Page 141 of Heartless Legacy

If it were, there are relatives of other families on campus who gave nothing at all to the building of the school that could make the same claim. Dean Gibson is doing his best to placate the families.

This is his school. He can run it how he sees fit to match the budget he’s allotted, and the housing office has full decision-making authority about dorm assignments, but the one thing he and them cannot do without permission from the high council is assign a new family to Vale Tower or the fourth bedroom on the top floor. Wasn’t that what so many people had an issue with last year? And Thea’s assignment was just a computer glitch.

The council members in attendance won’t interfere in his speech. They’re just here to listen and take notes on who’s complaining. Any relatives of league members will be addressed in chambers. I crack my neck as someone else complains, “You cannot just rehouse our students. Think of how this must make them feel. The bullying they’ll face from their peers.”

Dean Gibson says, “We appreciate you all coming out tonight and voicing your concerns. I will take them all back to the Residence Life office and we will look into them. I assure you, our priority is the safety and happiness of your students. Part of that safety means no unauthorized access to the dorms, which includes only verified family members of the legacy twelve being assigned to Vale Tower.” Another chorus of complaints ring out. “If you feel our decision is incorrect, you have an appeal period. You may submit your proof of familial connection to the board and we will review our decision.”

Providing the proof he’s talking about means pulling out their family tree. We didn’t dive that deep into things. We pulled up their housing applications and saw the line that asked them to list the circle member their legacy relationship was based on was blank.

One or two people not knowing the circle member’s name could happen, although that’s something youshouldknow. But the sheer number of blank answers or wrong answers we found were a red flag. There was no way we could ignore it. As the dean said, they can appeal the decision. All they have to do is showproof. Their family estate lawyer would be able to give them what they need.

I exit the auditorium to wait for my father and grandfather outside. Leaving without acknowledging them would only cause problems. My grandfather comes out first. “Grandfather.”

“Paxton.” He points with his cane. “Walk with me.”

I quickly fall into step beside him. This buys me a few more minutes before I have to deal with my father.

“Good to see you taking these problems on campus seriously.” Gesturing with his free hand, he says, “These people may think the rules are outdated, or that legacy is a bad word, but it isn’t. It’s unfortunate a lot of those families will have to give up their spots, but we cannot have people going around assigning themselves a position that they have not earned, by erasing the truth of what someone else did.”

He continues as we take the path to the parking lot. “The greatest thing a man can leave his family is something. For those who have it, it’s money, or businesses, or property. For those who don’t, it might be a treasured book, an old car they’ve worked on for years, a letter they wrote. Life is fleeting and inherently we want people to remember us when we’re gone. That’s what the twelve wanted. To leave behind something concrete and meaningful. To express a thought or emotion they may not have been able to say in words.”

He stops walking and turns to look at me. His eyes bore into mine as he says, “Vale Tower’s been torn down and rebuilt three times. But the intent of the gift hasn’t changed.”

“I understand, grandfather.”

“Do you?”

“I do.”

He shakes his head and sighs. “No, you don’t. That’s the problem with you young people today. You understand absolutely nothing.” His driver pulls up and gets out to open the back door of the car. Cracking me on the back of the legs with his cane, my grandfather says, “Not yet, but you will, someday. I just hope it happens sooner than it did for me.”

My father’s waiting for me when I make my way back towards the dorm. “What did your grandfather want?”

That’s a good question. What did he want? Was the conversation we had between a grandson and his grandfather or a wren and council member? In either case, there’s no reason to lie to my father about what we discussed. “He said I made the right choice in attending tonight’s town hall meeting, and not to feel bad about what’s happening.”

“Why would you feel bad? Have you been complaining to your grandfather about this?”

“No sir, but he knows I associate with quite a few of the students that will be moving. He’s seen us together on campus or at events over the years.”

“Are these powerful families? Perhaps I should have a word with the dean in private.”

“You really think that would help?”

“Of course it would. This is all happening, because your grandfather has chosen not to intercede.”

“Don’t you mean the high council?”

He flicks his hand at me in annoyance. He doesn’t care about the displaced families. This is just something else he can use as evidence to support his plan. I still don’t understand what he truly hopes to accomplish with ousting my grandfather. The high council is a democratic body. They vote on everything, just like the committees do, and unless there are other people on the council that think like he does, this will all be a waste of time.

I stifle a groan at how stupid I’ve been. There have to be others maneuvering for a position on the high council. That’s the only way for him to have any power. Either disband the council in its entirety, or replace it with enough people just like him to control the vote, just like you would with a board of directors at a company. Malcom Cox Jr is nothing if not an excellent business man.

“None of the families have any real influence.” I say. “One of the daughters is engaged to a second year prospect.”

“Which prospect?”

He’s unimpressed by the name I give him. “He stands no chance at the fourth bloodline.”

“There may be others, but I can’t name anyone off the top of my head.”

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