Chapter 68: The Luxury of Exclusivity
The mid-morning break had turned the Academy’s lecture hall into a buzzing hive of activity. While the professors had stepped out, the students remained, and for Hana, this was the prime time for her “Nation’s Sweetheart” duties. She was currently surrounded by a flock of girls, their voices a chaotic blend of excitement and curiosity.
The conversation started with the latest trends—limited edition accessories from the boutiques on the island and the latest fashion-forward looks sweeping through the elite circles. Two of the girls, both aspiring influencers, leaned in close to Hana, their eyes sparkling.
“Hana-chan, we’ve been following your latest vlogs!” one of them chirped, her voice high and eager. “Your style is just everything. We were wondering… since we’re all in the same year, maybe we could go shopping together this weekend? And oh! Would you consider doing a collab stream with us? Our followers would absolutely lose it if we were all in one frame!”
Hana beamed, her professional charm on full display. She gave them a playful wink, enjoying the attention. “Hmm, a collab? That sounds like it could be fun!” she replied, her voice sugary. “I’ll have to check my schedule, of course, but I think we could make something happen!”
The girls practically squealed with delight, and the conversation immediately spiraled into a frantic discussion about their “itinerary.”
“Oh, we have to go to the new district extension!” one girl exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. “I heard there’s a popup boutique from Paris that only stays for two weeks. I’ve been dying to get my hands on their new silk wrap skirts—they’re supposed to be the absolute peak of elegance this season!”
“And did you see the new dessert cafe that opened near the fountain?” another added, leaning in. “They have this ‘Cloud-Cream’ bubble tea that’s supposed to be like eating a marshmallow cloud. I saw a photo of it on Instagram and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. We could get some of those gold-leaf macarons too!”
Hana giggled, her eyes lighting up at the mention of the treats. “Oh, I’ve heard about the Cloud-Cream tea! I bet it would look amazing on a livestream. We could do a ‘Taste Test’ segment!”
“Exactly!” the first girl replied, her excitement reaching a fever pitch. “We can hit the boutiques first, do a ‘Haul’ video, and then end the day with the most aesthetic treats on the island. It would be the perfect content! Everyone would be dying to know what the ‘Nation’s Sweetheart’ is wearing this weekend.”
The girls continued to chatter, their voices a melodic blur of brand names, limited-edition drops, and the latest gourmet cravings. For a few moments, they weren’t just students; they were the trendsetters of the Academy, weaving a web of luxury and desire that only those in their circle could truly appreciate.
As the conversation drifted, the tone shifted from fashion to the reality of the Selection process. One of the girls, a selected candidate whose face looked slightly haggard, sighed deeply.
“I honestly don’t know how some of us are surviving,” she confessed, her voice dropping. “My medical check-up last week was an absolute disaster. My Prime… he’s a glutton for attention. He picked more than twenty girls in one go. When we all showed up for the health screenings, it was a war zone. Girls were trying to cut the line, arguing over who got to be scanned first, and my Prime just stood there, looking completely overwhelmed. He couldn’t manage a single one of us. In the end, his guide and the specialist had to step in and literally herd us like cattle just to get the data recorded. It was embarrassing.”
Another girl nodded in agreement, her expression one of exhausted amusement. “At least you had a room. My Prime’s dorm is a joke. He selected so many of us that the space is completely insufficient. I ended up having to share a room with three other girls. Now, don’t get me wrong, my roommates are actually sweet, and we’ve turned it into a sort of slumber party, but the other rooms… I’ve heard screaming matches every night. Fights over who gets the mirror, who gets the best bed, and who gets more of his attention. It’s less like a luxury dorm and more like a crowded hostel.”
She sighed, leaning back as she recalled the morning rush. “The bathroom situation is the worst. Imagine five of us trying to get ready for a 9 AM lecture, all fighting over one shower and a single mirror. It’s a war zone of hairspray and makeup palettes. And the laundry? God, the laundry. We have to schedule turns just to use the washer, otherwise, someone’s silk blouse ends up in a tangle with another girl’s lace lingerie, and then the fighting starts all over again.”
