A Royal Conundrum

Content Warning: This section of the guide features depictions of bullying.

Olive Corbin Zang wakes up to find her social media accounts deleted, and when she arrives at school, she discovers that her locker is empty. During the second period, the loudspeaker calls Olive to the principal’s office, where she finds her mother, Dr. Corbin Zang. Her mother announces that she is withdrawing Olive from school and meant to tell her this last night. The principal does not recognize Olive despite her years at the school, and Dr. Corbin Zang mistakes Olive’s age, making her mother realize that she and her husband forgot their daughter’s birthday. At one point, Olive notices a newspaper article about Dame Gloria, whose black cat-shaped brooch catches Olive’s eye. When the principal asks about Olive’s new school, her mother reveals that Olive will be attending the Reforming Arts School near San Francisco, which is housed in a building that was formerly a prison.

Olive asks if she is going to prison, but her mother explains that RASCH is a boarding school. Olive’s grandmother, Mimi, used to take care of Olive when her parents were engaged in their frequent and lengthy business trips.