Siara received five books from the archivist and sat at a spacious table to open them. Diego sat across from her, staring intently at her face.

‘History books…’

As she flipped through a history book so old that dust had accumulated on it, a familiar name appeared. Touching the name with her finger, Siara unconsciously murmured.

“Here it is. The Kingdom of Estain…”

“…?”

“Destroyed by an asteroid… It says it’s a kingdom that no longer exists in the world.”

“…Now that you mention it, there was such a country.”

Diego activated his memory. Since it was a non-existent country, he hadn’t considered it particularly important.

Siara’s voice trembled.

“Destroyed…”

“But people from other kingdoms survived and built an empire. That’s the Stana Empire.”

Siara’s eyes wavered anxiously.

“Then, did everyone in the Kingdom of Estain die?”

“…It says here. Not even a blade of grass remained—everything disappeared completely.”

This was indeed the future. However, it was a future where everything had vanished. A future where her bloodline and friends had all disappeared.

‘But the magic formula for dimensional transfer might still exist. It’s the future after all!’

Siara pushed aside the history book and tried to open another. From the cover, it was an extraordinary book with complex magic formulas drawn on it. However, Diego took the book away.

“What?”

Diego flipped through the book alone, then hid it behind his back.

“…Why do you want to look at this?”

“Huh?”

“Did you know that only royalty can use the imperial library?”

“…I know. That’s why I came with you.”

“…Then become a member of the royal family.”

“What?”

Diego’s words came out of nowhere. However, there was only one fastest way to become royalty.

“Marriage…?”

“…”

“Oh, that’s right. If I marry His Highness the Prince, I’ll become royalty too, right?”

Bright red flames flickered around the silent Diego.

“…Why don’t you consider me standing right in front of you?”

Siara was anxious that Diego’s flames might burn the book.

“But you’re the legitimate heir…!”

“Annie Light.”

“…?”

Diego glared at Siara with eyes still flickering with flames. He carried himself with gravity, not looking like a child at all.

“Isaac was born from a concubine who was originally a maid.”

“…Oh.”

“Even though I’m the legitimate heir, I could make you my concubine.”

“…Huh?”

“Remember that. Let’s go if you’re done looking.”

“Wait…! I haven’t finished yet!”

Siara reached out to grab the dimensional transfer book, but it instantly burned to ashes. Since the library hadn’t suddenly caught fire, the culprit was clear.

“You… this.”

‘This brat…!’

Siara was furious but held it in. Diego smiled brightly and pulled her hand.

“I’ve already read that book. The contents are in my head, so if you’re curious, you’ll have to be nice to me, won’t you?”

“…What? You memorized all of it?”

“A mere book like that—if I set my mind to it, I can memorize it quickly.”

For a moment, she was speechless. Not just text, but memorizing complex magic formulas? It was unbelievable.

‘Even I couldn’t memorize formulas after seeing them just once!’

Being pulled along by Diego’s hand, Siara swallowed hard. Without the formula, she couldn’t complete the dimensional transfer spell, which meant the Kingdom of Estain might truly disappear. If that was recorded in future history books, it would be completely over.

And there was another problem.

‘He’s saying he’ll make me his concubine? How could he do that when the Empress is against it?’

Siara broke into a cold sweat watching Diego’s back. If she couldn’t return to the Kingdom of Estain, Annie’s future would become her own.

‘Marriage to Diego? Or marriage to the Prince? Either way, returning home is the best option. There’s no time to hesitate here.’

* * *

‘….’

Before she knew it, Siara was lying in bed wearing pajamas. The patterns decorating the ceiling were very unfamiliar, and nothing around her felt familiar. Even her body wasn’t her own.

‘If I become royalty, I can read the books Diego didn’t burn. Let’s think positively…’

There should be a complete formula among the remaining three books. Siara shed a small tear. Since marriage talks with the Prince were already underway, she would soon become a member of the royal family. Though Diego had mentioned making her his concubine, the Empress would never allow it while she lived, which was reassuring.

‘It’ll be fine, right?’

