Diego bit his lip. Despite his youth, his clear eyes and high nose bridge made him quite handsome.

‘He seems to like Annie. How cute…’

Siara had lived for a thousand years and though she had never married, she could clearly see young Diego’s feelings. The fact that he called her out separately suggested he wouldn’t do this without interest.

The Crown Prince, was he? He had quite a high position and wasn’t bad-looking. Still, he seemed less beautiful than King Owen of Estain with his brilliant golden hair and sapphire-blue eyes.

[Siara, please marry me. I’ll make you happy, okay? I’ve kept the position of queen consort open for you! You’re my only love. Please…]

No matter how much he begged, it was useless.

‘When I look at you, I remember you as a child running around with both hands covered in excrement!’

But Owen had looked truly beautiful when proposing.

While Siara was reminiscing, someone grabbed her chin firmly. She winced in pain and found Diego glaring at her up close.

“Who’s making you get married?”

“…Huh?”

“…You’re not going anywhere.”

After releasing Siara’s chin, Diego turned away coldly. His attendant followed behind as he walked away.

Siara scratched her head while watching Diego’s retreating figure. After all, the person Diego liked wasn’t her.

‘…Let’s get something to eat.’

She was hungry. Better to eat first and think later.

Siara was heading to Professor Dennis’s private office.

She hadn’t known that receiving even one F grade meant expulsion. Being expelled for dozing off briefly during class seemed excessive, so she was going to ask for leniency.

Before knocking on the office door, she heard voices from inside.

‘Is he in a conversation?’

Siara perked up her ears and eavesdropped behind the door. Professor Dennis’s voice sounded thick with flattery.

“Oh my, the Duchess must have many headaches because of the illegitimate child. Yes, yes, you must want to get her out of your sight quickly. It’s indeed inappropriate for such an illegitimate child to attend a prestigious school. What? Oh, talent? Don’t worry about that, she has none whatsoever. Haha. Oh my, why are you giving me this?”

Siara’s eyes gleamed. She opened the door slightly to peek inside and saw Dennis communicating with someone called the Duchess through a crystal ball. If Duke wasn’t a common title here, it was easy to guess who the Duchess and illegitimate child were.

‘So that’s how it is.’

It was clear that Professor Dennis had taken a bribe to get rid of her. Or more precisely, Annie.

‘Apologizing won’t solve this problem… Even if I start working hard in class from now on, a teacher who’s eaten bribes won’t give generous scores.’

Siara walked back down the corridor without meeting the teacher.

‘In situations like this, it’s best to have someone with higher status than a Duke apply pressure…’

While she was thinking seriously, a familiar voice called out.

“What are you doing here?”

“…Diego.”

It was Crown Prince Diego. To Siara, he was just a kid, but he was the future Emperor, and even Professor Dennis couldn’t ignore his words. Plus, Diego liked Siara—or rather, Annie.

Siara suddenly began shedding tears.

“Sniff.”

“…What’s wrong?”

Diego frantically handed her a handkerchief, clearly flustered. Siara lightly dabbed her tears with his handkerchief.

“…Professor Dennis said he’s going to give me an F. Then I’ll be expelled and sent back home to marry an older man.”

“Ha.”

Diego looked extremely angry. He walked toward Professor Dennis’s office with an uncomfortable expression. Watching his retreating figure, Siara shrugged.

‘Well, that was too easy.’

The matter seemed to be resolving itself more simply than expected.

Just as she was about to leave it to Diego and walk away, there was a loud “BANG” from inside the teacher’s office, and the door shattered. In the blink of an eye, Professor Dennis flew out and crashed into the corridor wall.

“…Huh?”

Diego grabbed the collapsed Professor Dennis by the collar. Behind him, countless flames rose like bubbling lava, ready to attack the professor. Siara was startled.

‘I thought he would just threaten him, but he’s trying to kill someone? Can a Crown Prince kill a mere teacher without consequences? But Professor Dennis hasn’t committed a capital offense.’

Siara’s body moved before her thoughts could catch up.

She stretched out both arms in front of Professor Dennis, blocking Diego from killing him.

One of Diego’s eyebrows rose in displeasure. The flames behind him burned even larger.

“…What are you doing?”

“You’re trying to kill the teacher, so I’m stopping you!”

Professor Dennis, having regained consciousness, immediately hid behind Siara.

“Aaaah! F-forgive me! Your Highness! Please don’t kill me!”

He seemed to have wet himself, judging by the smell wafting around.

Dennis clutched at Siara’s clothes, trembling, while Siara sighed as she looked at Diego.

‘Why are those in highest power always so hot-tempered? I wish they would think things through.’

Diego spoke sharply, “That teacher deserves to die.”

“…Why?”

“Because he tried to expel you.”

Professor Dennis had taken a bribe from the Duchess to expel Siara. That was a serious offense, but not one deserving death.

“Then Professor Dennis… sir… could just not give me an F. Right? Professor… sir.”

The title “professor” really didn’t want to come out of her mouth. Still, she firmly held Denis’s hand behind her and smiled brightly. Professor Dennis nodded hastily.

“O-of course! I don’t usually give students Fs! Especially you, Annie, you’re a diligent student who never skips class—why would I give you an F?”

At his words, Siara smiled at Diego, hoping those flames would disappear.

“You heard him, right?”

“…Fine.”

Siara lightly tapped Professor Dennis’s arm behind her.

“Go back to your work, Professor… sir.”

“Y-yes!”

After Professor Dennis went back into his office, Siara finally covered her nose against the smell of urine.

“Ugh, the smell. Are you okay?”

Diego had already withdrawn his flames. He stared at Siara intently, frowning.

“What are you?”

“Huh?”

“…Aren’t you afraid of me?”

Siara tilted her head at Diego’s question.

“Why would I be?”

She didn’t understand what he meant. Was it because of those flames? Siara could create those too if she wanted. Though with Annie’s body, there would probably be limitations.

Diego studied Siara carefully.

“When I create flames, everyone gets scared and runs away. The teachers say I’m a genius that appears once every hundred years.”

“Oh, really?”

Siara was a genius that appeared once every thousand years. Why would she fear someone who appeared once every hundred years?

‘What reaction is he expecting? Does he want me to be scared?’

But Siara wasn’t afraid of Diego at all. Pretending to cry had been difficult enough; pretending to be scared would be even harder. Diego stared at her intently.

“You seem different. Like…”

“Hmm?”

“Like someone else is pretending to be you.”

The problem with sharp kids is exactly this. However, she couldn’t admit it. At the very least, Diego liked Annie, and if he found out another soul was in Annie’s body, he would likely try to remove it.

“That’s impossible… I’m me. Annie Light.”

“…Really?”

Diego looked Siara up and down. She wasn’t the shy, timid, and fearful Annie he knew.

The old Annie couldn’t even make eye contact with him. That had always irritated him and put him in a bad mood, but now Annie looked him in the eye and spoke casually.

“I’ll let it slide since it’s not a bad change.”

“…?”

Diego firmly grasped Siara’s hand. Despite the sudden physical contact, Siara remained calm, which further convinced Diego.

“Annie Light.”

“Yes?”

“You owe me.”

“…Okay.”

So what did he expect her to do?

But it was never wise to provoke those in power. This wasn’t the Kingdom of Estain, and Siara wasn’t in her original body. She quietly followed Diego, letting him hold her hand.