Serge Battour, also known as Batouille, attends Lacombrade Academy, a late 19th-century French boarding school for aristocratic boys. His Roma heritage, inherited from his mother, triggers immediate ostracism and prejudice upon his arrival, cementing his status as an outsider within the school's rigid social structure.

A central and volatile relationship defines his time at the academy: his bond with Gilbert Cocteau, a fellow student marked by promiscuity and self-destructive tendencies rooted in past abuse. Gilbert acts as both protector and tormentor to Serge. Their evolving connection becomes a tragic love story, shaped by intense emotional conflict and the weight of societal pressure.

Despite facing rejection and navigating hidden tensions, Serge retains an underlying innocence and resilience. These qualities challenge those around him, including his kind-hearted friend Auguste Beau and Pascal, a religious student grappling with personal prejudices and desires. Serge's presence disrupts the academy's fragile order, exposing deep societal issues like racism, class disparity, and institutional oppression.

Serge confronts harsh realities and inner demons—his own and those of the people intertwined with his life. His desperate relationship with Gilbert leads to destructive consequences, underscoring the impact of societal rejection. Through Serge's experiences and interactions at the academy, themes of identity, societal expectations, and the struggle for acceptance emerge.