Siara raised both hands and attempted the dimensional transfer spell. The still incomplete formula created sparks between her hands before cleanly disappearing. It was due to insufficient magical power.

‘Will it work when I become an adult?’

Anyway, she needed to complete the formula quickly. Leaving this place was her primary goal, regardless of marriage or anything else.

* * *

A week later, despite begging Diego, he wouldn’t take her to the imperial library.

With her lips jutting out in frustration, Siara mentioned someone else.

“…I’ll have to ask His Highness the Prince.”

She said it loud enough for him to hear, and Diego responded with a smile.

“You can go, but you might fall down the stairs and get seriously hurt.”

Siara glared at Diego with an incredulous expression.

“What’s that, a threat?”

Diego shrugged.

“A threat? Me?”

Siara sat on the sofa and crossed her legs. Every minute and second was precious to her, but she couldn’t understand why Diego was so relaxed.

‘Right, it’s not your problem, so you can afford to be.’

If she couldn’t use magic, it might be different, but Diego was a mage, and ignoring his words could result in an “accidental” mishap.

Siara flopped down on the sofa. Diego’s eyebrow raised slightly from across her.

“Pull down your skirt.”

Her skirt had risen, revealing a glimpse of her thigh. Siara slightly lowered her skirt and yawned.

“I should return to school tomorrow.”

“…Why? There’s still plenty of vacation left.”

“I don’t see the point in staying if I can’t go to the library.”

Diego put down his teacup and gazed steadily at Siara.

“Can I ask you something?”

“…?”

“Are you possibly…”

Just then, a maid came running in to announce that Prince Isaac was visiting. Diego frowned.

Siara, who had been wanting to go to the imperial library, was delighted to see Prince Isaac. She jumped up to welcome him when he opened the door and entered.

“Your Highness the Prince!”

“…I wonder if I’m interrupting your intimate time together.”

At Isaac’s words, Siara waved her hand.

“Intimate time? Diego and I are just friends!”

“…Really? You two look good together, so I thought you were dating.”

Diego’s face turned bright red. Though Isaac’s words were mocking Siara’s lowly bloodline, Diego seemed pleased. One corner of Isaac’s mouth turned up crookedly.

“…Huh. I see.”

He had noticed that the Empress was trying to match him with Siara because Diego had feelings for her.

Isaac went to Siara’s side and stroked her ordinary brown hair.

“Have you been studying a lot?”

Isaac’s sudden kindness felt very strange to Siara.

‘Why is he acting like this all of a sudden?’

She backed away as Isaac approached.

“What are you doing?”

“…What do you mean?”

“Don’t worry about my studies, I’m doing fine.”

Unlike before, Siara spoke stiffly, which only increased Isaac’s interest in her.

“You’re cute. I wonder if I can wait until your graduation.”

“…What?”

Goosebumps rose all over Siara’s body.

Isaac pulled on Siara’s hair as she tried to escape. At that moment, Diego freed her hair from his grasp.

“Diego.”

“…Isaac. What are you doing to my friend?”

“What business is it of yours what I do with my marriage partner? You’re just a friend after all.”

“…”

Diego glared at Isaac with clenched fists. Even though Isaac had no chance of winning against Diego who could use magic, he maintained a relaxed expression, his eyes challenging Diego to try something. Siara quickly stepped between them.

“Diego! I want to go back to school now! Take me in a carriage.”

“…Already?”

“Yes.”

“Alright…”

If Diego had a tail, it would have drooped.

‘Oh, what a cute kid…!’

If this body weren’t just 17 years old, he would be cute enough to eat in one bite. Of course, this was the first time Siara had felt this way. Diego seemed to evoke many emotions in her.

But she didn’t like Isaac, who was approaching her out of interest rather than genuine affection.

‘If he comes any closer, I might stab him with an ice pick. But attacking royalty would have serious consequences…’

More precisely, it would be Annie, not Siara, who would have to bear all those consequences.

Diego called Peter, and soon a carriage was prepared to return to school. Before Isaac could stop her, Siara rushed off to the school dormitory.