The girl rolled her eyes, her voice turning slightly critical. “And some of the girls he picked… they’re just completely useless. I mean, we’re supposed to handle the domestic side of the dorm, but some of them have never even touched a frying pan in their lives. I saw one girl try to boil water for tea and almost set the kitchen on fire because she didn’t know how to turn the stove on. She just stood there, pouting and complaining that ‘the appliance was malfunctioning’ because it wasn’t doing things automatically.”
“Right?” another girl chimed in, laughing. “I heard about a girl in the West Wing who tried to ‘organize’ the pantry and ended up throwing away the Prime’s favorite snacks because they didn’t ‘fit the aesthetic’ of her organizing bins. They’re so stuck-up and pampered that they can’t even take care of themselves, let alone a household. It’s a nightmare. You’d think being a ‘Prime’s choice’ would mean you’re capable, but half of them are just pretty faces who can’t boil an egg.”
The group fell silent for a moment, the reality of their overcrowded lives hanging in the air. Then, as if by a collective instinct, their gaze shifted toward Hana. They knew Jun’s reputation—his confidence, his aura, and most importantly, his selective nature.
“What about you, Hana?” one of the girls asked, her voice laced with a mix of curiosity and envy. “We’ve heard Jun-sama is… different. He’s only got four of you, right? Is it actually… quiet?”
The girls began to playfully interrogate her, their questions coming fast and frequent. “Do you actually get your own space?” “Does he give you more attention because there are fewer of you?” “Is it true that you guys actually spend time together as a group?”
Hana let out a soft, melodic laugh, though she couldn’t hide the smug satisfaction in her eyes. She leaned back, her expression one of effortless grace. “Oh, it’s more than just quiet,” she replied, her voice carrying a hint of pride. “We each have our own rooms, of course. But we actually spend a lot of time together. It’s… cozy. We don’t have to fight for space or attention because there’s plenty of it to go around.”
The girls sighed, a collective sound of longing. “Must be nice,” one muttered. “My Prime barely remembers my name half the time because he’s too busy trying to keep track of which ‘number’ he’s talking to.”
Hana’s smile widened, her eyes glinting. She leaned in closer to the group, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial, suggestive whisper. “And it’s not just that we’re a small group,” she added, her tone turning playful. “Jun-oppa is… very attentive. He makes sure that each of us feels completely seen. He doesn’t just spend time with us as a group; he’s very generous with his personal attention.”
She paused, letting the implication hang in the air. “I mean, imagine waking up and knowing that your entire morning is dedicated just to you. No schedules, no queues, no sharing. Just… him. He has this way of making you feel like you’re the only woman in the world, even if the others are just in the next room.”
The girls were practically breathless now, their imaginations running wild. “Wait, he actually does that?” one gasped. “He spends entire mornings with just one of you?”
“Mmm,” Hana hummed, a look of pure bliss crossing her face as she recalled her own private moments. “He’s very thorough. He likes to take his time… and he’s very, very good at making sure we’re fully satisfied. It’s a different kind of luxury, really. Not just the space, but the… intensity of the focus.”
She gave them a knowing, slightly pitying smile. “I suppose when you only have a few, you can afford to give a hundred percent to each one. It’s much better than being just another face in a crowd of twenty, don’t you think?”
The girls exchanged looks of pure, unadulterated jealousy. To them, the idea of having a private room and a stable, intimate relationship with a Prime was the ultimate luxury. They were used to the noise, the competition, and the feeling of being just one of many.
Hana felt a surge of warmth in her chest. She thought of Jun—his calm strength, his possessive nature, and the way he had carefully curated his inner circle. She realized that while other Primes were chasing quantity, Jun was prioritizing quality. He didn’t want a crowd; he wanted a family.
“I’m just really proud of him,” Hana whispered, almost to herself, though the other girls heard her. “He doesn’t feel the need to collect everyone just to show off. He knows exactly who he wants.” She looked at her friends, a soft, genuine smile on her lips. “And I’m incredibly proud to be one of the women he chose.”