Everyone else agreed. They could eat out anytime, but the opportunity to try the school cafeteria was a rare treat.

After lunch, Caitlin walked her family to the campus gate. Keira and Hannah held her hands, one on each side, their eyes a little red.

"Freya, you have to take good care of yourself at school."

"And don't worry about laundry. Just bring your dirty clothes home, or call Stephen to come pick them up."

Caitlin nodded and hugged them both. "Grandma, I know. I'll be fine. Kingsward is only about sixty miles from home. If I get homesick, I can come back anytime. You don't have to worry."

Carey was also reluctant to leave her daughter. "Freya, remember to come home next weekend."

"I will, Mom," Caitlin said, then joked, "And if you and Dad get bored at home, I wouldn't mind having a little brother or sister."

"You child," Carey said with a playful frown. "What a thing to say."

"I'm serious, Mom," Caitlin continued. "I'd actually love to have a sibling." She looked at Stuart. "Dad, the pressure's on you now."

Stuart's face turned a shade of red. Most kids were against their parents having more children, but here was Caitlin, actively encouraging it.

After seeing her family off, Caitlin returned to her dorm. By now, four of her five roommates had arrived. Only one was still missing. Caitlin introduced herself to the other two, Nicolette Winslow and Yvette. The third was a girl named Gertrude.

Gertrude had sallow skin, but her features were delicate. Her clothes were simple. She looked at Caitlin with awe. "Caitlin, you're so beautiful. Prettier than anyone I've ever seen!"

"Thank you," Caitlin said. "You're very pretty too."

"Really?" Gertrude was genuinely flattered to be complimented by someone as stunning as Caitlin.

"Of course," Caitlin affirmed with a nod.

"Ugh, I'm exhausted! Finally here!" A haughty voice echoed from the hallway. "You guys, hurry up and bring my things in."

A group of people then entered, carrying a mountain of luggage. It was quite an entrance. Finally, a young woman dripping in luxury brands walked in and directed the helpers, "Just put the stuff here for now."

"Yes, Miss."

Elsa, Gertrude, Nicolette, and Yvette watched the scene, dumbfounded.

Yvette nudged Nicolette, whispering, "See that? It's like a scene from a TV show. This roommate of ours must be a big shot!"

Nicolette nodded. "The Capital really is full of important people. We just move into a dorm and end up with a high-society princess."

"Hello, everyone. My name is Charis Gonzales. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Charis Gonzales?! The name struck Nicolette. She looked at Yvette. "I heard that Miss Freya Gonzales also got into The Capital University. Could... could she be the one?"

Yvette rolled her eyes. "You just said Miss Gonzales' name is Freya. This girl's name is Charis. How could they be the same person?"

Nicolette persisted. "Do you think rich people are stupid? They'd never use her real name in public, to protect her. Charis could be an alias for Freya! Think about it, how many wealthy Gonzaleses are there in The Capital?"

Caitlin and Gordon had been a trending topic online, but after the buzz died down, Caitlin had removed all her photos from the internet. The few that remained were mostly side profiles and not very clear, sono sono had recognized her in person yet.

Yvette considered this and decided Nicolette had a point. She was the first to

respond to Charis. "Hello, Miss Gonzales. My name is Yvette."

"Miss Gonzales, I'm Nicolette."

Caitlin offered a polite greeting as well. "Caitlin."

"I'm Elsa."

"I... I'm Gertrude."

Gertrude? Hearing the name, Charis looked Gertrude up and down, her eyes filled with disdain. "That's hilarious! I thought that was just something you see in the

news. You must be from some backwater town, right?"

Gertrude, already self-conscious and sensitive, was mortified. She never expected a new roommate to attack her so viciously on their first meeting. Her face flushed red, and she towered her head, unable to

meet Charis's gaze.

Nicolette and Yvette exchanged looks, their faces alight with the promise of drama. They hadn't expected such good entertainment on the very first day. Charis was

certainly living up to the image of an arrogant heiress.

Just as Gertrude stood there,

Sertryde

completely at a loss, a cool voice cut through the tension. "A name is just a label. We've just met, and you're not only attacking hername but also her hometown. Listening to you talk, I have to assume your intestines are directly connected to your brain. Does your family have a particular problem with manners?"