovereign from any kingdoms visited the school for whatever reason during the weekdays, the place can be readily made available if they wish to stop by. And to stress it again, it has to be someone from the main branch of royalty, not some distant relative or a cousin twice removed.

Another step taken to maintain its air of exclusiveness; any elite student who wishes to enter this place must be accompanied by their own parents or legal guardian. Failure to do so would result in the swift removal of the said student from the establishment as well as a board review of their membership.

An interesting anecdote about the Gilded Cage is there was once an extremely wealthy girl from a noble family who never failed to visit this building complex every day during the weekends together with her mother. It was only during the fourth year that it was discovered the woman was actually a family servant living in the nearby Sunnyvale Town. She was ordered by the wealthy girl to masquerade as her mother so she would be allowed to visit the place every weekend with relative impunity.

Since the scandal broke out, the system to allow guests and visitors to enter this place has been broken down, rebuilt, and tightened up. And no one could blame them. Just think about it. What’s the use of paying a revoltingly huge amount of money for the privilege of exclusivity if some random asshole can just walk off the street and stroll in uninvited?

Speaking of random asshole, the system to allow entrance for guests and visitors is about to be sorely tested today by the boy.

“What do you mean I’m not allowed in?”

“Ser, this place is for members only.”

“This is an outrage. I demand to speak to your manager.”

“I am the manager.”

“Okay, then I wish to speak with someone who is more pleasing to the eye.”

“Ser, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

“Is this how you treat all your esteemed guests?”

“Guards.”

“Fine. I've been kicked out of better places than this!”

Delyth Anatol who had just entered the building complex known as the Gilded Cage a few steps behind the boy is greeted with the sight of him arguing with the Master of the House.

“…” the female student begins to massage her forehead in order to quell the massive headache she feels is beginning to creep up.

As the boy and the Master of the House continue to glare at each other, a soothing voice can be heard coming from behind them.

“Relax, Javier. He’s with me.”

Both males turn around to see the beautiful third year student walking up to them.

“Good afternoon, Miss Anatol. I didn’t realized you were here.”

“Good afternoon.” Delyth nods her head slightly. She turns towards the boy. “Let’s go.”

Just as the boy is about to take a step forward, a hand appears across in front of him like a gate, barring him from making further movement.

“Just a moment please, Young Miss. This person is…”

The boy notices Delyth making a stiff smile. Javier, who has been a professional working in this place for many years also notices the smile (that is not a smile) but it’s already too late for him.

Before the older man could open his mouth to make an excuse, Delyth cuts him off.

“I’m sorry, Javiers…” says the beautiful third year student in a gentle voice that doesn’t seem to be apologetic, not one bit. “Even though you’re just carrying out your duty as the Master of the House; supervising the waiting staff, welcoming guests and assigning tables to them, taking reservations, and ensuring that guests are satisfied. But regrettably, it seem I wasn’t clear enough the first time I mentioned it.”

“Miss… I…”

“This person is not only with me. He is my mother’s personal guest.”

“I understa-“

“My mother put on hold various important tasks and vital assignments and had to travel a great deal of distance just to see this person. Journeying day and night, without rest.”

“Please forgi-“

“And you have the audacity to put yourself between him and her?”

“It was my mista-“

“I couldn't even remember the last time I was required to repeat myself. Or any previous events where someone felt the need to question my orders.” All this time while she is speaking, the female student is talking in a soft, gentle, crystal clear voice, not hurrying nor slowing. But every word that enter his ears makes the older man feels like his head is being continuously pinpricked by a thousand icy needles.

“Have mercy on me!” the Master of the House known as Javier throws off all decorum and flings himself to the floor in front of Delyth. In his many years of service to the Ivory Tower, Javier has seen many guests come and go and has faced many situations. Unruly students making a scene, snobbish parents demanding better treatment. Usually when dealing with situations such as this, Javier can use the power and authority vested in him to make the appropriate call and deal with them as he sees fit.

Unfortunately for the Master of the House (currently kneeling with his head pressed against the carpeted floor), he momentarily forgot which family was it that gave him that power and authority.

“You’re threading on thin ice here, Javier. One misstep and you’ll plunge into freezing water. Never to resurface.” the calming, soothing voice is now stabbing ice picks into his brain.

“Understood, Miss!”

“There’ll be no more chances after this.”

And just like that, the chilling pain that has been plaguing inside the older man’s skull instantly vanishes. Gone, like a mild snowfall disappearing when it is subjected to the searing heat from a midday sun.

“Thank you, Young Miss!”

With his head still on the floor, Javier can hear the footsteps belonging to Delyth moving away from him, heading deeper into the building. Just as the Master of the House is about to heave a huge sigh of relief, the footsteps stops and the female student's voice can be heard.

The older man’s body immediately tenses up again. He dares not stand up or even lift his head.

“Aren’t you coming?”

“Just a moment.”

While still in a prostrating position with his palms, knees, toes, forehead and nose the only parts of his body touching the carpet floor, the Master of the House feels several light taps on his left shoulder. In the split second which feels like an eternity, every fiber that exists in Javier’s body is screaming at him, forbidding the older man from moving and warning him not to raise his face.

But against his better judgment, Javier decides to lift his head and look at the boy, lest his acquire more wrath for not talking face to face with this esteemed guest of Miss Delyth Anatol’s mother.

“If it’s any consolation Javier, most of the thinly veiled threat aimed at you was actually meant for me.” smiles the boy. “Just keep your chin up and continue doing your great work.”

Before the prostrating Master of the House could respond, he hears an explosion coming from behind him.

“OH FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THE GODS! WILL YOU STOP FUCKING AROUND!”

It was the first time in the older man’s life… seeing the calm, cool and collected young miss lose her temper like that.